Amato’s
6405 Center St, Omaha, NE, 68106
Amato’s Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Omaha for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Omaha for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Omaha for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6405 Center St
Omaha, NE, 68106 - Phone (402) 558-5010
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Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Kara B.
My husband and I went to Amato's on a Sunday about noon. It was really busy and a bit wacky. I had the raspberry ricotta pancakes - oh my god! They were tart, creamy, sweet, and delicious. It came with a choice of sausage (patty, link, or Italian). I got the Italian sausage and it was super flavorful. It was shaped like a really thick oval hamburger. It was enormous and a perfect accompaniment to the cakes. The syrup for the cakes was served in a little mug/pitcher. I dipped pieces of steamy goodness directly into the mugful o'syrup. My husband had the Mistake Omelet (or something like that). It had really good peppers and a ton of rich flavor. The waitress was pleasant, but not overly such. We waited about 30-40 minutes for our food (seemed a bit long, but well worth it. The restaurant was completely packed when we arrived and by the time we left there was only a few tables occupied. Next time I would probably try to go earlier or maybe even get there at 12:30 or so. Enjoy! Also - it was a pretty good people watching place!
(4)Lalaine S.
I always try to come here when I'm in town. I always get the steak sandwich and my fiance get the ricotta pancakes. I think on the menu it's actually "Italian Steak," but the employees will know what you're talking about. It comes with a side of chips or salad. When it gets to your table it's piping hot. The sandwich also had red peppers. The peppers may be roasted because it has a sweet taste to it and adds to the overall taste of the sandwich We are always satisfied at the end of our meal and the employees are super nice. I like eating at places that have been around for a while, so I don't mind that it looks like an old-school diner because it IS one. Duh. Not everything has to look super modern. The appearance of the diner has nothing to do with the quality of the food served
(5)Reed N.
OK. Go there. Do the Italian Sausage Sandwich. Why? Served on garlic bread. Homemade sausage. Roasted red peppers as a topping. They do it right! They also make their own Ricotta Cheese, so an item with that ingredient is also a smart choice.
(4)Nick B.
We decided to stop and have breakfast Sunday morning before going to get some Christmas toys for the nieces & nephews. We arrived shortly after 8 am. This was great because on the way home from shopping, we drove past about 2 hours later, and the joint was packed. I had what I had seen on yelp as the "garbage plate". The reviewer was correct, it is not on the menu. From what I could gather, it had eggs, red peppers, Itialian sausage, prosciutto, potatoes, cheese maybe. I ordered mine w/o gravy, as I wanted to experience the flavors of the food. My wife had an Itialian fried egg sandwich and potatoes. My entree was great. It came with toast, and was very tasty and flavorful. The fried egg sandwich had red bell peppers on it. My wife said it was good, and she liked the potatoes as well. The service was hit and miss. Even without the church crowd in, the waitress was rushing around. I went to ask for a to go box, from the cashier, when she said she just dropped one off at the table (and that took forever). The food came out fast once she took our order. The atmosphere is what it is. Go for the meal. That's what Amato's is about. You shouldn't go there for the decor. If you care about decor and not your food, go eat someplace with memorabilia covered walls, and crappy burgers. If you want good food, not healthy, but tasty, try Amato's.
(3)Keith G.
Everyone is right. This place is tasty but seriously needs a facelift. It feels like they decorated in 1988 and haven't touched a thing since then. Well, they did add a sun- faded poster of that overly tanned and bleached Food Network fool. The whole visit there were children screaming and running around tables. Parents? Employees? Someone tell these kids "no". It got really hot too. I don't know why they have those '80s style ceiling fans if they are not going to use them. Well, we waited almost and hour for our food. The waitresses are simply not good enough to wait on 4 tables at a time. No one checked on on us for a good 20 minutes. Our coffee was eventually filled by the cashier and my water cup was NEVER filled. I called out to our waitress a few a times and she literally walked right past me. I have never had such terrible service. Our waitress had the "deer in the headlights" look the whole visit. Our table was still dirty from the previous diners. There was a water spill leftover and I was avoiding something sticky on the table the whole visit. They have more business than they can handle. The wait is too long. The service is lacking. No matter how good the ricotta pancakes are the rest of the experience destroys any pleasantness here. This place is simply not run well. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Kim J.
I had heard rave reviews of Amatos from friends, but we really had never gone in. We really didn't know what it was. Then, Amatos becomes famous after being on HGTV's Guy's Big Bite. A morning after a long night out, no kids and wanted somebody to cook me breakfast. We tried to go to Dixie Quicks (they have NEVER been open when we have tried to go there) and wanted to try something different. First off, it was VERY hot in there. It may have had to do with the fact that it was crowded and they were cooking breakfast. We were sat quickly and handed menus. One of the negatives about their menu is that there are many different omelets that have names but no descriptions. We had to ask the waitress about the omelets and she seemed rather annoyed that we would have to ask what was in them. With names like, i think the "sloppy omelet" how would I know? I chose an omelet with their homemade italian sausage. I think my husband got a sausage gravy/biscuit with the homemade sausage as well. Overall, I thought the food was good. The best breakfast ever--no, but good food. Service was fair, it was crowded but our waitress seemed fairly disinterested in us and gave us little attention. If you restaurant has significantly increased business from being on HGTV, update your menu to allow patrons to not have to bother your surly old waitresses or get more waitresses. We'll go back.
(4)Lindsay G.
