Cafe Antonios

CLOSED! Gone. Kaput. No more. Website has a longer note.
A bit sad, really, as this place was one of a handful of places in Herndon that would draw me to get in the car and brave evening traffic to get to for dinner.
One does not often find Italian nom spots that know how to really flavor a dish and still have it come out quite spicy. Anyone can add red pepper flakes to a plate and claim to have added spice, but it takes a guided hand to incorporate the right amount of chemical heat and have the food remain tasty.
I look forward to finding Tony (owner & chef) again.

Expected a lot more based on the glowing reviews here. Overall just too much money for a very average experience.
Décor — boring, simple set of tables with black cloths in a small space. Cramped and too close to the front door for comfort.
Service — excellent. saved it from being a bad experience.
Food — very very average quality. We had bisque, veal picatta and pasta. Nothing was memorable. Vegetables were flavorless. Calamari not great (chewy, simple) compared to others.
Overall it wasn’t bad, but it was priced too high for food that wasn’t memorable.

Opted to try the cappesante arrosto, homemade lobster bisque, and the day’s antipasti trio. Interestingly enough, I confirmed when I placed my order that the lineup should have been calamari fritti, Italian sausage in marinara sauce, and gnocchi in cream sauce… but the gnocchi came out as tortellini. Cream sauce was the right consistency but seasoning needed to be stronger. The pasta itself was cooked just past al dente and had plain ricotta filling. Sausage slices were fine, and calamari rings went equally well with the marinara sauce. Lobster bisque was more tomato soup than protein, but the baguette toasts half-​dipped in butter paired fine with it. Sea scallops were roasted a little too long, and the accompanying balsamic sauce was heavy enough in vinegar to blow out any hint of citrus. This resulted in the scallops being more palatable on their own. The whipped garlic mashed potatoes needed salt and pepper, and weren’t improved by stirring in the sauce. I wouldn’t get any of the above again, but I’ll probably give them another shot during lunch.

Hands down this is my favorite restaurant in the area. My family and I went there last night and had a fabulous time. Everything from the appetizers (calamari, mozzarella caprese) to the entrees (chicken parm, lobster bisque, lobster ravioli, arugala salad, etc) to the desserts (cannoli, tiramisu, gelato and a special dessert) were TO DIE FOR. We also ordered a couple bottles of wine (pinot grigio) and it was delicious. Perfect complement to our meal.
The staff there was absolutely fantastic. Our waiters were hysterical and really made the evening great.
If you’re looking for an Italian restaurant with a cozy atmosphere, great food and wonderful staff– go to Café Antonios.

Based on Unilocal (and #2 restaurant in Herndon according to TripAdvisor), we decided to check the place out for lunch. Good first impression. very clean, and friendly wait staff. We got the calamari, which was decent. But the crowning glory was the gnocchi. Light and fluffy little pillows in the most decadent gorgonzola cream sauce. Yum! I got the half order, which left me wanting more, in a good way. Friend got the seafood cannelloni, which was very good as well.
I give this place four stars because of the quality of the food, service, and price.

We had a large group dining here and had high hopes after reading reviews on Unilocal.Was a bit disappointed. Food in general was good but not outstanding. Service was good.
They ran out of bottles of both types if wine we were drinking. The veal chop was good, somewhat dry, not as good as Zeffirellis.
Had a good experience but I am not sure we will be back.

We were a little concerned that we were the ONLY people in the restaurant! However the service and food was excellent. We shared the full cesare salad and each of us ordered the Gnocchi. The Gnocchi was excellent with a veal based bolognese sauce.
We also ordered a $ 30 Cabernet which was very good.
Our ranking: It rocked! We are definitely coming back for another visit.

