Hawai‘i Island Business: Amici Italian Bar and Grill

By Sara Hayash

Amici means “friends” in Italian, and this is the feeling that owner and chef, Gianni Saffoti, strives to provide at Amici Italian Bar and Grill in Kona. “I wanted it to be a place where people can come together to have a good time,” he says.

Born and raised in the Cinque Terre area of northern Italy, Saffoti brought his authentic Italian flavors halfway around the world to Hawai‘i Island where his classic dishes work hand in hand with locally grown produce and freshly caught fish.

After leaving Italy in 1969, Saffoti moved back and forth between Canada and the United States, studying and working in many Italian restaurants. He started off as a busboy in 1971 and worked his way up to chef in 1984. He has always been hungry for knowledge, and his cumulative experience in almost every aspect of the restaurant business served him well when he opened his first restaurant in California in 1991.

Saffoti has always loved Hawai‘i Island, and after visiting several times, saw the need for a real traditional Italian restaurant in Kona. This led him to make a move and open Amici’s in February 2012. “I wanted to do something different,” he explains, “There’s seafood at almost every restaurant on the island, but we do it the Italian way—give it a little different flavor, different preparation.”

Saffoti spends as much of his time in the kitchen as possible, cooking on Sundays and Mondays, and making the daily specials at Amici’s. “It’s fun,” he says, “After all these years I still love it.”

Amici’s has been at its current location next to Aloha Theater since their opening last year, but will soon be moving to the former Love’s Bakery building in the Kuakini Old Industrial Area in October 2013. This central location will be accessible to more foot traffic and will include a patio area for outdoor dining. Their delicious menu will remain the same, with the addition of individual-sized pizzas.

Current Location:
79-7384 Māmalahoa Highway (Next to Aloha Theater)
808.322.9582
amici.kona@gmail.com
Facebook.com/amici.kona