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Antica Pizzeria Company - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Italian Pizza, Italian [Edit]
13455 Maxella Ave2nd Fl
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 577-8182
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
180 reviews for Antica Pizzeria Company
Review Highlights
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"The pizzas are cooked in a wood burning oven." In 9 reviews -
"The fresh mozzarella they make is out of this world." In 11 reviews -
"Margherita - an Italian classic, perfectly executed." In 37 reviews
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180 reviews in English
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Review from S L.
Santa Monica, CA
3/31/2012
This is definitely in my top three pizzerias in the world because of the way they made their Neapolitan pizza. Most places don't make it with Burrata Mozzarella. My brother and I had gone there for the 2 years we lived together, and it was our go-to pizzeria in the Westside. They would never disappoint us, and we'd often buy an extra pie to keep in our fridge for the next day.
Their pasta was also amazing (I've had the Angel Hair Pasta dish), so much that my grandmother who barely likes non-Chinese food was raving about it months after her visit to LA. The staff is also super friendly and proud of their work. My brother and I ordered 2 pizzas for a pick-up a little after closing, and the chef was dissatisfied with his final product so he tossed it and made a fresh one for us!
I was extremely disappointed when I found out that they closed, but according to their website, they're in the works of finding a new lease in the Marina area. I hope they do it soon because it's without a doubt the best pizza my brother and I have ever had.
In the meantime, if you love pizza as much as I do, I'd recommend Urbano Pizza Bar downtown or 800 Degrees in Westwood for Neapolitan-style pizza. For the thin crust New York-style pizza, I'd go with Joe's Pizzeria in Santa Monica or Garage Pizza in Silver Lake/Downtown. -
Review from Anthony M.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/11/2012
the service was medicore and the food was not so great. My children ordered the pizza which was okay and Lasagna (good) and I ordered the Salmon which was over cooked and hard. I was dissappointed that when they removed my plate they didn't inquire as why i didn't eat it. I tipped anyway but wouldn't return.
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Review from Lindsay Q.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/20/2012
I am in LOVE with Antica and I'm so sad its closed. I hope they reopen someday cause it was one of the BEST in LA. I first heard about this place on the food network and it didn't disappoint. Fresh ingredients, amazing pizzas.
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Review from Kirsten L.
Los Angeles, CA
11/7/2011
To all you people complaining that you can't "pick up their slice of pizza" because the crust is too thin in the middle, have never had a truly authentic italian pizza. You don't pick up real pizza. You eat it with a knife and fork....and the middle is SUPPOSED to be, at times, runny.
I'm so sad this place is closed. -
Review from Kevin J.
Santa Monica, CA
8/6/2011
CLOSED
GONE OUTTA BUSINESS
NO OTHER BIZ IN THAT SPOT IN 24? YEARS HAS BEEN A SUCCESS
SAME WITH SPACE BELOW IT FAR AS I CAN TELL
who can compete with SOUPPLANTATION in a mall? -
Review from Lucy V.
Glendale, CA
8/13/2011
Just hope this place doesn't re-open. The owner is a typical scam artist-tells you what you want to hear, then gives you nothing he promised. Pizza is terrible, not authentic Italian "antica pizza" style pizza, as he promised. Bottom of pizza was so thin, we could hardly eat it...terrible.
Arancini are not made from rice made to make arancini, but from leftover mushroom risotto. Can't imagine what else they're "recycling." Not cool in my book.
If they do re-open, don't eat there, you'll be sorely disappointed. -
Review from Francesca L.
Lawndale, CA
8/3/2011
Love this place! It has been around for many years and I am now sad it will be moving to a new location...they will be turning the area into another apartment complex...the food and ambiance is awesome! We have many memories at this restaurant and I can't wait for the new one to open ....because with it comes many more chapters in my life...
I will miss the original Antica Pizzeria but I am confident the next will be equally if not better!!!! -
Review from Michael S.
Marina del Rey, CA
Pizza is an Italian culinary treasure that began in the Southern city of Naples. To Neapolitans, pizza is revered like no other food. Native Guiseppe "Peppe" Miele shares his affection for genuine Neopolitan Pizza at Antica Pizzeria in Marina del Rey as part of a tempting menu of Italian favorites.
