The sister restaurant of Heck’s Cafe, Antica Italian Kitchen + Bar opened its casual fine dining concept next door where every menu item is “absolutely 110% scratch”, says owner Fadi Daoud. Open daily for lunch and dinner, with a special brunch menu on the weekends, Daoud says, “We are prepping all day long from our sauces to the focaccia to the pastas.” An extensive wine list and craft cocktails with an Italian twist complement the menu that offers all the classics and plenty of innovative dishes you will be immediately craving again after the last bite.
Here are three don’t miss best sellers and favorites of both staff and patrons:
Spaghetti and meatballs. The ultimate Italian comfort food, this is a must order. It all starts with Pomodoro sauce simmered with imported tomatoes (with just the right acidity and texture) and herbs, garlic and olive oil, atop perfectly cooked spaghetti noodles with Kobe beef oven-braised meatballs. “The beauty of Italian kitchens are that the recipes are simple, made from 2, 3, 4 different ingredients, but using the right ingredients is what makes a big difference," Daoud says. $25
Chicken Parmesan “Pizza.” One of Antica’s specialty dishes, it’s a pizza that is made from ground white chicken that is breaded and fried, layered with pomodoro sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil, with small arugula salad. “So it’s a traditional chicken parmesan, but it’s made into a pizza shape,” he says.
$39
Spicy rigatoni with burrata. Another favorite, this sauce is a combination of the classic Pomodoro sauce with vodka, cream and a pinch of spice. “So someone who doesn't like spicy can still eat it and enjoy it,” he says. Adding in a side of burrata adds extra creaminess to it that melts in between the sauce and rigatoni noodles. $26
