Amato's in Carlisle

Definitely the best Italian in Carlisle! Every time we go, we are never disappointed, each starter and main meal are simply divine, we’re always too full to get a pudding! Tonight we had mussels and meatballs to start, then cod risotto and sea bass. The mussels are in a large bowl and very tasty, exceptional value - I sometimes ask for these as a main meal. My husband said the meatballs were delicious. The cod risotto is an absolute treat, crispy skin, soft and tasty flesh, and the risotto compliments the cod exceptionally well. My husband had the sea bass, and again just mouth watering! Beautiful meal, excellent service and reasonable! Thank you Amatos for being so amazing, you are our favourite Italian in town and we will be back!

A lovely Italian restaurant in the centre of Carlisle. We were very pleased that they were able to give us a table at short notice. The food and service were excellent - truly Italian.

What a great find! the staff member who greeted & served us was very warm and friendly. Drinks (reasonably priced) were brought quickly and there was a good range of choices in all categories. The prawn/pancetta in creamy sauce starter was to die for. I had salmon risotto and my husband had salmon tagliatelle, both delicious and far too filling for us to manage a dessert! Would definitely recommend.

We were a little disappointed.The staff were lovely .We turned up without a booking and were found a table. We have been numerous times before but not for a while.I ordered bruscetta which was tasty ,hubby had goats cheese but came with v basic salad could of had a small piece of bread or something .I then had Cod loin and risotto which was presented on a plate with spoon .The cod was hard and overcooked and the risotto was bland and dry . Hubbies carbonara was quite nice .The sweets werent good £7. for the tiniest piece of tiramisu and I had £6 scoop of vanilla ice cream . All in all so disappointing as we used to love this place.

After a 400 mile drive up from Devon we were hungry, and this restaurant didn't disappoint. It was very popular, service was prompt, our waiter was friendly and efficient, and the food delicious. Prices are very reasonable as well. Well worth a visit.

Amazing restaurant, a very cozy atmosphere. The wait staff were very attentive and didn’t need to be asked to refill water, bring new cutlery after starters or fetch the card machine. We watched them clear and reset a table in less than 5 minutes after the previous guests had left, everyone was very efficient. The food was very good and cooked quickly. We had starters and a main and were in and out in under an hour and yet we didn’t feel rushed at all. We will definitely be returning.

We visited based on a recommendation from a friend. We had family over from Ireland and wow, we were not disappointed at all! The restaurant setting and ambience is perfect. Tables are a good distance away from other tables so you can have a conversation without hearing the next tables conversation. The restaurant is very clean and well presented. The staff were fantastic from the minute we arrived, very polite and attentive - the service is second to none. Food was absolutely fantastic too - couldn't fault anything! We all had a great evening and can't wait to return in the future. Thank you team Amato's!!

Booked a table for a family member’s birthday having dined here before. Once again the food was excellent. Fresh, full of flavour and very pleasing portions. The staff were very polite, engaging and unobtrusive whilst being attentive enough to ensure we had everything we needed. This restaurant never fails to deliver and we will be returning.

We were doing a 100 mile cycle from Carlisle to Edinburgh and booked the restaurant for dinner ahead of setting off! The staff were amazing and let us store our bikes in a locked yard to enjoy our meal without worry! The food and service was excellent, we will definitely be booking again for the event next year! Well done team, you gave us the best start possible for our big challenge!

We stopped in for dinner and had a great meal. We had the spicy Sicilian sausage appetizer along with the olives. We enjoyed both. I had spaghetti with meatballs for dinner which was delicious. Everyone else enjoyed their meals as well. We left very satisfied. The prices were reasonable and the service very good. The restaurant’s decor and ambiance was inviting also.

I've have been twice recently with two different sets of friends and the food and service both times were excellent. Very friendly helpful staff.

Tasty, filling, great atmosphere. very clean restroom, lovely staff. spacious dining, tables decently spaced apart. food came out at a suitable time. not a long wait at all but not too quick. warm welcoming, seated quickly. clear menu with plenty of choices. we recommend!

Tucked away restaurant with a nice ambience, no loud music inside. Mussels starter was delicious, pizza good and dessert good. Service was friendly and attentive. Recommended.

