Amari Kitchen & Wine Shop

Amari is so much more than the resident Italian restaurant at the UnCommons mixed-use complex in the Southwest Valley. The focaccia bread and pizzas are made with the same dough, using a 25-year-old ancient grain starter that produces complexity in both taste and textures. The bread is an excellent appetizer all by itself (with a choice of dipping sauces), while the pizzas are best described as a heftier version of a traditional Neapolitan recipe with a slightly charred crust.

Chef Alan Mardonovich rounds out his menu with modified Italian classics, including a Shrimp Scampi reimagined as a pasta dish (with long ribbon-shaped mafaldine) and a deconstructed Chicken Cacciatore that's more of a roast chicken plate than a stew. The dishes pair well with wine, cocktails or the restaurant's exceptional amaro selection, which is heavy on unique fernets.

Everything is served in a warm contemporary space that includes a main dining room, private wine room and a bar area, where a daily happy hour runs 3-5:30 p.m. Amari also has a covered wraparound patio and retail shop that's geared towards those living in the UnCommons' apartments.