Ristorante Antipasti
3101 Philadelphia Ave, Ocean City, MD, 21842
Ristorante Antipasti Menu
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Address :
3101 Philadelphia Ave
Ocean City, MD, 21842 - Phone (410) 289-4588
- Website https://www.ristoranteantipasti.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Chris B.
This is a good alternative in Ocean City, MD to all of the other fried tourist seafood restaurants. The ambiance is dated but overall the dining room is clean and fairly upscale as compared with most other dining rooms and restaurants in this this area. The wine list has some gaps and is a bit disappointing with regarding to pricing. There is a gap from around $40 to $120 per bottle. Kind of perplexing considering all of the great wines out there in this price range. A curious thing I noted on the menu was a minimum charge of $15 per person. I don't believe there is any way a patron could get out of this place without spending $15 or really much more than this. The way the menu is written with regard to pricing, the reader is tempted to order a "appetizer portion entree" for around $13.00 instead of the $24 average priced entree; however, with the $15 minimum it seems that this choice is not really a choice and adding a nice dinner salad along with the appetizer size entree, the price ends up being the same as the dinner portion which comes with a small house salad. In conclusion its a nice pleasant restaurant with decent enough homemade Italian food although many of the entrees are similar and or limited in imagination.
(3)Akram T.
So Fausto the owner seated our group of 10 and we started talking about trips Italy. Next thing we know it's like we were visiting his house and we told him to take over our ordering. It was the most authentic Italian food I have ever had. I'm a big foodie and trust me mama Mia!
(5)Eric W.
Came back to Ocean City again this year and had to come to my favorite italian place on the eastern shore. The staff was just as friendly as they were a couple of years ago on my first visit. Me and my wife had the filet what a treat! The outside is encrusted with an assortment of black spices and it really does a good job of keeping the meat juicy. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgable he even spoke italian !! Can't wait to come back next year !
(5)Tyon R.
The best Steak I've ever had since walking the planet earth! Lol Ordered the Medium well, so juicy and tasty! Wasn't chewy and rough at all just melts in your mouth! This was a few months ago but I still have that taste in my mouth. We order the steak some pasta and some white wine.. Our best meal the entire stay.. Nice and classy Italian restaurant... We sat at the bar so there was no wait. The bartender was crazy cool, friendly and polite.
(5)Mario H.
Best Italian food I have ever had. Every time I'm around the area I will be back here again
(5)carla H.
This place was average for the overpriced food . When we walked in Fausto was jumping around dancing with the guests . The atmosphere was super loud and crazy - not what we were expecting which was an intimate and upscale romantic Italian setting. We walked in at 9pm on a Saturday- and although we got seated within a few minutes it was over an hour wait before we got our entrees . We ordered the calamari appetizer which was okay - it was overly greasy and I've honestly had better at Olive Garden. The dressing on the garden salad was good. I ordered the Tagliatelle alla Bolgonesa which was pretty good and my boyfriend ordered the rigatoni - his sauce also seemed water downed . The glass of house chianti was 8.50 each with very small portions. We did notice Fausto treating the table next to us like VIPs - they seemed like regulars - but did not bother coming over to ask us how our meal was. It came to $92 for two people - don't know if I'd come back - Too pricey and service was sub-par.
(3)J D.
Having read the reviews, at times it can seem like people are writing about two different establishments. The issues with service, food quality and overall satisfaction seem to be sporadic. My family and I dined here on 9/15/2014 as part of the 7th anniversary of my wife and I. I would include a picture of the garlic steak if I could, which my father and I shared- it was huge and even between the two of us we could not finish it. It was the BEST steak I've ever had, and I've had many, in many different places. There were zero complaints at our table- and we were greeted by Fausto as if we were regulars- even going so far as to seat us at the table next to HIS family (who seemed to be less than grateful at being afforded such recognition, who knows, maybe its true, familiarity breeds contempt) and we received excellent service. Our server was an older lady, a local, who was quite friendly and took a liking to us (as we did to her) and made suggestions when asked but seemed perfectly happy to serve us. It was our first time to OCMD, my wife being the only one who'd been here before but it was the first time for us all eating at this establishment. It was our best dining experience in a town that we quickly grew to love, we will be back and we'll be visiting Ristorante Antipasti again. I suppose I should state that this is not a budget-friendly restaurant, if you do come to dine, expect to spend about $50pp if not more- but it is worth every cent.
(4)Mel Z.
This place baffles my mind at their ability to charge very high prices for very "meh" food. For how long have they been getting away with this?! The prices were what I would expect to see back in Manhattan. Basically all the food was mediocre in both presentation and taste. The bread was so pale, did not have a nice crispy crust, although the garlic infused olive oil they served it with was a nice touch. My mixed salad was nice and pasta e fagioli was OK. The calamari was just OK but I'm sure I've had better at much more casual, cheaper places. My friend ordered the veal marsala and the presentation was just terrible. It did not look appetizing and the mushroom looked canned(!) Overall, the service was fine but I just get angry thinking of how much we spent for such a mediocre meal! This restaurant wouldn't last a day in Manhattan. Regarding the claim on their restaurant sign that they are "One of the top 5 in the country", my friend said it best: "I think they misspelled county."
(2)Jessica L.
This is absolutely the BEST Italian food in OC. The pasta is fresh and the sauces are divine. The bread basket comes out fast and the bread is fresh and hot and flaky. It comes with a garlic infused olive oil and you can smear a roasted garlic clove on the bread for a heavenly bite of goodness. The pasta was so good that we dined here for dinner two nights in a row. Cooked perfectly and so fresh it nearly melted in my mouth. The steak for two was cooked to perfection and cut table side by the waiter. Each bite was mouth watering. The ambiance was fantastic and the owner comes round to say hello and thanks for coming. I will be a long time fan and continue to go back.
(5)Shawn S.
This place just gets better with each visit. Customer service and fine Italian cuisine are not lost in this amazing restaurant.
(5)Monica D.
We went for the first time and absolutely loved everything about it. The food all fresh and delicious. Owner eccentric and fabulous. Service was great. Cant wait to go back.....
(5)Margee L.
We just enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Ristorante Antipasti. The garlic steak looked excellent. Had we been able to take home leftovers we would have loved to order it. The salad and pasta dishes we ordered were delicious. The interior is lovely and comfortable. We think we have had the best meal of our visit to Ocean City. It is classy and comfortable with white tablecloths and napkins and yet not stuffy nor intimidating. We highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Chip C.
This is the best Italian in Ocean City, no question! Fausto has been around the world and has brought his Italian "style" here. Huge porter house, veal chop and big striped bass filet for 4 people. Fausto stopped by 5 times as his son served or table. Great family, running a great restaurant. It's all good ! Enjoy!
(5)Swatee G.
Oh Gosh! This was a complete surprise for real! It was my very own yelp success after a long time! Stumbled on it when I searched for a Italian place near the beach - we had been in the water all day and were SUPER hungry, we wanted something other than the touristy pizza spots, within walk-able distance and of course, it had to be nice! And then came Ristorante Antipasti to the rescue! It fit the bill perfectly! We walked in at around 6:30 when the place was sort of empty, but it filled up VERY soon and eventually each table was taken. I Was not expecting this level of food or service or even ambiance for that matter from a place like Ocean City. For a city that thrives on tourism, this place does VERY well.. we could see most patrons were locals and frequent visitors. The owner was around like everyone else said and we could see he knew pretty much each table by name! It was kinda fun watch him walk around greet people, ask about family and make a joke. The atmosphere was really nice. Service was impeccable - it has been a while since i saw such excellent service. We started with the bread basket, which was super yummy. What made it so good was the garlic flavored olive oil. The house salad was super yum - it came with a great dressing. We next went on to the Ravioli in a pink sauce which was perfect. The pasta was fresh and home made (or so it seemed), the filling was perfect and the sauce was amazing. I could not finish the entire thing, but my friend polished off the rest. We also shared their daily special entree, which was a really yummy chicken dish - I forget the name entirely, but the server explained it so nicely, that we were sold on it.. and really, it DID NOT disappoint! We ended our awesome dinner with a shared Tiramisu and I kid you not, it was the best thing ever! For some one who is not a fan of coffee flavored desserts, this is huge compliment! Lol.. I loved every bite of it! The cream was not heavy, the lady fingers were soaked perfectly and the coffee was not over powering. Loved every bite of it. Sure, this place is pricey, but totally worth it!
