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...
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