Antico Restaurant & Bar

We found this place by accident. We were walking up towards a hotel we was staying at near by. I saw a sign of this place and googled it. The Reviews weren’t too bad so i called up and booked a table for 5.45pm. We wanted to get in earlier as we were going to see a show at the theatre. It normally opens at 6pm. But they made an exception for us which was very accommodating of them.
To start us off we ordered brad and olive instead of a starter. Price wise its very reasonable £17 for 2 courses or £21 for three courses. We chose to have 2 course main and dessert. I had delicious main course which was creamy slow cooked rabbit ragu. My bro-​in-​law had flat iron steak with kale and spinach which was beautifully cooked and still pink. My sister has pan fried sea-​bass which was a also beautifully cooked. All the dishes tasted great and went down a treat.
We followed this by a dessert i had the almond tart and the others had the chocolate tart with ice-​cream. The portion sizes were very very good there was a lot there and the desserts were just delicious. Not too sweet it was just right because sometimes chocolate dessert be too sweet and sickly.
I should add that the waiting staff were fantastic, they were helpful on explained the menu and brought us extra oil/​balsamic for our breads. May not return anytime soon as i don’t live in London but highly recommended!

Pasta here is divine! Make sure you book before you go. The space has rustic charm and is small, but we loved it.
We ordered starters of:
Burrata, Black Figs, Radicchio, Mint & Toasted Almonds £7
Prosciutto, Pumpkin, Parmesan Shavings, Mint & Apple Balsamic £7
Grilled Octupus £7 (this was our favorite)
and large sized mains of:
Slow Cooked Pork & Juniper Ragu Pappardelle £14 (generous with the meat)
Tomato, Chilli, Garlic & Black Olive Spaghetti £13
Pork Belly Tortelloni £15 (came with about 9 pieces, loved this one the most)
Out of the desserts, the salted caramel gelato and the peanut butter with chocolate mousse were okay and a bit lacking in flavor, but the ginger cake with pumpkin sorbet was perfect.
Everything was reasonably priced and the service was fantastic!

Deserving of its place on the food paradise that is Bermondsey St. They offer a very reasonable set menu for lunch and early dinner for 15/​1, respectively. Italian with some nice twists as far as meat go (rabbit, pork), so don’t come here if you’re expecting a simple penne or lasagne! The pork shoulder tortelloni that I had was delicious in all its buttery goodness.
Service was excellent by London standards with a very friendly, funny, attentive-(but not in an overly way) waiter. Great casual Italian spot!

I was a little worried when ordering at Antico because their set menu is quite small and quirky. I’m open-​minded but fussy (it’s possible!) and the fancier the place, the less I feel able to adapt a dish to remove offending items.
Luckily, there was one item for each course that looked doable, so I went with those. That didn’t necessarily mean I was wild about them — for example, I had sausages for my main meal, which I would never normally order at a restaurant because they’re just… not very interesting. However, in this instance they were gorgeous and fat, full of flavour and tasty juices. The cannellini beans beneath them were rather bland though — would some chilli and garlic or something have been a stretch?
The burrata to start was a first for me and I am a fan. The pomegranate overpowered a little so I ate the seeds separately. The tiramisu to end was fine but nothing special — it was huge though so I was glad to be splitting it with my boyfriend.
Drinks-​wise, if you’re getting a soft drink, get one of the fizzy San Pellegrino citrus options — if you get a coke, they don’t give you the can and you end up with a half portion, whereas for SP you get the full hit.
It was almost empty when we were there on a weekday lunchtime and the set menu was reasonable at £15 for two courses or £19 for three.

I’ve been here with friends and family and never have I heard a complaint. The starters have always been great, the staff is knowledgable about wines and the pasta… my oh my the pasta is excellent. The portion sizes are really good unlike many pasta places where you get 5 pieces of tortellini! The desserts are also really good and the menu gets changed regularly.
The prices are incredibly reasonable which for a central London restaurant is impressive. I would really recommend this restaurant and there’s an equally impressive gin bar downstairs which serve incredible cocktails. Whilst not part of Antico, they will recommend you go down there to wait for your table to be ready if you arrive a little early.

We’re local and this is by far our favourite restaurant in London. Fab service, the quality/​value of the food is right on the mark and you always leave full and happy. We’ve taken many friends/​family members here and everyone has loved.

I had been meaning to try Antico for a while — and the 214 Bermondsey gin bar downstairs, which unfortunately we didn’t make it to this time. My friend and I just ordered a couple of G&T’s, a main each and a bottle of wine to take us through dinner -£88 all up including service. Not bad.
We agreed the food was pretty good (doesn’t blow you away but it’s honest and good food) — Italian Sausage tagliatelli looked like a deceptively small portion but my friend struggled to get through it, while I had the pan-​fried monkfish. I love the meaty texture of this fish but Antico’s version didn’t blow me away on the taste front but certainly enjoyable. Not my favourite Italian place but the bar downstairs looks great.