(5)Shannon L.
Our waitress told us that the special of the night, a garlic steak, was the best we'd ever have. I was skeptical, what does an Italian restaurant know about steak? There are no words for how wonderful it was. It was a monster t-bone I shared with my mother and I would've been satisfied falling dead on the spot because GOD it was tasty. So juicy, such incredible flavors. We saved the fat for our dogs when we returned home and they had never been happier. So delicious, so filling, just get it.
(5)Frank P.
Very good Italian even if it were in the NY/NJ area. I'm from Northern NJ and have eaten at some of the best Italian restaurants in the NY/NJ area. The restaurant is decorated nicely and accommodates families very well. Everyone at the table ordered something different. We had chicken parm, cheese ravioli, gnocchi, pasta and shrimp in a light olive oil and chicken cacciatore. The pasta was homemade and cooked perfectly. Our waitress was friendly and was very interactive with the table. The service was very quick. For six people, we were done in about 1 hour. This isn't high-end NY/NY Italian but it is very good. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Sarah S.
I'd like to preface this review by stating that I love OCMD in all of its cheap trashy glory. I came here with a bachelorette party because we were dressed up and looking for a nice dinner out. We were sorely disappointed with the entire experience. Service Issues: It seems like the service people receive at this restaurant is either stellar or awful. Unfortunately, we received the latter. I'm wondering if perhaps our attire caused the waitstaff to assume we were an obnoxious, loud, woo-girl bachelorette party (we were all in black dresses with the bride to be in white). We made reservations on Saturday for that same evening. We were told they could take our party of 8 at 9pm. When we arrived at 9, we were told our table was not yet ready. The hostess was nice enough, but not apologetic in the least. Some of us decided to head to the bar for some cocktails. We asked the bar tender if they had a cocktail list. He rolled his eyes and said no. When we ordered drinks he asked for our IDs in almost a spiteful way. I understand that under-aged drinking is a problem in OCMD, but you don't have to be mean about it! We were seated around 9:45pm, 45 minutes after our reservation... The waiter was pleasant, but we had to ask for bread, water refills, etc. We also noticed that table next to us was being preemptively set up with bread, water, and appetizers for what we assumed was a table for regulars. I can see how people with this type of experience would have good things to say about the service at this place. Two other small complaints... they would not allow any substitutions. They serve some of the entrees with a side of penne. They would not allow you to change this to a side of spaghetti. You would have to buy the spaghetti dinner. Also, they were out of gluten free pasta, which was inconvenient to our gluten free friend. Food: The food was just OK. Nothing to write home about. And most certainly not worth the jacked up prices. I ordered the Papardelle della Nonna; Homemade pasta in pink sauce. The dinner portion was $21.95. The sauce was not pink at all, it was just plain, bland, red tomato sauce. The pasta was OK, but the portion was not very generous for the price. It came with a salad, that was just lettuce, sliced white onions like you'd put on a burger, and some tomato wedges. The tomatoes were actually really good and the best thing I had at this restaurant. Had I gotten this meal on the boardwalk for $12 in a styrofoam to go box, I might have been psyched about it... but at this supposedly fine dining restaurant, the food fell way below my expectations. I also ordered the fried calamari appetizer ($12.50), which was also just OK. The portion was typical for fried calamari but it wasn't particularly tender or fresh. It wasn't over cooked or over breaded, but still just OK. Others in the party had similar experiences, Gnocchi alla Contadina (small portion, same bland tomato sauce), Petti di Pollo Valdostana; Chicken with eggplant and Mozzarella in a pink sauce (I think the "pink sauce" is a lie), etc. Value: This is not worth the money. Our small cocktails were $9 each. All of dinner portion entrees were over $20. BLEH. Overall, the long wait, rude bar tender, slow service, and mediocre meal really put a damper on the rest of this evening for us. I would not return to this restaurant nor recommend it to anyone.
(1)Holly G.
The service and food here outshone most of the restaurants I've eaten at before in Ocean City, including other Italian restaurants. The service was impeccable. We ordered appetizers, salads, and entrees and nothing came out too fast or slow. Also they we're very attentive at refilling our waters and clearing the table. Our waitress was very nice and did a great job reciting the specials. On to the food. The menu is simple and straightforward. On top of that they had a bunch of specials. We had the scallop special for an appetizer. Then we had ricotta ravioli, rigatoni with marinara and ground lamb, and linguine with a white clam sauce. If you get the dinner portion it comes with a salad. I got the appetizer portion (which was a great portion for not wanting to eat too much) and I ordered the house salad. Everything was delicious down to the house vinaigrette on the salads. My son and daughter named everything they liked about the place, and the only thing they may not have mentioned was the napkins! Seriously the place is worth the 5 stars.
(5)Becka C.
I'm a New Yorker so you know I know how to eat Italian. I was impressed to find such delicious Italian food in Ocean City. The ambiance was just like in Queens, I felt at home :).The service was excellent, never had an empty water glass (personal pet peeve of mine). We started with the calamari which was yummy and light - not too fried. Then we shared the insalata caprese - one of the best I've had. Even the bread was soft and served with both butter and yummy olive oil that had pieces of garlic in it. For the entree, we shared the chicken cacciatore which is one of the chef's specialities. It was fantastic - very flavorful. During our meal, they blasted old school Michael Jackson and the owner was dancing and the rest of us at our tables started grooving. Great date night, family night spot!
(5)Jesenia A.
I have never had a steak that good before. The service was great & staff was friendly.
(5)Sara W.
This place has a bit of a kitschy vibe where it wants to be authentically Italian but ends up a little tacky. That's ok though because it is Ocean City, MD and the food was pretty good. I came here with a group of 6 and we were able to make same day reservations on a Saturday (we were here mid June so it might be a different story in the summer). We started with the calamari which was good, but your average fare. We also had the tomato and mozzarella salad which was nicely dressed with olive oil and a vinaigrette. For my main course, I got the appetizer size of the pasta bolognese. I wouldn't say the pasta was cooked al dente, but the sauce was flavorful with chunks of meat and the portion was sizable for being an "appetizer". I tried my boyfriend's lasagna and kinda wished I had gone for that instead. The noodles were very thin so it wasn't too heavy and the sauce was a little creamy with a nice tomato flavor.
(3)Richard J.
I've only eaten here once, so I can't speak for the whole menu. I had no problem with the service, the ambience, etc. This negative review stems directly from the taste and the price. I don't mind spending $20 to $30 dollars if the food is exceptional and/or unique. The bread was bland, the salad was ok, and the tiramisu was ok as well. However, I ordered the Timballo Abruzzese (the house specialty), and it was terrible. It's essentially their own special lasagna. I can easily describe the taste. Have you ever had a can of Chef Boyardee's Beefaroni? Imagine taking a can of that and forming it into a square piece of lasagna. It's like that. I'm being dead serious, and I would challenge ANYONE to tell me otherwise. I paid $26 for a can of Beefaroni. In the moment, I couldn't help but laugh. It didn't just slightly resemble Beefaroni, it literally tasted exactly like Beefaroni. My wife ordered the Papardelle della Nonna. It was ok. It wasn't amazing, but it was good enough. Honestly, I'd have rather had Olive Garden as pathetic as that sounds. The only reason I didn't give it 1 star is because we only had those 2 items on the menu. Maybe they have better food and we didn't have it, but you'd think the 'House Specialty' would be....special.
