This friendly big restaurant is in the old golf club right on the seafront and run by members of the Morelli family. It's an offshoot of the famous Morelli Ice Cream business - their flagship ice cream parlour and café is in a landmark premises on the promenade and held in great affection by many visitors, but this is something different.
It's a great location, with plenty of parking as well as sea views from many of the tables in the large, well designed and appealingly furnished modern interior. Friendly staff are quick to greet arriving guests and allocate the most suitable tables - families with young children appear to be kept together in one area, while couples and adult groups have a quieter zone - with menus, water and the offer of a drink swiftly following.
There's a busy but relaxed tone, lots of happy customers and a feeling of things being as they should be. A woodfired pizza oven specially imported from Naples takes centre stage in the open kitchen, and great pride is taken in their authentic Neapolitan pizze - the detailed criteria can be found on the website (and is outlined on the menu), but the goodness is plain to see and smell even if you don't order one yourself.
The main menu offers many familiar Italian dishes - antipasti (variations on bruschetta, aranchini, Sorrento salad), for example, and a wide choice of seriously delicious home made pasta dishes - plus a wide range of sharing planks featuring aromatic chargrilled meats, poultry and fish. Smoky flavours dominate the main event too, with 'Carbone' offering a great choice of dishes cooked in the charcoal oven and ranging from about £9.95 (the Amici burger, with ciabatta and rocket & red onion salad) to £18.95 (10oz bacon-wrapped fillet steak with roasted beef tomato and garlic butter).
While Italian authenticity is the main USP there's also an emphasis on local ingredients, notably meats (from McTamney Butchers nearby) and fish and shellfish, from Irish ports - some of which is bound to feature on a daily specials list, a choice of about four particularly tempting main courses (that may well lead off with lobster or crab) and a pizza special.
To finish - ice creams (of course), classic desserts and excellent coffee, rounded off with a bill that's fair for the quality offered. As well as pizza bases that are so important to the menu, good on site baking includes continental breads (available for sale), and there's also a range of Italian speciality foods temptingly displayed, including olive oils.
All round, with its big-flavoured cooking, accommodating staff and buzzy atmosphere Amici hits just the right note. There really is something for everybody here, making it a great neighbourhood restaurant and a welcome find for visitors - its success is well deserved.