A lovely, rustic Italian restaurant. You will need to book a table here for peak times as it gets very busy. The quality of the food was fantastic. We had starters, mains and shared a dessert.
Service was good, fast and efficient. Although the waitress did remind us we only had our table for 2hrs, a bit frustrating when you’re spending £250+ on a meal for 6. But I do understand they need to turnover the most amount of tables as possible.
Overall I would go back again and recommend to others

Brought friends here on a night out but were unfortunately underwhelmed by the food. As starters we had the burrata and the meat board. Both were good but nothing outstanding, in fact the meat board had quite low quality terrine and saucisson. For the mains we had chicken (average), veal (quite fatty) and 2 pastas (plain). For the price it was uninspiring.
The décor is lovely, very good for a date night. Service was overly attentive to the point that it became annoying. Honestly was hoping for a great meal based on reviews but left feeling very meh.

Such a great place! I live nearby and was trying to find someplace decently priced that I would be able to get a table at on a Saturday night — and none of that waiting an hour stuff! Thankfully Antico takes bookings (which you can do on Unilocal!) so we booked a table for two. We got there about 20 minutes early and were prepared to go down to their gin bar for a bit, but they had the table ready so we opted to sit first and go for the bar later. Great choice!
The service was decent; not out of this world but not bad or just okay. We opted for the focaccia and olives which were delicious and a good size, and then each got small portions of monkfish risotto — amazingly good! If you’re really hungry or not getting starters/​dessert definitely go for the large portions, though.
The wine list is nice and varied, though a bit on the expensive side. Still, for good wines what do you expect!
I’m not sure I’d go out of my way for Antico once I move out of my current flat, but I’d still love to go again at some point if I find myself in the area.

What a hidden little gem this is. I have to say, to my shame, I was completely unaware of Bermondsey St. and all if its fine eateries until very recently. Lets keep this short and sweet, though, I can ramble: Service — exemplary. Maybe one of the best in London for this price range of restaurants. I asked for soup and they didn’t have any but homemade it for me anyway! OK, I appreciate you can blend up anything these days but to take the time and attentiveness to adhere to my request, it was very much appreciated and the floor service was impeccable! The quality of food was outstanding. Both my partner and I shared our dishes together and found them to be fabulous, cooked to perfection. I have not had pasta this good since my friend Papa Paolo moved back to Tuscany. Best of all, and rightly so, the value for money from Antico was brilliant. We attended for a Sunday lunch and they had a special lunch offer for £15 for two courses.

Wow. My friend and I stumbled by Antico while walking down Bermondsy Street one night and made a point to return after seeing the Michelin stars in the window. After all, a New Yorker needs a foodie treat while traveling, right? We went for a quiet lunch and have been so glad we did. The space is elegant but simple and the service was pleasant and attentive.
We tried the burrata which was so lovely. The braised octopus was also particularly memorable– cooked to perfection and impressively seasoned on a bed of rocket and tomatoes.
For our mains, we had the tiger prawn and garlic fettuccine and the monkfish risotto. Both were heavenly. The fettuccine was slightly spicy, yet balanced with basil and the monkfish risotto was creamy and tangy. We had half portions of both and had trouble finishing them (but they were so good that we did).
The chocolate cake was also so fun to eat. It was topped with what felt like chocolate pop rocks! a great end to a great meal. Highly recommend!

I liked this restaurant so much I went back before I left London. Delicious pastas, salads – burrata and peaches! – and meat dishes. Great wine list. And if you have to wait for a table there’s a truly terrific gin bar downstairs where I sipped Aviations happily. What really makes this such a wonderful restaurant besides the great food and bustling happy ambiance is the staff. The bartender downstairs was one of the best I’ve encountered, seducing us with the history of our cocktails. And upstairs our waiter Allen charmed us all, including my 10 year old daughter. A real winning spot!

Absolutely my new favourite restaurant in London, especially south of the river.
I’ve recently moved to Bermondsey street, and all everyone has ever said to me is ‘you must try Antico, have you been’ and now I know why. I went for dinner on Saturday evening and I loved it so much I went back for lunch on the Sunday.
It’s a nice intimate size, and décor is comfortable.
It has a good wine list, we went for a reasonable priced montepulciano for around £40, really nice!
Had a simple pasta dish to start which was so delicious, and I opted for the lamb for main, which was so good! Asked for it medium rare, and it came out perfectly pink.
I can’t actually rate the enough. Best Italian in London!

Great little place tucked away, that we came upon by pure chance. Was nicely greeted at the door, seated quickly and given attentive service throughout the meal. Food was delicious — Tiger shrimp with zucchini, & chile over fettuccini along with a little carafe of Barbera (delicious little wine). Trendy relaxed atmosphere and all in all a great dining experience.

Decided to stop here for dinner as we were walking by, looking for a spot to eat, and were enticed by the aromas wafting out the front door. I had the roasted pork shoulder and a carafe of Barbera wine. Very good. Service was excellent. Loved the atmosphere as well. Highly recommend if you’re ever in London.

