Meet the Chef

Chef and owner of Amici, Vito Arena was born in 1953 to Giuseppe and Giovanna Arena in the small Sicilian town of Vizzini. He grew up in the Bronx when the family immigrated to the U.S., where he and his sister Benedetta, grew up, surrounded by their extended family. The Arena family bakery was the hub and heart of life. The pizzas and bread that are served at Amici Restaurant today are as close as can be replicated to Giuseppe’s old-world recipe.

Vito worked in several restaurants in New York and Jacksonville before opening two restaurants in the Jacksonville area. He learned techniques from those around him and incorporated his family recipes into daily specials.
 
But the real legacy of true home cooking came from his mother, Giovanna. Her marinara sauce, lasagna, fresh tomato sauce and her simple but perfect way of combining ingredients has become legendary. Her cooking still influences most every recipe on Vito's menu at Amici.
 
Vito has lived in Northeast Florida for 30 years and in 1999 he opened Amici Italian Restaurant on Anastasia Island. In 2003, Vito and his sister Benedetta opened the Milano Room banquet facility adjacent to Amici. Vito's love of family and food is evident in every menu item and event offered at Amici.