Quite a dive but the food is excellent. My husband and I both ordered off the breakfast menu so I will focus on that. I got the biscuits and gravy and he the ricotta pancakes with blueberries. The biscuits and gravy was a perfect concoction of salty, savory, and creamy deliciousness on warm crusty biscuits that I just love. The pancakes were amazing-a bit tenative on the ricotta but if my husband liked them then they are a winner (he is not a big fan of ricotta). Other people have mentioned the service but we didn't seem to have any issues, of course it was like 10 am on a friday. For less than 25 bucks we both came away full. That's a winner in my book.
(3)Dennis D.
My son and I were in Omaha for the College World Series so we decided to check this place out since it was on DDD. We went in to have lunch and as I do most of the time at a new place I asked the waitress what she recommended. Her recommendations where the Italian Sausage Sandwich, Tutti Sandwich or the Pancakes. We wanted lunch so I chose the Tutti sandwcih and since they are famous for their Italian Sausage I asked if I could add that to the sandwich. The waitress said absolutely and was very frienndly about it. Our food came out piping hot and I must say it was AMAZING !!! Over the next 4 days my son and I made several of the places in the area that were on DDD or recommended by locals. On our last day in town we decided we had to make another trip back to Amato's because it had been the best place that we had eaten. On our second visit I had the Tutti sandwich without adding the Itialian Sausage to it but rather as a side dish. I also am very fond of Meatballs so I ordered a side meatball. The sandwich was great but when I took the first bite of meatball I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The meatball is not really a meatball but rather a meatblock covered in their smooth red sauce topped with cheese. It is now on my "If I die tomorrow" last meal menu. I'm not a fan of red sauce but their red sauce is off the charts!!!!! My son had the Italian Roast Beef Sandwich and the Italian Steak Sandwich. His favorite was the Italian Steak Sandwich but after trying our side meatball he said that he would order the Meatball Sandwich if we are in Omaha again. I sent a buddy there yesterday and he said his food was amazing as well. I read most of the reviews on this place and a lot of them are not very positive but I noticed that most all of them were reviews on Breakfast Items. I can't say anything about their breakfast items but I do HIGHLY recommend their lunch. The owner Sammy is very friendly and and his wife seemed sweet as well. We had two different waitresses on our visits and both were very friendly and did a good job of waiting on us. I'm a food guy and am very critical when it comes to giving such positive feedback but in my opinion this place deserves it. If I'm ever back in Omaha this place will be the first on my list.
(5)Bert H.
I expected a charming little neighborhood diner with an Italian flair. I knew Guy Fieri had given the restaurant some press when it made it on to his show Diners, Dives and Drive-ins. I expected a little grease, and maybe some chipped coffee mugs or fading photos of the Colosseum. But I had a craving for a heaping plate o' eggs. I thought I was heading to the right place. The reality was something far worse. The coffee could have made Old Man Folgers roll in his grave, the kitchen crew looked like they had been mopping floors at Chipotle the night before, the waitstaff had a fragrance resembling a slight whiff of Virginia Slims mixed with a dab of Enjoli (or was it Charlie?) and the "omelette" I had was a flimsy skin of greasy egg matter stuffed with what appeared to be a sort of salami train wreck. Any shred of credibility Guy Fieri had left was dribbled down his leg once he started hosting that show where women in skin tight halter tops balance ding dongs on their forehead for money. The real drama starts when they bounce ping pong balls off their crotches for the big jackpot.
(1)Neil G.
As usual, Sarah G pretty much nailed it. But I'll add a bit more. Had heard a lot about the berry ricotta pancakes. Finally had a chance to get down there at a decent hour (around 11:30) on a Sunday. Parking was a bit tight but there was no wait (for 2), which surprised me. I looked over the menu but pretty much knew I was getting the pancakes. They've got a lot of the normal breakfast stuff with a few things you might not see on most breakfast menus. Some of the non-breakfast stuff looked good (like a BLT with fried egg) but that wasn't an option (I heard a waitress say they were only serving breakfast). You had the option of adding raspberries, blueberries, or both to the pancakes. I went raspberry. Yes, the service was slow. But that's not to say they weren't hustling. It seemed to me that there were only two waitresses covering both sides of the restaurant. So I give them credit there. We knew going in not to expect a quick meal, so that wasn't a big issue. The pancakes, though, were a bit of a disappointment. There wasn't a shortage of cheese or berries, but the flavor of the cheese just didn't come through for me. It certainly did make them more filling though. Two good-sized pancakes (a normal order) was plenty. As others have said, the prices don't exactly match the somewhat divey atmosphere, especially by Omaha standards. It was about $18 for two orders of pancakes with berries and ricotta and one coffee and one cappuccino. Not terrible, but the value didn't come through for me. The screaming kid factor should also be considered if that is high on your list. There were plenty of kids, though none screaming. The bottom line for me: I've tried Wheatfields, Lisa's Radial Cafe, and now Amato's and I'm still looking for a more-than-average breakfast.
(3)Dan M.
This is not the place to go if your idea of a sandwich is a salad on a bun. This IS the place to go if your idea of a sandwich is meat! And if it is, you won't mind the atmosphere, or lack of it. Give it a try. Just know what your in for.
(4)Corey M.
Triple D gave this place a good review so I gave it a shot. The food is basic and bland. However, the real kicker is that the place is a total dump, and not in a good way. Boring and dirty, pass on this one.
(1)Zachary Sam Z.
