Fine Italian dining – indoors and out! At Antonia’s Restaurant on Duval Street

BY TERRY SCHMIDA

KONK LIFE FOOD EDITOR

With its glowing reputation for high-end Italian cuisine served up in style in a famous old building, Antonia’s Restaurant, 615 Duval St., is a favorite Key West foodie destination.

Since opening to the public with a decade-ending party on New Year’s Eve 1979, Antonia’s has set a standard for authentic Italian food on Middle Duval. It’s still a “must see” dining spot for visitors to the island and longtime local devotees.

With the advent of the Duval Street Pedestrian Mall earlier this year, the eatery has gained the one thing it previously lacked: outdoor dining, albeit on a temporary basis. For the better part of the year staff has been doing bonzer business during the popular weekend ‘no traffic’ pedestrian mall experiment that may or may not become a permanent fixture on the downtown cityscape.

Indoor or out, Antonia’s offers up award-winning fare all day long, from sumptuous brunchfasts, to inspired lunches, divine dinners – and beyond.

Eye-widening breakfast dishes such as the Maine Lobster Benedict are daily favorites – plenty of lobster, served on toasted ciabatta bread with prosciutto di Parma, tomato, Hollandaise, and salsa verde, makes this one a winner. The Shiitake Mushrooms Frittata, with asparagus, roasted red pepper, and goat cheese is a tasty treat any time of day, while antipasti like the fluffy and fragrant Goat Cheese Souffle, served with a vegetable medley and oven-roasted tomato vinaigrette, are to die for. Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio, with baby arugula, Parmigiana Reggiano, cornichon, and white truffle oil is a savory delight.

Antonia’s still makes its own pasta in-house, and it’s the crucial ingredient in the Fettuccine with Button & Shiitake Mushrooms, using judicious amounts of garlic, asparagus, fresh Parmesan Reggiano, and truffle oil.

Other mains include the sumptuous Seared Diver Scallops served with jasmine rice, braised romaine, and a basil coconut sauce; and Chianti Braised Lamb Osso Buco with a vegetable medley, mashed potatoes, and Italian parsley are delights that have helped Antonia’s solidify its position as the “Grand Dame” of Duval Street restaurants.

Mouth-watering desserts include homemade Panna Cota, rich Amaretto and Coconut Cream Pie, melt-in-your-mouth Tiramisu, a priceless Warm Chocolate Brownie with vanilla gelato, and a Key Lime Pie of which they are justifiably proud.

Naturally, the full liquor bar and extensive wine selection have that perfect accompaniment for whatever you’re having, from mimosas in the morning, to after-dinner drinks at night.

So whether you dine in the wood-paneled luxury of Antonia’s venerable main dining room, or at a small and romantic outdoor table on Friday and Saturday nights – for the time being – savor the delights of one of Key West’s best loved restaurants today!

Antonia’s is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. , seven days. Credit cards are accepted. Don’t miss Antonia’s sister restaurants, Little Pearl, and Thirsty Mermaid.

For a reservation, or more information, call 305-294-6565, email [email protected], or visit www.antoniaskeywest.com/

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