The restaurant prides itself on serving only authentic Neapolitan pizza prepared according to the protocols of the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana (aka VPN or Pizza Polizia). It boasts of being the first restaurant in the States "certified" by VPN which isn't really dazzling when you find out Peppe also happens to be the founder of VPN America. But who cares, when the pizzas taste good? And they do.
You can't get much more traditional than a simple Pizza Margherita (named after Italian Queen Margherita di Savoia). Cooked in a wood-burning brick oven, the pizza was an impeccable blend of Tomato Sauce, real Mozzarella, fresh Basil, and Parmesan on top of a classically thin and chewy crust made with flour and natural yeast.
In the deli counter by the entrance, we spied the odd cone-shaped Arancino di Riso and just had to try one as an appetizer. It's basically a cone of Rice stuffed with a blend of smoked Mozzarella, Peas, and Italian Ham. It was filling and delizioso at the same time.
Since the pasta at Antica Pizzeria is hand-made, we also sampled one of the Le Paste choices: Fettuccine al Salmone. The thin and unusual Fettuccine stood out. It may not have been the freshest Salmon, but the Tomato and Cream Sauce with Mint helped.
The only odd part of the meal was detached service from our waitress. She seemed hesitant to give suggestions or answer questions. It may not of been a good day for her. The rest of the team was friendly. With free parking and a convenient location, it'll be easy to choose Antica Pizzeria again.
3.5 stars overall ... rounded down for the service.Listed in: Hey Hey... Marina del Rey, Cucina Italiana
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Review from Eva H.
5/13/2011
**2.5 stars**
This little authentic Italian restaurant has a lot of potential, but it was disappointing. We were there on a quiet Tuesday night and yet the waiters were just standing around and taking a long time to get our orders, check on us and bring us our checks.
My roommate ordered a salad with chicken and even after letting them know, they never brought it.
I got the roasted vegetable pizza -loved the thin crust and variety of roasted veggies, but they were just tiny chopped bits. The pizza does not come with tomato sauce- good concept but poorly designed. The pizza is so thin when you go to pick up a slice, EVERYTHING slides off.
The crust is tough, hard and tasteless, I feel like I really only ate half the pizza because i left the crusts.
Maybe this is so un-cultured of me to say but I might as well had Papa Johns.... -
Review from Muhammad Miguel Ali H.
Huntington Beach, CA
7/27/2011
Antica Pizzeria is a solid pizza company, but not SoCal's best
First off, I had very high expectations, as the pictures show a delicious thin-crust pizza, that only the finest chefs could make
Yes, the pizza was thin crust, but the taste just wasn't there - the pizza was good, but not mind-blowing and/or life-changing
However, it is still better than Pizzeria Mozza
Lastly, the service here was excellent and there is an awesome display of cheeses, of many kinds, all available for purchase
I definitely recommend visiting this place, at least to check out the cheese display and try the pizza (maybe I'm being too tough on them?)
ENJOY ALL!!!!! -
Review from Gayle G.
Santa Monica, CA
3/25/2011
Once upon a time AKA one year ago, I visited Naples, Italy and ate heaven on an effing crust. I flew back home from Europe and my American-bred inclinations toward the greasy Pizza Huts, Dominoes and Papa Johns of the world shattered, and my relationship with pizza at home was absolutely ruined. For nearly a year now, I've mourned the possibility that I may never taste the deliciousness that is authentic Neopolitan pizza again (pizza did originate in Naples, after all -- why wouldn't it be unforgettable?).
And then tonight happened. Tonight, eating pizza here has awaken my fingers from their SIX-MONTH Yelping hiatus and inspired them to type, WHY THE EFF does this place only have 3.5 Yelp stars?! Antica Pizzeria is too legit to quit. This is the closest you will get to the heaven on a crust that they serve in Naples. If anyone out there can prove me wrong, holler at your girl.
I had the pizza Calabrese (fresh mozzarella, basil, parmesan and crispy/spicy Calabrese salami) and LOVED it. And yes, I ate all of it myself. And you'll eat all of yours too, so man up and order your own, do not share. (Go big or go home -- If you want to count calories, walk next door to Souplantation.) All the other topping combinations sounded delicious as well, and I plan to try different ones as I return to dine! My friend and I split the PANNA COTTA for dessert -- divine melt-in-your mouth creaminess, with some type of red wine splashed on top.
