Today we’d like to introduce you to Elpida Sarnacchiaro
Hi Elpida, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Our Story began with Chef Benito, who was a Chef in NYC Little Italy Mulberry Street. He opened his restaurant Benito’s in 1968, it was one of the very few restaurants in Little Italy. Being a very small restaurant, the only person working outside of the kitchen was Salvatore. Known as a “family owned joint”, Benito’s quickly earned a reputation. Chef Benito and Salvatore made an outstanding team: the food and the service were both sensations in their own rights. Year after year, business went up, to the point that evenings at Benito’s had turned into a tradition for many people, who celebrated the entire Benito’s menu. Authentic, delicious, warm, welcoming – they were doing everything right.
By 1983, Benito’s had expanded from its original location to encompass two locations, and Salvatore and his wife Maria acquired Benito II. Because of its location, its size, and its prestige, Benito II was the larger location (and in people’s minds, the central location as well). Benito II continued to grow and grow, its reputation booming – and its business doing the same in turn. As popular as the restaurant already was, it was clear that the peak was still a long way off.
1988 came, and Salvatore and Maria decided they needed to branch out. Benito II was packed every single night, and they were turning people away. Purchasing the space adjacent to Benito II, they set up a special room for weekends and parties. Now, Benito II could thrive the way that it seemed destined to thrive. There was room to grow, there was opportunity to serve even more, and Salvatore and maria had discovered a talent they hadn’t known they had – vision.
In 1994, Maria took the special room for the weekends and created her own restaurant– Amici II. At that time Salvatore owned Benito II while Maria owned Amici II. Business was bigger than ever before, people were raving about the food even more than they had been. Despite the boom, they remained steadfast in their commitment to keeping their restaurants small, cozy, and family-oriented, which Fabrizio (their son) and Elpida (Fabrizio’s wife) have carried on to the present day.
We’ve loved every minute of our journey
Two years prior to the launch of Amici II, Fabrizio came on board at Benito II. When Amici II opened, he took on dual responsibilities, immersing himself in the restaurant business and working at both locations. His ambition and his devotion to great food experiences were both evident from the very start, and in 2001, he and his wife Elpida took over Amici II. They were honored to carry on the tradition that had started more than thirty years before then – and more than fifty years before today. At the time that they took over, Fabrizio and Elpida made a promise to each other: quality would always come first. No matter how big they got, no matter how much business grew, they would focus on delicious food and commendable service. Nothing would get between them and running a restaurant they would be happy to dine in themselves.
In Texas, we decided to open a food truck in Buda and ran it for 4 years. When we opened the food truck we wanted to see how Austinites would take to our food. It was suppose to be for a short time but covid hit and we stayed in our truck for 4 years. We won many awards as a truck. Then an opportunity arouse where we were able move in to a brick and mortar in Austin/Dripping Springs, We were sharing a space with an other establishment. We fully took it over and Amici has found it’s home again.
Family
Fabrizio and Elpida have since become a family of six. They ran Amici II with joy and passion until 2019 – when our family decided to move to Texas and open a mobile kitchen – Amici. Long enamored with the sun and allure of the Lone Star State, our family could not be any happier to call this place home. We want to grow with this community, all the while offering up our traditional and time-tested takes on renowned Italian cuisine, straight from Naples to Little Italy to your table.
Life in Texas
Since moving they have etched out a life for themselves in Texas.
Visiting Austin, Hamilton Pool, Green Belt, Lake Travis and other cities they have gotten a sense of the state and grown to love it. They are eager to continue to explore it and continue to settle in, getting to know other families in the area and planting their roots.
Some of the pastimes that they have enjoyed most since relocating are attending live music, checking out the rodeo, and eating as much BBQ food as possible. Settling in was easy for them, and even beyond the people that we already knew (Martin Family). “Everyone we have encountered has been welcoming and hospitable. This warm reception has only further served to encourage us to do our very best here.” (Fabrizio and Elpida)
Born in Naples, Fabrizio is eager to share his family tradition with as many Texans as he can. He and Elpida are enthusiastic about bringing the food and the culture they hold dearly to a whole new audience.
In 2018, Amici II was named among the top 17% best restaurants in all of Manhattan.
The New York Daily News did a feature on Amici II.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Covid took a toll. Being in a truck was very seasonal. Never giving up. Follow your dreams. You will always have obstacles
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Amici?
I am the owner of an Italian restaurant called Amici. My husband is the chef. My husband cooks homemade Neapolitan classic dishes and we serve true NY style pizza. I make the best homemade lasagna and as customers say the best meatballs in Texas.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the families. The food. Least I would say it gets a bit hot (weather)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amicitx.com
- Instagram: amicitx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amici
