Emilio's Ballato Chef to Open Long Island Supper Club

Anthony Vitolo, the executive chef and owner of the celebrity-filled New York City restaurant Emilio's Ballato, is expanding to Long Island. He is teaming up with local chef Salvatore Sorrentino to open an upscale eatery named Vitolo-Sorrentino in Garden City.

The new restaurant is slated to open in late October in the former ITA Kitchen space, which Sorrentino recently sold his ownership in. The idea for the partnership was sparked when Sorrentino, whose friend was ready to leave the restaurant industry, considered how to make use of the remaining months on his lease for the shuttered ITA Kitchen.

"We decided to go into business while having a drink at 2 in the morning," Vitolo, 35, told the New York Post. "All my people that I grew up with in Wantagh have been dying for me to come out to Long Island."

Their collaboration began with a highly successful pop-up event in August, featuring popular dishes from Emilio's Ballato, such as chicken scarpariello wings and thin-pounded Vitello Antonio veal chop. This initial event, described by Vitolo as a "symphony – an orchestra," led to a second, even more popular pop-up that drew long lines.

"Once I saw how it was flowing, I knew we should do this," Sorrentino said. "It just brings the love back."

The menu at Vitolo-Sorrentino will be a blend of favorites from both chefs, including Emilio's Ballato's meatballs and Sorrentino's fried capellini amatriciana. They are also experimenting with new dishes, like a chicken cordon bleu cacio e pepe that proved successful in tastings.

Vitolo, who now lives in Smithtown, plans to split his time between the new Long Island restaurant and Emilio's Ballato in New York City, where his family also works.

The interior of the new Garden City location is undergoing a significant renovation. The previous decor, described as a "classier version of the Rainforest Cafe" with faux ivy walls and a decorative tree, is being replaced with a more elegant, red-velvet-inspired ambiance.

"We’re going to make it a classy, Italian sit-down restaurant," Vitolo said, anticipating that residents of Long Island's Gold Coast will become regular patrons.

Vitolo's own path into the culinary world was somewhat unexpected. Originally slated to play defensive line for Hofstra University, the program was cut in his first year, leading him to take a job as a barback at Mateo's in Bellmore. The restaurant was owned by Salvatore Sorrentino's family, and Salvatore was tasked with managing the salads.

Despite their paths crossing in the industry, Vitolo and Sorrentino only became friends years later, connecting through visits to other ITA Kitchen locations. "Now we want everyone who comes in here to feel like they’ve known us like family for years," Vitolo added.