Quick tip: Neopolitan pizza is cooked in a wood-burning oven on very thin crust that's kept soft. It's not mad greasy/filling like American pizza tends to be, so I find that I don't feel stuffed/disgusting afterward. If you haven't tried it yet, this is a great place to have your first one. I highly recommend!
Ambiance notes for those who care: cute, cozy, dimly lit, small deli in the front that I want to look at next time. AMAZING, super polite customer service.
Thanks, Antica Pizzeria! I WILL be coming back. Again and again. -
Review from Alice D.
Venice, CA
1/25/2012
I have no idea how anyone who likes pizza would not like Antica!!
It is absolutely THE BEST, I'm in withdrawal!!
Yes, the crust is super thin and very hard to pick up- that's how it's supposed to be, it's the stye, einsteins...
The ingredients are super fresh and everything I've ever had there is completely delicious.
So those of you who were expecting deep dish or american pizza, sorry you were disappointed, but really, one star??? That's basically like saying they spit in your food. Ridiculous.
No one pay attention to those one star reviews, it's just silly! For the record they closed because their lease was up, like many other businesses in the same complex, they didn't go out of business.
Please please please reopen, Antica! -
Review from Minnie F.
Los Angeles, CA
7/7/2011
Finally had the chance to dine here and indeed the pizza as well as the pasta were DELICIOUS! Can't wait to visit again.
The portions look decent but we found ourselves ordering more food to satisfy our appetites.
The service was good but I would appreciate more from them. A bit more smiles and cheerfulness, we are talking pizza after all.
Cheers! -
Review from Rob M.
4/5/2011
People's natural inclination may be not to take Antica Pizzeria seriously. Probably because it's a build-out of a tenant space on the second floor of a mall. And because it's located in Marina Del Rey.
But this is a "don't judge a book by its cover" scenario. The pizza, referred to as del cafone, is authentic and light. When people assert that "there's no good pizza in LA", this is a high-end example with which to fire back. -
Review from Lorraine P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
If I had a shirt that read "I heart Vera-Certified Pizza!" i would wear it everyday! (Well, at least to the gym haha). I'm a fan of the Verace gods and their strict Neapolitan-style pizza guidelines. And SoCal has only ONE place, so far, that has it.... this one.
The traditional Margherita pizza was really good. The thin chewy crust passed the test, the sauce was perfect and the cheese was also great, though it needed more. Everything else fell a little short. The pizza that supposedly had a ricotta-filled crust had all the ricotta in one spot of the pie. The other pizza choices were boring and all seemed to be very similar to each other. I want more exciting and diverse options! Someone needs to introduce them to some onions, sausage, pine nuts, egg, roasted peppers or some other delicious ingredients to add to their pizzas. Is there an extreme pizza makeover TV show they can go on?
The tricolore salad was delicious, their fresh lemonade tasted bitter, and service was quick and very personable. Parking can be found in the parking structure beneath the shopping center.
I would recommend their Margherita pizza any day of the week.. and I would surely visit more often if they improved the pizza topping situation.Listed in: Westsiiiiide!
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Review from Vandana M.
Oakland, CA
5/15/2011
Sometimes mall food can surprise you -- in a good way -- much like potatoes on a pizza.
The wine and dessert list were a little "meh" but the food, though a little pricey for the amount you get, was quite nummy. -
Review from Meredith N.
Marina del Rey, CA
6/16/2011
Three words: penne alla vodka --- yum!
I'm so glad that this great, local restaurant is located near my apartment. I only wish they stayed open later into the night.
Agree with Rob M - don't judge a book by its cover - yes, Pizzeria Antica is in a strip mall - but that doesn't make it any less authentic or good. -
Review from Alexandra S.
Los Angeles, CA
7/4/2011
I like Antica Pizzeria! We always order the Napolitano pizza, which is topped with fresh anchovies and is truly delicious. Their Margherita pizza features very fresh tomatoes and basil and is one of the best in LA. Their light, supple crust serves as the perfect base for all their yummy toppings.
Their remarkable service always impresses our family. One time, they recreated a pasta dish for us that had been a special a few months before. Using a receipt my mom brought as a starting point, they prepared the pasta and it was as delicious as we remembered. We were thrilled they could do that for us! -
Review from Josie D.