In short, food was good, and service was great. I’m staying less than half a mile from this place while in town for work, and found it after deciding on a movie at the adjacent Shortwave Cinema. OpenTable showed no openings for a Friday night, but being only 1, I called to see if they might accommodate me at the bar. They asked for my arrival time and said they could — not bad for 25 minutes’ notice.
Upon walking in, I was greeted by name (single diners are probably a rarity here) and very apologetically told that they didn’t currently have a space for me as the bar had filled up, but would have a table instead within the next 20 minutes. I was offered a complimentary glass of wine (which I had to decline, but appreciated). I stepped out to explore Bermondsey Street rather than wait downstairs. I walked back in 12 minutes later and was immediately shown to my table.
I ordered the olives and focaccia (really just wanting the olives) and the chili salt prawns fritti as starters and the slow roasted pork shoulder tortellini for my main. The olives were great, and I also ate the top off the focaccia as it had a little extra olive oil and salt. The prawns were the weak link… I mistakenly expected a little spice/​heat form the «chili» in the name — this was more pimiento/​red pepper — I think that’s a common descriptor here, just my American bias showing. The big misstep to me is as the tempura like breading came off the shrimp, I noted they were not fully deveined. A little disappointing, but I finished the job and ate the rest. Thank goodness for the greens under the shrimp, or else I would’ve been totally devoid of veg… anyway, the tortellini. Very good. Delicate and freshly made with a broth that was very flavorful without being too heavy.
If the hazelnut gelato another reviewer mentioned had been available, I would’ve made room for dessert, but I left very satisfied without. The server was fantastic throughout, and the entire staff was friendly and showed great attention to detail. Prices were reasonable, too, and they take AmEx. Solid dinner out.

Yum!
Zucca up the street may be the one that everyone talks about but Antico is also a pretty great Italian. With less formal surroundings than Zucca, slightly bigger portions and a generally more relaxed atmosphere, Antico is probably more of a regular sort of restaurant than a special celebration.
The Florentine steak was impressive, the lamb melted in the mouth, the hazelnut gelato intense, the ravioli light with delicate flavours.
The service was good, friendly and always on hand without being over-​the-​top.
Their downstairs bar is now a gin specialist. They have over 70 types of gin and make their own tonic.

Antico is neatly tucked away at the southernmost tip of the ultra fabulous Bermondsey Street, where the street takes an unexpected turn just after the placid St Mary Magdalen. Of course, it stands out in sharp contrast to Zucca, but the overall experience is more than positive.
It always looks like a wonderful find on a Thursday night when the mainstream Bermondsey Street restaurants are ablaze celebrating the impending weekend. We were surprised to find a table in Antico without a reservation where the rest of the favourites like Village East, Zucca, Jose were impossible to get into. The place is cosy and homey with a tempered down feel. There’s an open kitchen that adds to the earthy feel of the place and the friendly attendants make you feel right at home.
The Devon crab salad with blood orange and fennel was delicious and the antipasti board with the cold cuts, olives and foccacia made for a great start. The starter portions are not too generous, so it wouldn’t hurt to get another starter. For some reason, I was expecting some more of that salad on my plate; although the seasoning was adequate and perfect.
The pork shoulder & juniper ragu pappardelle was delicious, and is allegedly the most popular flavour of the menu. The monkfish risotto is worth a mention as well. I personally got a portion of the «Bolton Abbey» roasted lamb rump with celeriac on a bed of braised cannellini beans with mint oil. The top of the line meat straight from North Yorkshire was beyond exceptional and the roasted celeriac went very well with the lamb.
One portion each of the baked tiramisu cheesecake and the chocolate, hazelnut and almond cake did it for us. Both, above average. Recommended.
Will be back to try the rest of the menu.

This is literally right next to my new home in London, so needless to say, its not a bad thing to have a yummy place to eat for those late night munchies :)
Hubby and I went into the restaurant around 8 PM on a Friday with very low hopes of getting in (we heard the maitre’d turning down everyone), as there was a private event downstairs. Luckily a couple JUST got up to leave from the bar, and we actually enjoy the bar atmoshphere better than the dining area (which incidentally looked very romantic, but wasnt our thing that night).
Wine — we ordered a carafe of red wine from a great bartender Ziggy, and went in for the food. Started off with the olives and foccacia, which I wasnt super excited about — fococcia was actually just okay, which worried me. BUT, we ordered a few small dishes including butternut squash ravioli. I will tell you this dish melted in my mouth and i thought i died and went to heaven. I ordered the prawns with linguine and chili and garlic, pretty good, but i think i was spoiled with the raviolio goodness! This place makes its own pasta, so clearly it speaks for itself. Hubby doesnt eat seafood, so they MADE him a wild mushroom risotto, which he gobbled down eagerly.
I wish we had space for dessert, but unfortunately did not get a chance to get to it bc we ended up talking to a bunch of locals and champagne superceded the dessert :) I am definitely going again!