My mom and I stopped by here for breakfast today. I was a little cranky since I hadn't had much caffeine at that point. It didn't help that we were running late, so when my omelette came with the peppers that I asked to hold, I had to resort to picking them out. That aside, the omelette had potential, but the eggs were weird to me. A very thin layer of eggs on the outside, which might be appealing, but they tasted off... a little rubbery. Thank goodness my mom had the sense to get the raspberry ricotta pancakes. They make their own ricotta cheese here, and apparently a customer once said, "Hey, put it in a pancake!" Then his girlfriend said, "Hey, I want fruit in my pancakes!" Thus, were the raspberry ricotta pancakes born. And they're pretty darn good. The service is great, and very personable. What Sarah mentioned about the owner coming around to visit with you is true, and it made all the difference to me. Turned my frown upside down! You can tell there's a lot of love behind the running of this place, as well as a lot of pride from the notice they've gotten as a result of being on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. All in all, I say it's well-earned!
(3)Roderick A.
WOW, this place sucked! I was really looking forward to eating at Amato's after seeing it on DDD, but evidently that was just made for TV junk. The service is horrible and the food isn't much better. I'm all for hitting hole in the wall type places that have good food but... THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!
(1)Amanda P.
Unique pancakes. Tasty Italian flavor
(4)Amy C.
I'm only giving 4 stars so far because I've only been able to try one thing on the menu and want to go back and try others. I tried their biscuits and gravy (Italian style) and it was really good and really filling. Only $7.95 too. They make everything from scratch which is great. I wish they served lunch and dinner all the time.
(4)James M.
Wow I'm super full ...1 hr wait for food worth every second.
(5)Erienne W.
Total dive in the best way. The food is great (not great for you). And the staff seems like they are all family. If you close you eyes and try to forget the horrible status of building and it's decor you will really like this place
(3)Tess R.
I recently moved to Omaha, and my friend told me that she saw Amato's on the food network, so I decided to try it out. Too bad it was the afternoon and already closed. This place is only open for breakfast and lunch, here are the hours: M-F 6:30am-1:30pm, S-S 6:30am-1pm. So I waited and went there on a weekday, got there at about 1pm. The waitress seemed a little pissed that we walked in just a little before closing, but told us to sit down. Since the sausage sandwich was supposed to be famous, my bf and I both ordered one, you can get salad or chips with it. I got the salad, basically iceburg lettuce with house/italian dressing. It didn't take too long for our food to come out, and the sandwiches were good. I wouldn't say they were good enough to be on tv for, but good. I really liked the sweet roasted peppers and garlic bread that it was on. And they were a decent price, I think about $5. The servers weren't too friendly, but not rude. I assume it's a family run business since one server was calling the other one "mom", and it appeared that the dad was the owner. I agree that the place is pretty run down. I'm not sure if I would go back all the time, but I definitely want to go back once more to try the ricotta pancakes that everyone is raving about.
(3)Christopher B.
Well if you don't mind a true dive (run-down, somewhat dirty, small, old) or gossipy staff (teenage staff blabbering with their friends about inane things), amato's is a decent find. Indeed I had one of the best meatball heros I've ever had - good portion, tangy meatballs in a relatively sweet red sauce with ample cheese and a good bun, all for an amazingly cheap price.
(3)Maggie Z.
Wow. The blueberry ricotta pancakes were TDF. FYI, that stands for "to die for." I realize that the abbreviation requires the same number of syllables to say, but I knew I would be writing this review, so I thought some shorthand might come in handy. The house-made sausage was also TDF. My fella's Tutti sandwich was TDF. And that warm maple syrup served in a coffee mug? Also TDF.
(5)Miso S.
Blueberry ricotta pancakes w/ sausage for $9.99 were pretty good but overcooked. Sausage was really good! Would be great on pizza.
(3)Suttie S.
Watched this place on DDD and thought wow I need to try this place out and see if it is really as good as Guy says it is. But like some of Guys places he has visited he gives them way more credit than they deserve that is for sure. Service was terrible I waited 20 minutes and then seated myself as they were not busy at all and then waited for about another 20 minutes to get my order in and wish I had walked away when I was thinking about it. I had the italian sandwich with the roasted red peppers on it and was ice cold and asked to get it heated back up and was told they couldn't do it after i had taken a bite out of it and then the owner came over and all he wanted to do was ram the fact that Guy had been here and thought the sandwich was the best he tasted and I proceeded to tell him I watched the episode and Guys sandwich was hot of of the grill and mine wasn't. So say the least I will never be back here again..
(1)Laura E.
I love it! The food is excellent good portions but not scary gigantic. Its decently priced and there isn't usually a wait on the weekends which I love. Downside is service is slow and not that friendly but they have a person dedicated to coffee duty so my cup never went empty. 4 stars everyone else needs to quit being whinny its all about the food.
(4)Royal B.
