I gather ‘Amavi’ means ‘loved’ and our family all loved this restaurant. The sign outside is deceptive - the decor is full of character inside. Our children like the bouncy chairs!
We were surprised to have to give a £10 per person when booking by...phone, especially as there were only 2 other tables of customers, even on a Saturday night. But the low number of customers and the freshly cooked food meant that our meal was not rushed - though it was a longer wait for food than at other restaurants, all 6 mains arrived at the same time.
The ‘open kitchen’ is not easily visible from the front tables and now has covid-safe Perspex screens, but it’s quite nice being able to watch the cooking and see how clean it all is.
Our waiter was great, charming, and answered our questions to the best of his knowledge. The menu is extensive - I’m not sure it’s fully ‘international’, but it has a wide range of italian meals and some other interesting options I haven’t seen on other menus, with an influence from the Romanian owners. The children ate all of their pizzas and pasta, my husband enjoyed his chicken pan (the only asian option). My beef stroganoff and creamed potato was delicious, and the pieces of gherkin in it added a different texture. Everything was beautifully presented in magnificent dishes.
The desserts were delicious: the chocolate pancakes and fudge cake were very chocolaty and the Romanian doughnut (papanasi) was beautifully crunchy and the sweetness was offset by the crème fraiche and fruit sauces.
We had some cocktails - be advised they no longer offer a happy hour and the drinks seem small for the price.
It’s not the fastest, cheapest or busiest place to eat in Chelmsford but is a really great independent restaurant. It’s great for a couple, a family or a big group and I really hope more customers discover its charms and keep it open.More