9/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
I think "A-OK" is pretty much the best you can describe this place. I ordered Seafood Risotto, it's "A-Ok". Nothing good or bad about it. It's just "A-Ok". Nothing more to say. From the decor, atmosphere, service, food, location etc etc etc it's "A-Ok"
Thank you for your attention. The end. -
Review from Jimi W.
Los Angeles, CA
8/1/2011
This place is closed. I went all the way out there only to find it had shut it's door indefinitely the previous weekend. Meanwhile, check out Mother Dough, Mozza or Sotto.
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Review from Stephanie C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/31/2011
The owner/chef/waiter was oozing Italian from his pores. He stopped by our table throughout the night, and gave us a breakdown of everything thats homemade (which was basically everything). He was really fun and energetic, and I love that he took the time and effort to talk to and joke with us!
We ordered the Gnocchi with red sauce, the Rigatoni wtih Smoked Mozzarella and Eggplant, and the chop salad! My rigatoni was the special for the night, it was pretty good but not Deliziosa! you can definitely taste smokiness of the cheese, which was nice! but overall it was OK. the gnocchi was also decent, not extremely memorable. but I think my friend thought the salad was a disappointment. but hey, she ordered chopped salad at an italian place...
The best part of the meal is definitely the house wine. Chianti! The decor is pretty cool, but theres something cold about it... like the place isnt done being decorated yet... it's just missing that one thing to make it feel like either a romantic, or family style, or upscale Italian restaurant... not sure what it wants to be yet! Like a half-furnished living room... the vaulted ceiling woulda been soooo cool if it were painted! The whole location of the place is just a little unexpected... but we were in the neighborhood and in the mood for italian!
We didnt try the pizza, which we probably should have because its a PIZZERIA. so that's probably our fault... maybe eating the pizza would have made the restaurant feel a lot more cozy! -
Review from Trung N.
10/20/2010
We saw that Antica Pizzeria Company was voted one of the Top 25 pizzerias in America in GQ Magazine, so we decided to try it out.
We came in with a group of 5 and ordered the following:
1. Pizza del Cafone
2 . Pizza Calabrese
3. Everyone got side caesar salads
4. The restaurant provided a bread basket with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Pros:
- Authentic Italian style pizza - I went with some Italians and was told so.
- Waiters and host were all very helpful in the ordering process and provided great service.
- Pizza del Cafone was decent. Interesting combination of the Italian sausage and the rapini (broccoli rabes).
- Pizza Calabrese was really good. The tomato sauce carried this pizza with its strong spices and flavor. The spicy Calabrese salami complimented the tomato sauce very well since it enhanced the overall taste with a spicy kick.
Cons:
- Pizzas are extremely small. If we were to go again we would have gotten at least one more pizza.
- For some reason, there were a good number of flies where we were sitting. That got annoying.
Pizza was good but not Top 25 level good. I came away from Antica pretty hungry and unsatisfied. -
Review from Cindy R.
Los Angeles, CA
3/2/2011
My hubby is born and raised in Italy, and it's his belief that italian food outside of Italy is mainly c***, and italian eateries should be avoided. One day while in LA he was under the pizza blues, and I gave myself the task to find a place with a decent pizza to surprise him. I came across an article from the LA Times and was actually pretty intrigued: I passed by their non-appealing strip mall location many times before without even a second look. Needless to say Antica Pizzeria's wood oven goodness won him over and we are regulars ever since, sometimes by ourselves, sometimes with friends. Actually, this became one of his favorite pizzerias ever (yes, I'm including those in Italy).
I go straight to the pizza menu, order a quattro formaggi or calabrese for myself and start soaking pieces of freshly baked bread in their terrific olive oil and stealing sips from hubby's beer (they carry a delicious german import, but I can't remember the name) while my order arrives. Pizza is always delicious and perfectly cooked, oozing homemade mozzarella, every topping fresh and top-notch.
I can definitely recommend to top it all of with one of their decadent homemade italian desserts. My favorites are the tartufo and tiramisu. Just keep in mind the portions are huge and you might want to share. Hubby would have an espresso to cap the night.
So no fuzz here. Plain, simple, authentic food to share over a table surrounded by friends. Isn't that what pizza is all about? -
Review from David L.
