Out to Lunch: Amalfi

You can't go wrong at Amalfi, if for no other reason than that the menu is so extensive. Whether you want a slice, a panini, a wrap, a salad, a pasta, or a typical Italian entrée such as Chicken Pizzaiola, you can get it there. The food quality is consistently good, the staff (especially those behind the counter) is consistently friendly, and the sound level is consistently loud.

If you are looking for a quiet lunch spot, this is not the place (unless you choose to have lunch at a very off hour). During lunch, the place is packed with shoppers from the nearby HomeGoods and Stop & Shop, often with children in tow. You have two options at Amalfi — walk up to the counter where dozens of different types of slices (with an incredibly diverse array of toppings) await you and order a slice, or be seated in the front or side dining room. Here's a tip — if you're looking for a quieter place to sit, try the side dining room which is away from the counter/slice area.

From Monday through Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Amalfi offers a special lunch menu, which is advertised on a board at the entrance. The lunch menu is also printed up, but you have to ask for it. If you don't ask, you probably will only get the regular menu and will therefore miss out on a very good deal. The lunch menu is limited, but the value is excellent. For $7.95, you get a house salad or soup of the day, choice of four entrees (Eggplant Parmigiana, Meatball Parmigiana, Baked Ziti, or Fettuccini Pomodoro with Mushrooms), and coffee or tea. But remember — this lunch special is not printed on the regular menu — you may have to ask for it.

If those four choices don't appeal to you, as I mentioned earlier Amalfi has a huge menu including specialty salads, gluten-free pizza, calzones, baked pastas, and even burgers. If you are unable to find something to eat on this menu, then you aren't really hungry.

Another tip — Amalfi has a full bar, and while I wouldn't ordinarily suggest drinking in the afternoon, their house wines are very good, and at $5.50 a glass are also pretty reasonable. So perhaps a glass of Pinot Grigio or the Chianti with your meal isn't out of order.

My dining companion and I, not having any more work to do in the afternoon, did indulge in a glass of wine with our lunch — she a Cabernet, and I, a Pinot Grigio. Both were excellent, and we enjoyed them with the delicious warm bread and butter that was brought to the table. My companion ordered the lunch special — house salad to start and Fettuccini Pomodoro. The salad was mostly iceberg lettuce, with some tomato, pepper, olives and cucumbers. The Fettuccini was loaded with mushrooms and topped with a red sauce. The portion was more than enough and she even brought some of it home.

I had my old standby — the Amalfi Wrap ($6.95). Did you ever find a dish at a restaurant that was SO good that no matter how much you resolve to eat something different the next time you go, you always end up ordering the same thing? That's what the Amalfi wrap is to me. Filled with grilled chicken, tons of sautéed broccoli rabe, roasted peppers and hot cherry peppers, this wrap is a perfect blending of flavors. But beware — it is messy, laden with olive oil and delicious sautéed garlic slices. You will either need to use a fork and knife, or have many napkins on hand.

You can get in and out in an hour … usually. Not recommended for a business lunch because of the noise and (sometimes) crowds, but it's great for a girls afternoon out, moms with kids, or anyone who wants a lot of variety of quality food. Lunch with tax, tip and wine was $34 for two. If you stick to a slice and a soda at the counter, you can get out for much less. Ask for the lunch menu if they don't give it to you, and you may also have to remind them about the coffee at the end, but otherwise, the experience (and the food) is great.