Antinoz Cafe — Restaurant in San Antonio

Our family dined on a Tuesday night. We were curious and had been waiting for the opening. It's located in a strip center that's been there over 35 yrs, on the corner of Babcock and Huebner. As we entered the very well lit restaurant, well it was a lot to take in visually. The decor. White with gold accents , 3D effect half Pegasus framed x 2.Painted mural with other smaller paintings. What I liked best was the wonderful sofa seating. A rich color , not quite a deep rust, maybe like the color of a blood orange. Very comfortable. My husband was not a fan of a couple of framed video screens that had a slideshow on a loop. After watching the slideshow screen it did seem to have a lot of photos of beautiful young women staring into the camera with their mouths agape ready to eat whatever forkful pasta dish was also presented. It did seem a little cringe. My 21 year old son only said "Bougie" under his breath. There was one other table with a couple also dining. So it was slow for 6:45/7 ish. We waited too long for our drink order,then we found out this restaurant doesn't offer sodas. My husband couldn't believe that an Italian restaurant that doesn't have a prosecco or chianti. No wine? They do serve different coffees, lattes, tea and water. They display an array of beautiful and delicious looking desserts. We were served a nice baguette thinly sliced with olive oil/ butter and shaved Parmesan. The bread medallions had a well executed crunch to its crust. Next we shared the calamari.Which also took too long, was warm, not hot when the appetizer arrived. It was nicely seasoned and had light dusting to really showcase the protein prepared to that "Goldilocks" just the right texture. The prices were higher than we expected on a lot of the pasta and other dishes. I wanted a salad , they offered 3. Cesar salad, Caprese and House Antinoz . When I asked the only server what was in it, she had to ask the kitchen.She came back with all the ingredients for the house salad, it sounded good, except that it had cucumbers. I am allergic to, so I asked if it could be prepared without cucumbers. Turns out that salad's foundation is cucumbers! Snaps to the chef for preparing it anyway for me.I could have drank the dressing it was so good. Then we ordered small pepperoni and margarita pizzas. They were , meh. The outer crust had great bubbling / blisters. Not strong on flavor, flat. The basil was very fresh. Overall I think it's trying too hard. But I'm just a San Anto , Leon Valley living foodie just trying new places in my hood. My favorite Italian restaurant in this town is Sorrento's on Broadway. But please give this place a shake, you...

My wife and I came in at nine.We walked into Antinoz Café just after 9 PM, fully expecting to be rushed or turned away since they close at 10—but instead, we were greeted with nothing but warmth and hospitality. From start to finish, the experience was thoughtful, flavorful, and beautifully paced.

What We Ordered:

Lasagna – Rich, comforting, and packed with layers of flavor. The cheese was perfectly browned and bubbling on top, and the portion was generous without being overwhelming.

Lamb Chops – Cooked beautifully with a slight crisp on the outside and tender inside. Paired with buttery asparagus and a side of housemade fettuccine in pesto—it was the kind of dish you pause between bites just to savor.

Caesar Salad – Crisp, fresh, and dressed just right. It was a refreshing contrast to the heartier entrees.

Carrot Cake – Moist and lightly spiced, with a creamy frosting that didn’t overpower. Definitely worth saving room for.

Iced Coffee + Dragon Fruit Fresca – Both drinks were as photogenic as they were refreshing. The dragon fruit fresca in particular was light, subtly sweet, and a perfect balance to the richness of the meal.

Atmosphere: This place is stunning. Soft lighting, floral accents, modern Roman-inspired touches, and a chandelier that sets the mood without being over the top. It’s elegant without trying too hard, and cozy without sacrificing style. Whether you're on a casual date night or dressed up for an occasion, the vibe fits.

Service: Even though we arrived close to closing, the staff never made us feel rushed. They were kind, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. That alone would earn five stars—but when you combine it with the quality of the food and ambiance? It’s a no-brainer.

This is the kind of spot that feels like a secret you want to share—but also kind of want to keep to yourself. We’ll...

Relatively nice atmosphere, even if a little brightly lit for our taste. They brought bread w/the meals; it was served with ground black olives and was pretty good. I ordered iced tea but when I needed a refill was told they were out and that they were making a fresh batch. When I asked again 30 minutes later, I was told they were sorry for the delay but that they make the tea and coffee in the same unit and were having to clean out the pot. When I asked again 20 minutes later I was told they were sorry it wasn't ready yet but they would bring it when it was; we were there for another 20 minutes and I never got a second glass of tea. As for the food, I don't particularly mind paying higher prices (e.g., my lasagna was $26 w/no salad or soup), but I did expect it to be better than standard fare (it wasn't); maybe other people like a bland, sweet tomato paste, but it's not for me. We ordered gnocchi as an appetizer ‐ it was like tater tots in the same sweet, bland tomato paste. My wife asked about the Tuscan soup, but the waitress, who didn't know what was in it, recommended the Italian Wedding soup instead (I guess because she DID know what was in that?). My wife ordered the pesto di pollo w/ "spicy chicken meatballs," ($21) but the meatballs were dry, and bland (the opposite of spicy!); the noodles were just o.k. Overall: disappointing and over-priced. I doubt this place will...