Back out on the road consulting Unilocal for my dinner choice. Since visiting Italy in July, I have desperately been looking for some authentic Italian food. I was hopeful from some of the reviews that I might have found it here.
Very unassuming from the outside as mentioned in previous reviews, small and quaint on the inside. Soft music (opera?) playing, plain black tablecloths and napkins, and very minimal artwork. Basically it is a small space with seating for about 50 people, no booths or private areas that I saw.
I ordered a Caesar salad and linguini carbonara with blackened chicken. We had ‘da best carborana in Italy and I have been trying to find the same quality here in the States. No such luck at any chain, but hopefully it will be so here.
The waiter was very attentive and professional. The Caesar salad came out quickly, the dressing was very light with just a hint of anchovies (homemade?). Prior to the salad he brought out a basket of toasted Italian bread slices with just the right amount of butter, very tasty!
The linguinie carborna was very tasty, definitely the best that I have had in the States, but not quite as good as ‘da best that I had in Italy.
I would highly recommend this place.

Tucked away in a KMart Shopping Center, this place is a true hidden gem. The waitstaff is always helpful. The food is excellent and the chefs are accommodating to any changes the patron would like (not that I’m a picky eater).
THEY HAVE PAPARDELLE — impossible to find, but exquisitely delightful.
Never busy, but the food is always great.

I visited Café Antonios for a team lunch and unfortunately wasn’t impressed.
For starters, the waiter couldn’t even tell us all of the specials for the day. He started trying to recite them, then looked to his fellow waiter and said «what am I missing?» I’m not saying you have to memorize everything, especially if it’s been a slow day — but either write them down, or memorize them. It just wasn’t a good way to start.
The appetizers were decent — bruschetta on some of the largest slices of french bread I’ve had bruschetta on! oh and it came with mozzarella cheese, which was a first for me — but a nice addition. The calamari was ok — a bit rubbery, but the sauce was good.
For my entrée I ordered a special — chicken and shrimp over pasta in a red sauce with a house salad. This dish is where the real disappointment was: there were 2 medium sized shrimp in the whole dish, and the chicken was a bit hard! I’ve never had chicken like that before, and hope to never have it again.
The atmosphere of the place was decent, and the waiter was friendly, but unfortunately this to me was the perfect example of a not so busy place under performing. If you’re looking for really good Italian, I suggest you skip this.

I don’t know what it is about this strip plaza in Herndon but its where its at for food! Café Antonios was no exception. I went here for a late Friday night meal and I’m glad I did. It was just like the other Unilocalers have said. Very good food, very good service without the view and its a really small place. If I were the owner, I would simply close the blinds so you can imagine yourself in being Italy. We had two baskets of divine garlic bread to start off. Then, I had orange vinagrette scallops, a nice glass of vino, and a chicken and vegetable pasta dish– Delicious. The bf had a seafood based cannellini pasta dish– which he didn’t like quite as much –too seafoody and moist– so his rating might have been lower than my impression. But, nice to have another place to add to my repertoire for future dining.

Being in Herdon almost every week for work, I’ve gotten into a rut with where I eat and was craving decent Italian. Unilocal to the rescue!
Saw that this place had good reviews and I’m a fan of small comfortable places so I went for lunch today. Wow! Packed! I regrouped and came back for dinner. Atmosphere and service was beyond impressive. I ordered the tuscan salad and the recommended lobster ravioli. The salad was really good, nice mix of walnuts, goat cheese, strawberries, and a nice dressing. The ravioli portion was pretty large for $ 19. It was a bit too aldente for my taste, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t devour it reasonably fast. It really was good. Nice and simple wine menu to go with the meals.
Once again the service was great. She didn’t bother me every minute but I never had to wait or ask for anything. I’ll be back soon.

