About Amelia's

Amelia’s is Gainesville’s own connection to Old World Italy; a fine dining experience without pretense or stuffiness. It’s the place people come to celebrate the special moments in their lives: a graduation, an anniversary or an upcoming wedding; the place to share a wonderful meal with great friends or a quiet dinner for two.

Located in the heart of downtown Gainesville, behind the historic Hippodrome Theatre, Amelia's Restaurant has been serving Gainesville's finest Italian cuisine for more than 20 years. Gainesville residents and visitors consistently vote Amelia's to the top of every "Best Of" list when it comes to traditional Italian dining.

When UF alum Andy Fass bought Amelia's in 2007, he did so with the idea of preserving the restaurant's great tradition while introducing a fresh approach to the preparation of every meal and each dining experience. Today's Amelia's is a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, with a freshly renovated dining room, casually elegant service and a classic Italian menu. If you haven't been to Amelia's for a while, your next meal here will be both refreshingly new and comfortably familiar. We can't wait to welcome you back.
 


Chef andy

Chef Andy

Amelia’s Owner and Executive Chef, Andy Fass, loves Gainesville. As a two-time UF grad (Undergraduate, Class of ‘98; Levin College of Law, Class of '01), he’s a proud member of the Gator Nation.


After getting his law degree, Andy contemplated a career practicing law . But, secretly, he always wanted to be a chef, dreaming of opening his own restaurant one day. So, he put his law books away and enrolled in the New England Culinary Institute, receiving his degree in Culinary Arts in 2004.
 
In 2007, after apprenticing for several years at restaurants in New Orleans and North Carolina, Andy was offered an opportunity he couldn’t pass up: a chance to return to Gainesville, this time as the owner of one of the town’s oldest and most storied restaurants: Amelia’s.
 
Andy immediately dove into his new dual roles as local business owner and executive chef. He infused Amelia’s menu with creative new interpretations of classic Italian dishes, added fresh new items and created a casually elegant dining atmosphere appealing to local residents and returning UF alumni alike.
 
Today, you’ll find Andy in the kitchen hovering over a big pot of sauce, greeting his guests in the dining room or even, once in a while, joining in on a family celebration by playing ‘Happy Birthday’ on his tenor sax, which he always keeps handy for special occasions (and, yes, he really does know how to play).
 
Whether it’s your next trip back to see your alma mater, or your next nice dinner out on the town, Chef Andy Fass will be looking forward to making your visit a memorable one.