Anthony's brings the swank. Take a page out of 1973 and seal it in a time capsule. Lots of 2nd and 3rd generations keep coming. This is my favorite place for a nightcap, although you should expect to see 20 year olds on their first date at a booth next to a 40th wedding anniversary...it's a classic place for everyone. And the staff is happy to have you there too!
(5)
Thomas M.
Old school decor Definitely not my cup of tea... The sugo was sweet with little depth of flavor. Did I mention WAY TOO MUCH OF IT??? The bread was "Italian" I think it may have been Sara Lee Italian bread... The Zucchini Fritti was good. The lasagna was not my cup of tea either. The service was by far the upshot of my visit. I probably wont be back for another go here unless someone else is paying the HUGE bill...
(2)
Gordy M.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts - Aristotle. Why quote Greeks about un ristorante Romano? Because Anthony's is the working definition of synergy. Taken individually, no part of the Anthony's dining experience stands on its own. But when married together - which is the essence of Italian cuisine - everything about Anthony's works in exquisite harmony. Downtown location. Who wants to eat Italian at a stripmall in the 'burbs? The lounge. Dim lit bar with half a dozen stools and a few cozy tables, presided over by a bartender who can stir (or shake) a great martini. This is how it was from WWII until dining went "chain" in the 80s. All that's needed is a lounge singer croonin', ". . . When the stars make you drool just like pasta fazool, that's amore . . ." Waitstaff. Friendly, seasoned, efficient and professional. The peer training preserves the Anthony's tradition well. A good waiter (gender neutral term) knows how to pace a meal. You don't gratuitously pester the diners, yet you always appear tableside at just the right moment. There's a thinnish lady about mid-40s who's got it down. (Wish I remembered her name.) God, how I appreciate a good waiter! Food. Solid, tasty gastro-experience. Get the ravioli appetizer at least once. They're justifiably proud of it. Salads? They're not the antipasto stars, but they're OK. Entrees? I never order the same thing twice, and I've never been disappointed. Not going to elaborate on the menu. Just pick something . . . whatever your go-to Italian dish is. You won't be disappointed. Wine. The list isn't extensive or expensive, but hey, this is Italian comfort food. It doesn't take a 50-buck bottle of wino to wash down everyday Italian. It's good table wine, and it pairs well. Trust your waiter. Our granddaughter (see Yelp profile pic) loves Anthony's. A few weeks ago it was date night with Grandpa while Grandma was out of town on business. Dinner at Anthony's was the perfect prelude before moving on to the symphony. There you have it. While Italian cuisine is the wedding of all ingredients to accomplish completeness of the dish, everything about Anthony's works in concert to achieve a unique synergy in Italian dining. Godere!
(4)
Dan R.
Anthony's has been here forever and is such a KC standard. The food is outstanding and the service at the bar (Tammy) is excellent. On Sunday and Monday they have fried chicken that is off the charts the fried catfish is the best in town. But a simple triple play (spaghetti meat sauce meatball and sausage) will leave you smiling. A go to favorite for me!!!!!!
(5)
Steffon C.
What a fun place! I feel like I'm back in the 60's. Anthony's is great, Bennie was our server and did a great job. Just enough attention. We shared the mostaccioli Antoinette and couldn't finish it. The peppers were perfect, just a little bit of crunch and the sausage was yum! I can't believe that we've never tried this restaurant before. We'll be back for sure.
(4)
Katie W.
I've been dinning here since I was little, but it had been several years since my last visit until recently. Still decorated old school. Great ambiance. Great food. Wonderful service.
(4)
Nick P.
Hey, just like my muddahs sauce! Not really but the sauce was really really good, a bit sweet which made it different! Lasagna was delicious and the calamari was simply perfect!
(5)
Todd M.
Great, easily accessible spot to stop before a concert or other Sprint Center event. Nice cozy bar area with what appeared to be a lot if "locals" enjoying good times. We sat at one of the three booths in the bar area, would recommend as you can see all the comings and goings. My wife ordered off the GF menu and thought it was one of the better GF pastas that she has had. I had lasagna which was also very tasty, really like their red sauce. Very reasonably priced and great service as well. Overall it was quite nice and easy.
(4)
Sheri R.
I love this old school Italian restaurant, from its old decor to the music. Everyone has a preference in their style of sauce, sweet vs spicy, I love the sweet. Portions and pricing is spot on and the staff has always been excellent. I have not had a chance to sit at the bar, but I am going to make a point to do so. You get the sense that this is the spot where the neighborhood ( old and new) regulars hang out. My ONLY MINOR Critique would be for someone to shake the inch thick dust off of the hanging vine baskets over the dinning tables that separate the dinning area from the bar lounge. I hated eating while all that was dangling over my food, I prayed the AC would not kick on and cause s dust storm over my food. Love this place.
(4)
John L.
This the best place in Kansas City to get Italian food. It is old school pasta and gravy. Great salad and dressing. Seems the Italian community goes to this place all time. They have items you do not see on others menu. Only in grandmas Sunday dinner menu. Take your date and they will love it.
(5)
Fran G.
I imagine the Italian food is good but I wanted a club sandwich. Come on, I could make a better club sandwich. It was grocery store generic. Blah. I like the people and the atmosphere, but they need to step it up.
(3)
Nicole C.
Enjoyed an excellent lunch at Anthony's today. Neither myself or my guest had ever been, but we work really close and decided to check it out. I am so glad we did. The outside look of the building does not do it justice. Get the house salad. The dressing is to die for! Come on, you can get ranch anywhere! I ordered the chicken Michael and it was excellent. The chicken was superb with the most crispy flavorful breading. The pasta and slightly spicy tomato cream sauce was delish. My guest ordered the chicken Parmesan (pollo provolone). The tomato sauce is awesome and slightly sweet. Again the chicken is out of this world. This place has breaded chicken down to a T! Our server was Rosemary and she introduces herself as "the oldest thing here!" She is fun an lively and just made the whole meal soooo much better. Get to Anthony's. You won't regret it!
(5)
Robert J.
The food is good and the people are nice but SLOW service. It took over an hour after we ordered to have dinner and then after dinner we waited nearly 30 minutes to receive the check and pay. We had a party of 8 so maybe service could be faster if you had less people. They seem nice enough, classic Italian style but I hate to wait so I will likely not be back. It may have just been an off night or they may have been short staffed. We had fun either way, good company can make up for slow service.
(3)
Kathryn F.
The staff was nice...but seemed to ignore me while I was there. The food that came out was...Let's just say that I've had better Italian out of Stouffer's. Not to mention that it took 30 minutes for the server to get my order and another 30 for the food to come out. And here, I was hoping that my first review would be a really good one!
(1)
Michael R.
Always a great time when we visit Anthony's Friendly service and relaxed atmosphere. I like they're Lasagne. They're fried chicken, served on Sunday's and Monday's is the best kept secret in Kansas City.
(5)
Chase S.
Great service. Bread out before we had a chance to ask. Server was attentive but not intrusive. He was super busy but we wanted for not. Warned us that there was a large order in front of us which made it all the better that we got our food in what we considered a timely manner. First booth to the right in dining room. 11/7
(5)
Faith B.
