The Amore Italian Restaurant

About The Amore Italian Restaurant

The Amore Italian Restaurant is a family-friendly Italian dining spot in Halswell's Longhurst Shopping Centre, led by Head Chef Tej and front-of-house host Taran. Tej brings 14 years of industry experience, including time spent in kitchens across Europe and New Zealand, and launched The Amore in 2021 with the goal of sharing his love of Italian cuisine with as many people as possible.

The restaurant is built around a core value of true family dining, welcoming children of all ages at any time without compromising on the standard of food, wine or service. Taran, a proud mum of three herself, brings a nurturing, personal touch to the front of house, aiming to make every guest feel at home in the restaurant's small, intimate space.

The menu spans a full range of Italian dining, from starters like arancini and calamari guazzetto through to house-made pasta, wood-fired-style pizzas, and mains such as chicken marsala and roast lamb. An extensive wine list pairs New Zealand and Italian bottles alongside beer, cocktails, mocktails and a dedicated kids menu, rounding out an experience suited to everything from a casual family dinner to a special occasion.

The Amore Italian Restaurant: Family-Friendly Fine Dining in Halswell

Tucked into Halswell's Longhurst Shopping Centre, The Amore Italian Restaurant has built its reputation on a simple but genuine promise: fine Italian food served in a setting where families are truly welcome. Head Chef Tej, who brings 14 years of industry experience including time in kitchens across Europe and New Zealand, launched The Amore in 2021 with a clear goal — to share his love of Italian cuisine with as many people as possible.

A Family-First Philosophy

While the food and wine are held to a high standard, The Amore's core value centres on family dining done right. Children of all ages are welcome at any time, letting parents relax without the usual stress of feeling unwelcome at a fine-dining venue. Front of house, Taran — a proud mum of three herself — brings a nurturing energy to the intimate space, remembering guests and making sure everyone leaves happy and well-fed.

An Extensive, Genuinely Italian Menu

The menu opens with starters like Arancini, stuffed with pumpkin, sage, taleggio and roast pepper, and Calamari Guazzetto, grilled squid rings cooked with anchovies, roast garlic and chili. From there, the pasta section runs deep, from a classic Fettuccine Carbonara to the standout Truffle Risotto and hand-made Beef Ravioli filled with braised beef and portobello mushrooms.

Pizza lovers have plenty to choose from too, with options ranging from a traditional Margherita to the more adventurous Papa's Fav, loaded with squid, shrimp, mussels and anchovies. For mains, dishes like Chicken Marsala, a grilled Filetto with a choice of sauces, and the signature Amore Lamb — roast rack and braised shoulder served with orange kumara purée — round out a serious dinner menu.

Dessert, Wine and More

No Italian meal is complete without dolci, and The Amore delivers with a traditional Tiramisu, Panna Cotta, house-made Gelato, and a warm Cioccolatto Pudding. The wine list pairs New Zealand bottles like Mt. Beautiful Pinot Noir and Briar Gully Sauvignon Blanc alongside Italian selections such as Renzo Masi Chianti Cornioleta Rufina DOCG and Poggio Civetta Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG. Beer drinkers can try The Amore Italian Lager, brewed locally in Lyttelton, alongside a cocktail and mocktail list covering everything from a classic Negroni to a Virgin Mojito.

Built for Kids Too

Staying true to its family-first ethos, The Amore offers a dedicated kids menu with simplified pasta options like Spaghetti Bolognese and Gnocchi Napoli, kid-friendly pizzas, and desserts like an Ice Cream Sundae or classic Spider — giving younger diners their own proper menu rather than an afterthought.

What Guests Say

Reviews consistently point to a busy, popular restaurant where advance booking is highly recommended, especially during peak hours. Guests have celebrated milestone anniversaries here, praised the quick and friendly wait staff even on the busiest nights, and highlighted dishes like the spaghetti with seafood and chicken Marsala as standout choices. The conservatory seating area has also been called out as a pleasant spot to enjoy a meal.

Beyond Dinner

The Amore also caters to functions and offers gift vouchers, making it a option not just for a regular night out but for celebrations and group bookings too.

Visiting The Amore

Located at 1 Hamill Road in Halswell (within the Longhurst Shopping Centre), The Amore is open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm to 9:30pm, and closed on Mondays. Given its popularity, booking ahead — either online or by calling 03 322 1002 — is strongly recommended, particularly on weekends.