Fullerton, CA
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm sorry to see that their lease was up so they had to close, however, they do state that they're looking for a new location in MDR soon. Althought I love pizza I'm not going to talk about their pizza which was good, but I'm here to talk about the best calamari I've had in a long time! It came to the table as hot and crispy as one can get it. I remember taking a bit (my first bite) and immediately looked over at my friend with a gleaming eye and mouthful of calamari to utter out the word, "WOW". The staff was interesting. Italian, not guido-like, but authentic Italian. You know, the kind with a ponytail and D&G belt buckle (no lie). This guy was legit Italiano! Despite the loud old people next to us who were obviously drizzunk of the vino, I totally dig this place. Hope they open again soon.
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Review from sarah beth S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/15/2008
4.5 Stars
I was a low-key, pizza-eating Valentine!
Came on the advice of the venerable Scott M, fellow Italian food snob. I don't even really like pizza, but amo (I love) pizza in Italy. It's like the differenence between Terminator and The Sarah Connor Chronicles. So when I heard that this place is the closest thing you can get in the U.S. to real Italian pizza, I was hoping it would be everything that I had wanted Pizzeria Mozza to be (but wasn't) .
It's in a little shopping compound with a Gelson's. Not a glamorous location, but neither are the best pizzerias in Italy. We didn't have reservations and were surprised to discover that some people did (it was Vday, maybe they only day you'd ever need a rez). While we waited for a table, I studied their framed accolades including certification from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (*1), an official Italian society that trains authentic Neapolitan pizza making methods and certifies those that pass their tests. Antica is the only restaurant in greater LA that's a member. Then there's 18 more in the U.S including one in S.F.
Mini tangent: Can I just profess how deeply I love the Italians for their serious commitment to standardization of food sanctity? For example, do you know what "Parmigiano Reggiano" means? You may think it's just a kind of cheese from a certain region in Italy- that's what I thought until about a year ago. In order to get those holy words embossed into the circumference of the wheel, a cheesemaker must adhere to a stringent list of criteria and inspections from The Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano (*2), founded 1934. And you thought the mafia was badass.
Okay, back to Antica Pizzeria. Their menu reads like what you'd find in a neighborhood Osteria in Italy. They even served one of my favorite roman dishes- Bucatini l'amatriciana- long hollow spaghetti-shaped pasta with pancetta (bacon) in a peppery tomato cream sauce.
We ordered pinot grigot for $6.50 a glass and an arancino, a deep fried ball of rice in tomato sauce stuffed with melted mozzarella, quite a popular appetizer in Italian pizzerias. This one was big enough to share. Pizzeria Mozza offers a meat-filled version for $8/ order. I've actually started making them myself and think I make 'em tastier and more like the real deal, so I wasn't overly entranced with Antica's, especially since it tasted like it had been made the day before and warmed up in the oven.
I had the classic margherita which you probably know is cheese, basil, tomato sauce. Done right, you don't need or want any other topping coming between you and pure bliss. My valentine got the Capricciosa which involved artichokes, mushrooms, black olives, & prosciutto.
The Verdict:
Definitely the closest thing I've had in the U.S. to Italian style pizza. How close was it? Maybe 65%? 70%? It was tragically close, so close that it whet my appetite so hard that if I had an Iphone I'd have been at the table pricing airfare to the holy land to get the full experience. But that's not gonna happen anytime soon, so I will look on the positive and embrace Antica's AVPN certified, better-than-Mozza, reasonably priced pizza.
You can skip this part, but if you want the full analysis of Antica vs real Italian pizza: It was a little puffier (the dough) than pizza in Italy tends to be, though it had the nice thin/gooey/soggy thing going on the middle of the pie that americans may find too messy or bizarre but I find to be absolute heaven.
The sauce didn't blow my socks off though it wasn't bad. The cheese was right in type and concept (not the shredded "mozzarella" but the fresh made balls cut into thick discs and scattered across the pie) but not up to par in terms of quantity or quality. Though I don't blame them so much for that- I've tried to find halfway decent fresh mozzarella in LA and haven't had any luck either.
The biggest problem with this pizza was that there was a bitter aftertaste from the charred underside of the crust. I don't know if this always happens here or we got unlucky last night. In Italy the pizza does get a touch black and charred on the bottom, but not in such a way that it produces a strong, distracting flavor. It's shame, because otherwise the pizza was delicious.
