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indi13
Citizen
Username: Notupset
Post Number: 20
Registered: N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 5:04 pm: | 
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Any reviews/comments about Antoinettes in South Orange? |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1681
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 5:20 pm: |
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Do you mean Antonella's? If so I've only been a few times but it was very homey and the food quite good. Never read a bad review. |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 2770
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 5:34 pm: |
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indi - if you do mean Antonella's, you will find many fans here on MOL
Like eliz, I have never had a bad meal, although I have not been many times |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 9033
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 5:39 pm: |
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Antonella's - yumyumyumyumyumyum. Never been let down there. Tied for first as my favorite place with Lorena's. But, walk across the street to Arugula for dessert afterwards. They have the best gelato & tartufo around. |
Strings
Supporter
Username: Blue_eyes
Post Number: 904
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 8:16 pm: |
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Antonella's food and service are much better than any experience I've had at Cafe Arugula. As far as dessert, it's true you can't go wrong with hazelnut gelato, but if you're at Antonella's, I'd go for the tiramisu or bread pudding - both are amazing. |
bettyspaghetti
Citizen
Username: Bettyspaghetti
Post Number: 47
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 8:38 pm: |
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Another vote for the bread pudding. Yum!! |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2494
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 6:55 pm: |
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I'm only going to chime in here because the original poster seemed to be asking for a full range of comments AND because Eliz implied that everyone loves the place universally.
I don't have any real complaints about Antonellas, and my disclaimer is I've only been once and I only got to try two pasta dishes, an appetizer and a dessert. Having said that, I was unimpressed by the food. Felt overpriced. The place is too small and I don't want to wait to be seated/eat usually. I did however feel that there was a sincere effort to make the food by hand and with integrity. But after going, I didn't feel I needed to go back.
Since I've been however, I heard that Antonella's really is better for their main courses over their pasta dishes. Well that's good to know I GUESS. But it's not like the menu said that to help me when I ordered. If not everything on the menu is great or a good value...well then maybe you should eliminate it from the menu. So who knows maybe one day I'll go back, but it never seems to pop in my head like, -- Oh yeah, let's try Antonella's again.
So that's the other opinion, just so you know that not everyone is enamoured with the place. |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1697
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 9:53 pm: |
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Ugh - I didn't imply anything. I simply said I had never read a bad review. Let me amend that - I've never read a bad review until Alley's very blah review... |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 668
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 12:37 pm: |
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Alleygater, it helps if you have a reservation. Then you don't have to wait. You'll need one on the weekends and even other nights. Its that well liked. |
bettyspaghetti
Citizen
Username: Bettyspaghetti
Post Number: 48
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 1:07 pm: |
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I hear there is a write up on Antonella's in The Star Ledger today. |
mickey
Citizen
Username: Mickey
Post Number: 468
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 4:07 pm: |
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It was so accurate.
Good food; amateur service. Exactly what we experienced. And if I ever had a reservation and was seated at the card table w/ folding chairs, I'd leave in a heartbeat.
But the shrimp and scallops, especially, was very good. So was the chicken and sausage.
Service: Couldn't remember the specials. Had no idea what the prices of the specials were. Didn't notice we needed knives and forks. We had to REPEATEDLY ask for water.
I'd say, go without any high expectations, ask for a pitcher of water for the table, and enjoy the food. |
Paddy
Citizen
Username: Paddy
Post Number: 211
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 8:50 pm: |
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I haven't been this summer but I recall the "wait-staff" to be their teenage son. Maybe it's changed. I've always loved the experience since it was a family place top-to-bottom even if I may have had to wait a little longer for a glass of water.
As for food, it's probably the best in the area, on par with Lorena's. 4 stars, easy... |
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 819
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 11:12 pm: |
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4 stars??? You have got to be joking! It's good, but it's certainly not 4 stars. You obviously need to go out and eat more. |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 674
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 10:06 am: |
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Let's put it this way, Dego. No matter how many stars you want to assign it, its one of the best Italian restaurants in SO and many surrounding towns. |
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 821
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 10:45 am: |
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Yes, I'll give you that, and I'd say I haven't had much better Italian in our area, BUT in my book, still a far cry from great Italian food, and nowhere near 4 star.
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cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 1112
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 10:54 am: |
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I've always enjoyed Antonella's, and we've been going there since soon after it opened.
For me, part of the charm is that it is a small, family-run place. Yes, service isn't as polished as The Manor, but I don't really like going to the Manor. I like a smaller, more intimate experience. The teenage son was always a very attentive waiter, but I think he is starting college this Fall.
The food is very much the food of the region of Italy around Venice, with other Northern Italian influences (except no pesto, which is from Liguria in the northwest - I wish they'd add it). Some diners aren't used to polenta instead of rice or pasta as an accompaniment to the main courses. I'm not that crazy about it myself, and I grew up with a grandmother who served it often. My husband, who grew up in northern Italy, loves the polenta. It is very traditional for that region of Italy.
The fish dishes have been excellent in my own experience and I prefer a restaurant where I can bring my own wine and not have to pay $38 for a $14 bottle of wine.
I haven't seen the review yet, I'll have to go look it up. |
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