Signature items

• Truffle Risotto
• Amore Lamb
• Spaghetti di Mare
• Tiramisu
• The Amore Italian Lager
• Beef Ravioli

Menu

Wine

• Te Mania Rosé — Nelson, NZ
• Renzo Masi Chianti Cornioleta Rufina DOCG — Italy — ruby red, structured and concentrated with red berry and floral notes typical of Sangiovese
• Scanavino Prosecco — Veneto, Italy
• Rocca Ventosa Pinot Grigio — Italy
• Georges Michel Chardonnay — NZ
• Mt. Beautiful Pinot Noir — North Canterbury
• Valle d'Oro Montepulciano — Italy
• Poggio Civetta Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG — Italy
• Briar Gully Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough
• Bishops Head Pinot Gris — NZ
• Briar Gully Pinot Noir — NZ
• Wombat Hill Reserve Shiraz — Reserve Shiraz

Mains

• Chicken Marsala — Free range chicken breast marinated in Italian herbs, finished in marsala wine and creamy mushroom sauce, with potato gratin and seasonal vegetables (GFA)
• Filetto — Grilled fillet steak cooked to your liking, with potato gratin, seasonal vegetables and a choice of rosemary garlic, mushroom garlic, or brandy peppercorn sauce (GF)
• Amore Lamb — Roast lamb rack and braised lamb shoulder with orange kumara purée and mixed vegetables (GF)
• Fish of the Day — Ask staff for today's selection

Pasta

• Pappardelle Bolognese — Slow-cooked pork and beef mince sauce with house-made ribbon pasta (GFA)
• Rigatoni Pollo — Smoked chicken, olives, red onions and roast mushrooms in creamy vino sauce with pangrattato (GFA)
• Fettuccine Carbonara — Roast pancetta cooked with vino bianco and egg yolks (GFA)
• Spaghetti di Mare — Prawns, smoked shrimp, squid rings, mussels and scallops in garlic, chilli and marinara sauce (GFA)(DF)
• Beef Ravioli — Hand-made pasta pillows filled with braised beef, served with portobello mushrooms, roast peppers, broad beans and Italian cream sauce
• Gnocchi Verde — Hand-made potato gnocchi with basil pesto, red onions, beans, roast pumpkin and hazelnuts, or fresh tomato and basil napoli sauce (VG)
• Gnocchi con Capra Ragù — Slow-cooked goat meat in red wine, served with hand-made potato gnocchi
• Truffle Risotto — Arborio rice slow cooked with roast mushroom, truffle oil, baby spinach, mascarpone and parmigiano (VG)(GFA)
• Lasagne — House-made layers of pasta, pork and beef bolognese sauce, béchamel, mozzarella and fresh napoli sauce
• Spaghetti Meatballs — Beef meatballs slow cooked in napoli basil and red wine sauce (GFA)

Pizza

• Margherita — Napoli base, basil, buffalo mozzarella and EVOO (V)
• Salsiccia — Spicy Italian pork and fennel sausage, basil pesto, roast mushrooms, caramelised onions and potato
• Salmon — Smoked salmon, capers, mascarpone, tomato, red onion and rocket
• Vegetariano — Artichokes, spinach, fresh tomato, capsicum, ricotta and olives (VG)
• Pollo Affumicato — Smoked chicken, fior di latte cheese, tomato, capsicums, roast pine nuts and black olives
• Amete Carne — Ham, Italian salami, spicy sausage, meatballs, mushrooms, kalamata olives and mozzarella
• Amore — Cheese base, pesto, mortadella, bocconcini, pistachios, basil and rocket
• Umbria — Parmigiano, garlic, chili, fresh tomato, prosciutto and rocket
• Calzone — Folded pizza with sundried tomato, capsicum, ricotta, salami, mozzarella, parmesan and rocket
• Papa's Fav — Napoli sauce, squid, shrimps, mussels, red onions, anchovies, capsicum and rocket

Sides

• Amore Salad — Cherry tomatoes, pears, bocconcini, croutons, baby spinach and mixed leaves with aged balsamic dressing (GFA)(VA)
• Insalata Verde — Cos lettuce, pomegranate, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, pecorino and honey lemon dressing (DF)(V)
• Hand-Cut Fries — Served with aioli (DF)(V)
• Potato Skins — Crispy potato skins with vegetable salsa (DF)(V)(GF)
• Truffle Polenta Fries — Golden, soft-in-the-middle truffle polenta chips with aioli (GF)(V)(DF)

