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Pizza Antica (Pizza cuisine)  $$

 8.5
JaT Rating

334 Santana Row, San Jose, 95128  (Directions)


408.557.8373


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Thin style pizza and stylish atmosphere on the swanky Santana Row


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 1/23/2007
Rating: 8.5
My photo gallery 		Pizza Antica isn't exactly the hidden jewel you'd find on jatbar. I had my doubts about finding cheap/reasonable priced food on Santana Row. For the folks who've never been to San Jose Santana Row, it's an upscale outdoor mall with plenty of restaurants. The only reason I made it out here was because my coworker Doug had to pick up some knives at Sur La Table. We figured since we were in the area and Wallace had mentioned the pizza was good at Pizza Antica...why not?

The restaurant is a long rectangular room with a beautiful open kitchen and plentiful wine bar. Decked out with black and white tiles and dark wood seating arrangements. The noise level is high which is quite the opposite from the quiet outdoor patio. I was warned the service can be iffy at times and I'll have to agree to an extent. The hostess quickly sat us down, menus dropped off but waters took forever and ordering was even longer. It was extremely busy and after placing our orders, I was surprised to see the pizzas delivered a short time later.

I ordered the small Margherita pizza ($8.75). I would consider this pizza more of a Neapolitan style pizza. The crust is ultra thin with AWESOME bubbling towards the outer crust. Talk about using high heat ovens! The bottom of the crust in image 6 is a tad light and could have used more browning. Dough was soft enough yet cooked enough for the crust to crackle when folded. The center was kinda on the soggy side if you believe that's possible for a 1/8' thin crust.

Tomato sauce was mild with the basil adding a wonderful fragrance to the pie. Not sure if the cheese adheres to the strict rules of originating from Apennine mountain range but the cheese tasted good to me. There wasn't much cheese but I don't think Neapolitans are supposed to be overwhelmed like their distant american cousins.

Margherita can be considered one of the most basic pizzas but it's always a good place to start when trying a pizza for the 1st time. Overall, the pizza is a great tasting pizza and remarkably enjoyable. The ingredients are fresh and in trying Doug's custom pizza, the fennel sausage is a must order topping.

Parking isn't bad during lunch and the 2 times I've been during weekend night, I've been able to find parking spots easily. I imagine dinner rush has long wait times. I would easily make a repeat visit but my only complaint for hungry eaters like myself, the small pizza will not fill you up. I'd recommend ordering a salad or appetizer before the pizza or even go large for an extra $6. The pizza taste rates a 9, portion size an 8, service lingering around an 8, atmosphere an 8.5, and price a respectable 7.5 with my final score of 8.5. Pizza Antica is a real deal pizza place and should be tried.
 
8.75
Agent Rating


Reviewer: wchane
Total Reviews: 148
Reviewed: 3/17/2007
Rating: 8.5
My photo gallery		 Pizza Antica is one of the few restaurants on the main Santana Row street that I reguarly visit. Relaxed atmosphere, attentive service, reasonably priced menu items, and delicious food is what keeps me coming back.

Although this place is known for their pizza, I rarely order it. If I do it's the margherita or the potato, onions & truffle oil. I normally order the gnocchi or simple spaghetti.

This week I stuck with my normal gnocchi with crumbled fennel sausage ($12.95 + $3.95 for the fennel). Gnocchi is usually boiled, drained, tossed in sauce, then served. Not the case here, the gnocchi itself is cooked then pan fried until a nice crust is on top and bottom. Then the gnocchi is plated in a bed of sauce around a center of greens. If you add fennel the sausage is then crumbled over and finally the dish is finished with slivers of cheese. It doesn't look like much but is filling and something that I crave for time after time.

Other notable items include the panna cotta, chop salad, smoked salmon bruchetta, and when they have it the squash soup.


 


Reviewer: Lainie
Total Reviews: 41
Reviewed: 2/24/2007
Rating: 9
My photo gallery		 I'm SO glad you finally decided to review this place! I absolutely love their Margarita pizza. The slightly blistered bottom and thin texture of the pizza crust just can't be beat. You can pay more for the same quality and quantity of pizza at high end places like Cafe Coppola or A16 in S.F., but it's still done better at Pizza Antica. Share a Chopped Salad w/your dining companion, order a large Margarita pizza to share, and you're all set. It'll be a wonderful meal at a reasonable price. Just perfect. The service can be hit or miss and the wait on the weekends for dinner can be horrific, but you're in a mall so take a walk and come back in 30-45 minutes AFTER you've put your name down, of course.
 
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budbandit ate...

What dish did you eat?

“Superior thin crust pizza, worth going to Satan Row for, although service is occasionally spotty and it can get crowded. Compares well to Amichis or La Pizzeria in Campbell.”

3/14/2007 11:04:38 AM

ttom ate...

The number 4

“Good pizza and good circus. The mushrooms appetizers are over cooked (in 3 visits, happened 3 times)..Salads are great. Custom Beer is good. Sommetime pizzas can be a bit charred.”

2/3/2007 2:06:15 PM