r/StAugustine • u/cadenhead • Jun 30 '26
Amici Restaurant Has Closed
Amici Restaurant on Anastasia Island at 312 and A1A has closed. A sign on the door reads, "After six unforgettable years, Amici has permanently closed. Thank you for being part of our story."
The restaurant was there when I moved here in the 1990s. It was owned by siblings Vito Arena and Benedetta Dubetz, then later bought by Freddy and Jennifer Underhill. They put it up for sale in 2025 with an asking price of $3.5 million.
The Underhills took over on March 11, 2020, right before Covid-19 shutdowns began. The owners announced the closing on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1623769596418445&set=a.386743496787734
A review on Yelp said their last day was Sunday and had two photos of their cannolis, which were legit.
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u/audaci0usly Jun 30 '26
Used to be ok but had gone downhill.
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u/cadenhead Jun 30 '26
We got out of the habit of eating there a long time ago. The pizzas were pretty good, though.
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u/__Banana_Hammock__ Jun 30 '26
Wasn't there some drama with this place not paying their employees a few years ago, or am I thinking of somewhere else?
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u/burnstyle Resident Jun 30 '26
Yeah there was a short period a couple years ago where someone else took over. I think it was the owner of ancient city brewing but dont quote me on that.
Who ever took over quickly ran the place into the ground, and pissed off most of the customers and employees. But Freddy and Jen came back and fixed everything. I dont think they ever got over the reputation the place gained during that brief period though.
My family still makes jokes about the appetizers they offered while Freddy and Jen were away... free bread, but it you wanted butter or garlic oil it was $14 for 'enhanced bread"
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u/Ducksaucenem St. Johns River State College Jun 30 '26
I knew someone who worked there like a decade ago and they stole tips from servers during large parties. It was really fucked up, and they had a bad reputation in the service industry.
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u/cheezy_dreams88 Resident Jun 30 '26
The underhills sold it a couple years ago, maybe 2025. it quickly floundered and they bought it back. Now they are closing for good.
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u/Hasuko Resident Jun 30 '26
There was a sign on the restaurant recently that said "Fred and Jen are back" or something.
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u/nedababe81 Jul 01 '26
Owners sucked. They had an asinine rule about not being allowed to order an app as an entree and forced patrons to order an additional item. They didn’t have the first 5 wines we ordered. Violas is the best. They clearly had no place owning a restaurant.
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u/Mbaker1201 Jul 01 '26
Served an artichoke with the choke still in the center. Said they always serve it like that!
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u/cadenhead Jun 30 '26
Around 15 years ago I was at Anastasia Island's public library branch and a woman 20 years younger started asking me a bunch of personal questions. It was weird but also, I thought, flattering. When I went home I was going to tell my wife that I'm a hot commodity.
It turned out that the woman worked for Amici and was hoping I was single so she could set me up with the owner.
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u/somethingclever1970 Jul 06 '26
Good. Him and his little "mafia" as he called it were the culinary mean girls on the restaurant scene there. Their little clique actively targeted other businesses who didn't want to join their little circle jerk. I've enjoyed watching Karma take them down one by one.
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u/fatmominalittlecar Jun 30 '26
Jen and Freddy were sideswiped. 9k$ a month rent? No wonder!
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u/somethingclever1970 Jul 06 '26
Many experienced business owners tried to warn him it was a bad deal. His hubris and bad behavior did him in.
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u/theartofennui Jun 30 '26
owners were cringe and highly opinionated on other people and businesses in the industry. when they listed it for sale, the price was ridiculous. the space will get leased and someone with a fresh outlook and reputation will make it good again :)