To Start

• Arancini — Italian rice balls stuffed with pumpkin, sage, taleggio and roast pepper, served with spicy arrabbiata sauce (VG)
• Bruschetta Napoli — Fresh tomato, bocconcini, basil and aged balsamic vinegar (VA)
• Flatbread — Freshly baked with chili, garlic, basil pesto, napoli sauce and pecorino (GF)(DFA)
• Gamberoni — Grilled banana prawns served with chili, garlic and vino sauce
• Calamari Guazzetto — Grilled squid rings cooked with anchovies, roast garlic, chili and olives, served on mixed mesclun salad (GF)
• Mixed Sicilian Olives — Slow-cooked warm olives served with grilled ciabatta (V)(GFA)
• Mama Fried Chicken — Italian herb and paprika crispy fried chicken served with R.R.P aioli
• Parmesan Smoked Garlic Bread — House-made ciabatta filled with Italian herbs, smoked garlic butter and parmesan (VG)
• Smoked Salmon — Mascarpone, smoked salmon, capers, fennel and caramelised onions on crispy Italian bread

Kids Menu

• Spaghetti Bolognese — Pork and beef bolognese sauce with spaghetti (GFA)
• Gnocchi Napoli — Fresh tomato napoli sauce with potato gnocchi
• Fettuccine Alfredo — Chicken and roast mushrooms in creamy Italian sauce (GFA)
• Ham and Cheese Pizza — Pineapple, ham and cheese with pomodoro sauce (GFA)
• Napoli Pizza — Tomato base and cheese (GFA)
• Ice Cream Sundae — Vanilla ice cream with choice of chocolate or berry sauce
• Spider — Vanilla ice cream with choice of soft drink

Beer & Cider

• The Amore Italian Lager — Brewed locally in Lyttelton, a light, refreshing house lager
• Craft Beer — Ask staff what's currently on tap
• Peroni Nastro Azzurro — Italian lager
• Corona Extra — Mexican lager
• Heineken — Dutch lager
• Panhead Supercharger APA — American pale ale
• Steinlager Light 2.5% — Light NZ beer
• Monteiths Crushed Apple Cider — 330ml
• Somersby Cider — 330ml

Non-Alcoholic

• Ginger Beer, Lemon Lime and Bitters — Soft drink options
• Juice — Orange, apple, cranberry or pineapple
• Soft Drinks — Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, soda water, ginger ale and tonic water

Dolci (Dessert)

• Tiramisu — Traditional layered savoiardi biscuits dipped in espresso, marsala and bay leaves with mascarpone cream
• Panna Cotta — Creamy Italian dessert with amaretto and vanilla beans (GF)
• Gelato — House-made gelato and sorbet (GFA)
• Affogato — A shot of espresso over vanilla ice cream and Frangelico
• Cioccolatto Pudding — Warm chocolate pudding with salted almond, vanilla ice cream and amaretto liqueur sauce

Cocktails & Mocktails

• Margarita — Tequila, fresh lime, citrusy orange and a salt rim
• Gin Basil Smash — Gin-based cocktail with basil
• Aperol Spritz — Prosecco, Aperol and a secret ingredient
• Rossa Vodka — Balanced with lemon, strawberry and raspberry flavours
• Amore Speciale — Bright, tropical and fruity house cocktail
• Negroni — Gin, Vermouth Rosso and Campari
• San Pellegrino — Sparkling mineral water
• Aperol Spritz (Mocktail) — Aromatic bitter, Crodino, orange juice, soda water and an orange slice
• Blueberry Rosemary Smash — Fruity berries, aromatic rosemary and a lemon kick
• Virgin Mojito — Refreshing mix of lime and mint

Frequently asked questions

Is The Amore family-friendly?

Yes, children of all ages are welcome at any time as part of the restaurant's core values.

What are The Amore's opening hours?

Tuesday to Sunday, 5pm to 9:30pm. Closed Mondays.

Should I book ahead?

Yes, advance booking is highly recommended as the restaurant is often busy, especially during peak hours.

Does The Amore have a kids menu?

Yes, including pasta, pizza and dessert options designed for children.

Who is the Head Chef?

Tej, who has 14 years of industry experience and launched The Amore in 2021.

Does The Amore cater for functions?

Yes, the restaurant offers a dedicated functions and venue option.

Are gift vouchers available?

Yes, gift vouchers can be purchased through the restaurant's website.

Tips

• {"body":"The restaurant is often busy and advance booking is highly recommended.","title":"Book ahead, especially on weekends"}
• {"body":"Standout dishes from the pasta and mains sections.","title":"Try the Truffle Risotto or Amore Lamb"}
• {"body":"A traditional dolci made with espresso, marsala and mascarpone.","title":"Save room for Tiramisu"}
• {"body":"A pleasant spot noted by guests for a relaxed evening meal.","title":"Ask about the conservatory seating"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Children of all ages are welcome at any time as one of the restaurant's core values","parking":"Street parking is available if the car park is full"}