Antonia’s may, at first, seem slightly confusing. The venue looks like a cafe but the food is much better than what you’ll find in most London restaurants, presentation, preparation and ingredients included.

The Venue
Antonia’s has many perks but location isn’t one of them. Hidden away in the large underbelly of the Hammersmith tube station and bus depot, Antonia’s isn’t very easy to find. Thankfully though there’s small outdoor patio, furnished with wooden furniture and the recipient of plenty of natural sunlight. Inside, the decor aims at being simple and light but comes out slightly inconsequential, mixing abstract paintings with copper vessels, ceramic vases and a very large mirror on the back wall. The furniture, simple square and round tables, seem too dark to fit comfortably within the airy green and white colour scheme and the light wooden floor. One long banquette along the wall adds a slightly cosier feel, thanks especially to the large, brightly coloured cushions. Antonia’s could definitely do more with its surroundings but the simplicity is also a reason for praise. Rather than use cutting edge decor to attract customers, Antonia’s has put all its eggs in one basket – their excellent food.

The Atmosphere
A favourite with those lucky enough to have discovered it, Antonia’s is loved by a large group of quiet regulars of all ages, appreciating the subdued atmosphere and the caring staff. Couples, friends and colleagues in their mid-thirties onwards often book for lunch while almost anyone can be seen stopping for a quick snack. The staff are delightful and very attentive. You almost feel pampered and taken care of as they take your order, check on your food and give you suggestions on what to pick.

The Food
Pasta (£6.25 - £9.55), pizza (£7.25 - £8.80) and salads (£6.80 - £8.25) dominate the menu, although a few concessions are made to international and British favourites. Rather than generic or rustic Italian, Antonia’s sticks to the type of food you could order in a good restaurant in Italy and the difference is of capital importance. You will not find alien Alfredo sauce anywhere but you can order an excellent crab and chilli spaghetti with spring onion, aioli, parsley and lemon (£9.95), a little known seaside favourite. Its only fault is that it’s too tempting to savour – you’ll scoff it down quickly, leaving you craving more. Extra vegetables could slow you down so consider ordering them.

From the choice of starters, the peas and French beans with crispy Parma ham and feta cheese (£4.75) are a delight for the eyes and the taste buds. Beautifully presented (another detail setting Antonia’s apart from other Italian restaurants), the dish is rich in nicely crispy ham and comes served with a balsamic vinaigrette, ideal to complement the lot. The crushed olives, potatoes and artichoke salad (£4.95), though, is a tad too oily for its own good and the flavour is a bit too subtle, although the flakes of artichokes and the black olives add zing to the new potatoes served with skin. The daily changing soup costs £4.95 and is served with homemade bread. If the vegetable soup is on offer, be sure to order it – it’s just excellent. Honest, unadulterated ingredients (cabbage, potatoes, courgettes and more) mix to create a homemade feel which is very comforting and light at the same time.

Antonia’s offers a daily changing choice of freshly made salads, which could include roasted Mediterranean vegetables on mixed leaves with feta cheese, pine nuts and balsamic dressing. The pine nuts are roasted, adding a nice smoky flavour, while the vegetables are marinated and cooked to perfection to the point of literally melting in your mouth. The dish overall is very well balanced and the balsamic vinaigrette, neither sweet nor tart, is ideal on the leaves. To finish things off, the desserts (£3.25 - £4.50) have something for every palate. Those looking for sweet indulgence can find it in the warm chocolate fudge cake, whilst those in search for a healthy treat can find it in the carrot cake. The chocolate Daim bar cake does a great job if you need a sweet fix. This quality toffee cake is rich in caramel and has a faint doughy flavour, soft with a thin crunchy layer on top.

The Drink
Antonia’s sticks to their healthy ethics by serving cheap freshly squeezed juices (£1.80) and fruit smoothies (£2.50). You can pick from the exotic Acai Dream (acai berry, banana and apple juice), the wonderfully fresh Melon Elixir (melon, strawberry, mango and apple juice), the tropical Pash ‘n’ Shoot (passion fruit, pineapple, mango and orange juice) plus others. Antonia’s also serves milkshakes (£1.75), frappes (£1.75), iced coffee (£1.95) and more, whilst their coffee is fair trade and 100 percent Arabica (from £1.65). They also serve an appropriate selection of sparkling, white, rose and red wines; ten in total, the wines are knowledgeably described and fairly priced at £14 to £24, with a few glasses available at £4 to £5. For those craving beer with their pizza, there’s bottled Peroni and Corona (£3.50).

The Last Word
Not only is the food excellent, the presentation great and the service sweet, Antonia’s also won the Ethical Food Award in 2009. If outstanding Italian is what you’re after, this restaurant is highly recommended.

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