When Chuck and Lisa Surack built The Pearl, they had a desire to furnish it — and the rest of downtown — with a dining experience like no other.

That desire has been fulfilled with Amoré — Italian, Steak & Seafood on the northeast corner of the multi-use building.

With their latest endeavor, the founders of Sweetwater Sound were inspired by a “deep appreciation for quality food and hospitality. Their vision was to create a welcoming space where families can gather, share, and savor unforgettable moments again and again.”

Featuring a lunch menu that has sandwiches, such as a fried chicken with hot honey, Calabrian aioli, and kale coleslaw, as well as a burger served on a house-made bun with tomato aioli, caramelized onion, house pickles, and a spring mix salad — Amoré offers next-level business lunches.

You will find pasta on the lunch and dinner menus, with options like Cheese & Pepper Pasta, Rigatoni Bolognese, and Triangle Penne & Angry Red Sauce. If you’re in the mood for some Butternut Squash Caramelle, you’ll want to arrive for dinner.

And if you’re craving some meat, you can choose from Flat Iron Steak, Chicken Under Brick, and Seared Mountain Trout — be it for lunch or dinner. The dinner menu also has Petite Filet, Bone-In Ribeye, and Seared Atlantic Salmon.

Oh yeah, and there are plenty of cocktails to choose from as well as an extensive list of wine and beer. There are also alcohol-free mocktails, coffee, and tea.

First Impressions

Opening on Dec. 2, I did not wait long to check out the new location.

Taking the opportunity to have a midweek date night, my wife and I were able to find some free off-street parking along Pearl Street and made the short walk to Amoré, at the corner at Pearl Street and Maiden Lane.

Inside, you’re whisked away from the northeast Indiana weather into an open space of high ceilings, tile flooring, and just the right amount of holiday décor. The globe lights hang like full moons above you, and the soft operatic music sets the scene.

Having made my reservation through their website, amorefw.com, my wife and I were seated immediately by a hostess. Our waiter quickly made his appearance, with drink and dinner menus in tow.

Glancing through drink menu, I noticed a note about the Classic Negroni, which piqued my interest. Having not had gin since I was in college, I decided to give this one a try. Featuring Citadelle Gin, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, and Campari with a preserved slice of lime atop, it was a light beverage that was an easy sip.

For my wife, you Diet Coke fans out there will be pleased to know that Coke products are available.

With drink orders in, it was time to for appetizers, which I left up to my wife. Swaying between focaccia and garlic & oil fries, it was the focaccia that won the day. 

The bread was an excellent, and the side of extra virgin olive oil with Calabrian chili and Parmesan took it to another level.

On to the main Course

When it came time to select an entrée, we turned to our server to recommendations. But before that, I had to inquire about a whiskey concoction.

With a few on the cocktail menu, he offered some suggestions. He admitted he had not tried the Wacido yet, but his intrigue for it also made it look appealing to me.

Using Buffalo Trace, the drink includes Averna, fresh lemon juice, vanilla simple syrup, Angostura bitters, and egg white. As a guy who orders his whiskey neat, this was a different experience, but one I do not regret.

As for the food, my wife knew she wanted pasta, and after hearing about the Triangle Penne & Angry Red Sauce, that was her pick.

With everything being made in-house, the house-made egg pasta with San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, ricotta, fresh basil, and chili flakes was a hit. She can handle a bit of spice, so with the dish being described as having a “Midwest kick,” the description was apt. She is also not the biggest fan of ricotta, but did not mind it here.

For myself, I went with the Flat Iron Steak.

Everything at Amoré is locally sourced, with our server saying the ingredients either come from a 20-mile radius or Italy.

My 8-ounce steak was from Wood Farms in Fort Wayne, and one of the best I’ve had. Having it served medium rare, it had a melt-in-your-mouth quality. And with you selecting your own knife with it beforehand, the “elevated dining experience” was confirmed.

We closed our night with dessert, and while they were some intriguing ones like Double Chocolate Gelato, Roman Tiramisu, and Affogato, Pistachio Olive Oil Cake was what stood out. 

Served with a dollop of Chantilly cream, it was an ideal ending to the night.

Worth a Visit

The night ended as a successful midweek date night, which really needs to become a regular affair.

The Amoré staff was knowledgeable and delightful, with managers also stopping by to see how things were going (and even bringing some more of that addictive olive oil dip served with the focaccia.)

Chef Kyle Mares, who attended the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, assembled beautiful dishes. The limited menu helps focus on quality, and there is plenty of it here.

Downtown Fort Wayne has become a hub for unique dining experiences. Amoré is now part of that scene.