I finally ventured into Anthony's for dinner the other night, after intending to check it out for the last year. This is old school, with a late '60s era vibe and decor. The atmosphere borders on kitsch, but that's part of the charm. I tried Eggplant Parmesan. It was good. Four individual eggplant rounds breaded and covered in cheese.The main came with a salad or soup and a side of pasta or a potato. The salad was all iceberg and lettuce and just okay. The pasta side was alright, but the sauce seemed oddly bland. BF has a steak dish with lemon sauce that he enjoyed a lot. The service here, however, was an issue. We had drinks at the bar while waiting for a table. The bartender was friendly, but she was a little slow. Our waiter, one Anthony, was pretty bad. He never brought us bread until BF asked. He only addressed BF when asking how things were and continually served him first and put the bill in front of him. He never checked on our drinks, so a bus boy came and got us our second round. He pretty much soured my view of the place. It's 2014. Women pay. Women have opinions. This is the first time in a long time I've been tempted to skimp on the tip, but I resisted. Been to Anthony's, done that, don't need to go back.
(3)
Michelle G.
Loved this place. Dinner was fantastic. Loved the eggplant Parmesan. We tried the appetizer Jazz and it was yummy!
(5)
Kirk H.
Found myself craving some authentic Italian -- like my Aunt Caruso used to cook. My wife suggested Anthony's -- great idea. I hadn't been there in years (since I worked downtown and used to stop in for the occasional lunch). I had forgotten how under-rated and warm and wonderful this place is. It hasn't lost its old-world charm, and the food hasn't slipped a bit. Great dishes from fresh and flavorful ingredients, served piping hot in very generous portions (saved some for next day lunch). My only problem was that all my old favorites are still on the menu and I couldn't decide which one to order. Decided to go for the Fettucine Carbonara, and it was succulent. Best Italian salad in the city, included with the entree. Service was attentive without being intrusive, friendly without being cloying. In a word: flawless. Pretty good Banfi Chianti, nice atmosphere, classic Italian music at the right volume...a really exceptional dining experience. The good news is since I had trouble deciding what to order...we'll just have to go back soon! My wife spent much of the meal suggesting which of our friends and family we need to take to Anthony's, because they would love it: "OH! You know who would love it here..." The list ended up being pretty long, which is just fine with me! Salut!
(5)
Keith Y.
I used to think Stroud's had the best fried chicken in KC, until I had it at Anthony's. Its only available on Sundays and Mondays (depending on supply). It's by far the best fried chicken I've ever had.
(5)
Joi B.
Whaaaat? I could have sworn I was in Brooklyn or Queens on Saturday night. Reality check: nope. Still in Downtown KCMO. Anthony's is astonishing in its late 70s Italian (American) restaurant (& lounge!) authenticity. In fact, I was so hit with nostalgia at the very sight of this place that I was determined to love whatever they put in front of me. It is identical in decor and vibe to dozens of restaurants I used to go when I was growing up. I practically teared up, I kid you not. Let's see... -"porcelain" busts-check -over the top mural of venice-check -carpeting throughout the bar and lounge-check -lots o' Leonardo -check -red vinyl restaurant chairs-check -older clientele and families-check Ambiance= 5 stars (looooove the pink overhead lights!) Food= 3 stars...I'd be a lot tougher on it if I were in New York. For starters, Anthony's sauce is very sweet and this is a personal taste thing, but I cannot stand sugar in any kind of tomato sauce. I ordered the eggplant parm. The eggplant was perfect. The cheese needs to be well done though! It came with a curious side of tiny shells that look like they'd be better suited to yellow cheese sauce on them instead. Marcaroni &...marinara? The side kind of needs to be linguine or spaghetti. Small quibbles, as the portion is large enough that you hardly need a side of anything. Don't mind me, Anthony's. I'm just intent on reliving an experience, that's all. You've got the ambiance down pat, which is really the main thing for me! Note: I am still on the hunt for any place in KC that does eggplant parm proper- in the shallow metal tin. It's just the way it has to be! But until I find such a place, I will return to Anthony's Restaurant & Lounge and leave humming to myself, "thanks for the memories..."
(4)
Michelle F.
This is old-school Italian. Straight outta Goodfellas Italian. They have a nice variety on their menu. I was there as part of a party of 10. We had a reservation but the place was mostly empty. We had prompt, friendly service all night long. All of our orders were delivered hot and fresh. There was a variety of food on our table, the only complaint to be heard... "I ate WAY too much!"
Man the reviews are hit and miss for this place. First... we had wonderful service and server. He was all over it without being over the top. The salad was iceberg, romaine, and spinach. The dressing was said to be homemade. I actually like it okay. The croutons seems to be homemade as well. We had a shrimp linguini alfredo special that had the shrimp bumped up a notch. I think they added some shrimp stock to the white sauce... just a touch. It was AWESOME. You better like shrimp, though! lol The eggplant parm order was due to Joi's review. You have to go with a NYC Italian on these matters, trust me. I like the sweetness of the red sauce because there was an underlying meatiness to it. It reminded me of my aunt Bee's meatball marinara... so it was familiar and warming to me. I agree with Joi, though... more brownness on the cheese please... and where is my tin boat a.k.a. serving dish that will brand your fingers if you touch it? lol The eggplant under the sauce and cheese was tasty breaded goodness. Anthony's is a throwback place. I like that. Elegant yet casual. Old school. But still decent food. I mean... do you really want to eat at Olive Garden? Really?? : )
(4)
Stephen H.
I feel really conflicted writing this review. The evening had started so promisingly and ended so oddly. All I can do is restate the facts of the case to you. All Yelpers know that part of our decision-making process in trying a new place is reading reviews. However, Anthony's had been on my "list" for a long time simply because of its history. Any restaurant that has been around for 37 years is a place I want to go to. I didn't need to read the reviews when almost anyone I asked about Anthony's said, "Don't bother - it's lost its mojo" So, I went in "blind" not having read the Yelps before going. I arrived to a happening joint. It was later in the evening on a Friday, and the crowd at the bar were having a great time and the restaurant was packed. They noted my reservation for 9:15, which I had made on OpenTable. I'll come back to this at the end. We were seated in a booth and looked at a great menu. Soft, warm bread arrived with butter. Having forgotten to eat for most of the day I dug in and wasted no time in ordering an appetizer of eggplant parm and some garlic bread. I also got a bottle of Italian Pinot Noir. Our server was great, things were going well. And then our entrees arrived. It was horrifying. My friend and I looked down to pasta that was just slopped on a plate and covered in red sauce. I could hear Bob Garniere from "Band of Brothers" looking down and saying, "this is an Insult to Italians everywhere. This looks like noodles with ketchup." Truth is, we never got to taste the presented-like-a-cafeteria dishes...because...THEY WEREN'T OUR DISHES. They belonged to the table next to us. Our waitress came back with our dishes which were....just as disappointingly presented. As we drove home I asked her if I was being unfair. "No," she said. "Didn't you say that that was perhaps the best cannoli you've had south of the River?" Indeed I had. I was musing on the bad entree for so long that I had forgotten that the made-in-house filling and the made-around-the-corner shells combined to be a beautiful symphony of deliciousness. I would tie the cannoli here with Cucina di Mamma in Brookside for best south of the River. Wonderful and perfect. Okay. I think that the reason I'm willing to come back to Anthony's at some point in the future is to give it one more shot. While I find it hugely unlikely that a kitchen that has so little pride it is willing to send shit out like what landed on our table...twice...as entrees...will actually fire on all cylinders at another given random time - a dear friend of mine - an Italian - loves this place and I'm willing to come back with her and her husband sometime. But I eat out a lot and my suspicion is this: no passion. They are coasting on a momentum built over 4 decades. That's why I had such an uneven, inconsistent experience. That's why the Yelp reviews are ALL over the place. When people care and there is passion - you see consistency. Period. PS If you want to hook up with a guido/guidette, this is the place to do it. I'm pretty sure that this is an alumni-approved hangout of St. Pius X HS. PPS There is a traditional Sicilian salad of tomato, onion, and garlic. Be prepared for it to have a lot of onion. And don't think you're going to make out with anyone afterwards, but you can probably kill any vampires within a 5 foot radius. PPPS They "cancelled" my OpenTable reservation right after I showed up for it. I didn't find out until I got home. Frequent diner secret: they pay $1 for each person on the reservation so "cancelling" my reservation after I showed up saved them $2, but cost me 100 points which I like to earn. NOT classy. With my experience as bad as it was overall, I'm not likely to believe it was an "accident."
