Amara

Name: Amara
Address: 670 N Midvale Blvd, Madison, WI, United States, 53705
Telephone: (608) 716-7989
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.4

4.4

443 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Top Tags:

Amara is our take on contemporary coastal Italian cuisine featuring sharable small plates and bites, hand-crafted pastas, and entrées showcasing the bounty of Madison, Wisconsin. Our wine list features cutting edge Italian and Italian-inspired artisan wines farmed by hand and made with classical methods. Our bar showcases the art of Italian drinking including aperitifs, negronis, cocktails, and espresso. It all comes together to match our decor – light, beautiful, clean, relaxed, simple, energetic, and revitalizing…

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 7, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 54 times today

Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
Phone number
(608) 716-7989
Website
http://www.amaramadison.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
670 N Midvale Blvd, Madison, WI 53705
Neighborhood
Madison
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Aperitivo Happy Hour!
Multiple dates available
Join us for Aperitivo Hour every day of the week from 2-6pm, in the bar! Including wine, spritzi, and NA/ cocktail drink specials, in addition to spuntino and bruschetta food offerings! Please note our full dinner menu is available starting at 5pm. Aperitivo Hour discounts available in the bar, food available in the entire dining room. Please note that this does not qualify as a dinner reservation. Dinner reservations are available starting at 5pm! The Art of the Aperitivo: Derived from the Latin aperire, the tradition is meant “to open” the appetite before dining. We invite you to take this moment to unwind with a drink and a bite, reconnect with family and friends, and toast to health, rejuvenation, and the meal to come. Cheers!
New Year's Eve Dinner!
$100.00 per person
Dec 31, 2023 only
Amara would love to celebrate the New Year with you! A special Prixe Fixe menu will be available soon, curated by our Chef team. Dinner will be three courses, with optional dessert offerings. The $100 ticket is priced for groups of two! Payment to be charged on site according to your party size. Please keep in mind, our Prixe Fixe menu will be Amara's adjusted menu for the evening, for all diners. Please reach out to us at info@amaramadison.com with any questions.

Offers

Christmas Eve Family Crafting Party!
Dec 24, 2023 only
Sun - Sat - 2:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Bring your young ones to Amara's Christmas Eve Crafting party! Decorate gingerbread men, stockings, and write your final letters to santa! Head to our website to purchase your ticket. Each ticket grants admission for you and your family, and comes with two free drink vouchers for mom, dad, or guardian (: Plus, wear your Christmas jammies, get an N/A hot chocolate for free! Also available to purchase. Staying for dinner? Our new Sunday Supper includes a salad, pizza, and baked pasta - for here, or to go!
Dive into NYE: Chicken n' Bubbly!
Dec 31, 2023 only
Need some fried chicken and bubbly to fuel up for your New Year's Evening? We've got you covered starting at noon in the bar! This special menu will be taking over Amara on NYE for lunch and bar dining, details to be shared shortly.

Popular dishes

What 443 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.3Service
4.6Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Wisconsin
Italian
Madison
Innovative
Madison
Healthy
Madison
Hot spot
Madison
Great for fine wines
Madison
Great for outdoor dining
Madison
Lively
Madison
Most Booked

