Johnny D’s Market & Bistro in Vero Beach is a culinary trifecta: dining, takeout, and a select Italian market. It’s also a family enterprise.
“My dad taught us everything we know—he’s awesome,” says owner Nina Amelio. Her father was born and raised in the village of Afragola, near Naples, and came to the United States when he was 23 years old. He owns Pomodoro Grill, and 13 years ago he decided to expand and open up the market and bistro as well. Eventually, he sold it to Nina and her brother Mario; Nina speaks glowingly of Mario’s culinary gifts and notes that he developed many of the recipes. Another brother, Alessandro, is the executive chef at Scampi Grill, so the Amelio family is a dynasty in the Vero Beach Italian restaurant scene.
The name Johnny D’s also has deep family significance. “When we were in the process of building, my cousin John Dechellis passed away,” says Amelio. The market/bistro is named in his memory…