(2)
Ken B.
Who doesn't look good in pink lighting? No one. This place is gorgeous in all of its beautifully tacky, old school, pink lighting charming ways. It has a 70's lounge, dark wood, oil painting, dusty grape bunches kind of feel to it. I love that. The staff is either young family members bussing tables or loyal employees from decades past that seem to run this place. Huge 5 stars on the decor and environment in my love of tacky opinion. The food, well maybe 3 stars. The bread is the,( why do I love this bread so much) soft, white with sesame seeds type of Italian bread. The salads are ice cold old school iceberg lettuce salads. The pasta sauce is the sweet red sauce variety. There are mediocre to good things to have off this menu. It's the kind of place that if you grew up going here, you probably have your favorite dish, authentic or not, that you crave every now and again. It is what it is. I think we can all find that dish or two that we love for whatever reason and that alone should bring you back to Anthony's. That and the decor, definitely the decor!
(4)
Amanda S.
The food is not only delicious but consistent. I can always count on this place. I suggest anything here with seafood and the lasagna.
(5)
David A.
Is that a dinosaur or a chicken breast? Hard to tell! Come on Sunday and find out (Fried Chicken special). Great friendly service. Interesting artwork that remind me of a 1970's Italian restaurant/lounge. Italian salad dressing with black pepper hit the spot. Nice soft warm bread. Linguine with sweet red sauce and a huge serving of fried chicken all for $13 and we brought home more than half! I wonder if they have less expensive smaller quantity lunch menus. I can't wait to come back! You may have some initial sticker shock at the price, but remember it's 2 or 3 meals there. Huge portions! You'd think it was a dive if you drove or walked by it, but it's quite good size inside and has a wonderful menu and great staff. Of note, we know they have a few tables outside, so asked if we could bring our dog and and they said they don't serve food outside :(
(5)
Professional E.
Had been here a few times for dinner and found things to be pretty good. Was told by the manager that there is a late night ladies night special, so my friends and I checked it out. It was pretty decent, EXCEPT that I would like to see it extended to not only ladies, but to gentlemen as well. Or, even better: ladies get drink specials when they buy their own, men who buy a lady a drink gets a drink special, but men who do not buy a lady a drink pay full price. Win/win here. Men buy more drinks for ladies, more ladies get drinks, more ladies come for the drinks and more men come for the ladies and the owners make more money! How about it?
(3)
Haley J.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this review. I know that this place has a well established KC history and I wanted to eat there and be happy to write a great and raving review. And honestly, had they delivered even OK food, I would have done just that due to the history and ambiance of the 70's lounge decor alone, which I adored. My 2 stars are only based on the fact that my husband called in a to go order and it was ready within 10 min of that call and stayed hot for a 10 min car ride home in the 20 degree cold. I was so ready for yummy tasting food since the smell in my car was nothing less than scrumptious in a paper bag. So 1 star for hot food that was packaged such that it was still hot when I got home and runny sauce did NOT get all over my car, and 1 star for cute red vinyl loungy ambiance that I wish I was able to stay and enjoy. It might have made the food taste better. OK, the food...my husband was coming down with a cold and his sick food is manicotti. I'm a mashed potatoes and gravy sick food girl, but to each his own... So he was instructed to call in the order and I went out in the cold to get it. But I found out when I picked it up that they don't serve manicotti (what the WHAT!?) so he settled for lasagna. Now I'm well versed in the sweet red sauce phenomena. I'm not particularly a fan, but again, to each his own. My mom makes a perfectly nice sweet version of a red sauce that I happen to like. I get the theory: sugar cuts the acidity of the tomato, but this lasagna was so sugary sweet that I could have sworn there was a layer of frosting in there blended in with the ricotta. And with each agonizing bite, the sweet was compounded. I thought for sure this came off of the dessert menu and was NOT the $16 entree they boasted about... Next came the chicken alfredo. Riddle me this...how can a place open for 30+ years get this simple dish wrong? I ordered it for 2 reasons; I LOVE alfredo and so does my 14 month old daughter. She just shovels the stuff in! I am sooo glad that I did not count on this being her dinner as it was so peppery, you couldn't even taste the garlicky creamy goodness. And the chicken was so tough that I needed a serrated knife to further cut bite-sized pieces. boo. Not only did my husband not get his feel good meal, I was super disappointed in this overpriced and over-sweet benchmark Italian. Garozzo's, I'm sorry I stepped out on you!!!
(2)
Lisa R.
My husband and I have been here a handful of times. It's not stand-out fabulous, but it's fine. Many people have mentioned that it is old school, and it is. The salad is basic, but at least it's not all iceberg lettuce so that's good. We had a good experience. Good service, decent food. I've started a list of restaurants without TVs and I will be adding this. There is one small TV in a corner in the bar section, but at least you are not distracted by TVs in every direction of the restaurant.
(3)
D P.
I enjoyed eating at anthonys many years back and was glad to meet friends there after church one recent Sunday. Decor matched my expectations of old school italian dining and staff were attentive. But each of us reported disappointment with our unique food selections. Chicken was reported as very bland. My fettuchini alfredo was cold. Sadly I don't remember what our 3rd ordered, but know it was likewise a disappointment. Prices are high, assumably to allow for 1/2 price discount promotions.
(2)
Troy D.
I want to like Anthony's. I really do. I really really really do. I just can't like it as much as I want to. Let's start with the atmosphere -- if you wanted to go to "standard Italian restaurant", this is it. Pink, dimly light place with old school standards playing and a cigarette machine (the kind with knobs) in the front. The service during my last visit was awesome; we had a bunch of different challenges for the gal (Groupon + split checks + requests with our meals), and she handled them phenomenally -- and even relayed a story about an inappropriate Halloween costume. So why not give this place 5 stars? The food is... adequate, at best. Every time I go, I think there's something good there I can try, and every time, I'm a little disappointed. The pasta tends to be a little peppery, and on my last visit, the chicken in my entree had an "off" flavor. That's not something you want to say about chicken. This place is the newest on my list of "places I'd go with a discount, but probably not anytime else." 3 stars on Yelp! equals "A-OK", and that's about what this place gets.