Cleanliness 2 Service 2 Food Quality 2 Likelihood 0 1-5 (5 Best!) 1.5 The last time I ate at Amato's was for lunch, shortly after they were on Diners, Dives and Drive Ins. It was robust, clean and serving great food. We were greeted with "how many" and a finger point to the table we should sit at. No hello, welcome, hi how are you. The restaurant smelled of sewer gas. The floors were not clean. It was a very bad start to a impression of how things were going to unfold. The order taker did not smile, she was not friendly or courteous. She did have time to share with a regular, and visited about traffic and weather. Our food came. I ordered biscuits and gravy and a pancake. The pancake was hot, fresh and fluffy. Darn good pancake. I took one bite of the gravy and knew it was the nasty canned gravy that you can buy at Sam's Club/Costco. I didn't eat anymore. She came back several times to refill coffee (good job, thank you) and not once did she ask me if there was something wrong. She was clearing plates and I asked if it was canned gravy and she said yes. I said that is not acceptable. She removed it without saying a word. We sat for sometime and she did not bring our check. We had to go stand at the front to get the check. I learned on the way home that the party who paid for the meal was charged for the plate that I didn't eat. I called the restaurant and inquired as to why we were charged for that plate her reply was "we get a lot of compliments about our biscuits and gravy" Yes, that is why only 5 of your tables (out of 25) are seated. She said we didn't give her time to respond? How much time did you need my dear? We were in the restaurant for at least another 10-12 minutes AFTER she removed the plate. Plenty of time for service recovery. The bill was $37 for 3 people. This is ONE location that I will NOT return to, and will caution others not to visit or re-visit. Their time has come and gone. They lost their will to provide quality food, with good service, in a clean restaurant.
(1)Will S.
It's been a while since I've been to Amato's, and I kind of missed it, despite its rickety booths and hodgepodge of plates, silverware and coffee mugs. But once my ricotta-blueberry pancakes arrived with an Italian sausage on the side, I remembered why this place deserves its place atop the list of Omaha's must-try greasy spoons. I mean, where else on earth will you find a menu that combines classic diner fare with Italian comfort food? As divey as Amato's unabashedly is, its gut-busting food and small town charm make up for it -- I mean come on, there always seems to be a server whose only task is bouncing from dining room to dining room and refreshing customers' coffee. (On a side note, they should also send that same person around with some water pitchers. Coffee is God, but quite a few of us are a little extra dehydrated on Sunday mornings thanks to the good times we had the night before.) So how was my meal? Well, you have to try the ricotta pancakes at least once before you die. They're light, think and rich in flavor. The creamy ricotta binds together the slight sweetness of the berries. It's so simple yet inventive. Culinary genius. Still it's a little sad they serve them with syrup that is of the corn variety. I'd totally pay $.50 to a $1 more for pure maple syrup. Anyway, we'll look past that by adding a little spice to the dish with a link of house-made Italian sausage to contrast the flavors and make this a perfect meal, no doubt completed with a bottomless cup of coffee.
(4)Scott F.
This is my main breakfast stop almost every time I'm in Omaha. I have tried everything on the menu I think. My go to, is the polpette. It's a meatball that they smash on the griddle, cover it with roasted red pepper sauce and cheese. It is served with some grilled potatoes, 2 eggs your style, and some Orsi bread. I also usually get a half order of the biscuits and Italian sausage gravy. That is a show stopper by itself. The service is always quick and good. The coffee is very basic. The only reason that I don't give it 5 stars, is that it is your typical greasy spoon. The coffee cups don't match, it's kind of dirty, and I always wipe the silverware before diving in. To some, that would probably merit about 3 stars. I believe in the quality vs. quantity. The food is very consistent and great! I will be back, again and again!
(4)Frank S.
Pancakes were worth the hype that we saw on Man v. Food and the "mistake omelette" was a very good surprise . Great local feel inside as well. You can tell they have very loyal customer base.
(4)Keli A.
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, what could be any better than a delicious breakfast? We made the mistake of going to Amatto's. Granted it was busy, service just lacked immensely. Even when it slowed down. There was no warm smile from the cashier upon entering the restaurant and the server was even colder. I was further disappointed by the meal presented to me. I ordered two eggs (over medium, but they came very runny) toast, (bland) potatoes, and (burned) Italian steak. The food wasn't great to me. My girlfriend had the same thing except she chose Italian sausage. The flavor was good, but .... It was cold. I could've gotten over the dying plants in the window sill or the dirty salt and pepper shakes that obviously haven't been cleaned in months.. Perhaps even the insincere hospitality of some of the staff members...... If only the food would have been better than what I get at Jimmys Egg. I don't think I'll ever go back.
(2)Michelle F.
Family owned operated restaurant. He is Italian and knows how to cook.Enough said. Go or don't go I don't care but when I'm in Omaha this is my breakfast spot. Ricotta pancakes, yum
(5)Moira R.
The ricotta pancakes are amazing and huge - they are perfect for sharing. I have also tried the Italian style biscuits and gravy (the Itialian style means it is made with their homemade sausage). The biscuits and gravy are delicious! Just the right amount of spices. This place is a traditional diner and the atmosphere is very casual. It can get very busy on weekends. The food is good, though, and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Mark A.
I LOVE big breakfasts, and I am not a real picky eater. Here is my take on a recent visit to this Aksarben area landmark. Parking- not a lot, and not well marked, but there is more on the sides and back. Friendliness- the waitstaff is VERY nice and knows the regulars. Cleanliness- there are two sides. Neither is sparkling, the the 'right hand' side is noticeable yuckier. Not actually dirty, mind you, but a couple notches lower than I am really comfortable with. Ambiance- mix and match settings and such is not a big deal, door staff sort of points you towards a table rather than seating you, lots of personal touches (where are you from map, reviews, memorabilia, antiques, etc.) If the ceiling tiles were not so groady and the walls not quite so... yuck it would be charmingly offbeat. Food quality- OK to fantastic. Homemade Italian sausage, fresh berries in the pancakes, etc. My wife loved her dish, but I thought the riccota pancakes, while huge and fluffy, were not all that great (not really any better than what we make at home with a mix and blueberries) and I felt my sausage was pretty dry. Price/value- 2 huge pancakes and a big sausage, berries for $10.45. For a pancake meal, I felt it was a bit high, especially since the pancakes were just OK however it is in line or even cheap for other places in the area. All said, there are other places in the area I would rather go... but I may go back and try the Volcano- sucker looks delicious!
