This weekend we were in Abbotsford celebrating their annual Fall Festival: Taste of Abby. Looking for dinner downtown we decided to go to Amici restaurant and wine bar. I have been once before, for lunch on their backyard patio, so thought dinner indoors would be a nice experience now.
Since my last visit they have converted their upstairs into a pizzeria with a more casual bistro vibe. So for dinner and more romantic setting their basement with bar and dining area is a nice dine-in choice.
Given where we were and its availability we went for 8oz of the Medici Ermete Lambrusco. Not many places offering sparkling red, so when I see it, I like to order it. I love how the bubbles make a red easier to drink, and find that the bold acidity of red wine tends to match the tomato and garlic present in most Italian dishes well. This one had more fruit with notes of cherry and strawberry.
I was looking for some healing so also ordered a cup of their tomato soup, as one of my usual comfort eats. I had hoped it would have come with some bread on the side. It didn’t, but I did end up using the focaccia I got as a side to the pasta below with it. I was tempted by the classic sandwich and soup pairing, but decided to try something more exciting instead. As for the soup, sadly this version did not hit the spot as I had hoped. It wasn’t rich or tangy enough for my tastes, and came across more like a watery rose pasta sauce that was slightly chilled at its centre.
The Chicken Parmesan was my favourite dish of the night. I was impressed by how well breaded and fried the chicken was. Tender through to the centre and coated with a good amount of mozzarella cheese for a nice gooey pull. It also came topped with peppery arugula and a good sprinkling of grana padane over the side of rigatoni in a pomodoro sauce. “Pomodoro” pasta is made with tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, basil, and salt. The pasta was on the saltier side. It was best eaten with the chicken, offering a nice acidity to it, which also helped to balance out all the salt.
For pastas I would recommend the Fettuccine Alfredo. Pasta noodles smothered in Amici’s house-made alfredo, made with rich cream and butter. Plenty tasty as is with the toasted crumble for texture. Once again, I used its side of bread with my soup, as a nice break in between bites.
And for dessert we saved room for their only dessert, and the only one you will need if you are a fan of tiramisu. Coffee and marsala soaked poundcake, and whipped mascarpone. This is their own house made version with ribbons of peaked cream, bold espresso, and quality chocolate powder. This is the kind of dessert you lick clean off your spoon.
In closing, this was another great visit to Amici and I can still recommend them for classic Italian food and drink in the heart of downtown Abbotsford.
Amici Italian Wine Bar
33724 Essendene Ave Abbotsford, BC V2S 2G9
604-842-4804
amiciwinebar.com