443 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
New Orleans
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall4food4service3ambience4
Food was very good. Drinks were a major issue. Multiple people at our table ordered different drinks and they were not available. There were 5 different drinks that were not available. How is that possible? Also, there were no basic wines - like Pinot Grigio or Malbec.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orlando
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall2food1service1ambience2
The two cocktails I had were fine. I had shrimp and calamari apps, and porchetta for main. Deserts came out very late and a coffee never showed up at all (server was apologetic) Few hours later, was up all night with stomach upset. Really disappointed as I have had much better experiences with Amara in the past.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
3 reviews
vip
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall3food3service3ambience4
Out of several items including specials. Food was solid but a couple of dishes were over seasoned.
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C
Cooksathome
Milwaukee
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall3food3service3ambience3
Service did not meet the price point of this restaurant. It was slow and somewhat inattentive. Food was good but did not impress to the hype. We had reservations during a weeknight and were seated in the back of the restaurant in a very low lit, cold location. Although I don’t regret the first visit, I will not be returning in the future.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Baja California Sur
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall3food2service5ambience5
The ambiance is great, our server was wonderful, drinks were good and the app was also good. The issue was with the main entree, this could have just been a one off and there are likely better choices but the chicken dish was not good, it was dry and my husband actually thought it was a bad piece of chicken Pricing matches the area, we will likely try again and go with a pasta dish instead.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 29, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
Enjoyable evening with two exceptions — the few scallops were WAY overstated and the mix of additional flavors in the risotto was WAY too much. Everyone at our table agreed. We didn’t eat much of it. The bread pudding was large but nothing special. It needed more sauce —if there was any at all.
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B
Babbz
Milwaukee
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on November 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was our second time having dinner at Amara - a neighborhood gem! The food is wonderful, as is the service.
AmaraResponded 2 days ago
Hello Babbz, thank you for the kind words! We love hearing that your time spent at Amara was an enjoyable one and the food, as well as your server, made the experience memorable! Looking forward to hosting you again soon!
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JS
JamesS
Milwaukee
37 reviews
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Great experience with delicious food, great drinks, and wonderful service (especially from our server, Sia). The amazing Amari menu and customized flight were the highlights. Overall a superb experience - we will go back. A very welcome addition to the Madison food scene,
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TC
TonyC
Milwaukee
58 reviews
vip
5.0
58 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had a lovely dinner with great service. Our wine choice was very good and our entrees were delicious. Our server was excellent. Gave good advice and did a great job working the kitchen to pace our meal.
AmaraResponded 2 days ago
Hello Tony, thank you for the review! So happy to hear that your service here at Amara was top notch and the wine and food choices were a delicious addition to the overall experience. Looking forward to hosting you again in the future!
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CG
CurtG
New York Area
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
Good quality food at a fair price. Limited menu. Only one salad option. Nice location. Service was good. Wine menu comprehensive. Fun cocktails too.
AmaraResponded 2 days ago
Hello Curt, thank you for the feedback in your review! We genuinely enjoy hearing that the beverage options were fun and comprehensive, and the food and service was to your liking as well. Looking forward to having you in again soon, cheers!
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WP
WendyP
Milwaukee
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
I believe this was the most delicious pasta I've ever had!
AmaraResponded 2 days ago
So glad to hear this Wendy! Looking forward to having you back again to try more of our delicious menu options, cheers!
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CW
CarolW
San Francisco
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food, festive cocktails and excellent service.
AmaraResponded on November 27, 2023
Dear Carol, we appreciate your kind words! We love to hear that our new winter cocktail options are a hit and the service and food are equally as amazing. Thank you for joining us and we look forward to having you back! Cheers!
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MI
MICHAELR
Milwaukee
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience3
I won't say the evening was a disaster, but it was closer to disaster on the spectrum than mediocre. Our server kept wanting to interrupt our personal conversations so she could talk. Made us feel rushed. The wine list is a mess. Big variety but super-vague on the descriptions, and way too pricey for the modest menu. Tables too close together; lighting was too varied and the wall sconces too LED brilliant. We ordered our food about 8pm and didn't get served until 9pm. When we asked about our meals we were told a "10 top" was prioritized. We are blessed in Madison to have so many good food destinations - Amara is not one of them.
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CH
CarolinaH
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, service and ambiance! Would Definitely go back!!!
AmaraResponded on November 27, 2023