(2)Tess T.
Wonderful restaurant. Very elegant, friendly, professional service. The decor was wonderful. The food was to die for! My husband had the veal tortellini, and it was absolutely wonderful. I had the ravioli. They were excellent. The sauce was amazing. I highly suggest giving this restaurant a try while in Ocean City. Treat yourself, it is worth it!
(5)Sarah L.
Honestly, I never expected to be WOW'd in Ocean City for ITALIAN food. Let me just start off with our compliments to the Chef & our waiter Pat! Without them, i'm sure this experience would've been exactly wh
(5)Justin L.
I'm not sure how anyone in their right mind could love this place. First off, I'm all for personality-driven restaurants, but watching Fausto gallivant around was nauseating. From the singing to the dramatic gestures and how he lays his accent on as thick as he can, I'm not sure if he was performing or if he's just bat-shit crazy. Either way, Fausto is worse than the Jersey Shore in stereotyping Italians. I go to restaurants for food, not for an overacted shtick. The bigger crime is that his behavior only serves to hide that this place is a terrible excuse of an Italian restaurant. For appetizers, we got the Cozze alla Marinara and a pizza special they had. The mussels were on the small side, and dominated a muted tomato sauce. I was wary of the pizza, as the bread we received was very pale. It ended up using a 7", crisp pastry-style crust, which I had seen before at a few places in NJ. While the crust was okay, the sauce was muted here as well, and they lied about their buffalo mozzarella being mozzarella di bufala. Buffalo mozzarella is marketing lingo, whereas mozzarella di bufala is a different, more expensive imported product. For the $12 they charged for this tiny pizza, they could've at least used the real stuff. The salad that came with the pasta entrees was probably the best part of the meal. Aside from using the fresh greens to hide cheap iceberg lettuce, the salad was well dressed. This had me a little more hopeful about the main courses; however this quickly came crashing down to earth. I had the Timballo Abruzzese, which is basically their version of a lasagna. They use a tomato sauce, ground veal, "buffalo mozzarella", and nutmeg. I was told that I wouldn't regret ordering it by our server. When I got the dish, I was surprised at the portion--especially given the $26 price tag; it was not a large piece, and it was fairly thin for a lasagna. The same muted tomato sauce was used here, this time dominated by a massive amount of salt. It's common for chefs to add salt to make a dish taste better, but this was probably the saltiest pasta dish I've ever had. The ground veal was of a lower quality, the nutmeg didn't work well at all with the tomato sauce, and the pasta was badly overcooked. All in all a terrible dish--made worse by being ridiculously overhyped and overpriced. Sadly, I fared better than my girlfriend. She had the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, which she orders regularly. Again, the pasta was badly overcooked to the point of being difficult to pick up. The meat sauce was okay otherwise; not terrible but nothing special either. She ate half before leaving it. My mom's Tortellini 3 "P"--veal tortellini in a cream sauce with peas and proscuitto was thoroughly mediocre. The cream sauce and tortellini weren't anything special, but there were only 3 tiny pieces of proscuitto in the whole dish. My mom's dish cost $22, as did my girlfriend's. Luckily the birthday boy enjoyed his $25 chicken parmesean. My father had the worst experience of all. He ordered the sea bass, which after being cooked, is brought to be fileted table side. We observed Fausto doing this for several minutes for another table. The waiter who did this for us seemed to be in a hurry, as he rushed through it in about 45 seconds. The first bite of the fish contained a bone, and after his fifth bone one minute later, my dad stopped eating. When we confronted the waiter, he acted like a jerk and refused to take responsibility for his inability to filet, saying that the fish "had bones". Then what is the point of fileting it, table side no less? The waiter grabbed Fausto, who tried the same defense. He then refused to take back the fish, practically begging my dad to eat it anyway. His response made about as much sense as everything else we'd seen him do. I did taste a bit of the fish, and while it was cooked fine, it was way overspiced. The waitress offered to get him something else, but he just finished my Mom's dish. To be clear, neither the waiter or Fausto acknowledged the mistake--which is all we wanted--and if anything were indignant. They took it off the bill in the end, but it's not about that. I've never seen a scene quite like this at a restaurant, especially at one with these prices. Antipasti is an overpriced Italian-American tourist trap. It serves sloppy food at best, and tries to charm you with "authenticity". Problem is that the only thing authentically Italian/American about this place is the authentic lunatic that runs it. This is probably why Fausto's other 2 places closed, as they were run in a similar manner. It's sad that this is the only seemingly prevalent Italian restaurant in OC, as that helps keep it in business with unwitting tourists. If you think this is a great Italian restaurant, you didn't go for the food. You went for the pretense and the bullshit, and you didn't leave unsatisfied because Fausto is full of both.
(1)Ashley L.
True Italian food... Worth every dollar spent. Every visit to ocean city will have a visit here!
(5)Steph S.
Splurge on the 1kg garlic steak! Great service- always accommodate family style & has an amazing wine selection. Be ready for a kiss from Fausto himself as he does the rounds. Bellisimo!!
(5)Gabrielle B.
My husband and I ended up here, because of it's proximity to our hotel. We were so unexpectedly surprised by the meticulously prepared meal. The salad was dressed to perfection with just the right amount of seasoning. We dined on the tinballo which was masterfully made. Every bite was perfect. The ambience was fun in a campy and kitschy way. It is a gem in this beach town.
(5)Rick H.
We just went last night after hearing how great this place was. And it lived up to its reputation. From the atmosphere to the food to the staff and service this place is fantastic. If you're looking for a nice Italian place in Ocean City I rank it as the best I've visited to date including Frescos and the wildly overrated Jules. We had the Timballo, Gnocchi, Salmone, Clams Casino, Fish Special Red Snapper. It was all tremendous. Instant top 5 list for me.
(5)Allison D.
This is the only review I have ever been compelled to write on Yelp - my experience at this restaurant was so horrendous that I feel the need to share it. An enormous party came in after my party had begun eating, and they spent about 20 minutes walking all over the dining room until they were seated. They were extremely loud, to the point that everyone at my table was unable to hear each other speak. The restaurant staff literally carried 5-10 tables over our heads (while we were eating at our table) to accommodate this huge party, as well as numerous chairs. They bumped our chairs multiple times in the process. Our food was also unremarkable, and the tortellini was very poor. We expressed our disappointment to our waiter, who was nice but said he could not do anything except send the manager over. The manager marched over to our table and began berating us and shouting that we should never come back. We were happy to have a simple conversation with him to explain our dining experience, but the way he approached our table and our complaint quickly escalated the situation. We were shocked by his behavior and felt that he was very rude. We said that we would like to leave and the waiter brought over the check with our bottle of wine removed and our food in to-go containers. We were about to leave when the manager stormed over again and began shouting once more! We told him that we had just wanted a nice meal because it was our last night of vacation in Ocean City and then he ripped the bill off of the table and yelled that we should just not pay. We were absolutely appalled at his behavior and completely infuriated at this point, so we quickly left the restaurant. I have never been treated so rudely at a restaurant in my entire life. The food here is very average and overpriced, and the service and atmosphere completely destroyed any hope of a good meal. We've had excellent meals every other night in Ocean City so this place is entirely avoidable. Go to "On the Bay" or "Mother's Cantina" for a delicious meal, excellent service, and reasonable prices.
(1)Jody Z.
Well I had a feeling it was going to be good when the entire parking lot smelled of garlic! My husband had the signature dish which was homemade pasta layered with ground veal, sauce & cheese, similar to a lasagna. Our waitress said it melts in your mouth & it really does! I had a chicken & eggplant parm, which was also great. The side of penne was just okay though, next time I'd like to try one of the homemade pastas. The bread was delicious & served with olive oil with soaked garlic cloves. Service was great. It's nice to have another option in OC when you are tired of seafood. I've tried a few of the other Italian restaurants in OC and this is the best by far! Reservations recommended.
