Ristorante MV Testimonial

Summary

Mike Vitiello, Chef-owner of AMV in Bernardsville, NJ, shares his journey from a family restaurant in Brooklyn to creating a high-end dining experience. With a focus on quality, he emphasizes the importance of a well-curated bar program, including top-notch stemware and unique glassware from Steel Light. Combining Italian-American roots with exceptional craftsmanship, Vitiello creates a memorable experience for guests through attention to detail in food, drinks, and atmosphere. His passion for hospitality and creating the perfect setting is evident in every aspect of his restaurant, where every detail, from cocktails to music, is designed to delight.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mike Vitiello, Chef and owner of restaurant AMV in Bernardsville, New Jersey, comes from a family with a 65-year history in the restaurant business in Brooklyn, New York.
• 😀 Mike's first job in his family's Brooklyn restaurant involved scrubbing the steps, emphasizing the importance of earning respect from the ground up.
• 😀 The bar program at AMV is integral to the restaurant's success, with a focus on high-quality stemware, liquor, and garnishes.
• 😀 The restaurant's strong bar program directly supports the kitchen by generating revenue that allows them to buy premium products for cooking.
• 😀 AMV offers a complete dining experience, with cocktails, music, and a friendly atmosphere where guests can enjoy themselves late into the night.
• 😀 The restaurant places a strong emphasis on providing excellent cocktails and a memorable experience, with live singing events on weekends.
• 😀 Stemware plays a major role in the restaurant's bar program, with premium glasses like the martini glasses from Steelite being a key part of the dining experience.
• 😀 Steelite, a glassware provider, has been crucial in helping Mike design the restaurant’s concept and choose the right glassware to match the Italian-American theme.
• 😀 The martini glasses from Steelite are specifically chosen for their design and high quality, reflecting the restaurant's focus on serving premium cocktails.
• 😀 AMV’s wine sales are thriving, and the restaurant uses specialized wine glasses (like the Electra glass) that enhance the wine-drinking experience by helping the wine open up quickly.
• 😀 The restaurant emphasizes branding, with custom logos on glassware, further reinforcing its identity and the high-end quality of the experience offered.

Q & A

What is the background of Chef Mike Vitiello's family in the restaurant industry?

Chef Mike Vitiello's family had a restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, for 65 years. His father taught him everything about the business, and Mike started working in the kitchen at a young age.

How did Chef Mike Vitiello begin his career in the restaurant industry?

Mike Vitiello's first job in the restaurant industry was scrubbing the steps where the garbage was taken out. His father believed in earning respect from the ground up, which was important to his early training.

What kind of restaurant was the family-owned place in Brooklyn, and how did it differ from AMV?

The family-owned restaurant in Brooklyn was a more old-school establishment with a bar, whereas AMV, the restaurant Mike now owns in Bernardsville, New Jersey, emphasizes a more refined bar program and high-quality ingredients.

Why is the bar program an essential part of the restaurant experience at AMV?

The bar program at AMV is crucial because it enables the restaurant to offer high-quality liquor and cocktails, which directly contributes to the restaurant's ability to source premium ingredients for the kitchen.

How does AMV's bar program impact the kitchen and the overall dining experience?

AMV's bar program provides revenue through liquor sales, which in turn allows the restaurant to purchase top-tier products for the kitchen, ensuring a well-rounded and high-quality dining experience for customers.

What role does stemware play in the success of AMV's bar program?

Stemware is a significant focus in AMV's bar program, with the restaurant prioritizing high-quality glassware, such as custom-designed martini glasses from Steelite, to enhance the visual and sensory experience for guests.

Why did Chef Mike Vitiello choose Steelite as a partner for the restaurant's stemware?

Chef Mike Vitiello chose Steelite because of their ability to provide high-quality, aesthetically pleasing glassware that fit the restaurant's Italian-American theme, including their unique martini glasses, which helped elevate the overall experience.

What is the significance of using premium Italian products at AMV?

As an Italian-American restaurant, AMV strives to source the finest Italian products to deliver an authentic and high-quality dining experience, especially with signature drinks like their martinis, which are served in premium Italian glassware.

How does the wine glass selection at AMV contribute to the dining experience?

AMV uses specialized wine glasses from Steelite, which allow wine to open up quickly when poured into them, performing much like a decanter. This enhances the wine-tasting experience and ensures that guests enjoy their wine at its best.

What unique feature does Steelite offer that aligns with AMV's branding efforts?

Steelite offers customization options for glassware, allowing AMV to feature its logo on the glasses. This customization helps reinforce the restaurant's brand identity, which is important to Chef Mike Vitiello.