Yes, that’s a K Mart over there, but there is plenty of parking because of it. Don’t pay any attention to the strip mall entrance. The quality of the food served inside is a delightful surprise. If the bread is upgraded, and the staff and surroundings get serious about looking spotless, they will definitely attract a loyal following.
Never tried this Italian café? Stop by for lunch, it’s a great deal. For $ 10 you can choose soup or salad and a main dish from the day’s specials, which include a little something to please everyone (chicken, seafood, pasta, fish).
Their lobster bisque is tasty (though sadly, I saw no lobster chunks) and their green salad is served with a balsamic dressing. They also offer a homemade minestrone. Chicken with tarragon sauce, Italian sausage in marsala and the gnocchi in a cream sauce are among the things our party tried. And they did not overcook their calamari!
The best news of all… the food here was made to order, and served hot. Do you believe it was a glowing Unilocal review that brought me here? The restaurant itself is very small with a full bar and tables with black tablecloths. It is a friendly little place and would be very comfortable for a Friday night date.
I recommend calling ahead if you want to bring a group. Dinner entrees are about $ 16 and the menu includes all sorts of pasta and veal dishes. They seem to be big on shellfish, too. Prices are reasonable.

Thank goodness for Unilocal reviews since I would have never tried this place out… the storefront is dark as are the rest of the restaurants in the strip mall. The parking lot was pretty full but I saw almost everyone skip this Italian restaurant and walk right into the Five Guys next door. In fact, walking into Café Antonios, I quickly noticed that I would be the only customer during the normal busy lunch hour of noon. No problem, I thought… there were excellent reviews on this place on Unilocal.Shall we call it, UnilocalConfidence? ;)
Armed with a Reader’s Digest and a rumbly tumbly, I decided to give this Herndon Mom & Pop restaurant out. I had 2 hours to kill, having dropped off Cookie, my almost starting to look like a mini shaggy sheep dog Yorkie, off at her usual doggie groomer, Canine Carousel. So why not spend the wait time on something productive… like eating! :D
The inside décor was clean and more bright than the outside appearance. Smaller than I expected but who am I to complain, being the only customer there. The waitress was perky and attentive, yet also able to give me the space I needed to just enjoy my lunch and read in solitude.
Here’s what I ordered:
Lobster Bisque — I ordered the small portion which was still bigger than most restaurant’s small which turned out well since it was delicious. For some reason I was expecting a creamy Lobster Bisque like they have at Sweetwaters and other chains, but this is straight up Lobster broth, no cream… just lobster tasting broth goodness. Tasted fresh and was great with the warm and buttered sliced baguettes in the bread basket. Yum!
Ziti with Eggplant Al Forno — Ordered the half portion which was $ 5. Wow, what a great deal! It was perfectly portioned where there was plenty on the plate to feed a hungry lunch goer without making them feel lethargic. The pasta was well presented for a $ 5 meal and the mozzarella to ziti to eggplant ratio was perfecto! Simple, yet sooooo good.
Can’t wait to go back there and try out the other dishes!

I eat here usually few times a month, since I work close by. I really love their soup selection, in particular, the lobster bisque.
their chicken pasta w/​marinara sauce is excellent. I really like the small family intimate setting. Great place for lunch.

Tucked away in this non-​descript strip mall, the exterior was a bland façade. But the interior is an elegant and cozy dining establishment. MicheleD and I had a chance to get together and hang out. The service was attentive and expedient.
We started off with a nice and tangy antipasto platter consisting of mozzarella, salami, prosciutto, marinated red peppers, artichokes, olives, and romaine lettuce. My entrée was a breaded pork loin stuffed with proscuitto with a side of mash potato and green beans. The pork loin had a nice crust and was very savory. The sides were ok. MicheleD had the seafood on a bed of angel hair pasta. I had a bite of it and I thought it was good as well.
My choice of wine was a Piedmont Barbaresco d’Alba that was a bit young and fruity, but had good tannin structure and moderate acidity.
Overall, an above average Italian restaurant just 5min from the busy Reston Town Center.

