Inside: VITA

(Credit: Carly Felton)

After spending the last two years fighting leukemia in Emory University Hospital, restaurateur Tony LaRocco is back and has opened a new restaurant, VITA. A New York-style Italian eatery located in the former Mick’s location on Peachtree Road.  Vita means life in Italian and that is what the restaurant strives to bring to its customers.

“We aim to welcome guests with enthusiasm and life,” LaRocco says.  

Lively atmosphere: With exposed brick, hardwood floors, an under-lit bar and wrought-iron features, VITA has a classic look and a welcoming feel. The restaurant is large, there are 250 seats, a private dining room, a semi-private area and a spacious back deck but the 70-foot bar and Christian Waggoner (owner of the Juliette Gallery) artwork adorning the walls make it seem warm, friendly and even cozy in spots.

Jovial dining: The festive, upbeat atmosphere at VITA is matched by the rich food, which can be served family-style and thus promotes the convivial spirit of sharing. “I have found that people who share great food and wine tend to talk and laugh more together, thus creating the upbeat, high-energy feel that makes a restaurant remarkable,” LaRocco says.

Lunch and dinner are served daily, brunch is offered on the weekends and a late-night menu is also available. The 70-item main menu concentrates on pastas and meat and seafood dishes, in addition to appetizers and salads. The main focus, however, is mussels, as they are offered in six different preparations each day.

Popular dishes include chicken scarpariello, chicken that’s been cut up and seared with olive oil, then roasted with rosemary and garlic; parmesan-crusted swordfish; penne with escarole e fagiole, penne pasta with escarole, white beans, garlic and oil; and pappardelle e funghi, fresh pappardelle pasta sautéed with mushrooms, caramelized onions and peas. For lunch, an assortment of paninis, from the grilled vegetable panini with grilled eggplant, squash, tomatoes, onions, provolone and pesto mayonnaise on toasted ciabatta bread, to the chicken parmesan sandwich, are offered.

Wine over water: To promote and enhance the jovial spirit of the eatery, VITA features a unique wine list with about 55 bottles, more than half of which are Italian varietals stemming from Sicily to Tuscany. The rest of the list is comprised of American and Australian wines. Glasses and half-bottles are available for many of the wines offered and cost less than $30.

“VITA is a place where people can get a great meal at a good value and, most important, be treated like a friend of the family,” LaRocco says.

A renowned owner: VITA celebrates LaRocco’s second chance at life. Even prior to his illness, LaRocca always had a knack for entertaining guests and making them feel at home. He brought the concept of family-style dining to Atlanta in 1995 when he opened Fratelli di Napoli in Buckhead and prior to that, he opened Tony Di Napoli in New York City. He’s also owned and operated The Tap Room bar and grill in Downtown Atlanta, LaRocco’s Italian concept in Destin, Fla., and Antonio’s Restaurant in Hilton Head, S.C.

With more than 30 years of restaurant experience, LaRocco is sure to infuse VITA with the necessary ingredients for a long and fruitful life.

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