Antica — Restaurant in New York

3 1/2 stars

My expectations were pretty tempered here going in, and they didn't change much by the end. Antica is less than a block from where I work and was next on my Friday lunch list based on nothing more than geographical proximity. It's a pretty non-descript white tablecloth Italian restaurant within a mid-range hotel that has two or three outdoor tables that have caught my eye during lunchtime constitutionals. It's pretty telling that when I announced I was coming here, only one co-worker had even heard of it despite, again, this being literally 500 feet or so from our office. It wasn't bad by any means but it just didn't make much of an impression (which some would argue is even worse).

I came here yesterday around 1PM. The outdoor seating was full, but I was immediately seated inside. Interestingly, they have one of the most inconspicuous bars I've ever seen - it was in my eyeline throughout the meal and yet I didn't even register it until halfway through. I imagine most of their bar action comes from table service wine requests, but still. I'd definitely make it more noticeable if possible.

The interior is honestly pretty generic and humdrum. Again, it's a slightly upscale restaurant in a hotel and looks every bit the part. There's no indication that the designers went out of their way to make this a unique environment, and there's a compelling argument that they don't really need to - there's a built-in customer base sleeping overnight in your building. It had some upbeat Italian music playing, and a European family seated nearby was happily bopping along. And I think they absolutely get points for hospitality - I came in basically wearing gym clothes and they didn't bat an eye.

The service was excellent. It helped that I had picked out my entrée two days before so I was immediately ready to order, but I literally had my food presented to me about 10 minutes after I entered the restaurant. For higher end dine-in food, that's as good as it gets. I have yet to have even just normal, good service in this neighborhood when I'm dining by myself - it's delightful how the Financial District treats its solo eaters. They also had a really nice bread/butter presentation - one of their waitstaff came by with a variety of bread rolls/slices in a basket for selection, and a plate with a thin, long butter square was put on the table. A little too cold in my opinion (it was a bit of a struggle to butter the bread), but a nice touch overall.

I debated between two pasta dishes but ultimately went with the gnocchi with pesto dish. It was decent, but not out-of-this-world amazing. The texture was very good - fully cooked, not too soft, etc. (I would have been shocked though if any Italian place messed up the cooking/prep for pasta) but the pesto taste just didn't do it for me, palate-wise. I could easily see someone else enjoying this much more but I just wasn't as into it - I found the pesto a little too overwhelming, even taking into consideration that it should be close to the star of the show here. It was a solid portion but it was a bit pricey, even given the neighborhood. The menu doesn't actually have prices on it (kind of a red flag in my view), and this entrée with tax came to $29. I'm sure you're partially paying for the hotel vibe and a waitstaff that is very on their game - one of them had this alpine horn cheese grater thing that showed up less than five seconds after my pasta was on the table - but I think it should have been closer to $25.

There were solid intangibles here, but you're in a neighborhood and city that arguably has the best Italian options outside of Italy - I'd try someplace else next time. You could do worse, but you could...

Was staying at the hotel and went down there for the convenience since it was really cold and windy and I didn't want to walk down the block to another, CHEAPER breakfast spot. The waitstaff was okay but I was just ordering food to go, so I didn't expect much.

So, my order was French toast with a side of potatoes and sausage and an American breakfast which consisted of 2 eggs any way, potatoes, bacon and toast. I had cheese added to my eggs. For drinks an apple juice, cranberry juice and coffee.

For all of this I waited around 20 minutes. Got there at 9am was out by 9:22am

The quality of this food was just plain sad. I understand that it is located in a hotel, but to my knowledge this is a whole separate establishment. I have had better quality food at a continental breakfast from a MOTEL.

First disappointment, I had ordered bacon with my breakfast but got sausage instead. Second disappointment, the potatoes we hard and best at room temperature, no flavor, I guess that is why they call them potatoes instead of home fries. Even though they are shaped like home fries. The cheese used for the eggs tasted like it was processed and cheap. The most disappointing was the sausage that I didn't even want. Just looking at it you knew it was dry. Dry. Sausage. And it didn't even taste like real meat. I took one bite and that was it.

My friend said the French toast was okay but nothing to brag about. Her sausage and potatoes were just as bad as mine.

They gave me my coffee black, no cream or sugar in the bag and when I asked for some, they told me to make the coffee right there in the restaurant.

The only stuff that we finished from the order was the drinks and French toast.

Total bill?

$70.88.

I do not know about their Italian food, since the reviews for that are amazing. But save your money and disappointment and do not get their breakfast. Wish I had just bundled up and got a better meal for a much better price...

Pre-COVID, the bride had been to Antica for a number of meals while working for one of the consulting firms in the area. On a recent visit to the city, we stayed in the FiDi and booked a dinner here. We arrived to a scaled back space half filled, yet surrounded by potential customers going in and out of a busy hotel. The large tables in the front windows were empty. We were presented a black and white xerox copy of half a menu. When asked about the other half we were told "We're not serving those tonight." Looking around it was a third full along the inside wall - harder for the potential customers outside to see. Looking over the wines - limited, but they did offer a Sancerre. Ordered a salad, Italian enough but did they have a 'Caprise'? "Of course, we could do that." We added the Branzino whole fish. Wine, bread and butter arrives all cold. Seasoned olive oil for the bread...no. Caprise arrives slightly under dressed with four wimpy looking basil leaves, but, delicious. Limited sense of 'garnee'- for the SHOW. But wait, out from the kitchen on its own cart arrives the whole fish prepared to cook in front of us. Something that should be in the front window! And what a show, sautéed, dressed with light garlic and filleted in front of us. That – would bring us back to sit in the FRONT window to add to the show. I was so preoccupied trying to understand their business model I barely noticed I was served a chardonnay NOT the Sancerre...THAT cost you those two stars. We'll be back and you should go to fill the windows with customers to bring in more customers...the...