Antonio's Italian Grill — Restaurant in Baytown

Antonio's is my favorite Italian restaurant. My family and I thoroughly enjoy this cozy, delightful bistro.

Positive observations:

The atmosphere is quiet, comfortable, and intimate. This restaurant does not seem large by any means, but my family and I rarely wait more than a few minutes for a table during a busy lunch or dinner time. The staff rarely has any turnover. Each member is a familiar, friendly face and they carry themselves with a soft, cheerful demeanor. They appear to enjoy both their work and their customers, and they always contribute to an enjoyable experience. The manager always greets everyone in a warm, sincere manner. A house recipe Italian bread is served with every meal and is always warm, soft, and fresh. It is accompanied by a bowl of olive oil mixed with roasted garlic. While the small bread loaves are very enjoyable, the bread knots are my favorite - soft and chewy, but not doughy or under-baked. I regard Antonio's entrees as the best Italian fare in the Baytown area (and beyond). I especially enjoy the lasagna and the chicken parmigiana. My youngest often opts for the more American-ish chicken strips, but I have to say that even those are delicious and easily surpass the overall quality of chicken strips served in the other Baytown-area restaurants. The pizza is outstanding! Whether dining in or picking up, their pizza is a delicious, refreshing alternative to the area's big-box pizza stores. The flavor and quality are unique and can be described as a signature dish. The pricing is very modest considering the quality of food and atmosphere and the generous portions served.

Opportunities for improvement:

None. I seek to be fair and impartial in my reviews, but this restaurant ALWAYS provides a consistently pleasant and enjoyable experience.

The bottom line is that this warm, welcoming little restaurant is a gem that makes Baytown's dining scene very competitive. While this is one of a small area chain of Antonio's restaurants, it feels like a single, family-owned, best-kept secret. Their team strives to make each visit great and it shows. I expect Antonio's to remain one of my family's favorite restaurants for a long...

The restaurant itself brings to mind what a restaurant in Italy might look like. The painted walls are intended to resemble the countryside. There's a fountain if you'd like to toss in a coin for good luck. The sign outside states Antonio's serves the "freshest" Italian food in Baytown. The few times I've visited, I've ordered the same item, therefore I cannot state whether or not all their food is the "freshest." The two meatballs served on the spaghetti and meatballs are nicely sized. I'd prefer them to be a little bigger (because I like the flavor and want more). The meatballs are not so spicy they ruin the flavor of the spaghetti sauce. The spaghetti sauce itself is more tomato flavored than I prefer. Since the meal is "spaghetti and meatballs," the sauce is sans meat. At least every time I've ordered "spaghetti and meatballs" there has been no meat in the sauce. It could probably be ordered, which I will do next time I go. The bread "knots" are brought to the table hot, soft and delicious. They're probably my favorite. The fresh salad has a light Italian dressing already applied. I don't like my salad dressing to overpower me and their dressing does not. All the times I've visited, the waitstaff have been friendly, professional and checked on us frequently but not too frequently. Fresh drinks refills appeared at the right times. Dishes were whisked away when empty. Each visit was pleasant. I'm sure I'll return in the future. (My friend got the steak rosemary ravioli, if I recall. It looked wonderful. I might have to...

Beware travelers! While traveling through the area, we chose this resrestaur based on positive reviews. I have to say I strongly disagree with the reviewer who feels this place is better than the chains.

The little rolls brought to the table were good, slightly crusty and yeasty. (Pizza dough?) However, the herbed olive oil accompaniment featured bitter, oxidized oil and dried herbs with NO flavor.

We ordered Caesar salad, which was served home style. The dressing was good, but lettuce was very bitter and much of it was rusted. All signs that it was old.

I asked for two small piece each of traditional lasagna with tomato sauce and vegetable lasagna that was served with a lemon cream sauce. The first bite of the veggie lasagna was mostly a whole slice of lemon, rind included. A chef that fails to understand how to avoid putting something inedible in a plate should get more training.there were quartered, marinated and likely canned artichoke hearts in this sauce as well. I like artichokes,but the pieces were too large to eat easily and very tough as canned ones can be. Not recommended.

The traditional lasagna was three noodles with two huge layers of what seemed to be unseasoned cooked ground beef covered with equally unseasoned tomato sauce that, again, tasted like it came right out of the can. No herbs or any type of flavor except tomato sauce.

I don't often take the time to post negative reviews, but the reviews of this restaurant cannot be trusted....