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Friends, Family & Fine Food Amici of Massapequa is an old-world, family style Italian Restaurant. The moment we walked into Amici’s we were struck by the feel of Italian ambiance. From the softly playing Italian background music, to the very hospitable owner and wait staff, Amici’s has that cozy, quaint, welcoming feeling of Italy.
The limited seating capacity of this establishment isn't necessarily a bad thing because it made us feel exclusive. Everyone is greeted like an old friend or family member and it seems the room is constantly filled with “regulars,” whose names and favorites are quickly recalled.
We were seated in a pleasant corner with a perfect view of an enormously, impressive “DaVinci style” mural (above right) that extends the entire length of the restaurant. Shortly after being seated, we were presented a bottle of La Vendemmia Merlot Veneto. It is a typical merlot, mellow yet complex. Along with the bottle of wine, the waiter brought two appetizers to begin our evening. Bruschetta (below left) was served atop toast surrounding house marinated gaeta olives. This bore a terrific blend of ripe tomatoes and fresh fragrant basil that made a light and tasty starter. When you make your way through this handsome establishment you will see an array of dining rooms warmly and classically appointed with wine collections and fireplaces. As you continue through the spirits room you head off into another dining area that leads to a grand room that can easily accommodate large functions. Mussels with onions and tomatoes (below right) were of the cold antipasto variety. Each one easily fell from its shell and melted in our mouths. There was just the right amount of onion to give this dish a lively quality.
The Hot Antipasto (Below) is a perfect dish for those who have a hard time choosing an appetizer because it seems there is a little of everything. The stuffed mushrooms with fresh Italiano style herbed breadcrumbs were nice and firm. Whole baked little neck clams, lightly breaded and seasoned just enough to bring out the natural sweetness of the clams, were a treat. The eggplant rolatini was exceptionally tender and stuffed with imported ricotta that was as creamy as it was appetizing. Finally, super sweet shrimp, butter-flied and sautéed, gave that little "snap" with each bite proving they were as fresh as they were tender.
The Stuffed Artichoke (below left) was a delightful special. It sat in a bowl surrounded by a lake of broth derived from the artichoke itself. The slightest touch of a fork forced the vegetable to fall apart. The filling is definitely an “artichoke lover’s dream.” Stuffed with pancetta, large pieces of roasted garlic, and topped with the appropriate amount of homemade seasoned breadcrumbs provided the finishing touch to this treat fit for a king!
On a previous visit, we were served a large “Insalata Capriciosa,” (above right) in English, “a fickle salad!” The salad was served in an oversized Italian designer bowl. It consisted of mixed greens, red cabbage, fresh mozzarella, celery, and mushrooms. Salads are dressed at the table to the guests’ liking. We were given the balsamic vinegar and oil. Every bite of this tasty salad had pieces of fresh mozzarella that made our mouths water.
Continuing with the main entrée, we were served a dish that frequents as a special. The Trio (above) of Veal, Chicken, and Steak is a great selection for any “carb conscious” diner. It was generously topped with a fairly light tomato sauce that had chunks of fresh tomatoes and “aglio dolce,” or sweet garlic. The veal was a textbook perfect scallopini - thin, tender and moist. The large chicken breasts were kept superbly tender and moist in their preparation. The steak, beautifully grilled, was juicy thanks to its succulent center. We also sampled a generous portion of Zuppa di Pesce Della Casa (below). This is a mixed seafood platter filled with half lobster tails, clams, mussels, shrimp, and calamari. The seafood was expertly prepared in a light tomato sauce replete with whole garlic cloves served over al dente linguine – a true labor of love!
Finally, onto dessert … a special homemade berry tart (below) topped with fresh berries and whipped cream. This was accompanied by a homemade cannoli that had a fresh and hearty shell with a noticeable hint of cinnamon. The filling was creamy and pleasantly sweet.
Make sure to bring a good appetite or the whole family when visiting this restaurant because portions are considerably large. Couples too, will find that Amici is certainly one of Long Island's most romantic dining establishments. Collectively Amici's of Massapequa is a traditional Italian restaurant with an “over the top” ambience that makes you feel as if you’re having Sunday supper at Nonna's house.
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