Dietary requirements absolutely no issue here. Their gluten free dishes have to be tried to be believed, never had a gluten free pizza like this anywhere. Welcoming service, cheery staff, spotlessly clean everywhere. Great to be able to see into the calm but extremely busy kitchen.

Whilst the restaurant decor is nice, I cannot say the same for the food. I had a prawn which had not been deveined, thank goodness I spotted it, and the risotto was just stodge, not at all soft and creamy. Ordered drinks were forgotten and service was slow despite it being a quiet Tuesday night. Sorry can't recommend.

Friendly staff, pleasant atmosphere, good food. What more can you want? We stopped in when passing through Carlisle. Menu is varied with both traditional and slightly different options, food was served promptly and was delicious. Staff were friendly.

Visited with my husband recently before we went to an event at the Brickyard. We were welcomed and Shown to a table on arrival and the service the food, The presentation was absolutely superb. Lovely atmosphere, nice and bustling and busy. Very modern and clean , nicely maintained with an up market vibe. Will return with more of our family

This was a meal for our son' 30 th birthday, the meal was ok, not fantastic, just ok. Now the main point i'm going to make is that the owner, i presume she was the lady with the short dark hair and glasses, did not visit a single table to ask if everything was ok with the meal and if everyone was happy. Its just about raking it in because eventually people will stop going, they will notice the lack of service and for the price of it there needs to be better service. The young waitresses did an excellent job but it's not their business. So my advise is Mrs Amato, get yourself out there and address your customers please.

We visit here often as a family the food is always delicious & service great. We are usually recognised as regulars making us feel welcome. The prices are reasonable although we really miss the delicious bread that used to be given for free while waiting, I assume rising costs have meant that this can no longer be offered.

We have eaten here many times this year as really can't fault it! Food is consistently lovely and all staff are welcoming, efficient and friendly. Ambience is really nice and feeling of spaciousness due to thoughtful layout. We look forward to dining in Amatos next year!

A warm and friendly welcome. We had pre-ordered but were not rushed. Fantastic table near the log burner. Our food was excellent, hot and very tasty. Portion sizes were commented on as being very good by the whole group of us. Service was unobtrusive yet attentive and always with a smile. We will certainly return as the menu has a strong offering and we all had a very enjoyable lunch.

Great atmosphere and delicious food. Staff greeted us with a warm welcome, were attentive, knowledgeable and efficient . What a great team you have at Amatos - keep up the good work!

We have been going to Amato's for years and the food is always delicious and the service warm and friendly. It's one of our favourite restaurants. The affogato is the perfect way to end a hearty Sicilian meal!

Super meals everyone enjoyed. Staff lovely. Steak cooked to perfection. You got to try the roast potatoes.

Visited here last night. Everything about the place impressed us so much. Initially had table booked much later than we had wanted but they phoned as soon as our table was available so we could go earlier. Nice touch. Greeted by staff who you could tell actually enjoy working there. The girl that took our drink order (sorry never got your name) very pleasant. Our waitress for the evening was Evie. What an absolute asset to the restaurant she is. Polite, friendly, attentive as were all the staff. On to the food - had the best garlic mushrooms I've ever had. Partner had meatballs in the most tasty tomato sauce. I had sea bass. Absolutely gorgeous. Served with roast vegetables cooked to perfection. Partner had spaghetti bolognese. Again, cooked to perfection and so so tasty. Had garlic pizza as a side. Too full for a dessert!!! The restaurant was full when we arrived but not too noisy. Table spacing is perfect so that you're not sat on top of one another. Cooking area is open so you can see the chefs at work. Will definitely be back. And soon. We can not recommend this place enough

Called in on Saturday for lunch and took advantage of the Happy Hour offer. The pizza and pasta we ordered were delicious and an absolute bargain. Service was speedy and friendly. Will call again.

Just fabulous each time we visit. A favourite for our family and friends. We regularly visit. Good delicious and staff friendly

Popped in for lunch today for the first time and was delighted by the relaxing decor, the cleanliness and by the friendliness and efficiency of service. The pizzas were flavoursome especially the pizza special and the coffee by Lavazza was of a high quality. The only disappointment was the mixed salad based on iceberg lettuce; expected something a bit more exciting such as Lollo Rosso or radicchio. Will certainly return!