(4)Paula D.
worst dining experience of my life. there was a gigantic party waiting for tables standing basically on top of our table while tables and chairs were flying over our heads and bumping into us. the 40+ person party was so loud I couldn't even hear the people I was dining with. When we complained to the manager he started yelling and told us to never come back and then complained to the waiter about our criticism. When he returned with the check that was barely reduced he started yelling at us again. We tried to defend ourselves but he kept yelling and ripped the check out of our hands saying "FINE DONT PAY AT ALL" and marched away. so we were forced to leave all the (very mediocre) food and our half finished wine at the table and leave the restaurant. Completely insane. I have never experienced this or been treated like this in a restaurant in my life.
(1)Lauren B.
We decided to try out Ristorante Antipasti after reading all of these great yelp reviews. As soon as we walked in and my parents started speaking Italian to Fausto, he was at our table for a good 20 minutes telling us about himself and what dishes we should order. We ended up ordering calamari, caprese salad and radicchio salad for our appetizers. The caprese was great because (Fausto told us), he puts white vinegar on it. I did enjoy the white vinegar over the balsamic that most restaurants pour over their caprese. For my meal, I ordered a small order of the linguine with clams. When it came out, I regretted not ordering the large! It was a pretty small bowl of pasta and the clams were teeny tiny (cockles?). It was very good, but I wish I ordered the larger portion. We also saw on the menu, italian fried potatoes, which we assumed were like the italian fried potatoes my mom and grandmother make (sliced potatoes fried in a skillet).....well the waitress brought them out and they were regular old french fries! We were duped! We ate them anyway but we thought it was pretty funny. For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu which was really heavy but good. Overall, we had a really good dinner. Fausto told us as we were leaving that we should call him if we were going to come back that week and he would make us something really nice. We didn't end up going back but it was very nice of him to say that!
(4)Layla S.
I really want to give this place 0 stars because of the shitty experience I had there. First: my fiancé and I walked in and was greeted by the hostess ( which she was very sweet so this whole thing isn't directed to her ) and we were seated at our table. As we sat down the "water " boy was very rude and rolled his eyes when he asked if we wanted tap water. Which really made me want to punch him in the face for looking and acting like that but I was like whatever so I got over it. When the waitress came, which was an old lady asked us what we wanted to drink so we were thinking about wine. She didn't know much about the wine so she said she would bring a person that knew more about it. Cool. Not to mention during this time we gave her our id's so she could show whoever if we could drink. It took her 20 minutes not to mention there was no bread on the table and she still didn't ask if we wanted anything else. After the worst 20 minutes of my life she comes back saying she can't give us drinks because our New York licenses look fake. Are you fu**ing kidding me. So we got so upset we just got up and left. What a waste of time for chappy and slow service for food that is over priced anyways. NEVER EVER EVER EVER AGAIN.
(1)CA M.
The best place for Italian - even better than restaurants in Baltimore and Annapolis. Fausto treats guests like special members of his family. Our favorite thing to do - order several "small plates" of pasta for the table, then finish it off with Garlic Steak for two. If you are down during the off-season, make reservations for Thursday night cooking class. You may not learn anything, but you'll have a great time and a wonderful meal.
(5)Jason M.
Best italian food in town by far. Excellent food and an entertaining time watching the owner Fausto.
(5)Zach E.
Stood at the front waiting for a hostess to take our names for 10 minutes while employees just walked by. Someone finally came by just because their phone rang. We asked to be seated and the condescending hostess rudely waived us out for not having a reservation. Haven't even eaten, but the service is enough to deserve the 1 star.
(1)Cris C.
Delicious food, great ambience and vibe and a wonderful break from the chintzy Ocean City atmosphere and crappy food. I came here with 3 of my friends and though the food is on the expensive side ($22 for entree size pasta, $25-36 for 2 person meat), the half portions are very reasonable (~$12). I'm a big Food-Network-ie, so when I found out the Timballo Abruzzese was a Food Network favorite, I had to order it. I wasn't about to spend $22 on a piece of lasagna, but I was quite hungry, so I inquired about the portion size. My waitress assured me that the appetizer portion was more than enough for one person (which it was), and that the entree portions were really meant for 2 or more people. My food was delicious, my boyfriend's food was delicious and everyone else in our party was more than satisfied with their food and with the check. The owner, Fausto, popped out of the kitchen and made an appearance at our table. He was full of energy, and prompted us all to dance around the restaurant. Most fun I've had my entire "vacation" at OC!
(4)Robin D.
Fabulous dinner with my family tonight. From the fried calamari as an appetizer to our main meals which ranged from linguini with clams to the homemade pasta with pink sauce and homemade pasta with a cream sauce with peas. Everything was amazing......
(4)Dana M.
And again, another great meal from this place!! We love it :)). Appetizer of scallops on the shell w/ butter and garlic, the clams and linguine for me and the rigatoni and sausage special for my better half. Oh and we finished it off with a dove of chocolate cake. Scrumptious!
(5)Troy E.
Amazing... Use to come to OC for seafood... Now all I'm thinking of is Ristorante Antipasti... We had Cacciatore and chicken parm. The sauce was so good, fresh I coulda just ate that w the baked Italian bread. The service outstanding. So willing to accommodate for a last minute arrival. The owner seated us, joked w the kids and treated us like the Prodigal Son. A must.
(5)Gary Z.
Disregard the lesser reviews and go out of your way to eat here. This was not just one of the best Italian restaurants in OC, but amongst the very best in the country. Yes, it is that good. I had the Rigatoni with italian sausage and it was absolutely perfectly cooked with a meat sauce that was to die for. Fausto was nothing short of a gentleman who serenaded my mother which left her with stars in her eyes. We came here on a mother/son weekend and at least for a short time were transported to Italy. The best part? It was pasta night so our bill including tip was under $50. I have paid multiples of that for dinner and never left as satisfied. I never got the waitresses name, shame on me, but she was wonderful. Highly attentive without being overly aggressive, If I were to stay in OC for a week, I would eat here every evening without question. We are returning in a couple of nights for the garlic steak.
(5)Jen S.
Wonderful Italian food! I had the appetizer portion of gnocchi, which was wonderfully homemade and more than enough food. Though I quickly learned that Fausto does not approve of adding cheese to his dishes. When i asked for a dessert recommendation, the bartender and the regular sitting next to me said in unison, "tiramisu." I was not disappointed. It. Was. Amazing.
(4)Stephanie H.
Yelp led us here and we were so happy we followed the recommendation of others. Started our first night of vacation with a meal here and it was the best meal of our trip. Coming from an Italian background I can be critical of Italian food but I honestly have no complaints. Everything was delicious, service was prompt. It was very busy but we had a reservation and were seated promptly. We plan on returning next year!
(5)Karen R.
This is the best restaurant in ocean city when it comes to food and ambiance. Falsto is a character too, a local celebrity. The pasta is good nothing great, the chicken parmigiana was ok too. Everything was just ok. The side of broccoli was frozen and mushy. But still the best restaurant in oc.
(3)Susan F.
We have enjoyed Ristorante Antipasti a number of times, during all different seasons and years. On our most recent visit, our meal was again delicious and service was excellent. I do feel obligated to write this review for two reasons though. Since this is a more pricey establishment, the bread is merely average at best, similar to cold, sliced grocery store Italian bread. It would be better if more attention was paid here. My second complaint is with the price of some of the specials. We ordered 3 specials, an appetizer and 2 entrees. The prices are not announced and we did not inquire, we just happily enjoyed all aspects of the meal. The shock came when we received the bill and had been charged $49 for a single veal chop alone on the plate. It was served with a side of pasta. We will return, but we are now put in that awkward position of asking the prices of any specials we may want to order. Although the veal chop was delicious, the price we paid was ridiculous.