My boyfriend and I swapped a piece with either other. Definitely get the margherita. He doesn't eat "plain" pizza usually but he did say he preferred my pizza to his topping laden one because you could taste what made this pizza special, certificate-worthy.
Next time I'm getting some pasta. This is going to become my go-to Italian place when I want authentic but don't feel like cooking myself.
Also noteworthy is the relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere that in spite of the tacky mural actually reminded me of dining in Italy.
*** Footnotes:
1 - http://www.pizzanapole...
2 - http://www.parmaitaly....Listed in: Five Stars, SB Style, Il Gran Cibo Italiano
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Review from Scott M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/22/2007 5 Check-ins Here
Excellent pizza. It's not your typical $5.99 peperoni delivery special. This is a more Italian or Neapolitan style pizza with thin, crispy, delicious crust and minimal toppings all cooked in a hot wood fired stove.
I will be a regular here and I must come back and try some of the pasta dishes...I hope they live up to the pizza.
UPDATED 03/29/07:
I came back for some more of that delicious pizza. This time I also tried the spaghetti and meatballs...I have found my new Italian restaurant home. It's got the flavors and quality I like. I will also mention the exceptionally nice staff and friendly service. A 5-star all the way.Listed in: My Local Spots, Pizza! Pizza!
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Review from Frank R.
Saugus, CA
7/13/2010
Stick to the pizza. I probably won't be back ever again for that though.
My friends saw this place featured on KABC Eye On L.A. and we decided to try it. I actually got the Fettuccine al Salmone and it was absolutely tasteless, even after I added tons of salt to help it. My friend got the Panettee alla Vodka and it too was tasteless. Now, to top it off, my other friend got the famous Pizza Margherita and she never said anything about it, when she taste's something good, we all know about it. Know what I mean!!!!!
Maybe the regular cooks were off watching the 2010 World Cup game and left the dish washers to cook.
Just because you see a restaurant featured on TV doesn't mean it's good. -
Review from Z Z.
Los Angeles, CA
3/4/2008
I went to Antica a couple weeks ago with a friend prior to heading over the Skirball for the Bob Dylan exhibit. I was really looking forward to both the pizza and to spending time with my non yelper buddy. I got the Del Carcerato pizza which had Parmesan, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and ricotta on it. It was quite good but the crust was so thin in the middle that it got kind of soggy. Aside from that, it was pretty great. As people have mentioned the crust did have a few crispy/burnt places but not enough where it made me dislike it. It tasted great, I especially loved the ricotta and basil on it. It was really great pizza!
I cannot recall what pizza my friend got, I think it had chicken on it. I do remember that he really liked it too.
We both loved the bread that they give you when you first sit down. It was so good, very fresh! It was fantastic! I ate too much of it and ended up with lots of pizza left over. Not a bad thing but I wish I didn't eat as much of it!
Anyway, awesome pizza place, confusing to find though. It is on the second floor of the plaza in the corner near Gelson's. The parking lot was even more confusing. I would suggest parking across the street and walking over.Listed in: Pizza!!!!!!!, Places I miss in LA
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Review from Bridget P.
Santa Monica, CA
11/15/2010
Two friends took me here for a birthday dinner. I've driven down Lincoln a million times but have never noticed or heard about it, so I'm glad they took me! It's my friend's favorite restaurant in his neighborhood, so he suggested taking us there.
We ordered the:
Calamari
Caprese appetizer
Linguine del Golfo
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Pizza Prosciutto e Funghi
bottle of white wine (don't remember!)
The restaurant was fairly empty on a Sunday night, which also meant we got great, attentive service. I liked the dark, cozy atmosphere, like a little cafe in Italy but still nice/romantic enough for a dinner date.
I loved the appetizers; the calamari was one of the best I've had, with the perfect amount of crispiness and batter without being too dry or soggy. I wish they'd had more dipping sauces or a different one than the usual, though. We completely finished both plates of caprese that we had, which was also very good.
Everything I had was delicious; the linguine had a generous amount of seafood, and the gnocchi was my favorite. Service was top-notch. Not sure of the prices since I was the lucky birthday girl, but I didn't see anything not to like. You won't find anything insanely creative, trendy or original on the menu, but you will find a variety of great, traditional Italian comfort food. I'll be back! -
Review from Mike D.
