Ama Ristorante at the DriftwoodAmazing restaurant with incredibleAmazing restaurant with incredible food. The mussels are as good as in Italy. Everything is perfect.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMNicely surpriseThis was my first time to Ama and it won't be the last one... Food es great, service is personal and quick, price is about right, the views are lovely.. Even though I expected a more sumptuous place.. It is nice and a good fit for couples or families ..5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFine overall experienceOur third visit to Ama was as pleasureable as the previous two; attentive service, wonderful food, and a fantastic view of the Atlantic Ocean. We will surely return again!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMothers Day 2013We were seated right away
Our waitress was a gem! She made sure we were happy and comfortable.
Cavettelli was delicious, but needed much less salt.
The lemon drop drink with the basil and cucumber was the best.
A little pricey for the pasta.
All in all The dinner was a gift and my kids were gracious to take me out.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMYou can't go wrong!We dined w/4 in our party. Each had a different appetizer and entrée. There was so much oohing and ahhing at our table that people were looking at us. Everything was so delicious, beautifully presented and prepared. It was so amazing that this could come out of a kitchen in Sea Bright, NJ! Wouldn't you know that Chef Pat Trama did it again! You won't find a better run, better place to eat in the tri-state area.
Congratulations to AMA for making it through the storm, and for feeding us royally.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMHard to find 5 star in central NJThe evening starts with very courties professioanl valets.
Food is outstanding. I and friends made it a favorite
. No one ever says no or not in the mood for Ama.
The loverly hostest is the chiefs wife and the wiaters aim to please.
Thursday nights there is entertainment as well.
Summer time will be hard to get a table maybe I shouldnt be so honest.
They deserve it though.
Class act.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food with an ocean view!Not many restaurants can boast an unobstructed ocean view at the Jersey Shore but Ama can - and great food to boot.
All the food is very fresh and well prepared (the fish is consistently excellent!), the wine list is good (few more reds under $50 would be welcomed) and the service is friendly and efficient. And the owners are on-site to make all the patrons feel very welcome.
My only negative is the noise level which is a bit more than "energetic" due to the high, open ceilings. But - certainly not a reason to keep us from going back...often.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways A WinnerWe've been here at least five times and the food/service is always top notch. Sundays offer a great deal since you can bring your own. Will definitely return.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Best of The BestOUTSTANDING on all levels!! From the warm, inviting atmosphere, to the personable service, to the elaborate wine list and exotic cocktails, to the gastronomic menu.....AMA is without a doubt a perfect 10!! We tasted several appetizers, and they were all amazing but our favorite was the shaved artichoke salad and the mussels! Some of our favorite entrees were the scallops, the Bronzino, and the yellow fin tuna. We cannot wait to go back and taste more creations from this very talented chef. I promise, anyone who tries AMA, will not be disappointed!! It is THAT AMAZING!!4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMPure PerfectionWe heard some buzz, but never expected the level of quality we experienced on a recent visit to AMA...WOW! We chose to split a pasta course for appetizer, house made ricotta tortellini w/ zucchini flowers in truffle butter. The little packets of pasta so delicate, just melted in your mouth. The essence of truffle so intoxicating, I wish I could have licked my plate! For entree, I had the strip steak, med-well and it was cooked to perfection while still savory and juicy in each bite. My husband had the rib-eye and he enjoyed every scrumtious morsel. We shared the espresso gelato for dessert and it was a creamy, yummy, delicous way to end this spectaculare meal. So glad we have discovered this gem, AMA, we plan to return soon4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMSituated on the ocean, AmaSituated on the ocean, Ama is not only a lovely restaurant but the food is delicious, the wait staff could not be more helpful and the atmosphere very comfortable. We dine at Ama often and each experience has been wonderful.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMYum!If you are looking for a beautiful and serene place to dine, with a breathtaking view and ambiance that rivals any fine New York restaurant on the water, then Ama is the place for you. You can sit in the most exquisite setting, sipping your wine or amazing drink, listening to lovely live music, and wind down from your hectic day.
And if that wasn't enough, the food is to die for! Chef Pat Trama is the most creative and talented person in the kitchen, and your taste buds will tingle the moment you take your first bite.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMI would compare Ama to justI would compare Ama to just about about any NY restaurant. The food is unbelievable and the service is great. The mussels in bread gravy might be the best dish in New Jersey. Ama must not be missed!!4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat could be better than AMA?You haven't lived until you have dined at Ama Ristorante. On the Ocean and across from the Bay in "Sandy torn" Sea Bright, NJ, you will find the most exquisite site for the most amazing restaurant ever. Inside of the beautiful Driftwood Beach Club, is the upstairs setting that takes your breath away upon entering.
Everything that touches your lips will have you oohing and ahhing. Chef Pat Trama has the gift like no other. His talent exceeds all the chefs in the area and you will leave there trying to decide how soon you will be returning. Next time, try the yellow fin tuna. Oh my! Can we go back tonight?4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a great experienceWe had a great experience at AMA. Grilled tuna special was great. My wife had the Bronzino and loved it. We will be back !!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat an amazing night! FoodWhat an amazing night! Food and drink were spectacular. The scallops were so beautiful that I've been dreaming about them since my last bite. Can't wait until my next visit.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMOur server, Kim, was friendlyOur server, Kim, was friendly and helpful, with a fun Jersey girl attitude. Drinks and apps were very good, especially the mussels with red sauce and Brooklyn bread. Three of the four entrees, all fish (tuna, salmon and bronzino) were all excellent. But the linguini bolognese was overly salty and a real disappointment. The deserts (hazelnut gelato and cheesecake with orange) were both hits. The view (of the ocean, and some of the river) is really nice. The price, however, was high. The seafood prices seemed about right for the area, but $30 for a poor linguini dish was unreasonable.