(3)Kari R.
Got an order of blueberry ricotta pancakes to go. They sure were tasty and fluffy!
(3)Sophie C.
I followed the recommendation and went with the ricotta pancake, which was a little disappointing. I plan to try the pancake with blueberry next time.
(3)Mike H.
Had the "Mail Man" and the 3-2-1 this morning, absolutely delicious and abundant. Service was a little spotty, but the hostess kept everything on track. This is a great breakfast diner, but not a greasy spoon - that wouldn't give it the credit it deserves for the great fare.
(4)Rachel S.
If you want a casual atmosphere with yummy food to warm your tummy then this is the place for you! Greasy spoon breakfast (never been for lunch) and never a bad bite. The service is friendly and casual. A lot of people have high expectations of this place because it has been popularized in the media. You aren't getting it. They aren't reinventing something here just giving you a great casual vibe and yummy, borderline tacky food to go along with it. The palate doesn't need to be and shouldn't be sophisticated when walking in. Put on your yoga pants and ugg boots, sit down for a hot cup of coffee and enjoy the ones your are with!
(4)Bob A.
I used to love this place and I still go often, however, there has been a decline. I dropped Amatos 1 star from my previous rankings. I love the concept of the Italian breakfast diner and enjoy a number of the items on the menu. It seems that the attention to detail and cleanliness are really falling off. I always appreciated a old-school diner but there are boundaries. I am not telling them to remodel, just fix what is broke! As for the food, cook what people order... the way they order it. I am hoping that the new UNO Arena will breath new life into an old favorite.
(3)Hannah H.
My sister and I came here to grab some breakfast. It was a very cute old-school type of a restaurant where it seems a lot of locals come. We shared a 2 Eggs, Polpette, Potatoes & Toaste with a side of Italian sausage. The Sauce Supreme Garlic Hot Sauce was a great complement to the breakfast platter; the diced potatoes on the side were okay, and the polpette meatball sausage itself was juicy and had melted tomato and mozzarella cheese on top. The side of sausage was tasty as well and you can see the spices that it contained - nice and savory. Service was very friendly! +polpette +Sauce Supreme Garlic Hot Sauce +friendly staff
(4)Alana W.
We've been meaning to try Amato's for a long time, since it's just down the street and was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The atmosphere was just as I expected: family-style, not trying too hard, lots of character. There was only one server so she was a little busy and short with customers at times, but very friendly with the regulars. As for the food, the Italian sausage and pepper sandwich was heaven in my mouth. The blueberry ricotta pancakes were enormous and delicious. The texture was almost eggy at times due to the ricotta, but it was good. The side order of ham was huge! Sidenote: The shirt that Guy Fieri signed was hanging right above us and I had to laugh because "Restaurant" was misspelled "Restarant". As an English teacher and grammar nerd, I cringed. I wonder if Guy noticed... We will definitely be back!
(4)Connie S.
Orsi's toast. Thick cut slices of crispy bacon. Ricotta pancakes. italian steak and Italian sausage. This is what lures me to Amato's on a Sunday morning. It will be busy. The interior is worn. it could be 1960. This is the atmosphere that lures me to Amato's on a Sunday morning. Real food in a real place. Family owned and family run. No cute food or trendiness in sight.
(4)Alyssa M.
This has got to be awarded with the worst restaurant in Omaha award! I've tried this place three times. Went with one other person... he hated it. Next time- I went with 2 other people... they hated it. FINAL time- I went with one other person... he hated it! Cleanliness D Food D Service D So, I've tried the Ricotta Cheese Pancakes... they were ... about a 2 star. Not great at all. I tried the Italian Steak... which is Pork.. It was about a 1 star. The cheese on both the meat and the eggs were processed and not real. Used American on the eggs. I didn't think of asking if the cheese was real when I ordered it because it was an ITALIAN restaurant. And that is unheard for an Italian restaurant to use processed cheeses. My husband had a BLT with an egg... processed cheese. He hated it! I sent that meal back. I asked for toast... they said they were out of the bread they use and I could order it with wheat bread. I declined. And order the ricotta pancakes.... it wasn't the best. They should have taken my order OFF my bill. But the waitress said... "do you want to order something else... free of charge" So that let me know that they were still going to charge me for the horrible Italian Steak! So of course, I ordered something so I wouldn't go hungry... and that was horrible too. Waste of $20. I don't think it was great customer service seeing as though I did not like my food and they were out of food! Also-- They have several menu items and figurines in the restaurant that say Tutti.... Since, Tutti is a nickname of another Yelper ;) I asked who Tutti was... since it was so significant to them. The waitress acted like I asked her a weird question... and blew it off and said "ugh I don't know..." When my husband and I were finished eating... we saw two employees EATING FOOD with their bare hands and then began making food with those same hands! EWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!! I will discourage others from coming here! Service wasn't good. Food sucked!
(1)Loki R.
Amazing Riccota pancakes with mixed berries. I also had the Italian Sausage. Fantastic. Also loved the salad with house dressing. I showed at 1pm Thursday and got in immediately and food was served quickly and very hot. Excellent experience.
