The Idea

With an already popular Italian restaurant, Migliaro and Barraco wanted to open something different. That’s when the idea for an all-American restaurant was born.

“We wanted to do a simple, American-type of food with a twist on it,” said Migliaro. “This restaurant has a little bit of something for everyone.”

Food

Deciding what type of food to indulge in when dining out can be difficult, which is why Migliaro said Amici Tavern has a variety of menu items to choose from.

A few signature items are their Nachos, Grilled Romaine, and Amber Ribs which were all on the original opening menu and stayed consistent throughout all of the revisions.

The nachos aren’t your ordinary nachos, in fact some patrons have even described them as “Life Changing”. They are loaded with homemade chili, roasted corn, caramelized onions, fresh pico de Gallo, shredded cheese, cheese sauce, and topped with Avocado, chipotle aioli and a lime crema.

The restaurant also has a wide variety of salads, burgers, and sandwiches. Some of the local favorites include the Tavern Double Double, Shrimp Tacos, and a California Chicken Panini. Amici Tavern also has an extensive list of entrees including a Prime Bone in New York Strip, Shrimp and Grits, and homemade Pasta dishes. With such a wide variety on the menu there is truly something to accommodate everyone.

Amici’s executive chef creates exciting weekly specials that are new every Friday, So be sure to continuously check out the specials section or follow us on social media to stay up to date!

Drinks

Amici Tavern strives to support other local places. New England Brewing’s Sea Hag is the standing IPA on draft, and Counterweight Headway is always stocked in cans. The other rotating taps change frequently but feature other local breweries including No Worries, Two Roads’, Bad Sons, and more! Beyond beer, our cocktails are inspired by our customers. Many times drinks are discovered by the patrons, and even feature customer created drinks on our menu. The cocktail menu changes with the season so there is always something different to look forward to.

Atmosphere

Barraco considers the restaurant “relaxed, casual, and familyfriendly.”

Signs throughout the restaurant encourage a relaxed atmosphere. In the dining area, a sign reads “good food, good wine, and great friends.” Hanging above the bar area is a similar sign that says “eat, drink, and be merry.”

Upon entering the restaurant, there is a large, oval shaped bar with a few high top tables around it. The dining room is simple, with more than a dozen wooden tables with black chairs, but it’s also chic and sophisticated at the same time.

The co-owners said they want people to feel comfortable coming into the restaurant to relax after work, after running errands, or just to relax.

“We’re a neighborhood, everyday restaurant,” said Migliaro.

Success Story

If you’ve lived in North Haven for any length of time, you will remember the restaurant, On Broadway. When this fine establishment closed, it left a gap in the restaurant choices in North Haven. Well, I’m happy to say that gap has been filled with another great restaurant, Amici Tavern. Located in the same building at 43 Broadway, owners Michael Migliaro and Steve Barraco invite you to come down and sample their menu.

This family restaurant serves American cuisine with their regular dinner menu priced under $20. They also boast a reasonably priced gourmet specials, plus half and full racks of ribs. On the lighter side, there’s a full sandwich menu and rotating local beers on tap at all times. At Amici Tavern you’re guaranteed a good meal at a good value.

Michael and Steve are not new to the restaurant business. They’re both seasoned restaurant veterans and have owned and operated Cafe Amici in Hamden for 15 years. They enjoy working together and have been friends since boy scouts, where they both attained the impressive rank of Eagle Scout! They always liked the location at 43 Broadway and when it came available years ago, they jumped at the chance to open a 2nd restaurant. The building dates to 1906 and really has the feel of a tavern steakhouse! Their staff is made up of full time professionals including Chef Gilberto Galdamez who was worked in high class restaurants throughout the United States and crafts multiple genres of dishes.

They are serving lunch and dinner 7 days a week. There’s a Happy Hour Monday - Friday from 3:00 until 6:00 with select half priced appetizers and $1.00 off drink prices.

Amici Tavern also offers full service catering. They would be honored to plan, coordinate and staff your next event. They cater to all occasions on and off premise. They have a private room available that can accommodate up to 30 people, or they can bring their full service catering to your location. They also have a pizza truck serving the same delicious pizza you can enjoy at Café Amici in Hamden! Steve and Mike will tell you, “If you want it, we’ve got it. If we can’t do it, you don’t need it!”

You can peruse their restaurant menu and catering menu online, or better yet, stop in at 43 Broadway in North Haven and sample the menu first hand. Amici Tavern is where friends and family come together.