I had the opportunity to hang out with the ever wonderful Tony P. one Saturday night, and had it not been for his suggestion to try this place, I’m not sure I ever would have known about it.
We started with the customary bread, a bottle of wine (Piedmont Barbaresco d’Alba), and an order of the antipasti platter, which had artichoke hearts, mozzarella cheese, roasted red peppers, and shaved prosciutto. There was a dinner special menu that Tony ordered from (stuffed pork loin that had prosciutto in it!), while I ordered from the regular menu (angel hair pasta with clams, scallops, crab and shitake mushrooms in a white wine sauce).
Through the course of our dinner, I learned quite a bit about wine and France. I enjoyed the wine he chose; it was not too strong for me and it wasn’t acidic, either. The antipasti platter was perfect for sharing; if you’re a little on the hungry side, I’d highly recommend it to share just to take the edge off. His stuffed pork loin looked wonderful, until I took a bite of mine. That’s when the show was officially stolen. After having a bite of it, I certainly thought the restaurant didn’t skimp on their prosciutto portions. It was very nicely done. My pasta was very good; it was chock full of seafood, unlike some places that will only give a few, select pieces. Not Café Antonios. Not. At. All.
We were asked if we’d like to order desert, but with plans to go to the nearby Pitango for dessert, how were we going to indulge at the restaurant too?
Service was excellent and I have to tell you this about the location. It is in the same shopping center as the K-​Mart and all the other secretly good joints located there. The key is to know that Café Antonios is closer to Elden Street than anything else. In fact, I think it’s next door to a Five Guys location.
Great food, hard to beat great service. What more could you ask for?

I live in Boston and am well acquainted with the renowned Italian food of the North End, and Antonio’s was an incredibly happy surprise.
From the looks of the outside and its location in a strip mall, I’d expect the space to be rented by one of those crappy Chinese food places that’s a waystation to convert New-​Jersey-​manufactured food from ‘frozen’ to ‘deep fried’.
Instead, it’s the kind of place where one of the waitresses takes your order and walks into the kitchen announcing it to the chef in Italian, starting with «Papa!» The food is cooked with care & deliciousness (if they have the osso bucco special when you’re there, get it). The extensive menu has both well-​prepared standards (the fresh-​made caesar dressing was creamy and light and lemony) and more adventurous, less usual dishes.
And my cappuccino was dusted with cinnamon.
Go there.

The high quality of food in this K Mart parking lot never ceases to amaze me. I decided to go to Antonio’s for lunch, and even though it looks like an average mini-​mall restaurant from the outside, it’s much nicer on the inside. I was very impressed!
Everyone working there was really nice, and the food was delicious. I especially appreciate how they offer half portions of everything for a lower price at lunch. It was economical and allowed me to taste more of their menu than I normally would have been able to fit in my stomach.
I started with the lobster bisque, which had a good flavor, but wasn’t as thick as I’d like for it to be. For my main course, I had gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce, and it was fresh, hot, creamy and wonderful. All that and a cappuccino (also good) came out to just $ 12. I will definitely come back here, and so should you!

Totally agreed with the other reviwer giving this a 5-​star. I’ve driven by it almost everyday but has always been turned off by the outside (it sort of look like an old building, and sitting right next to Five Guys doesn’t help either).
So, we came here for lunch, and it was actually not bad (in term of price) at all. They have an excellent selection of entrée dishes from $ 8 — $ 12. They even have smaller size dishes of daily pastas if you think 8 bucks is too much.
As soon as I step inside, I know it’s going to be nice. It’s a small restaurant, but everything is clean and neat. The wall is is painted stucco-​style in cappucino color. They have a few small original paintings hanging on the wall, giving it just the right accent.
Their homemade pasta include ravioli, lasagna, and cannelloli. Cannelloli is simply divine. I has never been a huge fan of this (although I love fresh pasta) because I thought it’s too meaty. But this is different; it’s got just the right amount of meat and other stuffing so that it taste fresh and juicy. Also the alfredo sauce they put it has an excellent fresh cream aroma.
The only thing I wish is that they would make their own fetteccuni, but I guess for such a small restaurant, home-​making every single kind of pasta is a little too much to ask for.
Our bill for the visit (3 of us) for a quick lunch was right around 40 bucks, which is pretty good for such a nice and filling lunch. The portion is just right.