Amato’s never disappoints. We’ve been here many times and it always seems to be able to maintain its high standards. Staff are friendly and welcoming. Food is very good. The atmosphere was probably better than any other restaurant in town during a lunchtime service.

Good service but the food was a major letdown. Pizza - ok-ish, other dishes - just awful. The muscles tasted like they were from an *old* frozen bag. The "white wine sauce" was just a very large dollop of double cream at the bottom of the dish. No flavour, no seasoning, no respect for Italian cuisine. Shame.

Went on Thursday night and they were fairly steady, i like the relax ambience of the place , it was nicely decor’d Starters were nice and the usual type found in an Italian ie mozzarella , meatballs and i had the potato gnocchi. All four of us had pizza’s and they were spot on , nice and thin and tasty. Staff were really good. Would definitely go again if we are back in Carlisle.

This restaurant has a great location, lots of space inside and an open kitchen. The service is excellent and the food is delicious. This is the second time I have been and will now be using Amatos exclusively.

We visited as a family following a graduation ceremony and were not disappointed at all. The restaurant itself is perfectly situated just behind the cathedral so a short walk from where everything was going on. We booked in advance so we knew we would have...

We came here for lunch. I had a pasta dish with sicilian sausage and fennel. It was nice but had a slight burnt taste to it even though I couldn't see anything burnt in it. Kids menu is good - any adult pasta dish can...

Absolutely delicious seafood risotto and also melanzana mains. Just visiting Carlisle for the evening,a very nice restaurant. Cheese board for deserts, wines were very nice too. Staff were very friendly and attentive, we were next to the kitchen and super impressed with the Teamwork. Our...

We booked here on the back of other reviews and were really happy with the experience. Staff were great throughout. Great choice of dishes - pizza, pasta, meat and fish. We went for lasagne and steak - both were really good. Sweets very nice too....

Excellent Scilian influenced food, good value with a pleasant ambiance amd first class service. A great menu with a range of choices, including superb risotto.

Family meal for us. Food is amazing, staff brilliant. So friendly and helpful. 5 star restaurant every time we come here! Lovely cosy atmosphere.

Lovely interior and very clean. The goats cheese risotto was quite tasteless and the pizza was nice but underwhelming. Some of the staff looked happy to be there but others look bored and offered no smile or eye contact. Many thanks

I often find it strange, that most "Italian" restaurants offer Pasta only as a main course; when in point of fact Italians would always have this as a starter, when going out for a meal. We had a portion of Linguini with salmon, split between...

We visited on Friday 27 January, and there was seven in our party. We booked for 5.45 as we were going to the Old Fire Station to see Prince (obviously not the real Prince 😂). As always, the food was delicious- service was great, reasonably...

We visited tonight for a pre- theatre meal and our experience was superb from start to finish. I had previously emailed to check if they could cater for one of our party who cannot have gluten or lactose in their diet - in the emails...

All excellent, and I am picky! No problem sharing the delicious sea bass risotto, 2 plates were brought and a serving spoon. The linguine dish with fennel was also very tasty. Service was excellent throughout.

Fantastic meal out with family to celebrate passing my degree. Food and service was amazing. Staff incredibly helpful. My mum really struggles with mobility issues and was having problems with the stairs, but one member of staff in particular was so friendly and patient, assisting...

Came here with my family for a lunch time. Food was good. The restaurant was very busy so it took a bit of time for the food to come but that's expected.

Had another wonderful meal with friends at Amatos. Well looked after by all the staff, food excellent. Keep up the good work Rosa and Fillipo!

We had a fabulous meal at Amato’s. The staff were v attentive and well informed especially as I have a garlic allergy. Brilliant buzzing atmosphere. Just fabulous we’ll be back soon x we visited as a family with friends x

Mmm mixed review. We booked a table early on and the lighting was extremely bright (no ambient lighting and not in the least romantic) and a lot of children were in (but fair enough, it was early and all well behaved no tantrums or screaming)....

