Antica Venezia

It's been 35 years since I was a little kid, and my grandparents brought to me new York, At that time the restaurants had this incredible attention to detail, the pushed in your chair, put your napkin in your lap and it made you feel special... I thought those day where gone, and I would never see that again.. Saturday for the first time my family and I went to this restaurant I had never heard of before, was on west street, where normally I would never venture too, and I got to re-live that moment with my grandparent. Beside the nostalgia I was felling for an old school new York restraint, the staff was wonderful, the food was equally as good.. The crowd was a good mixed, young and old and they treated my niece like she was a princess. I think I found my little slice of heaven.... Thank you !! more

First off, we are tourists from the West Coast who just came in to NYC.\r \r This wasn't just a meal, it was an experience! We were warmly treated as soon as we walked in by the Maitre d. If you are lucky enough to get Sammy or as we got to know him as ""Uncle Sam"", you will be in for a treat. Just to hear his exuberance as he describes the specials of the evening is epic.\r \r We brought our 2 kids with us and when Uncle Sam brought out the Caesar salad cart, well the rest was history. He had both of our kids behind the cart with him making the salad. And let me tell you was it good.\r \r Later he brought out a pasta that wasn't on the menu but basically we told him that we love Fettucini Afredo, but wanted some variation if possible. What we got was superb.\r \r For main dishes, my wife got a huge New York strip in a wonderful sauce. I got a Veal chop in a wine reduction sauce. Both dishes were out of this world!!!!\r \r The funniest thing happened. Before we left for our NYC vacation, I told my son he was going to get a hair cut, which of course didn't go over big with him. At the last minute, I told him he could wait till after we got back. After we finished the main course Sammy and another waiter came from behind my son and put napkins around his neck and told him he was about to get a haircut. The look on my son's face was priceless!\r \r All I can say, as much fun as we had . . . these guys take their cooking seriously. Everything we had was done perfectly!\r \r Would highly reccommend this place! Pros: Food, Atmoshpere and Service more

As a foodie in the city I have seen my fair share of good restaurants, though this retaurant is a rare. With attentive staff that are eager to please, excellent food selections, and reasonable prices, this restaurant is one of a kind in NYC. Pros: Attentive service, comfortable dining atmosphere Cons: Location is out of the way more

I went here on a Sat night for dinner and was so disappointed by both the food and service. They sat us 50 minutes after our reservation without so much as an offer for a drink or food on the house. They were too busy that they 'forgot' to bring the friend zucchini and cheese (which in the past had come complimentary with the meal) which was also frustrating. The food here is just mediocre but I had wanted to go back because of what I thought was going to be the exceptional service - not any more! There are at least 10 other Italian restaurants in the west village with far better food and at better prices - I will not bother going here again and do not recommend it for others. more

My husband and I went last Friday and had both excellent food and excellent service. The special (fish) I ordered was not prepared correctly but when I brought the waiter's attention to it he fixed the problem promptly. My husband had one of the veal dishes and said it was tender and tasty. The house wine was very good and they were generous with the pour. The staff also brings around a complementary after-dinner drink. Nice touch. When we were there the water fall became a bit overenthusiastic and my husband's chair and back got pretty wet. So I'd avoid sitting over by the waterfall wall, if possible. Pros: Great Service, great food Cons: watch out for the waterfall wall more

