University Village in Colorado Springs just welcomed one of its most exciting restaurant transformations, and Amore Italian Grille on N. Nevada Avenue is already earning the kind of buzz that tells you something genuinely special is happening in that kitchen. 🍝🇮🇹
This Southern Italy‑inspired restaurant with Northern Italian influences and a fine‑dining mentality opened January 29, 2026 — and under the same celebrated culinary team that made its predecessor one of Colorado Springs’ best restaurants, it’s already being called a love letter to Italian comfort and craft.
How Amore Italian Grille Won Colorado Springs Hearts
Amore Italian Grille’s origin story gives it an immediate leg up on the competition.
Springs Magazine reported that Amore is the evolution of Ambli Kitchen + Bar — long recognized as one of Colorado Springs’ best restaurants — with the same culinary team led by chef and co‑owner Ricardo Morffin still behind the stoves, now channeling all of that talent into a sharply defined regional Italian identity.
The rebrand wasn’t a retreat — it was a doubling down.
Springs Magazine noted that the ownership team — Morffin alongside partners Pariza Mehta and Kelly Morrison — made the move to create “a more defined regional identity” that they believed would resonate more powerfully with the University Village location and the Colorado Springs dining community.
Local food coverage declared it a winner almost immediately.
The Colorado Springs Gazette wrote a full feature headlined “Say ciao to Amore Italian Grille: a love letter to comfort and craft” — the kind of early press that confirms a restaurant is living up to the high expectations that come with carrying over a beloved predecessor’s reputation.
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The menu concept itself tells a compelling story.
Ambli’s own website describes Amore Italian Grille as bringing “Italy’s table to the Front Range with a menu that balances the soul of the south and the refinement of the north” — creamy risottos, butter‑kissed pastas, and carefully crafted meat dishes that feel “both comforting and elevated.”
Social media helped the opening land with real impact.
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A popular Colorado Springs food creator declared on Instagram that Amore is “a new Italian restaurant now open in Colorado Springs” serving all the flavors you love from Italian cuisine — while another reel confirmed @amoreitaliangrille is serving up a delicious Italian menu “with all the flavors you love and expect” from great Italian food.
The ownership group’s track record added serious credibility.
The same team also operates Ambli Global at Belleview Station in Denver’s Tech Center and recently opened Latin Social in downtown Colorado Springs in fall 2025 — which means Amore arrived with the backing of a proven, multi‑concept hospitality group that knows how to build and run great restaurants. 🌟
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A beloved predecessor’s loyal following, a James Beard‑caliber culinary team, a beautifully defined Italian concept, and a University Village address — Amore Italian Grille had everything in place to win Colorado Springs’ heart from day one.
Food Highlights
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Fritto Misto: A classic Italian starter done with the full finesse you’d expect from Chef Morffin’s kitchen, this lightly battered and fried seafood and vegetable medley arrives golden, crispy, and perfectly seasoned — the kind of shareable plate that disappears from the table before anyone realizes they should have ordered two. 🦐🍋
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Butter‑Kissed Handmade Pastas: The heart of the Amore menu, these house‑made pastas are described as “butter‑kissed” and crafted to deliver the kind of silky, deeply flavored comfort that can only come from a kitchen that takes its pasta program as seriously as any in the Italian tradition. 🍝
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Creamy Risotto: Called out by Amore’s own concept description as a centerpiece of the menu, their risottos bring rich, slow‑stirred Northern Italian elegance to the table and have quickly become a must‑order for guests who want something that showcases the kitchen’s full technique and patience.
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Carefully Crafted Meat Dishes: Described alongside pastas and risottos as “bringing depth and balance” to the menu, Amore’s meat entrées reflect Chef Morffin’s fine‑dining background and give guests a reason to explore beyond pasta — think beautifully seasoned, perfectly executed proteins with classic Italian accompaniments. 🥩
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Southern Italian Antipasti: Rooted in the soulful flavors of Southern Italy that inspired the concept, Amore’s starters set the tone for the meal with rustic, bold, sun‑drenched flavors — olive oil, cured meats, roasted vegetables, and house breads that make you slow down and enjoy every bite before the main event.
Atmosphere
Amore Italian Grille carries forward the elevated, warm atmosphere that made Ambli Kitchen + Bar one of Colorado Springs’ most beloved dining rooms, now wrapped in a focused Italian identity that gives the space a clearer, more romantic sense of purpose.
The University Village location at 5278 N. Nevada Ave., Suite 160 places Amore in one of the city’s most active dining corridors, making it easily accessible for North Colorado Springs residents and visitors while still feeling like a destination worth crossing town for. 🌆
The Colorado Springs Gazette described it as a restaurant that captures the spirit of a “love letter to comfort and craft” — which is exactly the kind of atmosphere that makes Amore equally perfect for a special anniversary dinner, a long Friday night with friends, or a slow, indulgent Sunday meal.
Bottom Line
Visit Amore Italian Grille for handmade pastas, creamy risottos, carefully crafted meat dishes, and a fine‑dining‑level Italian experience delivered with warmth and genuine hospitality — all from the celebrated culinary team behind one of Colorado Springs’ most beloved restaurants.
Address: 5278 N. Nevada Ave., Suite 160, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
📞 (719) 308‑5579
🕔 Mon–Sun 4 PM–9 PM (Mon & Sun 4–8 PM)