Restaurant Amavi
Cuisine Type: 40 Favorites , Mediterranean
505-988-2355
221 Shelby St.
Santa Fe,
NM
Hours of Operation
| Monday | 5:30 p.m. to |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 5:30 p.m. to |
| Wednesday | 5:30 p.m. to |
| Thursday | 5:30 p.m. to |
| Friday | 5:30 p.m. to |
| Saturday | 5:30 p.m. to |
| Sunday | 5:30 p.m. to |
About Us
If it was heartbreaking to see chef David Sellers leave the Santacafé, don’t worry.
A fresh romance blossoms instantly on entering his new restaurant, the retooled former Julian’s on quiet Shelby Street. The most significant physical change was opening up a part of the restaurant that had formerly been an isolated, small dining room and transforming it into an elegant corner bar with both counter and table seating. The interior renovations are welcome and effective, but it’s the menu that inspires a coup de foudre.
Distinctly grounded in the European Mediterranean tradition, Sellers offers a straightforward selection of six first courses and six entrées, topped by a second, special set of starters and entrées complete with region-specific wine pairings. For example, tiger shrimp sautéed with garlic, shallots and smoked paprika might be served with a Manzanilla sherry in homage to Jerez, Spain. A roasted rib-eye smothered with aïoli and nestled among potatoes and a vegetable escalavida, arriving with a Terra di Ripanera super-Tuscan blend, will conjure the hearty appetites of Tuscany.
Amavi also is heavily influenced by locally, seasonally available ingredients. Some kitchens would wither under the strain of Mediterranean soul and New Mexican shopping, but Amavi is motivated instead. A goat cheese bruschetta with heirloom tomatoes manages to imply both the Amalfi Coast and the Rio Grande Rift. In doing so, especially in such an intimate setting, Sellers and Amavi offer a welcome journey with all the comforts of home. (Zane Fischer)
Dinner nightly. $$$