Booked in here for an early dinner - and recommend prebooking - it's a popular place. Really nice atmosphere and ambience. Menu is really authentic, with additional specials. We opted for pizzas - they were excellent.

Service was great...however food is awful...just really really bad. Everything was bland or cooked in enough cream to make it almost inedible.. no finesse to the cooking what so ever. Food wasn't seasoned...to be honest I've had better food in walkabout...and I thought that was...

This is my favourite restaurant in Carlisle. Due to Covid-19 & other things cropping up, this was my first visit to Cumbria for a few years. My meal was absolutely delicious (as it always has been on my many previous visits) & everyone in my...

Came here with 5 friends after trying most the restaurants in carlisle this is definitely one of the best. The staff were great, the food was fantastic and even the little details like the menu and the limoncello glasses were of a high quality. Make...

We had a lovely meal managing to get in just before the kitchen was closing but we were not hurried or hassled. Everything we had was delicious. Lovely friendly staff too. Many thanks

Recommended by a fried we booked Amato’s for an early evening meal. This is very much an up market Italian restaurant, not in terms of prices which were very reasonable in todays world, but in the decor and service. Very friendly staff quickly served us...

Dear Staff of the restaurant, I would like to thank you for yet another great experience! As we're not rich to leave big tip, I though I would write a nice recommendation instead! We (me and my partner) decided to return to the Restaurant after...

Our first visit to Carlisle and we needed a lunch that could cater for a gluten free diner. Amato's were great. All four of us had a really enjoyable lunch. in a setting that puts many to shame. The service was friendly and helpful. The...

A very good restaurant with a Sicilian twist. Service was very attentive and the food was excellent. I had the Pasta Pelligerino which had a very good and a bit spicey sausage. My wife had seabass which was also very good. BTW, the chocolate tort...

Dropped in here last minute and managed to get a table for me and my daughter. The first thing I noticed was how friendly all the staff were. The restaurant has a really friendly and welcoming feeling. It’s bright, clean and tastefully decorated. The food...

Visited with my wife and another couple. From first greeting at the entrance the staff were really nice. Service was quick, food was gorgeous and very reasonably priced. Would absolutely recommend.

I'm cycling Lands End to John O Groats and had a lot of food over the past 9 days. This was the best meal I had by far...the arancinni is terrific...pasta and meatbls great - the staff are lovely...the kitchen purrs along getting service done...

We visited last night, 29 July, and it was simply amazing. The starters ranged from mussels, meatballs to garlic mushrooms- all delicious. Then the mains, sea bass, chicken, salmon pasta and an arribbiata - again can’t fault any of the meals, beautifully plated, lots of...

My wife and I were visiting Carlisle to attend an event in the evening and we booked a table here after reading the reviews. I have to say that we were welcomed by some lovely staff, had a great meal with attentive, but not obstrusive,...

Lovely place and atmosphere, great food and good knowledge of dietary requirement.I’m coeliac (gluten free and they produced a really nice meal for me). Very attentive and efficient staff. This was a lovely evening out.

Visited Amatos with 3 friends whilst cycling Hadrians Cycle Way.Had a great meal ,very good service and fantastic value for money. Cannot recommend highly enough.If you are in Carlisle and want Italian food I think you will struggle to find anywhere better.

We decided to have an Italian meal for our last night before returning home and what a fantastic decision it was, from start to finish nothing but excellent service, waitress was very professional and attentive, the food was outstanding, will definitely be returning when we...

I visited Amato's today after visiting the cathedral( the restaurant is 2 minutes walk from the cathedral) and was very impressed. I tried The Godfather pizza( ham, pepperoni, chicken, mozarella and chills) and it is one of the best pizzas I have tried. Top marks...

We ate here yesterday as it was my daughter’s graduation & weren’t disappointed. We rang to bring the booking forward & the restaurant was very accommodating. The food was fantastic & the staff were amazing so helpful & welcoming nothing too much trouble. Would most...

What can I say. This has to be our favourite Italian restaurant out of all, been to probably hundreds over the years and recently discovered Amatos. We’ve been a couple of times now and every single dish we have received (pastas, pizzas, starters, desserts etc)...

