Amelia's Seafood & Italian Restaurant at Balboa Island

[Captain Awesome]

On Balboa Island, less than five minutes from the water, Amelia’s Seafood and Italian Restaurant is a homey little spot. Family owned and operated for 49 years, it’s a wonderful place with a cozy atmosphere and great selection of seafood and pasta. With a wooden ceiling, family portraits, and a painting along an entire wall, the interior of Amelia’s makes you feel at home in its own pleasant little world. It’s a great little place for parties of all sizes, from a romantic night out, to wedding celebrations.

The first thing we ordered was the Calamari Amelia. Unlike most restaurants, Amelia’s offered us an unusual but tasty alternative to traditional calamari. The waitress called it the “flower” calamari because of its unique look, reminiscent of an opening petal. The dish consisted of squid steak marinated in lemon picante and a side of pasta. By itself, the calamari had a little too much zest, but paired with the lightly buttered pasta, it was a fantastic combination.

Our second appetizer, Lobster Ravioli, was simply fantastic. It’s one of those hard-to-find dishes that is so delicious you can’t help but smile after tasting it. The flavored pasta, perfectly cooked al dente, the soft, juicy, delicious lobster, and tomato gravy, all came together to form a mouthwateringly balanced hors d'œuvre. Without a doubt, I would suggest the Lobster Ravioli to any and everyone visiting Amelia’s.

I was lucky enough to taste not just one of Amelia’s soups, but two: the Minestrone and the Clam Bisque. Though not exceptionally flashy, the minestrone has a fresh taste. Served with parmesan cheese, it certainly had more consistency and a creamier texture than your average minestrone, highlighted with a bold, rich, sweet taste describable only as entirely delightful. Simply put, I could happily eat this soup every day. The Clam Bisque also provided a smooth pleasant taste as well as a creamy texture.
Though the minestrone was my favorite of the two soups, the bisque
was certainly delicious.

Our first main course was the Linguine with Alfredo Sauce and Bay Shrimp.
Though it was tasty, it certainly wasn’t anything to write home about. The pasta was well cooked and the alfredo wasn’t heavy, but neither had the sharpness or lively taste I had expected, given the quality of all the previous dishes. On the bright side, the shrimp were plump, fresh, and numerous. And though they were the best part of the dish, they were but a highlight and couldn't quite carry the weight of the entire dish.

Our second course, an amazing two-fish Sampler, contained considerate portions of salmon and escolar, with vegetables. Everything about it was fantastically prepared. Even the
broccoli, which most people believe to be the most boring vegetable, was crisp, fresh, and was seasoned with some sort of ambrosia butter sauce, with a quality I’ve never before encountered. The salmon was fresh and soft, with some light flavor that doesn’t quite penetrate completely into the flesh. The most spectacular item, though, was the escolar. I’ve never had it before, but it was incredible. Not only was it mouthwatering tasty, but it was so moist and soft, it literally crumbled in my mouth with flavor.

All in all, Amelia’s is a fine establishment, with a great atmosphere and tasty food. I’d recommend their fish dishes: not only do they have a good selection, but they are fresh and fantastically grilled. Next time you find yourself in Balboa, you’d do well to eat at Amelia’s.

Amelia’s Seafood and Italian Restaurant
is located on Balboa Island at 311
Marine Ave., Balboa Island.
For more information, check out ameliasbalboaisland.com
or call 949-673-6580.

[The Nightowl]

I've been hoping to check out Amelia's FOREVER. Now you've really inspired me to stop procrastinating and get on down to Balboa Island :)

[Michael Maxsenti]

I too treasure Amelia's as a locals spot with great atmosphere to unwind and visit with friends and loved ones. Their lasagna is one of our favorites.

[Cali-Mama]

Amelia's is a treasured local favorite. I have never had the calimari...I will have to try that next time we are on the island. I can taste it now...yummy yummy.
The best part of an evening down on Balboa Isand is walking dinner off with a stroll around the island.