Saugus, CA
7/16/2008
Met an old friend here who was in town for a couple of days. He was in Marina del Rey, which for some time has been translated in my head to mean "must try that Neapolitan pizza place". You may want to put more stock in the words of the many regulars who have reviewed in greater detail, but between an as-it-should-be Pizza Marghertia some sort of rigatoni, a surprisingly smooth espresso and some OK gelato, we were happy. I'd come back, for sure.
Extra points for excellent table bread, olive oil and the no-hassle staff. We sat there talking for five hours, I kid you not, without objection. -
Review from Michelle T.
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
9/25/2010
Maybe more like 3.5ish.
Pretty good pizza place. The crust is of pretty good quality (not greasy, thin in the middle and puffed at the edges). The crust was lightly charred from their wood-burning oven. I had the marinara pizza ($10.95), so the toppings were just tomato sauce, garlic, and basil. The sauce was pretty good, but my Neapolitan friend pointed out that the sauce was not particularly flavorful--they didn't cook oregano with the tomatoes, for example. I noticed later that one part of the pizza had dried ground herbs sprinkled on it. Don't know why they didn't cook herbs with the sauce instead of sprinkling some dried herbs on one side of the pizza.
I also tried one piece of the Margherita DOC, which seemed pretty good.
My Neapolitan friend rated Antica as "below average" on the Italian scale, but "A-OK" by American standards. I would say it was better than most American pizza places, with some room for improvement.
Service was ok. Sometimes not a attentive as it should be, but fine in general. I made a reservation for 10, and then a day or two later I called to change it to 13, but when we arrived at the restaurant, they gave us a table for 10. When we told them we needed 13 seats, they moved us outside. I picked up the bread baskets and took them to the new table, but nobody brought us bread plates and oil until we finally asked. Pizzas were delivered in a strange order. I had the simplest pizza possible, but mine came well after everyone else's Maybe there was a method to the madness that I just don't realize, or maybe mine just happened to be fired last.
Outdoor patio with satellite heaters and twinkle lights. Located on second floor of mall. Plenty of parking in the attached parking structure. -
Review from Al B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/3/2011
I enjoyed the margherita pizza and the caesar salad. I found it to be a chill place and a good spot for a date. It's not often that I get to have good thin crispy style pizza so I'd love to come by again if I'm in the area.
It's a shame that the mall there has gotten even less interesting over time with many of the restaurants and businesses closing. The Ruby's with the glass window looking into the LA Fitness used to always be fun (Ruby's closed a while ago).
You used to be able to walk around after dinner and check out the stores, but there isn't much left. I think that's a reason why I haven't made time to come back even for the good pizza.
I heard they have other locations in LA so those might be worth considering if you want to try them but don't want to come all the way out to MDR. Parking is pretty easy in the large indoor lot in the mall. -
Review from Daniel K.
Park La Brea, CA
4/5/2007
I hold firm to my belief that Antica Pizzeria is the best AUTHENTIC pizza in the US. i've lived in italy for 4 months, so i've tasted my share of delicious pizza. i know that the its all about the dough and antica has it. it's the only certified Neopolitan pizza restaurant outside of italy. the dough is crisp on the the edges, but nice and chewy on the inside. sauce is very simple (just pureed tomatoes and basil) and fresh mozzarella cheese. i always get the pizza napoletana (cheese, sauce and anchovies; can't beat that briny flavor). a lot of my friends do not like this style of pizza, but if you are looking for a pizza place with authentic italian pizza, come to antica pizzeria.
mozza eat your heart out.Listed in: My favorite LA restaurants
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Review from Anthony N.
Playa del Rey, CA
8/27/2009
I've walked by Antica Pizzeria Company many times, but I've never once tried it. Antica Pizzeria Company is located in Marina Del Rey, which does not have many good restaurants. This Antica Pizzeria is located on the 2nd level of the little mini-mall on Maxella Avenue.
Inside, it is a pretty bustling (and somewhat loud) place. They have a bar and quite a few tables. They also have an outdoor dining area that looks pleasant. If you sit at the bar, you get a nice view of the open kitchen where the cooks toss the dough and make the pizza right there in front of you. The pizzas are cooked in a wood burning oven.