(4)Rita A.
I spent a weekend in OC & my friend and I really had a taste for Italian Food. Our decision to try Ristorante Antipasti was purely convenient. We were sooooo happy that we chose this place. Fausto personally greeted us and escorted us to our seats. The waitress was very friendly and took her time to explain the dishes. I really appreciated the "appetizer" portion sizes for many of the dishes b/c I was not in the mood for a hearty meal with leftovers. Our food was fresh and delicious. The pasta was very clearly freshly made. My salad was very fresh and the Italian Dressing was very delicious. We both ordered the chocolate cake for dessert & we were in "chocolate heaven". This was by-far the best meal we had over the entire weekend. Well done.
(5)Krista H.
The best restaurant in Ocean City! I have always had absolutely outstanding meals every time we go! I have had a variety of items on the menu and I am never disappointed. If you are having dinner in OC, MD, you have to stop in!
(5)Frankie G.
I have to say I was impressed. Let's start at the beginning since I love bread. The first basket was great. If you ask for more it goes down hill to the second tier. Next I had the Insalata Caprese which was fresh and great. Next I had the special which was the salt encrusted sea bass. Now nomorally I don't like anything that has salt in the discription, but I was assured by the waitress that It would not be salty. She was CORRECT!. it was unbeliveable!! This is J-Sun Approved
(5)Kristin B.
This place is a gem! I highly recommend a reservation as we made one for 8:30pm on a Sunday evening and the place was full, with a wait. Our service was outstanding. Pam explained the menu, specials, and gave some great recommendations! We started off with a bottle of wine and both the Caprese Insalata and the Gorgonzola Pere e Noci. The mozzarella in the caprese was great! For our two entrees we went with the Osso Buco special and the Zuppa di Pesce Posillipo. The Osso was good but nothing outstanding, but the Pesce Posillipo was beyond anything I've had in a long time. The flavors were great, the seafood was incredibly fresh, and the combination of everything was top-notch! The ambiance was romantic but bustling and it definitely seems like it could be both a great date restaurant or somewhere to bring a family that has older children. Prices were very reasonable and the location was set perfectly across the main road from our Hilton hotel. If we're back in Ocean City again soon, we will most definitely be back!
(4)Vincent R.
So, I'm approaching this review from the point of view, "Does the restaurant deliver on what it promises?" Unfortunately, the answer is most definitely, "No." I read the reviews on Yelp and I read the hype on their website and was all set to dress up a little and enjoy the finest dining in OC and one of the top five restaurants on the East Coast. But now I wonder which east coast? The east coast of Ocean City? A post apocalyptic Eastern seaboard where NYC and Boston no longer exist? IMHO, the restaurant is charging five star prices and delivering three star food and three star service. I would have been satisfied with my meal had it been served in a humble restuarant where they charged half the price, but back home in Boston the number of restaurants that could deliver a better experience at this price point are myriad. For four or five star prices, I would expect: to be handed a wine list when I sit; to not have to ask which wines are available by the glass; that the when oil and bread arrive at our table the dish is not held on an angle such that to oil runs down the busboy's fingers and onto the table and my wife's bread plate; that the bread itself is better than pop-n-fresh; that plates are placed in front of diners, not handed to them; that, when clearing the table, dirty plates are not stacked on the table in front of diners; and that trays of plates are not carried over diners' heads. The restaruant itself is actually very nice. The entire back of the room is an open kitchen, the decor is nice and the staff is very friendly. I will say, though, that I think there are a few too many tables packed into the place. The food we ordered was good, but I'm no master chef and I've prepared similar dishes at home. We ordered the clams casino appetizer for $14.50 and when it arrived, I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. We were presented with a medium sized plate with six of the tiniest clams I've ever seen in my life. Literally, no joking, they were each the size of the first segment of my thumb, with the clam itself being about the size of the nail on my index finger. If you put a gun to my son's head and told me to go get a dozen clams that size, I would have no idea where to look. There's a reason you're supposed to make clams casino with larger clams. A small clam cannot stand up to being in the oven long enough to brown the topping. The topping itself was delicious, bread crumbs, onion and pepper topped with a bit of pancetta. The clam inside, however, was a tough little bit of leather. We also ordered the crab pasta special. This was pretty good, bits of crab mixed into a pink sauce over linguine. Nothing special though, just a pink sauce with crab mixed in and not much crab at that. Like something I'd make at home. The best dish of all was definitely the salt crusted rockfish. The fish was cooked to perfection, and filleted expertly tableside. The filleting of a whole cooked fish always impresses me because I have yet to master that skill myself. However, it was just the fish with a spritz of lemon and some salt and pepper. My wife realized after the meal that we were supposed to get a side of zucchini, but that never showed up. Even so, as good as the fish was, I'm not sure that $32 for unadorned, farm raised, rockfish is justified. The homemade tiramisu, however, did live up to expectations. Very delicious. To the best of my recollection though, coffee was never offered, nor was an after dinner drink or dessert wine. There isn't even a dessert menu, the waitstaff recites what they have available that day. Overall, I'd call the food average and the service average. Not a bad meal, as such, but a bad value. I also take issue with Yelp's rating system. If you factor in the reviews that they filtered out (and which you can't view if you're browsing on a smart phone), Antipasti would have a 3.5 star rating and not a 4.25. Yelp might not think that people being treated unfairly and unprofessionally is important, but I certainly would. *** UPDATE *** I found the service, preparation and presentation I was looking for in Ocean CIty: Liquid Assets on 93rd street. The abience and service is casual, but the food is very creative and well thought out, the flavors all come together perfectly, and the dishes are beautifully arranged on the plate. The Hobbit on 81st. Boy how things have changed since I was last there. Gone is the shack with the kitchy decorations (which I'm still sad about), but in it's place in a fine dining establishment with great service, delicious fine food, great service, a creative menu, a terrific ambience and floor to ceiling windows along two walls that look out onto the bay.
(2)Robert H.
I've been eating at Ristorante Antipasti for a very long time and I'll tell although Fausto can get carried away at times he food is definitely the BEST Italian food Ocean City has! I've brought friends from Italy and they thought they were in Heaven, His Steak is Awesome and his Pasta dishes exceed all! His prices at times are a little higher , but to his defense he uses all of the best ingredients and that makes a difference, hey if you're just wanna get filled up try Pizza Hut....But if you wanna eat REAL AUTHENTIC ITALIAN, nobody in Ocean City is better then Antipasti!
(5)Kevin G.
Ate there last night. Glad to see them open off season. Wait staff great, ambiance ok. Salad great, food ok. Surprised to see canned peas served as the vegetable. Shocking for Italian. Typically everything in Italy is fresh ! . To be fair we had fish, and not their supposedly fresh pasta. Maybe another night. But I would rather go to liquid assets or fresco's instead.
(2)Spoonbread D.
Best restaurant in OC. Get the garlic steak (42 oz porterhouse for 2) or any of the pasta dishes. Ps: can you really trust a review with the word "gnoke" in it???
(5)Mark S.
I now have a new favorite restaurant in OC! Mr. Fausto is certainly the entertainer! The food was absolutely delicious. For those who wish to have smaller portion sizes just ask. At 7:30pm on Friday, Mr. Fausto cranks up the music to get the crowd going. Kid friendly as well.
(5)Sarah Marie P.
Stopped in for coffee and desserts, ended up with a lovely evening. Hospitality, ambience and flavors are top notch here.
(5)Bernadette P.
This is not your typical beach/tourist restaurant. With the five star menu, dim lighting & crisp linens you might feel out of place in your swimsuit and flip-flops. ;-) From the outside it may look like a fast food restaurant but inside it is nothing short of spectacular! The food is impeccable, the staff is prompt and friendly and the decor is charming and pleasantly formal. The Tiramisu is fabulous - so save room! They have great off season specials but during peak season it can be a bit pricey - BUT WELL WORTH EVERY PENNY! Best restaurant in Ocean City!!!