Nice place to dine, but bring your wallet--and we didn't have any issues with the staff, unlike many of the reviews I read.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAma will delight you withAma will delight you with it's beautiful ocean views which areonly second to it's sensational culinary delights!The hand cultivated mussels, are an absolute delicacy.The Bronzino with spring asparagus and frigola sarda,was an absolute work of art, pleasing not only to the eye but to the most discerning of palates as well. The rigatoni...out of this world!From the adorable hostess who sat us, to our waiter who could not have been more helpful and attentive, to the clever cocktail menu and hand selected wine list...all elements that made foran absolutley PERFECT dining experience, PERFECT!!Ama is truly a piece of Tuscany here on the jersey shore.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a great time!! Went withHad a great time!! Went with a large group they were extremely accommodating to us. Waitress very nice and friendly and prompt. The food was incredible! Overall a really good time and a really nice place for dinner for friends and family.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAn excellent restaurant allAn excellent restaurant all around. Compares to the top Italian restaurants in Manhattan. Gracious service and a wonderful ocean view.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently excellentFrom start to finish AMA gives a consistently amazing dining experience each and every visit . Definitely my go to restaurant in the area4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMExtraordinaryExtraordinary. The pasta dishes are heavenly. Creative menu, friendly attentive service and comfortable ambiance. Great find.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMTHERE IS NO PLACE LIKE AMA!There is no place like Ama in the tri-state area. After following them from their original site in Atlantic Highlands to Sea Bright, we've decided that it is worth a trip from anywhere.
Chef Trama's creations are so amazing, that you find yourself craving to go back quickly to sample more. The service is impeccable, the ambiance is lovely and rustic. When you dine in Ama, you feel like you are in a fine Italian restaurant overlooking the Mediterranian Sea.
With Laura at the helm, nothing is overlooked. There are amazing drinks from the beautiful bar, and the wine list is amazing and fairly priced. From the appetizers to dessert, your taste buds will burst with happiness!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was amazing - fromThe food was amazing - from the steak to the seafood. The mussels were in a fantastic marina sauce which we all soaked up with our bread.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time there since theyFirst time there since they moved from the Highlands. Wider menu, same great food.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMBeautiful rooms overlookingBeautiful rooms overlooking ocean. Food delicious. Down side noisy! But should check it out.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWorth ten starsProbably the best Italian food in the state. The muscles appetizer probably the best in the USA. It's not to be missed.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFantabulous!!Visited Ama this Saturday night and it was jammed!
Despite the energetic crowd, our table was ready within minutes of our reservation time. Our waitress stopped by to tell us the specials and we were off. We started with burrata that was perfectly dressed, From there, we split an order of scallops, (these are a main course, we had them as a second appetizer), which I have to say, were maybe the BEST scallops I've ever had. Perfectly flavorful and cooked just right. We followed the scallop course with two orders of pasta, the best being my favorite, the papardelle with ragu... This dish is probably the most perfectly made, and delicious pasta dish I've had outside of Italy.
Great night, great meal!!3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time experience sinceFirst time experience since they moved to Sea Bright. We were not big fans of the Atlantic Highlands location. However the new location is large and attractive. Food was very good. Great pasta dishes, scallops and fish. We had a very energetic server who asked if we were ready to order every few minutes, but we will take that over long wait times any day. Octopus and fennel salad was a disappointment, but overall it was very good in an area lacking quality restaurants.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMThey only snafu we had wasThey only snafu we had was with our seating. When we walked in with a reservation - we were treated as a second class citizen. We were told all the window tables were reserved - yet they remained empty the majority of the time we were there. We chose to sit at the bar vs. the horrible table they offerd us. The bar was great though and the food was perfect.1/12/2013 12:00:00 AMNot to be missedPat and Laura are tremendous hosts who take care of you in every way. Friendly bar with TV's and a very adult modern seating area.
Open and friendly the way you would expect from an Italian/Tuscan style ristorante. Nicely dressed patrons as well a families depending on the hour populate the place with a fantastic view of the ocean. Very warm and inviting. The food is drop dead stupid good, inventive, clean and incredibly consistent. They are very involved in the community and one of the first businesses open after Sandy in our region of the shore. Pat & Laura jumped in with other area chefs and cooked for the first responders, the displaced and the hungry thru our recent desperate situation at the Jersey Shore.12/21/2012 12:00:00 AMAma= Wonderful!!Another fantastic AMA meal! Our first post Sandy visit found AMA to be proudly open and supporting stricken restaurants in Sea Bright that have not been able to reopen as of yet due to Sandy.
As usual, the mussels were to die for, and a new apply, the octopus was sensational! This being a cold evening, I opted for the pasta with Bolognese that was at once rich and wonderful! The new scallop preparation was incredible.
Needless to say, AMA is easily one of the best restaurants in Monmouth County, maybe all of New Jersey! Make a reservation, and get here!12/5/2012 12:00:00 AM