By Norine Longo
Not many people can say that at the age of 5 they could make a pizza, at age 12 they were working and at age 19, they had their own business to run. But one person who can say that is Antimo Iovine, owner of Antimo’s Italian Kitchen Trattoria and Pizzeria in Hopewell Borough.
Iovine started his career at Rudolfo’s in New Brunswick, owned and operated by his father since the 1950s.
In 1994, he began working in Hopewell under his uncle, Giuseppe Iovine, who owned Sansone’s, which is now Antimo’s. In 1998, Iovine bought the business from his uncle, who moved back to a town in Naples, Italy called Monte di Procida, where Antimo was born.
Iovine’s 36 years have given him experience — and family recipes including sauces and pizza crusts. Iovine works with his wife, Daniella, brother and manager Beniamino or ‘Benny,’ and sister and server Ida.
But the family doesn’t stop with blood relatives, said Iovine. He develops relationships with his customers.
“My customers have turned into my extended family,” he said. “When I’m having a bad day, my customers will put me in a good mood, and I do the same for them. I like to see people happy.”
The Antimo’s atmosphere is a casual, family-friendly setting for family-style foods with indoor and outdoor seating areas. The restaurant seats 40 inside, and another 30 outside during good weather.
Iovine always creates dishes the best he can using fresh ingredients, he said. On Fridays, he goes to a local fish market to buy ingredients used in the eatery’s seafood dishes like the Seafood Mediterranean or Lobster Alla Marechiaro.
Often, Iovine will purchase ingredients and other necessities from nearby Griggstown Farm Market, as well. He said he buys everything locally.
Homemade soups are chicken noodle, pasta fagioli and Italian wedding soup offered every day. Other soups rotate availability.
All pizzas on the Antimo’s menu are made by Iovine or his brother. Some customer favorites include their margherita, Brooklyn and thin crust pizzas. Personal-size pies are also available.
You can get a plain pizza at Antimo’s, but the restaurant specializes in gourmet pies like the Pizza Fra Diavlo with shrimp, scallops, hot peppers and plum tomatoes.
Even the sausage and mushroom pizza comes with Italian sausage, shitake & portobello mushrooms and pecorino romano cheese.
The menu is rounded out with southern Italian specialties like Chicken Cacciatore, Veal Pizzaiola and Orecchiette Alla Gamberi.
Iovine had also been adding options for diet-conscious diners like organic whole wheat pasta and has plans to add a charcoal grill and expand the menu again with grilled seafood and steaks.
From time to time, customers will request something that is not on the menu.
“If we have the materials, we will do our best to work with the customer to make it for them,” said Iovine.
Catering services have been growing and gaining momentum based on customer referrals, said Iovine.
Antimo’s has developed an online presence with the creation of a Twitter account at twitter.com/antimoshopewell and Facebook page at facebook.com/antimositaliankitchen. The eatery is actively updating with news and specials. Customers can also sign up to receive e-mail updates sent about 3 times a month.
Iovine lives in Monmouth Junction with his wife and two boys, Ciro, 8, and Antonio, 7.
Antimo’s also offers catering in addition to dining, and can feed parties for anywhere from $20 to $40 per person, depending on the spread. Antimo’s Italian Kitchen Trattoria and Pizzeria is located at 52 East Broad Street in Hopewell Borough. Attire is casual, and credit cards and reservations are accepted.
Operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, contact Antimo’s at (609) 466-3333 or visit antimositaliankitchen.com.
,
