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If you're going out to dinner and you can't decide whether to have Mexican or Italian, you don't have to settle for one. Amor, located on Bay Avenue in Somers Point, offers both cuisines in an upscale setting.

"A lot of people like Mexican, but everyone loves Italian, says Christine Morales, a Somers Point native. "Since we opened, we are really finding that we are serving about half Italian and half Mexican. A lot of our tables are ordering right down the middle, half and half. I thought we would definitely serve more Mexican food, but it turned out it's about 50-50. That was kind of the idea … to have something for everyone."

The idea for the dual concept came from Morales, whose Italian cooking background expanded when she married her husband, Hernan Morales, a native of Mexico.

"He's Mexican and I'm Italian, and I always wanted to own a restaurant," Morales says. "I always cooked for family and friends since I was young … big meals for parties and holidays. It was something I always loved doing. People always said I should have a restaurant because they liked my cooking. I always cooked mostly Italian, but when I started going out with my husband, I learned how to cook Mexican for him. So we figured, 'Let's put them both together and start a restaurant.'"

Amor is not your average Mexican joint with pi�atas hanging from the ceilings. It offers a country-home setting with an enclosed porch and a view of the bay, two fireplaces, hardwood floors on the lower level, tablecloths and guacamole prepared tableside.

So how does this whole dual concept work? Pretty conveniently, actually. The menu reads like two, with Mexican and Italian specialties broken down into separate pages, including appetizers and entrees that fit under each style.

If you like authentic Mexican, you won't find it more authentic than Amor. Its staff makes its own salsas, sauces, nacho chips and corn tortillas daily for its quesadillas and enchiladas, and they don't Americanize any of the dishes.

For example, its chicken chimichanga ($15.95) isn't fried and topped with a gooey orange queso like most area Mexican eateries. Instead, this flour tortilla is stuffed with peppers, onions and mushrooms and covered in green salsa and melted Oaxaca cheese, never seeing a deep fryer. The grilled salmon ($17.95) is served in a Oaxaca Manchamanteles mole sauce. And the ceviche appetizer ($12.95) is made with red

snapper and baby shrimp marinated in onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, Serrano peppers and lemon in a tropical cocktail with avocado.

"I learned how to cook the authentic way," Morales says. "I studied it a little, and I even had some Mexican ladies teach me. When I put it all together, my husband couldn't believe it was my food. He said, 'This is the stuff my mom used to make in Mexico.'"

Morales' Italian roots, however, are also on display with comfort food like chicken Parmesan ($17.95) and gnocchi alfredo ($17.95), and they are complemented with more exotic fare like tilapia ($16.95) in a creamy coconut sauce, mahi mahi ($17.95) in a roasted-red-pepper sauce, lobster ravioli topped with baby shrimp ($18.95) and spinach fettuccini ($17.95) with green peas, Roma tomatoes, fresh garlic, onions, olive oil and grilled chicken.

"I am Italian, and I think I cook more homestyle Italian than anything," she says. "When I used to go out to eat, I never liked the sauces. So I wanted people to come here and feel like they were getting a sauce that they would have at home. But it's not all traditional, either. I compiled recipes over the years, and if I made something people really liked, I would save it. I went through all of the recipes and pulled out the ones people liked best. The coconut tilapia may not be really Italian, but it's so good, I thought it should be on the menu."

For breakfast and lunch, however, casual eaters are treated to more simple, everyday items to accent Amor's authentic flair, including salads, burgers, cheesesteaks, wraps, pancakes and eggs.

"It all goes with the same idea of having something for everyone," Morales says. "If you aren't comfortable with Mexican, you can get a panini or a cheesesteak. We want families to be able to come in here any time of the day and be comfortable."

Amor Mexican &

Italian Cuisine

WHERE: 801 Bay Ave., Somers Point

WHEN: Open 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Summer hours will expand, with breakfast earlier.

HOW MUCH: Breakfast: omelettes range from $5.95 to $7.95; entrees $3.95 to $14.95. Lunch: $7.95 to $9.95. Dinner: appetizers $6.95 to $12.95; Mexican entrees $14.95 to $24.95; Italian entrees $12.95 to $25.95; soups $3.95 to $4.95; salads $7.95 to $10.95; desserts $2.95 to $5.95; kids' menu $4.95 to $6.95.

SERVICES: Major credit cards accepted. No liquor license. BYOB. Disabled access through main door via ramp. Dine in. Takeout. Delivery. Catering. Private parties. Kids' menu. No smoking.

MORE INFO: Call 609-601-7707 or email amorcuisine@gmail.com

BETWEEN YOU AND ME: Amor owners Christine and Hernan Morales recently opened Godfather's At The Shore at 661 New Road in Somers Point. The "straight Italian" restaurant offers pizza, Italian entrees, subs, sandwiches and more from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, with breakfast served all day.

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