We went as a family for Easter Half Term and had a fantastic evening! I had Fresh Salmon Tagliatelle and it was delicious. There was a good choice on the menu with excellent gluten free options for my wife. The children got to pick what...

Rang up pretty last minute and the staff were great and managed to fit us in. Really quick service and the food was lovely. We had the fried mozzarella which was gorgeous, then a pizza each. Really thin base which is exactly what we wanted....

Amazing food all cooked fresh. Staff are all very helpful and service is quick. Best Italian in Carlisle!

It has been a while since I wrote a trip advisor review but a meal with family at this fabulous restaurant made me put fingers to the keyboard. Every time we visit Carlisle a visit to this lovely Italian restaurant is a must, no ifs,...

Great welcome, very friendly and capable young staff. Amato's is family-run and specialises in Sicilian food have to say it the best Italian food I’ve tasted so glad we found this amazing restaurant, we sit in the small alcove and watched the chefs working exceptionally...

We had such a lovely time at Amato’s, Great food and service. There were twelve of us and we loved all the courses…The food was cooked to perfection and we changed a few of our pre booked choices…but that was no problem to our wonderful...

Not knowing Carlisle, we chanced upon Amato's, a small restaurant tucked-away in the city's historic district. Great welcome, simple, spotlessly clean restaurant with friendly, capable staff. I understand that Amato's is family-run and specialises in Sicilian food. We had salmon tagliatelle and chilli king prawns,...

Lunch today at amatos was excellent. Staff very hard working,friendly and accommodating. Our waitress today was Poppywho was very helpful and made our meal more enjoyable. Good food competitively priced and excellent wine list. Well worth a visit when in Carlisle. Recommend booking as very...

Amazing service, Amazing food , amazing city , amazing place and amazing evening . Me and my friends and family loved it

If you want a Standard Italian Restaurant Amato's is not the Place. But if you are looking for a SENSATIONAL Sicilian Experience then Its the Must Visit Place in Carlisle. Food is freshly Cooked and although our Orders were quite varied everything was Perfectly Cooked and delicious .Plus as all dishes are Cooked to order and alterations to ingredients can be accommodated. Staff were attentive and pleasant and keen to keep the positive Vibe going. Lastly the Bill was very reasonable . IMO its No1 in Carlisle.

Evening business meal, attentive staff, great layout, food cooked as expected swift service despite being full. food excellent.

Excellent meal here. Everyone in our party enjoyed what they had right from the starter through to desert. Typical Pasta and pizza menu, but everything well cooked and tasty. Couldn't fault anything here.

I had advised the restaurant in advance of a number of food allergies that I have. They were fantastic, every dish I chose was checked in the kitchen and alternatives were suggested where necessary. At no time was I made to feel a nuisance as can so often happen. The food was wonderful and the service second to none. When we arrived the lady at the reception not only acknowledged the food allergies but that I had pre-ordered champagne. Covid rules were strictly adhered to and even with those in place it had the feeling of a relaxed comfortable evening. Highly recommended and an enormous thank you to the staff for a perfect birthday meal.

Had a fabulous meal here! Came with friends and family whilst on holiday in The Lakes. I had the risotto with cod loins- delicious ! Can’t fault the food at all. All 9 of us were very happy. By far the best meal of the week. Had a chat with the owner, as we share the same surname - v pleasant and gave us the history of his family who came to Carlisle in the 60s as Tailors. Very interesting. Only been open for 6 years. If you’re ever in the area, worth coming to Carlisle for , you won’t be disappointed !

Great food and fantastic service. Look forward to my next visit. Starters and main very tasty. Price was reasonable and good value for money. Lovely location too.

Awesome one of best customers expiriens Beth excellent !!! Very good food Just Perfect definitely coming back !!!!!!!

nice restaurant with good ambience and good service. the food was good but perhaps lacked excitement. veg was very undercooked for my taste.

We went to this restaurant hoping for a true Italian meal, and we got it. We had a magnificent lunch that was of high quality and excellent service. We will definitely be returning.