(5)Michael S.
Awesome traditional Italian restaurant. I thought it was a bit pricey but the food quality was excellent. Stay with the appetizer portions - they are 1/2 the price and have plenty of food. Service was superb.
(5)Elysia R.
Amazing food! Very upscale atmosphere for OC, but still casu enough for jeans & a nice shirt. A delicious, authentic Italian meal at the beach!
(5)Chris E.
We had an awesome dinner here on a cold Saturday night in January. I had the Timballo Abruzzese which was fantastic! I could have eaten two servings! My daughter (who doesn't like sauce on anything) really liked the ravioli. It looked a bit fancy for our casual attire, but it was pretty sparse on a January evening, and everyone was focused on the football game! The servers were very attentive without being overbearing. Next time I'm in OC, I'll be sure to go back!
(4)Mario M.
I must say that Fausto and this restaraunt are a must visit!!! The owner Fausto is a complete hoot. The Garlic Steak is outta this world and the PASTA, dammmmnnnn, this is a must visit. Get the pasta!!!
(5)Joe S.
Outstanding pasta dishes with delicious sauces.
(4)Samir A.
We ordered Calamari Fritti and Garlic Steak. I vomited in the restaurant bathroom. My wife got sick 20 mins later in the hotel. Save your money. Stay away..
(1)Ed W.
If you read the review by Bernadette P, you will have a good understanding of exactly how I felt when I had dinner here for the first time, which was just this 4th of July weekend. From the moment you're in the parking lot surrounded by high-end German cars until you are physically seated by the servers, you feel like this place does not belong in Ocean City; but I'm glad it is! Like many of his other valued guests and VIPs, we had the privilege of having the owner, Fausto, order our entire meal for the evening, which was nice not having to think for an hour, I was on vacation, why not. Something you should know about Fausto is that he is not your typical restaurant owner, in fact I wish more owners were like him. He approached us in all his Love Boat glory dressed in white pants, shoes, pink tie and navy blue blazer, when I asked my girlfriend if I can dress like him to work, she warned me never to wear that combination in public, but Fausto can pull it off! Going back to the food part, we started with a prosciutto cantelope that was amazingly a tasty pairing, followed by his signature dish Timballo Abruzzese which was equally tasty. Following this was a nice portion of garlic steak that should have savored longer, but couldn't help downing it in 15 seconds. Finally we also ended it with the homemade tiramisu that rivaled anything in Little Italy in NYC. Next time I will try their chocolate gelato, I had no room for it but it looked incredible. A bit pricey, but well worth the money and experience to actually eat somewhere GOOD in Ocean City, make sure you say hi to Fausto!
(5)Nima S.
By far one of the best restaurants in Ocean City. The staff is incredible and the owner will usually be around to make you laugh. I've never had a bad meal at this place. Open almost all year but can get a little crowded in the summer.
(5)Kim N.
Another overdue review. Dined here in August 2009. Wow was there a wait, even with reservations, our group of 5 waited about 20 minutes and then squeezed ourselves into a table meant for 4. No biggie. The wine selection was good with moderate prices. The apps we got were delicious. The mussels were plump and with a great sauce that we all kept dipping our bread into. The mozzarella was good and, as one can expect, cheesy :) Everyone enjoyed their entrees but IMHO, mine was the best (Rigatoni alla Pecoraia -Crumbled Italian sausage with fresh tomato, hot pepper and saffron). I asked for it extra spicy and boy did they deliver! The sausage had great flavor and the sauce with the extra spice were on point. There was a slight mix up, so I got my entree last, which not that big of a deal since my friends were nice enough to share their entrees with me. The owner even came over to check up on us and later was on hand to take a group photo with us.
(4)E F.
Very good!! :) -Carpaccio -Pork dish (Breseolo?) -Shrimp Pasta -Soups All delicious! Very fun vibe. Fausto is a star! Wish they had champagne though and a wine list that you can view! ;)
(4)Kenny R.
This was such an authentic Italian meal that I thought when I walked outside I would see the trevi fountain. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the owner decked out in fresh white pants and a joyous smile. He was not shy in discussing his excellent food proclaiming he had the best crab cake on the island. An Italian restaurant boasting about a crab cake is about as odd as a Mexican restaurant bragging about their sushi but hey, it's ocean city Maryland. On to the food. The waitress instantly recommended the timballo abruzzese which was "featured on the food network" I can confirm this as I obviously looked this up (granted it was featured on a show from 2000 and as a reference of how long ago this was at the airing of the episode I was probably practicing my haftorah portion as I hadn't been bar mitzvahed yet) Great service as the appetizers came out quickly. The only greens finer than the caprese and house salads are the putting surfaces at the Masters. Next up were the appetizers. The crab cakes won best in show. Crisp, fresh, and tasty only begin to describe this plate. Another crowd favorite was the fried mozzarella which my friends hounded over like hyenas over a gazelle in the African safari. The entrees were also top notch. I recommend the appetizer portion as it is the perfect complement to a salad and appetizer. The chocolate cake provided a great happy ending with chocolate as rich as Jay Gatsby. Overall, a great experience. My girlfriend suggested sharing but the only thing that should be shared at this place is happiness and laughs amongst friends and family.
(5)Maya M.
Pricey, but worth a splurge. Very good food, friendly atmosphere.
(4)Tom D.
This is one of the most memorable meals I have had in the Ocean City area. Not what you would think of as a food destination, but I guess the owner (Fausto) was featured on the Food Network -- and they went so far as to name this one of the best 5 Italian restaurants on the east coast. I think there was some chianti involved in that decision, but have to say I would go back to Antipasti. Great service -- and they really go out of their way to make you feel special. We actually ran into his wife early in the evening and she told us to have dinner here -- she promised they would take good care of us and we would like the food or she would buy us dinner on Saturday night. The pasta dishes were good -- but overpriced at $21....the Tagliatelle was more like a Fettucini -- but the pasta did seem to be handmade and fresh -- and not overcooked. The Filetto ai Pepi did look very good..... The best part was the atmosphere and staff -- most of the people here could have been right out of central casting -- and it was a lot of fun.....certainly would go back next time I am in Ocean City.
(3)Julie M.
Good food. Fine service. Highly overpriced.
(3)David N.
I would give this restaurant 2.5 stars if I could. Left this restaurant rather disappointed. Service was pretty bad (we were seated and no waitress was assigned to our table for 20 mins). The food was definitely on the expensive side... about 25 for a pasta or entree, and 13 for an appetizer. The portions were on the small side and the entrees did not reflect the quality or taste you would expect considering the prices charged. I had the lasagna with the buffalo mozzarella and veal (which was featured on food network according to them). Let's just say I've had way better lasagna for much less. The calamari also left much to be desired. All in all - expensive prices , small portions , decent taste , poor service , however nice ambience.
(2)Steve W.
I have eaten here twice now. I have had the lasagna and the linguine bolognese. They are a little heavy on the salt, but still a good authentic flavor. The fried mozzarella is fabulous. The food is fresh and tasty. I have eaten in most restaurants in OC and this is one of the better ones.The clientele is a little more upscale than the typical OC crowd. The prices are reasonable compared to similar restaurants in Washington DC. The interior is nice and they have a quaint small bar. I would give them 5 stars, but the service was on the slow side. We had the same waiter both times. I think his name was Joe. Nice guy, but painfully slow. Management needs to asses their staff and assign them according to their unique ability. Unfortunately for Joe, being a waiter is not his.
(4)Robert G.
Excellent food, presentation, and service. Pricey but worth it...hey, you're on vacation and she is always worth it, right!?
(4)Donald S.
