I’ve become a fan of Amici’s pop-up bars. I first heard about it with their Christmas bar. Amici is an Italian restaurant on the Strongsville/North Royalton border. They have great Italian food, which is available in the restaurant as well as their bar in their Event Center next door (entrance in photo). The owners decorate their bar with a lot of passion. The decorations start in the hallway, with wall hangings and statues. They have candles hanging from the ceiling and homemade chests stacked on the bar for the Harry Potter pop-up and lots of tiki and Hawaiian decorations for the tiki pop-up.
My niece is a huge Harry Potter fan, so going to their Harry Potter pop-up with her was a must. They serve an abbreviated yet still quite extensive menu, but they also serve fun specialized cocktails that match the vibe of the bar. I ordered the Melonum Mystica, which featured watermelon and melon schnapps, lemon and lime juice and simple syrup and was in a fun bottle I could have kept. I love melon liquors, so I really enjoyed this. My niece ordered the Delirium, which featured vodka and a butterfly pea flower infusion that changes color when you add fresh lemon juice. We all enjoyed the Butterbeers, which we enjoyed for dessert because it features vanilla vodka, butterscotch schnapps and cream soda.
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I couldn’t decide what to order food-wise, but ended up getting the meatball sub (The Meatball Grimoire) since I’m on a quest to enjoy meatball subs lately too. The meatball sub was phenomenal. The meatballs were large and tasty and topped with Amici’s marinara sauce and a nice helping of mozzarella and parmesan. The parmesan really gave it the edge. Just a really great sub – one of my top choice so far.
My niece enjoyed her Grand Hall Chicken Parm sandwich, and her boyfriend enjoyed The Crown Jewel Amici Burger (which is a 1/2 pound burger topped with grilled salami, mozzarella, LTO, and the house Italian dressing). No photos of those. Sorry.
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I then wanted to meet youngest niece to celebrate her turning 21 (since the bar only allows patrons who are 21+) at the summer tiki bar pop-up. She was unfortunately sick over her birthday, so we met up when oldest niece and her boyfriend were back in town. I wanted them to enjoy some nice cocktails since they are in college and probably don’t shell out for the fancy stuff. You can’t get fancier than tiki drinks. Youngest niece was blown away by her drink, which came in a small sand bucket (the Luau Lemonade I think?). It was plentiful, and I don’t think she even finished it but she was quite ‘chatty’ by the end. My Bahama Mama (coconut rum, white rum, pineapple and orange juice and grenadine) came in a plastic glass I could keep, which I gave to the boyfriend for his frat house bar. I enjoy tiki cocktails that feature fresh juice. Unfortunately my first choice (pina colada) wasn’t available that evening. Oldest niece’s once again changed colors, but this time it was the glass itself and not the drink.
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I enjoyed the lasagna, which Amici is known for, while youngest niece was thrilled she could safely eat gluten-free at an Italian restaurant by ordering her meal with gluten-free penne. She ordered the Alfredo and enjoyed it. Oldest niece got the Hawaiian chicken bowl and loved it, while the boyfriend had another tasty burger. Everyone had a great time.
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I may eventually eat at the restaurant, but as long as the pop-up bars are so much fun I think I might keep enjoying my rare evenings there. Christmas pop-up here I come! Amici is open from 11 am to 10 pm every day but Sunday.
Contact info:
Amici Restaurant and Lounge
13000 Royalton Road
North Royalton, OH 44133
(440) 628-9715
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