(5)Cecilia H.
My husband I love it here! The atmosphere isn't much. It's a greasy spoon with an Italian twist. I love that the coffee mugs are mix-match and hilarious. Yesterday, my husband got the mug that says, "Life's a b****. Then you turn 40." Ha. We drive all the way from Fremont for breakfast here on the weekends. I love the blueberry ricotta pancakes, and my husband loves every omelette he's tried, especial The Mistake, The Tutti, and The Italian. Service is nothing special, but we never wait long, and we always get exactly what we order. They let you order a la carte as well, so I like to get just one ricotta pancake and a side of eggs.
(5)Sam R.
Heard about this place on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives so we sought it out while in Omaha. I have to say it was not what I expected but it was good. We all got sandwiches even though breakfast seemed the norm, and they were all good. I had ham and cheese with provolone. Meat was good, cheese was good, bread was good. Nothing to complain about other than the fact that the waitress forgot my chips. She was nice about it when we let her know though, so it was all good. I wasn't in a rush to get them anyway. This definitely a different little divey joint. I liked it, but I didn't really love it. It didn't have that wow factor, but maybe if we had gotten breakfast it would have.
(4)Jim G.
Great little spot, hit it while on a trip to the wonderful Midwest. Took other reviewers advice and we just slid to the right.... didn't want to get in trouble. Ate Breakfast and it was GREAT. Volcano (think that's right) is a Biscuit and Gravy lovers wet dream. Plate was overflowing with gravy which had a great flavor, biscuits were very good as well. Pancakes are the size of your Plate, actually just barely fit. Were tasty but because they are so big and thick may appear to be a little chewy. But dang do they fill you up. Mistake omelet is NO MISTAKE. Loved the flavor combination of roasted peppers, ham and Italian Sausage with cheese. Italian Sausage, after tasting what was included in my omelet, I really wish I had ordered a huge hunk of it on the side. Incredibly Good and can't wait to go back and get a Sausage Sandwich, Pizza or whatever else I can throw this on. GREAT FLAVOR.
(4)Mario Z.
My first visit to Amato's .... And my last one. Food is very poor quality. I ordered the spaghetti and meat balls which was tasteless. My daughter ordered the pasta marinara sauce wAs mostly water. I forgot to mention we stopped eating when we noticed the dead flies and bugs on the window ledge... Wish i could assign no stars...
(1)Mike W.
Great place to grab a bite to eat. The Italian Sausage sandwich was simply delicious! A lot of flavor and they keep it simple. Bread, roasted peppers and sausage and that's all you need to enjoy this sandwich. We also tried the ricotta and blueberry pancakes which were tasty but the texture catches you off guard at first but are still good. Be warned they are very large!
(4)Jane S.
Good hot chocolate, slow service and tasteless ricotta pancakes wirth equally tasteless syrup. I was looking forward to the sausage, also very dry and tasteless. My husband has the blueberry pancakes and said they were good. I am not sure how the syrup could be so tasteless. Won't be back, not a good value to take food home only to throw it out.
(2)Bobby Y.
Enjoyed a fantastic breakfast at Amato's. Had it not been for the television show ( youtu.be/EYGwdZcD_8A ), I probably never would have stopped into this dive. Oddly, of all the dives I've seen on the show, most I could care less, but I was drawn to this one. Perhaps it's because the owner Sam reminds me of an uncle or family patriarch. I love finding restaurants that cook good food from scratch with real ingredients. Mom & Pop breakfast places are tough to find anymore. I doubt you'll find home made sausage or ricotta at a Denny's or Bob Evans. Favorite dish was the pancakes, also loved that they didn't skimp on ham. Plus, when I asked for potatoes without onion or seasoning they gladly obliged, although that's probably sacrilege in a Sicilian breakfast joint like this. I gave Amato's 4-stars for food and service. Didn't hit 5-stars as the dining room is truly a dump. Perhaps that's part of what attracts a lot of customers to this Omaha gem. Don't miss the map when you walk in the door. They have pins from people all over the states that have visited.
(4)Staci S.
It's a love it or hate it kind of place. If you love it, you're easy going and love some good old fashioned comfort breakfast. You're not put off by the mismatched plates & cups or gruff service. In fact, you sort of like it. You can tell that it's a spot where you'd become a regular and they'd know what you order and call you hun. I had no complaints on the food. What I expected was what I got and was what I was in the mood for. It's a small mom & pop diner that's been around forever. It's old. It's simple. It's large greasy-spoon portions to fill your hangover face. High maintenance people, stay away!
(4)Wil G.
Never ever coming to the dirty nasty place again. The cooks are filthy and not following basic sanitary health laws.
(1)Rob M.
If anyone ever says that Amato's delivers a meal or dining experience that doesn't take you back and leave you smiling do not listen to them. They have no affinity for the simple things in life that leave you breathless. Personally I suggest the Ricotta Cheese and Blueberry pancakes, and the Volcano.
(5)Guy F.
It was a solid breakfast and the service was nice. Seemed like there were some regulars there and the place had a good vibe. A nice stop on our roadtrip. I had the volcano - so much gravy! Overall this place was good and worth a visit if in town
(4)Lidia J.
We stopped by after seeing the write up in Triple D. We ordered the famous ricotta pancakes with triple berries and a half biscuits and gravy italian style. Both were delicious.
(4)Erik L.