It looks like a fast food restaurant from the outside but on the inside its very well decorated and elegant .... The waiter/waitresses were excellent ....the food was amazing .....the only annoying thing was the chef/owner wouldn't shut up
(4)Hunter G.
The food here is just exquisite! The sauce was the best thing i've ever tasted in my life. The owner is fun and takes pride in his reasturaunt. Only problem is the appetizers are extremely overpriced.
(4)Ben F.
We are regulars to OC every year. This year i prodded the family into trying something outside of our normal routine. Boy were we glad! This is bar none the best itallian restaraunt i have ever eaten at. And in the top 5 of all restaurants/steakhouses. I wont try to do the food any justice here, just suffice it to say there is good reason this is one of the top 5 italian restaurants on the east coast as reported by the food network. Order wwhatever they recommend and sit back and enjoy the cuisine. We won't let another OC vacation go by without having at least 1 meal here if not more.
(5)Randy S.
From the fresh, flavorful salad greens in a slightly sweet mustard vinaigrette through the cappuccino and chocolate cake this meal stands up against my better memories of fine Italian food. The Gnocchi alla Contadina is noted as a "house specialty...a must have," mine lived up to that billing. Try the Tortellini 3 "P" - Tortellini stuffed with veal in a light cream sauce with peas and Prosciutto. My wife took our server's recommendation for this and loved it. Pellegrino was our drink choice for the meal and we were both felt it was an enhancement.
(4)Brian P.
I'm Italian and I love good Italian food. This was not. I had scallops to start with. They were very small and extremely overcooked - dry and hard. And the chef didn't even detach the meat from the shell. My main course was veal marsala with a side of pasta. The veal was not seasoned. I did not taste any evidence of marsala in the sauce. And the chef obviously did not cook down the roux enough because the sauce tasted like raw flour. I have to admit, the sauce on the side of pasta was perhaps one the better marinara sauces I've had. And the waitress was cheerful and efficient. I did complain that the food was poorly cooked, but it didn't seem to elicit any response from the restaurant management after our waitress said she went back to inform them. At these prices for Italian food you do not expect amateur mistakes from the chef. This happens so often during peak season in Ocean City when restaurants use temporary and inexperienced help but because of this experience I don't think I will give them another chance during the off season. I have had similar food of higher quality from a local Italian restaurant here at home at half the price. Who in the world says they are the 5th best restaurant? Not even close to something like Lydia's or Galileo or La Familigia.
(2)JoAnne A.
Fausto's was a great find, especially when someone had recommended another restaurant owned by Fausto, a charming host, downtown. More formal than most Ocean City restaurants, the tables had white tablecloths and lovely decor. The food was good, though more expensive than we thought it warranted--caesar salad, mozzarella in carrozza, cheese ravioli, and the penne with hot sausage were all favorites at our table. On the negative side, the trio of smoked fish appetizer was dry, and the veal in the veal piccata seemed to have been pounded into tenderness, and not a result of particularly good meat. We definitely would go back, but would avoid veal dishes in the future.
(4)Gary C.
I blew in for a bite at the bar. Welcomed by a really nice Fausto himself, a character you could tell, well liked by everyone. On the bartender's advice I ordered the Timballo Abruzzese (Thin layers of pasta with ground veal, Buffala Mozzarella and nutmeg). It was delicious. About the size of a square of Lasagna, but very thin, I could of used a larger portion. But it was so mouthwatering, I ate it very slowly savoring every bite. I asked for fresh, hot bread and it came with olive olive with crushed garlic. Great food. Fausto brought out and showed be the 44 ounce steak they serve for 2 (size of a roast) and recommended that for my next visit. Food and service was good. Recommend looking at their web site. Will DEFINITELY Return.
(4)csm c.
Please, please, please find another place to eat! Service good, but the food lacked everything. Portions miniscule, bread had no flavor, the salad was uneventful, the gnoke was served with a off brand cream of tomato soup. Wendy's was better in that location.
(1)george a.
dessert = wow! ---------- FOOD: We both got the appetizer portions of the pasta dishes. I got a stuffed ravioli, she got a clam linguine. Both were pretty big even for appetizer portions and were really really good.. For dessert I got a mixed berry cake and all I have to say about that is.. wow! oh my god, wow! Get one. DECOR: The restaurant is a converted ex wendys. But honestly, unless youre thinking about it, its just a really nice restaurant. Really cool decor inside, wine racks, dim lights. Its pretty romantic. SERVICE: Friendly. The waitress came back often and was very friendly and helpful. ---------- WOULD I GO BACK? Darn right. But theres sooo much to do in OC, I might not be able to. But I highly recommend trying it.
(4)Holly H.
This place has a lot of personality! We came here based on a recommendation from our hotel. Over all, the food is good, the digs inside are warm and inviting (don't be fooled by the outside) and the staff is very friendly...especially the owner. Food: our appetizers were better then our main dishes. We got the caprese salad, prosciutto and melon, and the focaccia. Yum yum yum!! Dinners: triple p pasta, yum! Ravioli, while tasty, nothing special. Linguini and clams, holy garlic batman! Kids pasta, my daughter wouldn't touch. Wasn't a fan of the sauce. We also orders the famous lasagna. The pasta part was good and so was he veal but too much nutmeg for my taste. I wasn't the biggest fan. Desserts were amazing and the cappuccino was really good. Service: our server was a l little unfriendly in my opinion, but the food runners and bussers were so kind. Bar: quaint but limited selection of goods. Atmosphere: like you were having dinner at someone's house. It was very fun. Overall it was pretty good but I've had better.
(4)Vince M.
Our first visit to this amazing establishment and may I say just fantastic. I'm not sure what the people who wrote negative reviews were thinking there's absolutely nothing I mean nothing negative yo say. We come from the heart of italian restaurants in philly and this place can bang with the best. When you're here I suggest the sea salt baked stripped bass along with the filet in italian herbs WOW!! Prices a bit expensive portions were plentiful and trust me my brother in law and I can eat. Make this a stop on any journey in this area!!!
(5)Max L.
Great food! Cozy atmosphere, and yet this place is buzzing even well passed 9pm! We love its salt baked sea bass. Good quality fresh bass and well executed dish. Would love to visit again!
(4)Melanie S.
This review will not attempt to describe the decor, although it is worth noting that our table of eight sat at a folding table with metal legs, like you'd find at your high school cafeteria, which you'd never really know until you pull your chair in and bang your knees against a metal bar and spend the rest of the evening a chair-length away from your dinner plate... ...which in this case isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact I'll be staying more than a chair-length away, and maybe you should too. This is a review of the only dish I have ever had at a restaurant that I sent back. I didn't expect to have the best meal of my life here, but I certainly didn't expect to receive the worst restaurant meal of my life. After all, this is supposed to be a high end Italian restaurant. A quick look at the website's "Rave Reviews" shows awards, commendations from the Food Network, and lots and lots of photos of the owner charming women of a certain age. I called ahead to make sure there would be a vegan option for us, and I was assured that the kitchen would be able to make us something with pasta and vegetables. It's usually easy to get a great vegan meal at a high end Italian restaurant (pasta primavera with fresh veggies, garlic, and olive oil is usually available.) To my great surprise I was served an amount of pasta equivalent to an entire box of store-bought noodles, clumped together, still wet, on a single plate, swimming in ketchupy marinara sauce and the crowning glory: strips of carrots and green beans that tasted distinctly like the inside of a tin can. (I noticed that someone else in my party ordered a vegetable side dish that also appeared to be made from these two unmistakeable vegetables. I can only assume that my plate was simply a combination of the only vegetable side dish in the house, an entire box of pasta, and a few ladles full of ketchupy tomato sauce.) And they were going to charge $26 for it. Despite the fact that I try to be easy-going and keep a low profile when dining with my omnivore family, this was just too much. I had to send it back. I'm a home cook, not a trained chef, but it's clear to me that whoever was working in the kitchen that night has less understanding of food than I do and/or a complete lack of fresh ingredients in the kitchen. I worked in the service industry for years and I cannot imagine EVER putting a plate like this in front of a customer. I can't imagine the kitchen staff who could have actually plated this slop and served it to me. I've never been actually offended by a plate of food before or since. It was that bad. Our attentive waiter, much to his credit, offered to have the kitchen make me something else. I declined the offer because any chef whose judgment led to sending that plate out of the kitchen can't be trusted to do anything better. This is only barely worth mentioning.... but let the record show that I also had an insalata tricolore that was not a real insalata tricolore. It was a mixed greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette, which tasted fine, but isn't what I ordered. There wasn't a piece of endive in sight. (My family, inexplicably, seemed to enjoy their dinners. My Mom vehemently denied that the green beans were canned, but she served me a steady diet of canned green beans in my childhood, and I know that tin can taste like I know my own name.) If you're vegan, stay away.