(3)
Amy E.
I thought we were going to like this place when we first walked in. It's an old-school-looking Italian-American restaurant of a certain kind. The way they appeared (or so I would imagine) in the 1950's. Dark, no windows, low ceiling, lots of red, with "Italian" prints on the wall. A bar along one wall looks like something out of Goodfellas. Great, I thought, we are in for some authentic Italian-American food. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. I ordered the Chicken Mogu, while sweetie ordered the Chicken Spedini. Bread came out first. The bread was warm (very good!), but the butter was ice cold, and thus not spreadable in the least (not so good). Then the salads arrived. Typical, forgettable salads. A little heap of lettuce with one grape tomato and a few croutons. Eh. But I wasn't expecting much of the bread or salads. I was waiting in happy expectation for the meals. The Chicken Mogu. Not good. At all. It consisted of two pieces of breast meat that had been pounded to less than 1/4" thickness, and then overcooked to dry toughness. As for the sauce ladled over the top, it was embarrassing. I can only describe it this way. You know the store brand "Italian" dressing that can be found at any grocery? The kind that is clear with a yellowish cast, with little bits of "garlic" and other, unidentifiable specks of stuff suspended in it? The kind that is slightly and weirdly gelatinous? That is like what was poured (and at room temperature) over the chicken. In fact, I don't think it is similar to the Mogu sauce. I think that is exactly what the Mogu sauce was. Cheap, ersatz, prefab, weird dressing. Bleck. As for the Chicken Spedini, the chicken itself was cooked well. Pieces of white meat had been deep-fried, and were crisp on the outside and juicy within. The sauce, however, that glazed the plate beneath the chicken pieces, was as prefab and ersatz as the Mogu sauce. Not appetizing in the least. Each meal came with a side of spaghetti with red sauce. The spaghetti was over-cooked and nearly room temperature, while the red sauce had no flavor whatsoever. I've had better sauce out of a jar. The prices were high, I thought, for the lunches served (even if they had been decent). About $10 for the Chicken Mogu, and about $12 for the Chicken Spedinni. There was a fair amount of food, overall, I suppose, but nothing that we would want to eat again.
(2)
Mike H.
A group of coworkers and me go to this place at least once every two weeks. They have great service, good food, and very reasonable prices. Everyone in our group always gets either the chicken parm or the veal parm. Their parmesan dishes are among the best of all the Italian places I've tried in the city. I will say that I'm not a huge fan of the actual pasta. They will typically give you plain spaghetti with red sauce as the side for the parmesan and it is a sweeter red sauce than I usually like. You have the option to order alfredo sauce, or a yellow cheese sauce along with shells and that is a good option. The bread is great and the salad that comes with the entree is really good. They have one of the better Italian dressings that I have ever had and I always buy a jar from them when I go now. The decor and interior is very dated, but it adds to the charm of the place.
(4)
Charley B.
Anthony's is one of my favorite restaurants because of its atmosphere. Entering the restaurant is like walking back in time to a classic era, one full of sophistication, intrigue and even a little danger, like Kansas City of yesteryear. The dining room and lounge are dimly lit to provide a more intimate atmosphere at your table (and to possibly make one guess who you are seated with.) Old lounge songs are piped in to give the room a jovial, yet laid back feel. The food is 100% Italian. I started off with the fried mozarella, which lasted about five minutes. I had a Pollo au Provolone for my dinner, which was cooked so it was nice and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I will say, service at times can be a little spotty and the food can take its time coming out of the kitchen. Tonight though everything was perfect. My server was quick and attentive and my entree was straight out of the oven. If you're going to be around downtown Kansas City and want a dining experience with a little nostalgia, this is the place for you.
(4)
Carrie L.
I can't even believe our experience tonight. I chose this place because of all the reviews so we took our oldest son, who is home on Spring Break, and went to dinner. I made reservations at 8 and we arrived it started out great the calamari was great but I asked for lemons because they should be served with lemons it t needs acidity. The sauce was great. I ordered a chicken with artichoke and it was so salty I couldn't taste anything so I asked for something different. My husband and son had finished their dinner by the time my chicken and broccoli came. I was so mad because after waiting 20 minutes for the second dinner everyone was done and I was sitting there trying to eat by myself. I asked for a to go container and asked the waitress to take off my meal after having waited for so long it wasn't my fault they couldn't get the first meal right. So this old lady with a ponytail(waitress) said," You want me t take it off the check and you want to take it home"? I have never had anyone ask me that before. I was dumbfounded at the comment and told her to just take it which she promptly did. My husband and son couldn't believe she did this it was totally rude. I waited all through dinner with no dinner. I asked for the manager and he took 15 minutes to come over, there were 2 tables left in the restaurant at this time. The manager came out and I began by saying we had never been there before and that the waitress didn't put my food in the container but they did it for my son was ridiculous. In fact,m y son asked why they didn't do the same thing for me. It goes to customer service, she said she didn't box my food up because I requested a container. What's the difference between if they ask you or if you ask for a box?????? The manager got an attitude and was interrupting me, mind you I am 50 and as far as respect from a much younger person this was a slap in my face. We will NEVER go there again they have no regard for actually addressing the issue of a bad meal. I shouldn't have had to ask for the manager, the waitress should have had him come out before I did. We were ignored and waited to have our order taken for appetizers, waited again to have our dinner order taken it went on and on everyone around us was being looked after even my husband noticed. A table behind us came in after us and got served before us. We were told to have a great night blah blah blah no sorry, no apology for a $98.00 bill and I didn't even get to eat dinner WOW. We should have had our bill taken care of that's what a classy place would do. I cook everyday this is not good food because you can't taste any flavors. Salt and fat aren't flavors. This could be good if the cooks knew what they ere doing. We use garlic, olive oil and basil, and I make homemade and meatballs. Bruschetta is loved in our family and I make my own pesto during the summer with the basil I grow I know food and true taste isn't heavy handed with salt. I wish the experience had been better I won't be back. Just like the Olive Garden this is not true Italian it's a shame. By the way, I think it's time to change the nasty carpet I don't know why restaurants carpet it retains all the grime and you can't get that stuff out.
(1)
Beth B.
I came here for a work function and we were a large party in the back room. It took a while for us to get served once we sat down. They provided salads that looked kind of like the prebagged Dole salads, but the Italian dressing was really good. For the main course, we didn't get to order off the menu, but were provided with bowls of spaghetti with meat sauce and fettucini alfredo with chicken, served family style. The spaghetti sauce was sweet with a little kick afterwards. Not my favorite sauce. The fettucini alfredo was good and the sauce had a nice flavor and was not too thick. This is definitely an old school Italian-American restaurant. I would not make a trip downtown to eat here, but if I wanted Italian when I was already downtown, I might go here again.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
David W.
Anthony's brings the swank. Take a page out of 1973 and seal it in a time capsule. Lots of 2nd and 3rd generations keep coming. This is my favorite place for a nightcap, although you should expect to see 20 year olds on their first date at a booth next to a 40th wedding anniversary...it's a classic place for everyone. And the staff is happy to have you there too!
(5)Thomas M.
