Antica Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar — Restaurant in Chadds Ford Township

We had the deprivilege of visiting this restaurant yesterday and wasted our time and money to get our evening spoiled by them. We had a reservation for 7:15 pm and arrived on time and requested to be seated outside as it looked beautiful in the pics (big mistake!). The set-up outside has lights but somehow you have to request atleast 2-3 times before they switch them on (guessing conserving energy or saving earth..... don't know which one!). So we had to wait atleast 10 mins or so before we could read the menu as it was getting dark. Scene 2: We ordered a simple bloody mary and iced teas. They took 30 mins and couple of requests on "Where are our drinks?" before they realized that they didnt have bloody mary mix to serve us. So we wait for another 10 mins to get our replacement drinks. Finally! Scene 3: We ordered 3 entrees (which had 2 pastas!!). After 45-50 mins the server served 2 entrees and was gone. My friend didn't have her entrée (which was their house special pasta) and we waited 5-10 mins.... thinking it is coming...... and no one in the 10 mins even bothered to check why with 3 people at a table only had 2 entrée plates. Again we had to ask the water boy, server and finally the waiter as to where the entrée was. Viola!!! That's when they realized that they didn't get the 3rd one....... another 10 mins go by....... then someone important (maybe the manager or the owner!) comes and with a cocky attitude says "Oh! I am sorry!..... I will make you a fresh one"...... by that time, we had already waited so much for the food that all our appetite was already gone (not even counting the spoilt evening by then)...... and that's when the entrée finally arrived!!!! While the food was good, the service was horrible except for the water boy who was really good......... infact he was the only one who was prompt, attentive to all the tables, was constantly running around and had a smile....... Our waiter didn't falter even once in keeping on reminding all his guests that "We are very busy"...... If they were busy..... they should have shut down the place and got things in order rather than telling paying customers that they are busy! Guess they are forgetting that the reason they have the restaurant open is for customers to be there!

For that price, what we got was bad ambience, bad service and a cocky manager/owner....... By the time we left at 9:45 pm or so..... we felt blessed that we were...

Our waitress Suzanne was very accommodating and we really just love the service and the atmosphere of the restaurant. The menu was spot on and it is what brought us into have dinner and enjoy the perks of restaurant week in the Chadds Ford area. Was looking for somewhere that had great food that wasn't too far away from Longwood gardens where we went for the first time and it was also amazing just 10 minutes away. This is definitely a must go to again for years to come the food is absolutely delicious and the wine selection isn't pretty bad either. We ordered the Fried Calamari Fresh Rhode Island Calamari Lightly Fried over White Bean and Garlic Puree Topped with cilantro aioli. And for our second appetizer the Pulpo al Griglia Grilled Octopus, Arugua, Citrus Chili Oil and they both were marvelous. Cabernet Braised Shortribs which were so luscious and Hardy it literally melted in your mouth. The umami hit so many different levels especially the savoryness brought out by the Cabernet reduction.Braised Tender short ribs wild mushroom risotto, grilled asparagus, cabernet reduction. The second entree was definitely the star of the show as well my favorite Zuppa di Pesce Sautéed Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, Salmon and Crab in a White Wine Pomocoro sauce served over linguine. Both dishes were very well proportioned that it was more than enough to eat half of it and take the rest home with you and I love having something to eat for later. We finish off the rest of dinner with a blueberry cheesecake brulee which was so yummy and tasty also we had the chocolate mousse which was rich and decadent and everybody possible. Can't wait to get back out there and enjoy this...

Antica Italian restaurant in Chadds Ford offers a comforting array of Italian classics, centered around fresh pasta dishes. While you can't go wrong with well-executed pasta, my experience left me feeling indifferent rather than impressed.

One notable aspect was the familiarity of their cocktail menu, with offerings like the "Our Award Winning Whisky Sour" that seemed lifted directly from other establishments, such as Brick and Brew. It's disheartening to see identical drinks claimed as unique to Antica, raising questions about originality and authenticity.

Similarly, the desserts failed to distinguish themselves, echoing those found in numerous other restaurants. Despite their pleasant taste, nothing felt uniquely crafted or proprietary to Antica's culinary identity.

Although I can't fault any specific dish, none stood out as exceptional or memorable. The lack of culinary innovation left me feeling underwhelmed, despite the good service and attractive ambiance of the restaurant.

One potential draw for future visits could be the promise of a happy hour, which could add value to the overall experience. However, with the abundance of options offering fresh pasta dishes in the area, Antica may struggle to stand out without offering something truly distinctive to set it apart.

In summary, while Antica Italian restaurant offers a pleasant dining experience with reliable fare, its lack of originality and standout dishes may leave diners seeking a more memorable culinary...