(1)Tim M.
I've wanted to try this place for several years now as I've heard good things about it and their advertising on the Ocean City 'channel' always looks very good. We were able to get a 7pm reservation in mid-season which I was surprised at for a Saturday night. Wife and I arrived about 20 minutes early but we were seated anyway. The owner "Fausto??" probably lives there - he's as likely reported very animated and unusual but nice. I would not want to work for the guy however - seemed considerably pushy with the staff and ebullient with the customers. Pros: food and service were good - I had the scallop appetizer which was very good and their house specialty the Timballo Abruzzese. Thin layers of pasta with ground veal, Buffalo Mozzarella and nutmeg. Unusual combination but I figured it's the house specialty so I'd try it. Cons: NOT intimate or romantic if it is full and I'd assume in season. There were small children everywhere which I did not expect and the place looks like it used to be a fast food restaurant at one time so there is no real 'intimate' dining. Also our waitress didn't run down the specials to us but afterwards did so for all other customers - too late as we had already ordered. We were not offered a dessert tray either - just was odd we were left out of the same loops everyone else was getting (yes we had showered lol). I can't say I'd be running back here immediately largely because of the prices and the fact that it's as family friendly as it is - it's Ocean City in season so I get it - but it was NOT what I was expecting at all. Maybe we'll hit it off season again. Not remotely humbly submitted this day, D Food Snob, PhD
(3)Tim T.
I never give 5 star but this place can take a 4-5" thick filet steak coat it in special seasoning and cook it to ANY done ness you desire. It comes with a side of pasta and it has a garlic clove with a little butter on top of the streak you won't get a better steak in OC than here. The veal with capers and lemon and the chicken parm are fabulous as well.
(5)Mark M.
The gem of OC! This exemplifies the phrase, "don't judge a book by its cover!" From the outside this place looks old and could have been ready to close up shop. Inside the decor is very Italian. It vibrant and the owner is a hilarious mess of crazy and genius. He takes you on a trip through true Italian food and shows his passion and love for the menu. We were there for a bachelor party and the man prepared his own tasting menu for us. The melon and prosciutto amazing! The veal incredible! Steak and snapper as main course, to die for! (By then we were stuffed but had to force it down!) the desserts skip all and yes try the mango sorbet!! You won't regret! By far one of the better restaurants everything is fresh and so flavorful. True Italian food in its finest!
(5)Glenn L.
I've always been a fan of Restorante Antipasti. The food is good, the owner is present and very warm, and although it's a bit pricy, the dishes are ample and sometimes we even take food home. However, on a recent visit, I thought it was VERY expensive for the portions served. Are they cutting back on quantity and raising prices? I'm not sure, but for $29, I would expect the shrimp with linguini in a garlic/wine/olive oil dish to have a fair amount of pasta. It didn't. I left hungry. All the diners at our table finished their dishes, unusual for us. On previous visits they always were full and had to take food home. The portions were smaller, no doubt. Next year we'll try elsewhere.
(3)Justin N.
Everything about this place is fantastic, from the atmosphere to the food! I had the carpaccio di filetto and the 3P tortellini both expertly prepared, I don't know what that carp thing is but it had thin sliced meat on the bottom topped with leafy greens and cheese, it had a citrusy dressing, capers and onions. Trust me, one of the best things you'll ever eat. Then the tortellini, outstanding, the sauce was perfect and the prosciutto and peas pulled it all together. Next, the atmosphere, first as you walk in you get the feel of a genuine Italian restaurant as the friendly hostess seats you and the owner swings by and throws a couple one liners your way and Franky croonin you the whole time. Completely awesome, you feel invited. The waitresses are very attentive and cute (sorry honey). They made sure the food kept rolling and the table never got cluttered, even though they gave me a funny look when I ordered my dessert before my girlfriend was done with her dinner. Oh the desserts! Excellent, the best cannoli I've ever had, just beating out The Author Ave Deli in Honesdale, by the skin of their teeth. And the tiramisu was great too, went well with the coffee, also very good. Over all I'd give this a sixth star if they had it.
(5)Andrew H.
An elegant, good sit-down Italian joint where you can take your parents, not your drunk friends looking to get the greasiest thing on the menu! Of course, there was a bachelorette party group that sat next to us, so I guess this place really is for everyone. The place is nicely designed, and does not have the beach restaurant atmosphere, but has excellent food. The food here was great, the scallops are serves in-shell still, and were some of the most flavorful scallops I have ever had. The clam bakes were good too, and everyone enjoyed their entrees. I got the house special, the ground veal lasagna essentially, and was satisfied. We all drank wine and had excellent food, made a memorable moment for our family. Recommended for anyone going with a family or anyone with a discernable taste and sick of the usual fried seafood offers of OC!
(4)Brett G.
Very very unimpressed. This restaurant is located in what looks like a renovated Wendy's. I think they kept the Wendy's Chef because the food here is atrocious and very overpriced. I ate the chicken parm which was chewy and dry. The sauce was good but the sauce just could not correct a terrible protein. They replaced the dish with the lasagna-like dish. This was slightly better but again the pasta seemed over cooked and too soft. Not enough meat/filling. The sauce here was oily. It was pretty much layers of pasta with some small amounts of meat and ricotta cheese to bind it. Very unimpressive and I am now spending the rest of the evening in the bathroom trying to rid my body of this god awful food. Tourists beware. Stay away from this overpriced terrible food. One positive was the serving staff was apologetic about the quality of the food although they were defending it saying its me not them. My dinner companion agreed that both of these dishes were less than desirable. We are New Yorkers who eat Italian 3-4 times a week. My local take out restaurants can cook better. Final point is they offer cooking lessons. I would not want to learn from these guys! Stay clear and avoid!
(1)Jessica C.
Amazing Italian food! Had the striped bass prepared table side. The best fish dish that I've ever had! Will recommend to anyone visiting ocean city.
(5)Ellie P.
Cozy atmosphere , with fantastic food and wine. Truly little Italy feeling. Thank you. We had wonderful evening. Hands down great restaurant.
(5)Vinnie M.
Outstanding service,food,and decor. Im a die heart italian from phila and this place could definitely beat out some of the best iatalian resturants i know. I highly recommend tge Filet and the Cheese Ravioli. My first time and i can definitely say it will not be my last
(4)Jason L.
Great Italian. Owner walks around singing Italian songs and greeting the diners. Bread and olive oil worth it alone but the entrees and salads are phenomenal.
(4)Brian C.
Fantastic Italian Food in OCMD!?!?! Wow!
(5)Carolyn P.
Elegant and wonderful! We tried 2 pasta dishes, Tagliatelle Bolognese and Gnocci in Pink Sauce. They came with an extraordinary salad, the house wine was nice, and the meal was simply divine. Beautiful decor and great service. The Garlic Steak looked fabulous; I wouldn't hesitate to order that next time.
(5)