Old school decor Definitely not my cup of tea... The sugo was sweet with little depth of flavor. Did I mention WAY TOO MUCH OF IT??? The bread was "Italian" I think it may have been Sara Lee Italian bread... The Zucchini Fritti was good. The lasagna was not my cup of tea either. The service was by far the upshot of my visit. I probably wont be back for another go here unless someone else is paying the HUGE bill...
(2)Gordy M.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts - Aristotle. Why quote Greeks about un ristorante Romano? Because Anthony's is the working definition of synergy. Taken individually, no part of the Anthony's dining experience stands on its own. But when married together - which is the essence of Italian cuisine - everything about Anthony's works in exquisite harmony. Downtown location. Who wants to eat Italian at a stripmall in the 'burbs? The lounge. Dim lit bar with half a dozen stools and a few cozy tables, presided over by a bartender who can stir (or shake) a great martini. This is how it was from WWII until dining went "chain" in the 80s. All that's needed is a lounge singer croonin', ". . . When the stars make you drool just like pasta fazool, that's amore . . ." Waitstaff. Friendly, seasoned, efficient and professional. The peer training preserves the Anthony's tradition well. A good waiter (gender neutral term) knows how to pace a meal. You don't gratuitously pester the diners, yet you always appear tableside at just the right moment. There's a thinnish lady about mid-40s who's got it down. (Wish I remembered her name.) God, how I appreciate a good waiter! Food. Solid, tasty gastro-experience. Get the ravioli appetizer at least once. They're justifiably proud of it. Salads? They're not the antipasto stars, but they're OK. Entrees? I never order the same thing twice, and I've never been disappointed. Not going to elaborate on the menu. Just pick something . . . whatever your go-to Italian dish is. You won't be disappointed. Wine. The list isn't extensive or expensive, but hey, this is Italian comfort food. It doesn't take a 50-buck bottle of wino to wash down everyday Italian. It's good table wine, and it pairs well. Trust your waiter. Our granddaughter (see Yelp profile pic) loves Anthony's. A few weeks ago it was date night with Grandpa while Grandma was out of town on business. Dinner at Anthony's was the perfect prelude before moving on to the symphony. There you have it. While Italian cuisine is the wedding of all ingredients to accomplish completeness of the dish, everything about Anthony's works in concert to achieve a unique synergy in Italian dining. Godere!
(4)Dan R.
Anthony's has been here forever and is such a KC standard. The food is outstanding and the service at the bar (Tammy) is excellent. On Sunday and Monday they have fried chicken that is off the charts the fried catfish is the best in town. But a simple triple play (spaghetti meat sauce meatball and sausage) will leave you smiling. A go to favorite for me!!!!!!
(5)Steffon C.
What a fun place! I feel like I'm back in the 60's. Anthony's is great, Bennie was our server and did a great job. Just enough attention. We shared the mostaccioli Antoinette and couldn't finish it. The peppers were perfect, just a little bit of crunch and the sausage was yum! I can't believe that we've never tried this restaurant before. We'll be back for sure.
(4)Katie W.
I've been dinning here since I was little, but it had been several years since my last visit until recently. Still decorated old school. Great ambiance. Great food. Wonderful service.
(4)Nick P.
Hey, just like my muddahs sauce! Not really but the sauce was really really good, a bit sweet which made it different! Lasagna was delicious and the calamari was simply perfect!
(5)Todd M.
Great, easily accessible spot to stop before a concert or other Sprint Center event. Nice cozy bar area with what appeared to be a lot if "locals" enjoying good times. We sat at one of the three booths in the bar area, would recommend as you can see all the comings and goings. My wife ordered off the GF menu and thought it was one of the better GF pastas that she has had. I had lasagna which was also very tasty, really like their red sauce. Very reasonably priced and great service as well. Overall it was quite nice and easy.
(4)Sheri R.
I love this old school Italian restaurant, from its old decor to the music. Everyone has a preference in their style of sauce, sweet vs spicy, I love the sweet. Portions and pricing is spot on and the staff has always been excellent. I have not had a chance to sit at the bar, but I am going to make a point to do so. You get the sense that this is the spot where the neighborhood ( old and new) regulars hang out. My ONLY MINOR Critique would be for someone to shake the inch thick dust off of the hanging vine baskets over the dinning tables that separate the dinning area from the bar lounge. I hated eating while all that was dangling over my food, I prayed the AC would not kick on and cause s dust storm over my food. Love this place.
(4)John L.
This the best place in Kansas City to get Italian food. It is old school pasta and gravy. Great salad and dressing. Seems the Italian community goes to this place all time. They have items you do not see on others menu. Only in grandmas Sunday dinner menu. Take your date and they will love it.
(5)Fran G.
I imagine the Italian food is good but I wanted a club sandwich. Come on, I could make a better club sandwich. It was grocery store generic. Blah. I like the people and the atmosphere, but they need to step it up.
(3)Nicole C.
Enjoyed an excellent lunch at Anthony's today. Neither myself or my guest had ever been, but we work really close and decided to check it out. I am so glad we did. The outside look of the building does not do it justice. Get the house salad. The dressing is to die for! Come on, you can get ranch anywhere! I ordered the chicken Michael and it was excellent. The chicken was superb with the most crispy flavorful breading. The pasta and slightly spicy tomato cream sauce was delish. My guest ordered the chicken Parmesan (pollo provolone). The tomato sauce is awesome and slightly sweet. Again the chicken is out of this world. This place has breaded chicken down to a T! Our server was Rosemary and she introduces herself as "the oldest thing here!" She is fun an lively and just made the whole meal soooo much better. Get to Anthony's. You won't regret it!
(5)Robert J.
The food is good and the people are nice but SLOW service. It took over an hour after we ordered to have dinner and then after dinner we waited nearly 30 minutes to receive the check and pay. We had a party of 8 so maybe service could be faster if you had less people. They seem nice enough, classic Italian style but I hate to wait so I will likely not be back. It may have just been an off night or they may have been short staffed. We had fun either way, good company can make up for slow service.
(3)Kathryn F.
The staff was nice...but seemed to ignore me while I was there. The food that came out was...Let's just say that I've had better Italian out of Stouffer's. Not to mention that it took 30 minutes for the server to get my order and another 30 for the food to come out. And here, I was hoping that my first review would be a really good one!
(1)Michael R.
Always a great time when we visit Anthony's Friendly service and relaxed atmosphere. I like they're Lasagne. They're fried chicken, served on Sunday's and Monday's is the best kept secret in Kansas City.
(5)Chase S.
Great service. Bread out before we had a chance to ask. Server was attentive but not intrusive. He was super busy but we wanted for not. Warned us that there was a large order in front of us which made it all the better that we got our food in what we considered a timely manner. First booth to the right in dining room. 11/7
(5)Faith B.
I finally ventured into Anthony's for dinner the other night, after intending to check it out for the last year. This is old school, with a late '60s era vibe and decor. The atmosphere borders on kitsch, but that's part of the charm. I tried Eggplant Parmesan. It was good. Four individual eggplant rounds breaded and covered in cheese.The main came with a salad or soup and a side of pasta or a potato. The salad was all iceberg and lettuce and just okay. The pasta side was alright, but the sauce seemed oddly bland. BF has a steak dish with lemon sauce that he enjoyed a lot. The service here, however, was an issue. We had drinks at the bar while waiting for a table. The bartender was friendly, but she was a little slow. Our waiter, one Anthony, was pretty bad. He never brought us bread until BF asked. He only addressed BF when asking how things were and continually served him first and put the bill in front of him. He never checked on our drinks, so a bus boy came and got us our second round. He pretty much soured my view of the place. It's 2014. Women pay. Women have opinions. This is the first time in a long time I've been tempted to skimp on the tip, but I resisted. Been to Anthony's, done that, don't need to go back.