Garlic mushrooms were amazing, servers were lovely and the restaurant itself had a lovely atmosphere. Only slightly disappointing thing was that I felt that my veg with my sea bass main was slightly undercooked (however may I like my veg too cooked) but other than that everything was lovely!

Haven't been out for a family meal in a long time due to obvious reasons and decided it was time.With ever changing rules and regulations I wanted to be somewhere I know is friendly and welcoming. So I booked Amatos. We arrived at 5pm as this is a good time for the children to eat and there are also other family's there at this time so we feel more relaxed.We sat near the kitchen which the kids love as they can watch the chefs in action. The head chef popped out to have a chat with us and the manager came over to welcome us back and chat to the kids. How lovely is that? ❤️The staff were as friendly and efficient as always. Some new faces and some old faces. All very polite and chatty which creates a nice vibe in the restaurant.We couldn't decide what to order as we basically wanted everything on the menu so picked some bits to share. Pizza, mussels, garlic bread and a fillet steak surf and turf. All absolutely mouth watering and cooked to perfection as always.My 9 year old hadn't tried a mussel before and I said well if you want to try one then this is the best place to do it! Now he wants to know when we can go back to have more!Absolutely perfect evening. Our first family meal out in a year and Amatos absolutely nailed it for us. Couldn't be more pleased x

Brilliant food and great value for money! Would recommend the cheesy garlic bread with tomatoes, meatballs were also great!

Wonderful service and food , my son has a food allergy and the staff went above and beyond to ensure that the food was safe. Lovely restaurant and great food choice, we visited twice whilst on a week’s holiday in the area.

The thing about Amatos is that you know you're going to get amazing food, a great atmosphere and brilliant service even before you step foot in the place but some how it still manages to deliver more. After many visits it still exceeds my expectations. Eat here.

A delicious leisurely lunch with wine in friendly relaxing surroundings. Tables well spaced and all spotlessly clean and great value too.

Just had our first meal here and it definitely won’t be the last. Excellent dining experience A plus

can't believe I've lived here 3 years and not discovered this hidden gem! Wow is all I can say, lovely restaurant, nice ambiance, attentive and friendly service and food to die for! Seriously tasty well cooked menu could not fault one thing. Nice wine list and finished off with a liquor coffee.Don't bother going anywhere else you'll only be disappointed, I'll definitely be returning.

This was a birthday treat for my close friend with her family. I must admit I had never heard of the place, but now I will be telling everyone what a fantastic meal we had. Got to be the best Italian/Sicilian in Carlisle, We went at lunchtime, and there were plenty of diners in, which is always a good sign. Service was superb and the food was to die for. We will definitely be back. Many thanks to the two young ladies who looked after us.

We have just visited today and cannot praise enough .the food is superb..really great variety to choose from . 8 had the special.sea bream with King prawns .it was beautifully cooked and tasted perfect. Highly recommended. It never disappoints.. Cannot wait for our next visit..Thanks to all staff

Ok-Carlisle has a grand selection of Italian restaurants but after extensive research!-Amatos is number one!Fresh,well-cooked,well-seasoned classic Italian food to suit all tastes and palates with a Sardinian twist-whats not too like?Lovely decor,warm ambience to the restaurant with some homely touches-friendly serviceMy better halfs main of Cod Loin was wonderful-a real good piece of well coooked fish-not as easy to do as it sounds!My linguine with sausage and fennel hit the markDecent sized portions too!Appetisers and desserts well presented and a range of specials that change dailyDecent wine list and a few beers -like the old Grappa at the end!-Saluti

My friend was getting married in Gretna and we decided to dine out the night before and it was a fab meal with great food and cocktails

Having never eaten out in Carlisle before we were recommended Amato’s by a friend. Well what can I say. Everything was fantastic. The service was professional and so so friendly. All the severs were smiling and happy to be there. Nothing was too much trouble. The food was excellent. Full of flavour and beautifully presented. I cannot recommend this glorious restaurant enough. I will come back to Carlisle just for this restaurant alone!!!

Beautiful fresh and very tasty food. Excellent service - staff attentive and friendly. Lovely modern surroundings and very clean.