My boyfriend and I went there with a gift certificate from my Mother last Saturday night. The restaurant itself is cute, dark, brick, typical Italian West Village. But they made us wait 40 minutes for a table even though we had a reservation. They said we'd be the first couple seated since we were the first to arrive, but since we at the back of the bar, they seated 2 other couples ahead of us. We had to complain twice. THEN.. I had presented the gift certificate to the waiter in advance (so they'd be aware), but when it came time to accept the certificate at the end of the meal, they refused... saying they didn't take them on Saturday nights. To make it worse the Manager refused to come out and talk to me about it. Finally, I saw the manager walk by - and grabbed him. Both he and the waiter were so RUDE. They said they changed the rules about certificates and the new rules are on the website. Who reads a restaurant's website? I explained I had given the certificate to the waiter, but he actually said ""I don't have time for this..."" and other similar unbelievable sentiments. II started to get loud and he snatched it out of my hand and threw the check back down on the table with the certificate amount deducted. \r \r What kindof manager acts like that? They should have said ""I'm so sorry for the confusion, I'd be happy to make an exception for you.."" The food was good, but it wasn't amazing or it isn't like there aren't 10,000 Italian restaurants in the city. Who the hell wants to trek to the West Side highway anyway?\r \r Find another restaurant.. they are arrogant and don't understand customer service.\r \r \r \r \r \r Pros: Typical Good Italian, not outstanding, romantic vibe Cons: Customer Service, Prompt Seating, Manager/Host are Arrogant and RUDE more

The occasion: My finace's b-day. The scene: Antica Venezia with one table occupied when we arrived. The immediate impression: The owner greets you, the staff draws you in and seats you, and then from there you are whisked into the most delightful dinner you might ever have at these prices. Abandoning the whimsy for a moment, let me tell you how utterly delightful this restaurant is. Free apps right off the bat. Calamari and focaccia. Delicious. Crispy exterior to the squid, a loose collection of northern Italian style bread crumbs clinging delicately to the meat and on the inside a perfectly cooked cut of calamari. The focaccia is elegant and warm. The wine is moderately priced, extensive, and unique - I purchased one bottle. The service trumps all of this at this point - our waiter, the busboy, the owner all coming together for a non intrusive, wonderful sense of being wanted, you feel happy to be there and feel they are happy to have you there. The entree's were unforgettable - they have it all from branzino served whole, to original gnocchi dishes, to homemade pastas, long and al dente. After that the free b-day dessert but right before they grace us with this they do a very theatrical presentation in changing the table cloth while you sit there, before your eyes and everything's clean and crisp and it feels like nothing moved. The dessert: tiramisu, obvious but her choice - and it was of course, perfect. See a pattern? I swear I don't work there or know a single soul there. Next came complimentary digestifs - limoncello, grappa, your choice and all served on a rustic cart, mixed and poured tableside. For all of this I pay 100 dollars. They took our pictures, the owner chatted us up, invited us back for a special occasion dinner with his family - we left floating. Till we got to the Fat Black Pussycat and left there in there in wheelbarrows. Highly recommended, as high as I can recommend a place. Go there. Now. Run. Simply the best! Pros: Impeccable everything: service, ambiance, atmosphere, food, wine, so romantic...PERFECT Cons: They won't let me pay rent to live under a table there... more

This has to be THE BEST Italian restaurant in NYC! From service to ambiance to most importantly food, everything was perfect. We (3 couples) dined there on a Saturday night and though on time for our reservation, they were running a little behind schedule because of a big birthday party they had in the main dining room. They offered to sit us in the other room but we didn't agree because it's not as nice as the main dining room and close to the bathrooms and coat check. Because we had to wait, the host told the bar tender that all drink while we wait would be on the house. Great Great Great place and people! I can't say it enough. The food was mouth-watering! Definitely a must on anyone's list of to-go places! Pros: Everything! Cons: Nothing! more

Having lived in the West Village for several years I often jogged past Antica Venezia wondering what the orange awning was hiding inside. Well last night my fiance', another couple and I went past the awning into one of the most romantic hideaways. The low lighting and fireplace immediately set the mood. This was accompanied by excellent attentive service, uncrowded seating, a low noise level, and great food. In an era of large loud trendy restaurants it is a pleasure to dine in an atmosphere which Antica Venezia offers. I will become a regular at this West Village gem. Pros: ambience and service more