(3)Michelle G.
Loved this place. Dinner was fantastic. Loved the eggplant Parmesan. We tried the appetizer Jazz and it was yummy!
(5)Kirk H.
Found myself craving some authentic Italian -- like my Aunt Caruso used to cook. My wife suggested Anthony's -- great idea. I hadn't been there in years (since I worked downtown and used to stop in for the occasional lunch). I had forgotten how under-rated and warm and wonderful this place is. It hasn't lost its old-world charm, and the food hasn't slipped a bit. Great dishes from fresh and flavorful ingredients, served piping hot in very generous portions (saved some for next day lunch). My only problem was that all my old favorites are still on the menu and I couldn't decide which one to order. Decided to go for the Fettucine Carbonara, and it was succulent. Best Italian salad in the city, included with the entree. Service was attentive without being intrusive, friendly without being cloying. In a word: flawless. Pretty good Banfi Chianti, nice atmosphere, classic Italian music at the right volume...a really exceptional dining experience. The good news is since I had trouble deciding what to order...we'll just have to go back soon! My wife spent much of the meal suggesting which of our friends and family we need to take to Anthony's, because they would love it: "OH! You know who would love it here..." The list ended up being pretty long, which is just fine with me! Salut!
(5)Keith Y.
I used to think Stroud's had the best fried chicken in KC, until I had it at Anthony's. Its only available on Sundays and Mondays (depending on supply). It's by far the best fried chicken I've ever had.
(5)Joi B.
Whaaaat? I could have sworn I was in Brooklyn or Queens on Saturday night. Reality check: nope. Still in Downtown KCMO. Anthony's is astonishing in its late 70s Italian (American) restaurant (& lounge!) authenticity. In fact, I was so hit with nostalgia at the very sight of this place that I was determined to love whatever they put in front of me. It is identical in decor and vibe to dozens of restaurants I used to go when I was growing up. I practically teared up, I kid you not. Let's see... -"porcelain" busts-check -over the top mural of venice-check -carpeting throughout the bar and lounge-check -lots o' Leonardo -check -red vinyl restaurant chairs-check -older clientele and families-check Ambiance= 5 stars (looooove the pink overhead lights!) Food= 3 stars...I'd be a lot tougher on it if I were in New York. For starters, Anthony's sauce is very sweet and this is a personal taste thing, but I cannot stand sugar in any kind of tomato sauce. I ordered the eggplant parm. The eggplant was perfect. The cheese needs to be well done though! It came with a curious side of tiny shells that look like they'd be better suited to yellow cheese sauce on them instead. Marcaroni &...marinara? The side kind of needs to be linguine or spaghetti. Small quibbles, as the portion is large enough that you hardly need a side of anything. Don't mind me, Anthony's. I'm just intent on reliving an experience, that's all. You've got the ambiance down pat, which is really the main thing for me! Note: I am still on the hunt for any place in KC that does eggplant parm proper- in the shallow metal tin. It's just the way it has to be! But until I find such a place, I will return to Anthony's Restaurant & Lounge and leave humming to myself, "thanks for the memories..."
(4)Michelle F.
This is old-school Italian. Straight outta Goodfellas Italian. They have a nice variety on their menu. I was there as part of a party of 10. We had a reservation but the place was mostly empty. We had prompt, friendly service all night long. All of our orders were delivered hot and fresh. There was a variety of food on our table, the only complaint to be heard... "I ate WAY too much!"
(4)Steven K.
The BEST authentic Italian food in KC!!!!! Start with the AMBIANCE........prints of old world paintings on the wall with tile and statuettes, beautiful bar and button tuck leather seating in the booths with glass dividers, and lastly the old masters of song, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, etc, playing in the background. Not the fanciest place you'll ever go to but it sets the mood in a nice way. The PEOPLE that work there are friendly, helpful, nice. I always feel welcome, like family. THE FOOD........start out with delicious warm Italian bread with butter but try to use restraint or you'll ruin your appetite. The salad with house dressing is next, cold, generous,delicious. Every entrée is great, my fav's are the Veal or chicken parmagian with mushrooms and peas, linguine with clams in white sauce, linguine diablo with shrimp and the pollo con broccoli. Large portions mean that you may take home as much as half your meal depending on your size and appetite. The prices....extremely reasonable Overall, just love going to eat here.
(4)Reed N.
Man the reviews are hit and miss for this place. First... we had wonderful service and server. He was all over it without being over the top. The salad was iceberg, romaine, and spinach. The dressing was said to be homemade. I actually like it okay. The croutons seems to be homemade as well. We had a shrimp linguini alfredo special that had the shrimp bumped up a notch. I think they added some shrimp stock to the white sauce... just a touch. It was AWESOME. You better like shrimp, though! lol The eggplant parm order was due to Joi's review. You have to go with a NYC Italian on these matters, trust me. I like the sweetness of the red sauce because there was an underlying meatiness to it. It reminded me of my aunt Bee's meatball marinara... so it was familiar and warming to me. I agree with Joi, though... more brownness on the cheese please... and where is my tin boat a.k.a. serving dish that will brand your fingers if you touch it? lol The eggplant under the sauce and cheese was tasty breaded goodness. Anthony's is a throwback place. I like that. Elegant yet casual. Old school. But still decent food. I mean... do you really want to eat at Olive Garden? Really?? : )
(4)Stephen H.