Hello Carolina! Greatly appreciate your review and so happy to hear that everything was great during your time here! Looking forward to hosting you again, cheers!
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JS
JeffS
Milwaukee
24 reviews
3.0
24 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall3food4service2ambience2
First time we've EVER been asked to leave to make room for another group coming in. Very embarrassing and unsatisfactory
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My wife and I came in just for apple pie, but everything we got was delicious. My wife wasn’t a huge fan of the beef carpaccio, but I thought it was excellent. The new ricotta gnocchi setting was fantastic as well. The highlight for me was an Amaro called Montenegro I tasted after dinner. AJ was a very helpful and cheerful server. Every staff member was so friendly! I will definitely try to be a Top 50 diner next year! 🔥
AmaraResponded on November 27, 2023
Hello and thank you for the review! We very much appreciate you taking the time to note how wonderful your experience was at Amara and will absolutely let AJ know your comments on how great her service was. Glad to hear you enjoyed some of the new dishes featured on the menu as well as our Montenegro amaro during your visit! Cannot wait to have you back, cheers!
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B
thefreshBrew
Milwaukee
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
The wait-staff was better than my last experience, and similar to my first time earlier this year. I expect a formal, slightly-better than any sit-down restaurant. The food is quite good. We like to come for the date-night special during the week. I always pace myself when eating here, otherwise it's not enough food. The wine is nice, but I'm not much of a wine person. I like the different approach to bruschetta, and the pasta is so good! I would love to bring my girlfriend here on more date-night specials and please don't change it! I also consider this for when and family comes to town, especially parents and grandparents that have high standards.
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BC
BirthdayClub
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Exceptional meal. Great variety and wonderfully prepared.
AmaraResponded on November 27, 2023
Hello and thank you for your feedback! We love hearing that you enjoyed your meal here from the taste and variety to the preparation of the dishes. Looking forward to having you back soon!
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FL
FoodLover
Milwaukee
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place. Food is great, menu changed which is a good thing to keep attracting customers. Great atmosphere to be in. People are great.
AmaraResponded on November 14, 2023
Thank you for your review! We truly enjoy the warm feedback regarding our menu changes as well as atmosphere and service. Very much looking forward to hosting you again in the future!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall2food3service4ambience4
They were very short staffed in the kitchen for brunch at 11:30 am on Sunday. It took almost 2 hrs for food to come out and we ordered sandwiches or the brunch special and restaurant was only 25% full, so odd! Our eggs in purgatory was watered down. Should have informed us they were short staffed before sitting us and should have offered at least one complimentary meal for the wait. Also they don’t really offer brunch, it’s just two breakfast items.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience4
No real “brunch” options, just 2 or 3 egg dishes clipped to the menu in addition to regular lunch menu.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food and excellent service! Staff was very nice and had good recommendations.
AmaraResponded on November 13, 2023
Thank you so much for the review! We take pride in knowing our staff was accommodating and helpful when providing service and that their recommendations were delicious. Looking forward to hosting you again soon! Cheers!
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C
Chelseajean
Milwaukee
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great drinks, good service and ambiance! We’ll definitely be back
AmaraResponded on November 14, 2023
Thank you for your review Chelsea! So glad to hear that you enjoyed your drinks and service here at Amara. We look forward to having you in again for another great experience! Cheers!
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EN
ElizabethN
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
From the moment we walked in the door - we loved Amara. The staff, the food, the atmosphere... all terrific.
AmaraResponded on November 13, 2023
Hello Elizabeth, thank you for your review! Truly excited to hear that your time spent at Amara was full of terrific food and service. We're definitely looking forward to having you in again soon for another great experience! Cheers!
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LD
LenD
Milwaukee
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was wonderful the food was so good Our Waiter was so friendly and nice with a good sense of humor. Restaurant if beautiful inside
AmaraResponded on November 13, 2023
Thank you so much for your review Len! We are so happy to hear you had an amazing time at Amara and got to experience our great hospitality, food, and atmosphere. We're looking forward to having you in again in the near future!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very well constructed menu with seasonal creativity underpinning classic Italian offerings. The food was delicious. The drink menu also offered the same combination of unique and standard offerings executed very well. Said it before and will say it again. The food was great. Will go back again and again.
AmaraResponded on November 5, 2023
Thank you so very much for your incredible review! We're thrilled to hear you appreciate all the thoughtfulness that went into our drink menu offerings and that we consistently hit the mark on your food! We can't wait for you to join us again and we hope your next visit is very soon :) Cheers!
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M
Mark
Denver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 1, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Excellent wine selection and creative cocktail list.
AmaraResponded on November 5, 2023
