With 11 Italian restaurants on Main Street alone, it isn’t too difficult to find Italian cuisine in Middletown. From gourmet pizza to hearty homestyle pasta to decadent cannoli, you can pretty much find it all. That being said, it can be tricky to find a dining experience as satisfying and elegant as Amici Italian Grill.
Opened in 2002 by brothers John and Sam Vrakas, Middletown’s Amici is one of two locations (the other is in Avon, Conn.). The menu was designed by the Vrakas brothers, who were inspired by the cuisine of Northern Italy but also wanted to incorporate some popular continental fare. In addition to its lunch and dinner options, the menu also features a variety of alcoholic beverages and an impressive number of homemade desserts.
Although the menus at the two locations are very similar, Angelo Simoni, one of the managers of Amici in Middletown, informed us that the clientele are quite different. This is partially due to the role that Wesleyan plays in the Middletown community, as well as the numerous business offices and courtrooms that are located at and around Main Street.
“More people come for lunch at our Middletown location,” Simoni said. “We also get a lot of people from courts, a lot of families, and the Wesleyan community is a big part of our business, whether it’s the students or the faculty. We’re especially packed on the graduation weekend for Wesleyan. We love it, though—very friendly people—and we’re very happy with that.”
The well-priced lunch specials offered at Amici are one of the many elements that distinguish this restaurant from other eateries in Middletown. Each week, Monday through Friday, three to five rotating lunch specials are offered. Each dish costs $6.50, and the fare includes vegetarian food, meat dishes, pasta, and sandwiches. A given week’s specials may include Rubbed Pork, Blackened Chicken Macaroni and Cheese, Coconut Shrimp, Chicken Burger, Zafferano (a shrimp and pasta dish), and Fragola salad. But if none of these seem appealing, there is also an extensive lunch menu featuring many dishes under $10.
The restaurant boasts its ability to accomodate both its customers’ schedules and their wallets.
“If all you have is 20 minutes, we can get you in and out,” Simoni said. “And eating at a restaurant is always more fun than eating at your desk.”
For dinner, one of the most popular items on Amici’s menu is the Chicken Christina, which is sliced grilled chicken sautéed with prosciutto, garlic, tomatoes, mushrooms, baby spinach, and fresh basil in a white wine lemon butter sauce. Their seafood dishes are also a hit among patrons and range from more continental dishes, like Cajon Tuna Steak, to typical Italian meals like Seafood Fra Diavolo, an Italian stew that combines shrimp, scallops, clams, and calamari. And of course, the chicken parmigiana is a crowd favorite. Most of the dinner entrees cost around $20, but with free house salad and lightly oiled focaccia bread, they seem to be worth the price.
From their menu, we chose to sample a fried calamari appetizer, which Simoni noted was one of his favorites. The restaurant serves caper aioli sauce—essentially garlicky mayonnaise—and warm marinara with the dish. The fried hot cherry peppers mixed in with the calamari were also a sweet-tasting surprise that really complemented the blend of savory flavors.
“The desserts go really well here,” Simoni said. “The most popular is the crème brûlée.”
When we tasted the crème brulee, we were impressed by its beautiful presentation and light vanilla flavor. The top layer of sugar was perfectly caramelized and gave way to smooth, vanilla custard underneath.
“Everything is homemade,” Simoni said. “And we try to buy locally as much as possible. We’re at Middlesex Fruitery all the time.”
Although the restaurant is already a huge hit in Middletown, the Vrakas brothers are constantly working to attract more costumers and physically improve their establishment.
“We’re in the midst of remodeling the restaurant,” Simoni said. “The owners are working with a designer to renovate the eatery’s interior to fit the menu and their taste.”
Our one request is that they keep the distinctive torches illuminating the outdoor seating area, which light up Main Street and provide a unique atmosphere.
If you’re in search of a slightly upscale restaurant with a beautiful ambiance, a friendly, well-trained wait staff, and a menu that will please your whole party, look no further than Amici Italian Grill. Whether you’re going for lunch or dinner, it is a safe bet that you will enjoy your dining experience at this popular Middletown destination.