I feel really conflicted writing this review. The evening had started so promisingly and ended so oddly. All I can do is restate the facts of the case to you. All Yelpers know that part of our decision-making process in trying a new place is reading reviews. However, Anthony's had been on my "list" for a long time simply because of its history. Any restaurant that has been around for 37 years is a place I want to go to. I didn't need to read the reviews when almost anyone I asked about Anthony's said, "Don't bother - it's lost its mojo" So, I went in "blind" not having read the Yelps before going. I arrived to a happening joint. It was later in the evening on a Friday, and the crowd at the bar were having a great time and the restaurant was packed. They noted my reservation for 9:15, which I had made on OpenTable. I'll come back to this at the end. We were seated in a booth and looked at a great menu. Soft, warm bread arrived with butter. Having forgotten to eat for most of the day I dug in and wasted no time in ordering an appetizer of eggplant parm and some garlic bread. I also got a bottle of Italian Pinot Noir. Our server was great, things were going well. And then our entrees arrived. It was horrifying. My friend and I looked down to pasta that was just slopped on a plate and covered in red sauce. I could hear Bob Garniere from "Band of Brothers" looking down and saying, "this is an Insult to Italians everywhere. This looks like noodles with ketchup." Truth is, we never got to taste the presented-like-a-cafeteria dishes...because...THEY WEREN'T OUR DISHES. They belonged to the table next to us. Our waitress came back with our dishes which were....just as disappointingly presented. As we drove home I asked her if I was being unfair. "No," she said. "Didn't you say that that was perhaps the best cannoli you've had south of the River?" Indeed I had. I was musing on the bad entree for so long that I had forgotten that the made-in-house filling and the made-around-the-corner shells combined to be a beautiful symphony of deliciousness. I would tie the cannoli here with Cucina di Mamma in Brookside for best south of the River. Wonderful and perfect. Okay. I think that the reason I'm willing to come back to Anthony's at some point in the future is to give it one more shot. While I find it hugely unlikely that a kitchen that has so little pride it is willing to send shit out like what landed on our table...twice...as entrees...will actually fire on all cylinders at another given random time - a dear friend of mine - an Italian - loves this place and I'm willing to come back with her and her husband sometime. But I eat out a lot and my suspicion is this: no passion. They are coasting on a momentum built over 4 decades. That's why I had such an uneven, inconsistent experience. That's why the Yelp reviews are ALL over the place. When people care and there is passion - you see consistency. Period. PS If you want to hook up with a guido/guidette, this is the place to do it. I'm pretty sure that this is an alumni-approved hangout of St. Pius X HS. PPS There is a traditional Sicilian salad of tomato, onion, and garlic. Be prepared for it to have a lot of onion. And don't think you're going to make out with anyone afterwards, but you can probably kill any vampires within a 5 foot radius. PPPS They "cancelled" my OpenTable reservation right after I showed up for it. I didn't find out until I got home. Frequent diner secret: they pay $1 for each person on the reservation so "cancelling" my reservation after I showed up saved them $2, but cost me 100 points which I like to earn. NOT classy. With my experience as bad as it was overall, I'm not likely to believe it was an "accident."
(2)Ken B.
Who doesn't look good in pink lighting? No one. This place is gorgeous in all of its beautifully tacky, old school, pink lighting charming ways. It has a 70's lounge, dark wood, oil painting, dusty grape bunches kind of feel to it. I love that. The staff is either young family members bussing tables or loyal employees from decades past that seem to run this place. Huge 5 stars on the decor and environment in my love of tacky opinion. The food, well maybe 3 stars. The bread is the,( why do I love this bread so much) soft, white with sesame seeds type of Italian bread. The salads are ice cold old school iceberg lettuce salads. The pasta sauce is the sweet red sauce variety. There are mediocre to good things to have off this menu. It's the kind of place that if you grew up going here, you probably have your favorite dish, authentic or not, that you crave every now and again. It is what it is. I think we can all find that dish or two that we love for whatever reason and that alone should bring you back to Anthony's. That and the decor, definitely the decor!
(4)Amanda S.
The food is not only delicious but consistent. I can always count on this place. I suggest anything here with seafood and the lasagna.
(5)David A.
Is that a dinosaur or a chicken breast? Hard to tell! Come on Sunday and find out (Fried Chicken special). Great friendly service. Interesting artwork that remind me of a 1970's Italian restaurant/lounge. Italian salad dressing with black pepper hit the spot. Nice soft warm bread. Linguine with sweet red sauce and a huge serving of fried chicken all for $13 and we brought home more than half! I wonder if they have less expensive smaller quantity lunch menus. I can't wait to come back! You may have some initial sticker shock at the price, but remember it's 2 or 3 meals there. Huge portions! You'd think it was a dive if you drove or walked by it, but it's quite good size inside and has a wonderful menu and great staff. Of note, we know they have a few tables outside, so asked if we could bring our dog and and they said they don't serve food outside :(
(5)Professional E.
Had been here a few times for dinner and found things to be pretty good. Was told by the manager that there is a late night ladies night special, so my friends and I checked it out. It was pretty decent, EXCEPT that I would like to see it extended to not only ladies, but to gentlemen as well. Or, even better: ladies get drink specials when they buy their own, men who buy a lady a drink gets a drink special, but men who do not buy a lady a drink pay full price. Win/win here. Men buy more drinks for ladies, more ladies get drinks, more ladies come for the drinks and more men come for the ladies and the owners make more money! How about it?
(3)Haley J.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this review. I know that this place has a well established KC history and I wanted to eat there and be happy to write a great and raving review. And honestly, had they delivered even OK food, I would have done just that due to the history and ambiance of the 70's lounge decor alone, which I adored. My 2 stars are only based on the fact that my husband called in a to go order and it was ready within 10 min of that call and stayed hot for a 10 min car ride home in the 20 degree cold. I was so ready for yummy tasting food since the smell in my car was nothing less than scrumptious in a paper bag. So 1 star for hot food that was packaged such that it was still hot when I got home and runny sauce did NOT get all over my car, and 1 star for cute red vinyl loungy ambiance that I wish I was able to stay and enjoy. It might have made the food taste better. OK, the food...my husband was coming down with a cold and his sick food is manicotti. I'm a mashed potatoes and gravy sick food girl, but to each his own... So he was instructed to call in the order and I went out in the cold to get it. But I found out when I picked it up that they don't serve manicotti (what the WHAT!?) so he settled for lasagna. Now I'm well versed in the sweet red sauce phenomena. I'm not particularly a fan, but again, to each his own. My mom makes a perfectly nice sweet version of a red sauce that I happen to like. I get the theory: sugar cuts the acidity of the tomato, but this lasagna was so sugary sweet that I could have sworn there was a layer of frosting in there blended in with the ricotta. And with each agonizing bite, the sweet was compounded. I thought for sure this came off of the dessert menu and was NOT the $16 entree they boasted about... Next came the chicken alfredo. Riddle me this...how can a place open for 30+ years get this simple dish wrong? I ordered it for 2 reasons; I LOVE alfredo and so does my 14 month old daughter. She just shovels the stuff in! I am sooo glad that I did not count on this being her dinner as it was so peppery, you couldn't even taste the garlicky creamy goodness. And the chicken was so tough that I needed a serrated knife to further cut bite-sized pieces. boo. Not only did my husband not get his feel good meal, I was super disappointed in this overpriced and over-sweet benchmark Italian. Garozzo's, I'm sorry I stepped out on you!!!
(2)Lisa R.
My husband and I have been here a handful of times. It's not stand-out fabulous, but it's fine. Many people have mentioned that it is old school, and it is. The salad is basic, but at least it's not all iceberg lettuce so that's good. We had a good experience. Good service, decent food. I've started a list of restaurants without TVs and I will be adding this. There is one small TV in a corner in the bar section, but at least you are not distracted by TVs in every direction of the restaurant.
(3)D P.
I enjoyed eating at anthonys many years back and was glad to meet friends there after church one recent Sunday. Decor matched my expectations of old school italian dining and staff were attentive. But each of us reported disappointment with our unique food selections. Chicken was reported as very bland. My fettuchini alfredo was cold. Sadly I don't remember what our 3rd ordered, but know it was likewise a disappointment. Prices are high, assumably to allow for 1/2 price discount promotions.
(2)Troy D.