I wanted to try this place out because the food here looked good. Unfortunately that never happened and never will due to poor service. I walked in and waited a few seconds before sitting down. I figured you seat yourself here since no one said anything to me when I walked in. So a minute goes by and someone comes along to take my drink order. She comes back with it and then grabs a few coffee pots and cups from another table. She comes back to my table hands full and asks what I wanted. I told her I need a minute. I was deciding between two items and wanted to quickly ask her which item she thought was better. I didn't want her standing there waiting on me with her hands full while I asked. I think taking orders like that is unprofessional to begin with but I digress. She comes back to get my order and before I can even finish talking, a bell goes off and she cuts me of mid sentence and says "I have to go attend to that bell." and takes off. I am assuming the bell indicated that someone's food was ready. First off, I should state that there were three servers there all together and that this place was not that busy either. Even if they were understaffed and busy, I still don't see how that would justify completely blowing off a customer just to attend to another one. I doesn't take that long to take an order. I find what happened to be quite rude and unacceptable. I waited a few moments afterwards and then just left. Why would I want to eat at a place with such poor customer service? because of that I will never come here again. If the staff here can get it together I would be willing to try again. But after my experience here and reading other reviews about their service, I just don't see that happening.
(1)Jenna C.
My flight was canceled and I was stuck with a 24 hour layover. So we went to Amato's after seeing it on DD&D and MvF. The food was pretty good, standard diner fare. Though, I ordered a BLT and was told they were "out of lettuce." Really? Out of lettuce at 12:30 pm? When everyone's food was dropped, the waitress came back and said someone ran out to the store and got lettuce, so did I want that BLT now. Well, yes. Yes I did. It's not hard to fry an egg and bacon, and throw it on a sandwich, but somehow it took nearly 20 minutes to create, and everyone was done by the time I got my food. It was soaked in such grease, I went through two napkins soaking it up. The service was horrible and slow. That being said, I'm from the NE where everything is fast paced. She was friendly enough, but dear Lord....please hurry up! The bathrooms are weird - enough said. Overall, I suppose the food was good. I'm not entirely sure why it was featured on two Food Network shows, but oh well. I wouldn't go back, but I'm also hoping to never be stranded again.
(2)Vernon A.
This place started as a small fair stand. Sammy Amato has been making his own sausage since was a child. The home- made Italian sausage was the best I have ever had. The pancakes were excellent!
(4)Daisuke T.
Oh Guy Fieri, why did you let me down? Family reunion in Omaha meant that I could eat on my family's bill and not subsist on instant noodle. Unfortunately, Amato's was rather unremarkable. I ordered the Gut Buster, an omelet with Italian meats and spicy pepper. Great on the menu, bland on the plate. I rarely put on condiments because I want to enjoy the flavors, but had to add Louisiana Hot Sauce just to add some zing. The ricotta pancakes were an interesting novelty on the menu but gave little in terms of flavor. My uncle ordered the breakfast Italian sandwich that was a complete ripoff. The $6 sandwich literally only took up a third of the small plate. The tiny sandwich could only fill a toddler. The only redeeming dish for breakfast was the Italian sausage gravy with biscuits. The Italian sausage imparted the gravy a warm savoriness. Service was average as they filled my water cup without asking. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives rarely steer me wrong when visiting a new city. However Amato's turned out to be a sad, sad disappointment on a cold, snow filled day.
(2)Shannon G.
Food was okay. It seemed kinda pricey for the amount of food you get. Service was good. I understand it is a "dive" but really expected more.
(3)Craig W.
super slow. It didn't live up to the hype. But overall I am happy that I went here.
(3)Pepper P.
I would go back.. I got the ricotta and blueberry pancakes that everyone was talking about.. they are very good. I'm not sure if they served me coffee or tea.. either way, it was too weak for me to enjoy... I like something with a backbone. The service is indeed slow.. Its just a couple old birds in there doing their damnedest to keep ahead of the tables. I have a feeling they've been there a long time. You can't be mad at them... just don't go there when you're in a hurry. The only thing I really didn't like was there is no counter. For me, that blows... I like to go and meet the locals.. I am traveling, ya know?
(3)Heather H.
I had lunch here with three friends today. I got the half Super Italian salad and garlic bread, they all got the lasagna. When the food came all three lasagnas were cold in the center (so at least they are consistent) so the waitress popped them back in the microwave right in front of us (there were three microwaves). When the food came back it was steaming but the cheese on top was not any more melted than it had been before. All three also said the lasagna was rather tasteless. My salad was swimming in vinegar and the smell was so strong my eyes were watering. The only other thing I could taste other than vinegar was peppers. It was like they were unable to give the food flavor so they settled on giving it tons of heat instead. I will definitely not be returning.
(1)Amy O.
What a unique place to go for breakfast! Real Italian-style sausage and ricotta pancakes. It's a great experience! It provides a very small diner feel.
(4)Jack C.
My fiance and I dined at Amato's yesterday morning for brunch, and we were not disappointed! We both had the Ricotta Pancakes with Blueberries; she had a side of ham, while I had a side of their Italian sausage and breakfast potatoes. Outstanding! Despite the fact that it was very busy, we were seated immediately. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive; even got to meet Sammy Amato while we were there! I can't understand why this place gets such bad press on here. I guess everyone's experience is different, but ours was great. We will definitely be back!
(4)Shawn G.