I picked this place due to the fact that there was not one negative review here. I am very happy to report that I will be adding a glowing review as well. I picked this place for a nice dinner for us and two close friends; all of which came to meet in NYC from Chicago and San Francisco. We had reservations, but had to wait at the bar for a short time. This wasn't a problem, since the bar was empty, and Tony (bartender) took very good care of us. The restaurant lighting was perfect, and they obviously set just enough tables, so you weren't dining with your neighbor. The decor included a glass waterfall visible from the bar and the main dining room. The waitstaff was unbelievably attentive. From the time we called for a reservation to the time we walked out of the door, everyone was working together to make this a special event. The Food was fantastic, and was served the exact way it was ordered. Be prepared to spend some money, but it was worth every penny. Don't pass up the limoncello or ""Mama's"" Tiramisu Pros: Great service, Food on par with the service Cons: Only been there once, couldn't find anything wrong. more

from the decor and the wine to every delectable course, and an attentive staff to cater to your every culinary whim. An ideal restaurant . Pros: food, serice, atmosphere more

The other reviews on this page say it all! Everything from the perfect ambiance, cozy atmosphere, fireplace and home decor, to the impeccable friendly service and presentation and quality of all dishes . This place is incredible! A very warm welcoming by owner/host John made for an amazing experience . He treated us as if we had been going there for years. You will be pampered! After the meal and some very good homemade grappa, we were treated to some drinks and great conversation. It will definitely be a place I go to whenever I'm in New York! Pros: Atmosphere, Service, Food more

One of the best hidden spots in NYC for great Italian food! Comfortable atmosphere, delicious food, and a very warm welcoming made for an amazing experience. My favorite part of the evening was the friendly, attentive, and knowlegdable waiters. Service is five stars!!! Pros: Sevice, food, ambience Cons: a little out of the way more

I don't usually write reviews but I feel compelled to let everyone know what a great Italian Restaurant this is. It's a little off the beaten track but worth the trip. First of all you are greeted at the door by John, the most gracious owner/host you will ever meet. If you're looking for a romantic evening out on the town, this is the place to go. The lights are low, the music is not too loud and the menu is all over the place from pasta to delicious meat and fish dishes. Before you get to the dessert, they change the tablecloth. End this delicious meal by accepting their homemade grappa, gratis. The Lemencello is smooth and delicious. Aside from the food, which is first rate, it's everthing about Antica Venezia that I enjoy. It's a first class restaurant in every way. Pros: Great Service, Great Host, Great Food Cons: No complaints more

My boyfriend and I needed a last minute dinner - something special that wouldn't break the bank, but was romantic and good - Antica Venezia it is. Fantastic service - they give you complimentary appetizers and after dinner drinks, roll out a clean tablecloth after dinner and didn't rush us. The food was great, too. Traditional and tasty. I definitely recommend this for couples (and large parties, as there were many there that night), particularly for last minute reservations... Pros: service!! food, wine, location Cons: when full, it can be loud.. more

I LOVE this place. Can not say enough good things...have been there no less than 15 times, and had my 25th birthday party there---always a hit. I've taken friends, coworkers, my employer, people of all ages and relationships and I've always recieved wonderful feedback from my guests. Pros: Ambience, food, cost more

This is the best restaurant (let alone Italian restaurant) I have ever been to. I love that it is still a hidden gem! Best date place, best service and absolutely best food!! more

The view, the ambiance, and the SERVICE were all incredible. The food was absolutely delicious, and the experience of eating at Antica is beyond words. You will be pampered and taken care of like you're the only patron there, and the staff is gracious and amiable without being pushy or intrusive. A perfect date spot. Pros: Service, Atmosphere more

I have been at this restaurant a few times. The food is excellent, the decor great, the staff is wonderful, and the owners John and Alex are the most wonderful hosts. Make sure to try the pasta with lobster/champagne sauce and the cheesecake! more

I had some friends coming in from Australia, and having taken me to a great Italian restaurant when I visited them, I wanted to return the favor. I looked around on citysearch for a place not too far from the theatre we were attending later, and found Antica Venezia. In addition to having excellent food, wine and after dinner liquers, the atmosphere is lovely and the waiters extremely friendly and helpful. The only drawback is the location - make sure you have cash before you go - I had to hike quite a bit to find an ATM (stupid on my part). Pros: Food, Atmosphere, waiters Cons: location more