Antonia's

Located at 101 N. Churton Street in downtown Hillsborough, Antonia’s serves Italian cuisine for dinner Tuesday through Sunday. There is a full bar, drink specials on Wednesdays (half-priced wine) and Thursdays ($5 martinis), and occasional live music. Food specials change regularly, and private dining for events is available, as is limited outdoor seating.

Antonia’s is a charming eatery that checks most of the boxes for a great dining experience. The food is delicious, the service is attentive, and the pricing, while not cheap, does not instill regret. It is, however, both a small (albeit handsomely appointed) space and a popular one, so you may find yourself nearly elbow-to-elbow with a neighboring table (if you are able to get a table). Fortunately, this is the only real blemish.

The menu here pays homage to the classics while still offering a few departures. Bruschetta, an antipasto platter, and lasagna Bolognese can all be found here, but you can also build your own pasta dish, go vegetarian or gluten-free, or treat yourself to a steak. Many of the ingredients are sourced locally, including meats from Greensboro’s sainted Giacomo’s.

For our first visit, my wife and I opted for a starter of pork meatballs in a parmesan truffle cream sauce, sausage with polenta, and a squash cannelloni (on special). The meatballs were quite tasty, and the sauce, while rich and buttery, was not as heavy as expected. The polenta was cooked perfectly and paired well with slightly sweet sauce and fresh-tasting vegetables (not to mention nice spicy sausage). The pasta’s sauce was creamy, and the dish was not overwhelmingly sweet. We followed up with an order of tiramisu – decadent – and my wife raved profusely about the Lady Godiva, a chocolate liquor-infused coffee.

Carrie provided friendly and attentive service throughout the meal, and one of the owners (presumably) could be found making her rounds and chatting with her regulars. Our total came out to $60 pre-tip, which for an appetizer, two entrees, a dessert, and a spiked coffee, was certainly fair.  

Italian restaurants are not a rarity by any means, but those that execute as well as Antonia’s does seem to be headed that way.

8.25/10