There are a lot of things for me not to like about Amato's. The service is slow. The restaurant is a bit rundown; you'll find yourself playing reverse tug-of-war with the people sitting in the next booth down. They don't serve lunch every day. The potatoes served with breakfast aren't hasbrowns. There are also a lot of things to like about the place, though. The ricotta blueberry pancakes are delicious and huge. The bacon is perfectly cooked. The omlettes are amazing. The service, while sometimes slow, is friendly. The owner is always there, friendly and chatting up his customers. The price is fair. The potatoes, while not hashbrowns, are still tasty. Amato's is a bit of a mixed bag, so I can see why some people would be turned off by the experience here. But I still recommend it to anyone looking for breakfast in the area.
(3)Juliet Y.
Totally awesome pancakes! The blueberries were plump and flavorful and the sausage was great too! The place has a really comforting atmosphere and is full of really friendly regulars.
(4)Keith C.
Me and my girlfriend have come here a couple times for breakfast. The wait on a Sunday morning was nothing short of ridiculous. However the food is decent and I find their Italian style biscuits and gravy to be quite good. The sausage gravy is not fresh though, I saw an employee warm it up in a microwave. And I feel the price is a little too steep for what you get. Regardless I will probably come back.
(3)James V.
We stopped in for brunch because my brother's housemate works weekends here for his uncle. And because it's great! Two conversations summarize my love for it. 1. After my brother introduced us to the owner, he turns to my wife, looks her in the eye for a few seconds, pokes her in the shoulder with a meaty finger, says, "Berry ricotta pancakes," and walks away. 2. After seeing a big plate of eggs, potatoes, and sausage go by to one of the regulars, I learn that it's called the "Plate of Garbage" and that it's not on the menu. So of course I have to order it. Waitress: "Do you want gravy with that?" James, disgusted and delighted about the idea of adding gravy to a platter of greasy eggs: "Yes. Yes I DO want gravy with that." Both dishes were good, coffee was hot and kept coming. I don't remember if it was a bargain, but we had a good time with good food in a fun atmosphere.
(4)Brian B.
We was refused service at the door, by some waitress. The open sign was still lit and it was 5 mins before closing with 20 people still inside. So service was shitty to say the least and the waitress needs to be fired if she cant do her job!
(1)David M.
After Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, I decided to try it out. It's a madhouse at the entrance - no waiting area. The ceiling panels are either in really poor condition or missing. A 45 min. wait for food and it was really mediocre. Much better suited for Restaurant Impossible!
(1)Sarah G.
I'm not really a huge fan of breakfast in general, so I don't go out to breakfast too often. Last time we went, they had the triple-berry ricotta pancakes on special, which we ordered two of. The steak omelet was also great with two kinds of meat and sweet peppers. Service was somewhat slow, so don't go here expecting a quick in and out experience. But Sammy Amato wanders around the restaurant talking to regulars, friends and new customers alike so you can give him direct feedback if you want. And, while I'd definitely qualify Amato's as a dive, it doesn't have 'dive' pricing, at $10 for the triple berry pancakes. And be prepared for some 'screaming kid' potential as well. It is what it is. I really wanted to try the Italian Biscuits and Gravy, but there was some miscommunication in the kitchen and it never got made. Lucky for us because the other food was more than enough.
(3)Peter W.
Have to give it four stars for overall experience! I will return! I went (with my wife) expecting little, based on reviews I've read here and other places. However,the food was very good, presentation efficient and clean, and service timely refilled our drinks. We had the "garbage plate" and ricotta pancakes with raspberries. We split the former between two of us and two large (huge) pancakes were more than enough for two people. Food was warm and tasted fresh. At the same time, I do note limited parking and slow cleaning of the tables (and the floor) especially after customers who haven't been potty trained yet. Read the reviews, but don't be afraid to check it out--you may be pleasantly surprised!
(4)Rachael L.
Amato's is delicious! The service, not so great, that is why they only get 4 stars. Many times I've sat and wondered where our food or coffee is, but the food makes up for it. So don't go there for the service, go because you can't beat the ricotta pancakes! I love them with raspberries, but the blueberries are good as well. They also have seasonal ones, so this time of year you can try pumpkin. Amato's also makes their own sausage, link and italian. These are outstanding! If you aren't a sweet breakfast person, try the omelettes. Their three cheese one is what I would start with, but the Italian omelette is great and has the sweet peppers! I also love the bread they give you for toast, it isn't your standard sandwich bread it is some crusty italian loaf.
(4)Greg D.
Not all it's cracked up to be. I've heard great things about Amato's, but unfortunately, my first experience there will probably be my last. I give it two stars for food quality (decent at best, not great), but the service was unnecessarily ABYSSMAL. First, the food. My wife and I tried the pumpkin ricotta pancakes, with Italian sausage and an egg, and our son had eggs, bacon, toast and potatoes. The pancakes were different but pretty decent. Italian sausage and egg, meh. The bacon was undercooked and very fatty. Pretty typical greasy-spoon fare. I was frankly surprised by the awful service. I mean, it's not that hard for a small, local, family-owned restaurant to be friendly to its customers, is it? Our server was very nice, but after she took our order, we didn't see her again. Not even a "How's your food?", "Can I get you anything?", or "May I clear your dirty plates?" I had to walk around the restaurant with an empty coffee cup, like a panhandler searching for a few meager coins, before someone woke up and came around for refills. The woman who brought our meals was apparently unhappy we were there, as she seemed very dour and didn't say a word when she delivered the plates. Her scowl said it all. Dirty plates literally waited for us to leave before they were to be cleared. Omaha has too many good restaurants to waste your time and tips on this one.
(2)