Thank you so much for your review, Mark! We're so happy to hear you're a fan of our beverage offerings and hope you'll stop by again very soon! Cheers!
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M
Molinda
Milwaukee
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
We enjoyed our meal; however ,the wait staff was only, okay. May I humbly suggest your wait staff have intense courses in equity and inclusion. Several members of my party are brown and the members of my party that identify as white commented on the distinct difference in the way we were treated. Thank you!!!
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m
mad2dine
San Francisco
20 reviews
4.0
20 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Service was great as usual. Food was very good. We have been to Amara and will be going back again.
AmaraResponded on November 1, 2023
We're absolutely thrilled to hear you've been enjoying your experiences with us! We can't wait for you to return and hope it's very soon! Cheers!
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KS
KurtS
Chicago
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Good, interesting food and drink choices. Nice building—good decor and location. Friendly staff.
AmaraResponded on November 1, 2023
Thank you so much for your review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed our space and your service, as well as your food & beverages! We hope you'll stop in again soon, we're very much looking forward to it!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service and wonderful pasta. Starters are always changing and tasty.
AmaraResponded on November 1, 2023
Thank you so much for your review! We're so happy to hear you received great service from our team and always enjoy our food offerings :) We hope you'll join us again very soon for another visit! Cheers!
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JO
JessO
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 25, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Great food, awesome atmosphere, excellent service. Not sure about the salt on only one side of my margarita glass though ;).
AmaraResponded on October 26, 2023
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback, Jess! We sincerely appreciate you taking the time.
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SS
ShirleyS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was our first visit to Amara and we were very pleased. The food was very delicious.
AmaraResponded on October 27, 2023
We're thrilled you enjoyed your experience, Shirley! Hope to host you again soon, cheers!
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SQ
SusieQ
Milwaukee
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on October 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a wonderful dinner experience on Sunday night. The servers were engaging, the courses were served in a timely manner, the food was delicious and beautifully presented. Add the beautiful surroundings and we had the perfect night! Amara never disappoints us.
AmaraResponded on October 26, 2023
We're so thrilled to hear you had a well rounded experience at Amara, Susie! Thank you for your kind words. Cheers!
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I
Ithedreami
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The bucatini nero was amazing and most of the people on our table got that. The ambiance was nice and our server was super sweet!
AmaraResponded on October 26, 2023
Thank you for this review! We appreciate your feedback on the overall experience, and hope to host you again!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Portland
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Enjoyed sharing small plates. Only disappointment was the eggplant.
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CP
CarolP
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
There was a little confusion about who our server would be when we first sat down, but apparently it got straightened out.
AmaraResponded on October 21, 2023
Thank you for this feedback! We will discuss this with the team, as we always want our guests to have a seamless experience. We hope to serve you again soon, cheers!
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JW
JonW
San Francisco
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on October 13, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience4
We will be coming back. Loved the Angry Shrimp, lamb meat balls, and mozzarella balls.
AmaraResponded on October 21, 2023
Those starters don't mess around, thank you so much for your thoughts, Jon!
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EP
ElizabethP
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and great vibe. Loved all the menu choices and the sour Cherry and apple mule was outstanding
AmaraResponded on October 12, 2023
Thank you for this feedback, Elizabeth! Cheers to fall drinks (:
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 6, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Amara is an upscale experience. Our waitstaff was friendly and attentive. Large selection of wine, spirits, and cocktails. Snacks and starters were on point. Entrees with plenty of alternate cuisine friendly options. A high class venue at Hilldale.
AmaraResponded on October 12, 2023
Thank you so much for this feedback, we really appreciate you taking the time to let us know how your experience went! We will take your feedback back to the kitchen, and pass along your compliments to the staff. Thank you!
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily

FAQs

Amara is rated 4.4 stars by 443 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 7, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 54 times today

Experiences are available.

670 N Midvale Blvd, Madison, WI 53705

Dining areas

Additional information

Neighborhood
Madison
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Mediterranean
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.amaramadison.com/
Phone number
(608) 716-7989

Amara

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Experiences

Aperitivo Happy Hour!

New Year's Eve Dinner!

Offers

Christmas Eve Family Crafting Party!

Dive into NYE: Chicken n' Bubbly!

Popular dishes

Porchetta

Spinach & Ricotta Gnocchi

Bucatini Nero

Menu

What 443 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

FAQs

How is Amara restaurant rated?

Is Amara currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information