I want to like Anthony's. I really do. I really really really do. I just can't like it as much as I want to. Let's start with the atmosphere -- if you wanted to go to "standard Italian restaurant", this is it. Pink, dimly light place with old school standards playing and a cigarette machine (the kind with knobs) in the front. The service during my last visit was awesome; we had a bunch of different challenges for the gal (Groupon + split checks + requests with our meals), and she handled them phenomenally -- and even relayed a story about an inappropriate Halloween costume. So why not give this place 5 stars? The food is... adequate, at best. Every time I go, I think there's something good there I can try, and every time, I'm a little disappointed. The pasta tends to be a little peppery, and on my last visit, the chicken in my entree had an "off" flavor. That's not something you want to say about chicken. This place is the newest on my list of "places I'd go with a discount, but probably not anytime else." 3 stars on Yelp! equals "A-OK", and that's about what this place gets.
(3)Amy E.
I thought we were going to like this place when we first walked in. It's an old-school-looking Italian-American restaurant of a certain kind. The way they appeared (or so I would imagine) in the 1950's. Dark, no windows, low ceiling, lots of red, with "Italian" prints on the wall. A bar along one wall looks like something out of Goodfellas. Great, I thought, we are in for some authentic Italian-American food. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. I ordered the Chicken Mogu, while sweetie ordered the Chicken Spedini. Bread came out first. The bread was warm (very good!), but the butter was ice cold, and thus not spreadable in the least (not so good). Then the salads arrived. Typical, forgettable salads. A little heap of lettuce with one grape tomato and a few croutons. Eh. But I wasn't expecting much of the bread or salads. I was waiting in happy expectation for the meals. The Chicken Mogu. Not good. At all. It consisted of two pieces of breast meat that had been pounded to less than 1/4" thickness, and then overcooked to dry toughness. As for the sauce ladled over the top, it was embarrassing. I can only describe it this way. You know the store brand "Italian" dressing that can be found at any grocery? The kind that is clear with a yellowish cast, with little bits of "garlic" and other, unidentifiable specks of stuff suspended in it? The kind that is slightly and weirdly gelatinous? That is like what was poured (and at room temperature) over the chicken. In fact, I don't think it is similar to the Mogu sauce. I think that is exactly what the Mogu sauce was. Cheap, ersatz, prefab, weird dressing. Bleck. As for the Chicken Spedini, the chicken itself was cooked well. Pieces of white meat had been deep-fried, and were crisp on the outside and juicy within. The sauce, however, that glazed the plate beneath the chicken pieces, was as prefab and ersatz as the Mogu sauce. Not appetizing in the least. Each meal came with a side of spaghetti with red sauce. The spaghetti was over-cooked and nearly room temperature, while the red sauce had no flavor whatsoever. I've had better sauce out of a jar. The prices were high, I thought, for the lunches served (even if they had been decent). About $10 for the Chicken Mogu, and about $12 for the Chicken Spedinni. There was a fair amount of food, overall, I suppose, but nothing that we would want to eat again.
(2)Mike H.
A group of coworkers and me go to this place at least once every two weeks. They have great service, good food, and very reasonable prices. Everyone in our group always gets either the chicken parm or the veal parm. Their parmesan dishes are among the best of all the Italian places I've tried in the city. I will say that I'm not a huge fan of the actual pasta. They will typically give you plain spaghetti with red sauce as the side for the parmesan and it is a sweeter red sauce than I usually like. You have the option to order alfredo sauce, or a yellow cheese sauce along with shells and that is a good option. The bread is great and the salad that comes with the entree is really good. They have one of the better Italian dressings that I have ever had and I always buy a jar from them when I go now. The decor and interior is very dated, but it adds to the charm of the place.
(4)Charley B.
Anthony's is one of my favorite restaurants because of its atmosphere. Entering the restaurant is like walking back in time to a classic era, one full of sophistication, intrigue and even a little danger, like Kansas City of yesteryear. The dining room and lounge are dimly lit to provide a more intimate atmosphere at your table (and to possibly make one guess who you are seated with.) Old lounge songs are piped in to give the room a jovial, yet laid back feel. The food is 100% Italian. I started off with the fried mozarella, which lasted about five minutes. I had a Pollo au Provolone for my dinner, which was cooked so it was nice and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I will say, service at times can be a little spotty and the food can take its time coming out of the kitchen. Tonight though everything was perfect. My server was quick and attentive and my entree was straight out of the oven. If you're going to be around downtown Kansas City and want a dining experience with a little nostalgia, this is the place for you.
(4)Carrie L.
I can't even believe our experience tonight. I chose this place because of all the reviews so we took our oldest son, who is home on Spring Break, and went to dinner. I made reservations at 8 and we arrived it started out great the calamari was great but I asked for lemons because they should be served with lemons it t needs acidity. The sauce was great. I ordered a chicken with artichoke and it was so salty I couldn't taste anything so I asked for something different. My husband and son had finished their dinner by the time my chicken and broccoli came. I was so mad because after waiting 20 minutes for the second dinner everyone was done and I was sitting there trying to eat by myself. I asked for a to go container and asked the waitress to take off my meal after having waited for so long it wasn't my fault they couldn't get the first meal right. So this old lady with a ponytail(waitress) said," You want me t take it off the check and you want to take it home"? I have never had anyone ask me that before. I was dumbfounded at the comment and told her to just take it which she promptly did. My husband and son couldn't believe she did this it was totally rude. I waited all through dinner with no dinner. I asked for the manager and he took 15 minutes to come over, there were 2 tables left in the restaurant at this time. The manager came out and I began by saying we had never been there before and that the waitress didn't put my food in the container but they did it for my son was ridiculous. In fact,m y son asked why they didn't do the same thing for me. It goes to customer service, she said she didn't box my food up because I requested a container. What's the difference between if they ask you or if you ask for a box?????? The manager got an attitude and was interrupting me, mind you I am 50 and as far as respect from a much younger person this was a slap in my face. We will NEVER go there again they have no regard for actually addressing the issue of a bad meal. I shouldn't have had to ask for the manager, the waitress should have had him come out before I did. We were ignored and waited to have our order taken for appetizers, waited again to have our dinner order taken it went on and on everyone around us was being looked after even my husband noticed. A table behind us came in after us and got served before us. We were told to have a great night blah blah blah no sorry, no apology for a $98.00 bill and I didn't even get to eat dinner WOW. We should have had our bill taken care of that's what a classy place would do. I cook everyday this is not good food because you can't taste any flavors. Salt and fat aren't flavors. This could be good if the cooks knew what they ere doing. We use garlic, olive oil and basil, and I make homemade and meatballs. Bruschetta is loved in our family and I make my own pesto during the summer with the basil I grow I know food and true taste isn't heavy handed with salt. I wish the experience had been better I won't be back. Just like the Olive Garden this is not true Italian it's a shame. By the way, I think it's time to change the nasty carpet I don't know why restaurants carpet it retains all the grime and you can't get that stuff out.
(1)Beth B.
I came here for a work function and we were a large party in the back room. It took a while for us to get served once we sat down. They provided salads that looked kind of like the prebagged Dole salads, but the Italian dressing was really good. For the main course, we didn't get to order off the menu, but were provided with bowls of spaghetti with meat sauce and fettucini alfredo with chicken, served family style. The spaghetti sauce was sweet with a little kick afterwards. Not my favorite sauce. The fettucini alfredo was good and the sauce had a nice flavor and was not too thick. This is definitely an old school Italian-American restaurant. I would not make a trip downtown to eat here, but if I wanted Italian when I was already downtown, I might go here again.
(3)