How to Get Into Amourette

Resy: When do reservations drop?

Amanda Shulman: We’re open Wednesday through Saturday and reservations open up 30 days out.

And how quickly do seats usually get booked?

It really depends. When we first announced the pop-up, we were beyond grateful for the interest and response from our regulars and Philadelphians in general. We always try to open up new offerings to our newsletter subscribers first and encourage guests to sign up for that inside info. We couldn’t believe it, but subscribers ended up booking out the first four weeks of reservations within two hours.

At the same time, we really want to provide more accessibility and flexibility, so we reserve some seats nightly for walk-ins.

How many seats are there at Amourette?

We have 44 seats outside!

How does that break down, indoor versus outdoor?

When we first opened, we used the courtyard as the main dining room and reserved the inside space in case there was inclement weather. As we’ve gotten more comfortable with the flow, we’ll now seat guests inside as long as the weather remains nice. This allows for us to open the books further for walk-ins.

What’s the busiest time of day and the busiest day of the week?

Busiest days are Friday and Saturday. We actually get a busy pop later in the evening around 9 p.m. which is always a fun vibe because the twinkling lights get to really do their thing!

What’s the best piece of advice you have for someone who might be hoping to get a table?

Now that we are open on Saturdays and can seat more guests as walk-ins, we definitely recommend popping by if you are in the neighborhood. If there’s nothing available right at that moment, we’d be happy to accommodate guests for drinks until something opens up.

What’s the best time to snag a walk-in seat?

Honestly, anytime! If it’s nice out, we will sit the entire inside dining room — if you’re keen to sit outside, I’d try 5 or 9 p.m.

How many covers do you typically have in a dinner service?

It can really vary, but typically 75 to 100, depending on walk-ins.

Do you utilize the Resy Notify feature?

Yes! We love having the flexibility to keep guests informed when tables open up.

What’s your favorite time to dine here?

I like the 7:30 p.m. spot … the sun is coming down, you get the gorgeous sky and dip of the sun, but also get to see the fairy lights in action.

The space has to be the loveliest outdoor dining in Philadelphia right now. What’s it like working in a historic and gorgeous place?

It’s a bit of a dream! The garden is truly an oasis. I used to walk by the courtyard every day on the way to my first restaurant job (hi, Vetri!). I could never imagine that I’d have the opportunity to host the pop-up and get to experience some of that garden magic. I love when guests visit and tell us how happy they are to have the restaurant activated. So many people have memories here and to give them a way to reconnect with a special place feels pretty cool.

Tell me about the playlist.

Depends on the night and the vibe! Sometimes we go rogue. Sometimes we are Madonna-heavy. Sometimes Springsteen or a little Sabrina Carpenter pop. There’s definitely something for everyone.

What’s your order if you want to have the best of the best of Amourette?

If you want the best of the best, you’re for sure getting the two dishes that don’t change: The pimento cheese crab dip and the rotisserie chicken with Calabrian chile jus. I’m a sucker for a rotisserie chicken. The food is fun and fresh and changes pretty constantly as the ingredients change. We have a magical towering tomato toast and are putting in grilled squid with a hoagie vinaigrette that I’d also save room for. And don’t forget our olive oil cake with whatever fruit we have at the moment. But also, the clamwich.

And to drink?

If I wasn’t pregnant, I would be hitting the Pimm’s cup and the spicy margaritas.

How long is your dinner service?

5 to 10 p.m.

How would you describe the food at Amourette?

We think of Amourette as if My Loup and Her Place had a baby — the food is super seasonally-focused, lighter fare reminiscent of French and Italian farm-based cuisine. The name Amourette translates to “an ephemeral love affair” or “passing fling,” and we aim to capture that even within the menu — a fleeting yet magical moment in time. It’s also fun and whimsical … we get to play around a little more here and can touch on more casual things like dips or sandwiches that we don’t get to toy with at the other spots.

What’s the one thing we have to order?

Can’t be one. Roast chicken, clamwich, tomato salad toast, crab dip, olive oil cake.

What’s the best party size to come in with?

Four guests — the more the merrier. Eat like it’s a party.

What’s the largest group you can book through Resy?

The largest party size you can book through Resy is six people. We encourage guests with larger parties to contact us through the email form on our website to see what we can accommodate.

Any additional tips?

You can hang by the bar while you wait, Come join us for a cocktail before your reservation or your walk-in attempt.

Amourette is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner. It closes Nov. 2, 2024.

Sarah Maiellano is a Philly-based food and travel writer. Follow her on Instagram. Follow Resy, too.