Italian restaurant Antonette's East Hills seized by New York State for nonpayment of taxes

Antonette’s East Hills, an Italian restaurant-catering hall that opened in 2012, has been closed by the State of New York for nonpayment of taxes. A bright orange “seized” notice is posted on the front door of the Roslyn Heights venue.

According to James Gazzale, spokesman for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, the restaurant was seized on Thursday. It has 17 open warrants, from 2014 to 2018, totaling $181,948.63. 

While the ground floor of the two-story building housed a bar and restaurant, upstairs was a large room used for private events, and owner James Antoniotti has apparently been contacting customers who have booked future parties. He did not yet return calls to Newsday. 

Lisa Joa of Roslyn Heights was scheduled to have a baby shower at Antonette's on Nov. 3. On Saturday she received a text reading: “We regret to inform you that Antonette's will not be able to host your event due to unforeseen circumstances. Please provide an address for a refund.” Joa said that the text came from a Google Voice number that could not be called back. 

"I don't know if I will get my $1,060 deposit back," she said. 

A local band, Uppercut, that was scheduled to play at the restaurant on Friday night, was texted by Antoniotti on Friday morning. “Jimmy told us, ‘sorry, no music. I have to close the restaurant,’ ” said John Pandolfo, the band’s bassist. “We’ve played there about once a month for the past year or so, and he always treated us really well.”

Antonette’s East Hills was Antoniotti’s third Antonette’s. The first, in Bellmore, closed in 2014 after almost 10 years. Antonette’s Classico in Rockville Centre opened in 2011 and closed in 2016. The East Hills location received a one-star rating from Newsday last year.

Before it was Antonette’s, the stately building on Glen Cove Road was Table 9, Brivo and, for many years, L’Endroit.