I went with the pizza margherita to go. It was a decent size (about a medium), and it ran about $13. The cashier was quite friendly. The pizza maintained the temperature pretty well. But, even though I live close by, it did get cold pretty quick. If i came back, I would get it there.
I liked the mozzarella and the tomato sauce. The basil was a little too fragrant for me. The crust was nicely done on one side but quite burnt on the other side (so that part was a little unappetizing). But if it would have been cooked right, it would have been a decent pizza.
You could do worse in Marina Del Rey. I may come back in the future and give it another shot. -
Review from Brian D.
Los Angeles, CA
7/30/2009
The outdoor patio is a major plus for Pizza Antica. You get just enough of a breeze off the marina to make a very comfortable lunch spot.
The pizza is slightly above average; I liked it best the first time I ate there and my opinion has lowered slightly after many subsequent visits.
A more-than-serviceable neighborhood stand-by... -
Review from Paul L.
5/17/2009 1 photo
Follow the rules. It's a simple sentence that, in the world of pizza, is mostly ignored. Thankfully, Antica Pizza has a certification from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. I've heard about this organization for years, but never went to a pizzeria with the VPN seal of approval. Well, it basically enforces the rules as to how real pizza should be made. The wonderful result is that Antica may have the best pizza I've tasted thus far in California.
There are just a handful of pizzerias left in New York City that know how to make great pizza and I would tentatively add Antica to the list. My Pizza Margherita, the most simple pie, was delicious. Their wood-burning oven blended the flavors of the slightly sweet tomato sauce, the slightly chewy crust, fresh basil leaves, and the buffalo mozzarella.
Buffalo mozzarella? Good god, yes, I finally found a pizzeria in LA that uses buffalo mozzarella instead of the plastic packaged skim milk mozzarella. It makes all the difference in the world and I wish every pizzeria would make the effort.
Was this perfection? No, but it was close. I mean it helps that it actually looked like a Pizza Margherita. (Sometimes, you don't even get that.) I would've liked more basil leaves and a pizza that has spent time in a coal oven. (Hey, coal ovens can really work some magic on a pie.) The main issue for me, though, was that there wasn't enough pizza. Here, I've found fantastic pizza and I get punished by it being too small! The pizza gods are messing with me and that just ain't right. That's okay, I won't be discouraged. I'll just get around it next time by breaking the rules and ordering two pies.Listed in: California Pizzeria List
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Review from bernadette e.
Santa Monica, CA
9/11/2008
The pizza dough is as neopolitan as I remember having in Italy, but the sauce doesn't quite impress, not bad but not great. The fresh mozzarella they make is out of this world.
They use authentic pizza flour from Italy, which makes a difference in the dough.
Have the pizza margherita or the caprese. Nice wines by the glass!
You can also buy the balls of mozzarella that they make in house, for like $2-3 bucks, it's a steal!
PASS:
On the caffe latte, it's HUGE glass of milk with a splash of coffee. I drank these all over Rome, when I lived there and never had it made like this. The server was irritated with me when I asked what this was.
In Rome, it is served in a short glass and it IS a 'tad' milkier that the caffe latte's we have in the states. If you ask for a "latte" in Rome, you'll get a glass of warm milk.
Pass on dessert, and pass on the pasta.
Just get pizza, salad and wine here. -
Review from Nicole R.
New York, NY
12/11/2008
This place shows that you can't judge a book by its cover. I came here with Sarah Beth on a girl-date a while ago. It's completely nondescript on the outside - tucked into a strip-mall. Step inside and it's a whole different place. It's far more spacious than you would think and has a nice, comfortable, casual atmosphere.
We went on a Thursday night. I had called ahead of time to make reservations. When we found ourselves running late, I called to let them know. The hostess was probably laughing her head off because the place was pretty empty; so I think it would be pretty easy to just drop in, at least on weekday. Our server was very nice and helpful.
We split the squash blossoms as an appetizer. These were very tasty - perfectly crisped, filled with cheese, and served on very nice bed of salad. Truthfully, I can't them with much specificity; I just remember that they were crispy, cheesy, and yum.
SB raved about the Pizza Margherita and I wanted to take her up on her rec, but I was also feeling the need for a little something extra. I needed a little protein in the mix. I added the Prosciutto. Great combo. The crust was very thin and crispy/chewy, although there was a little bit of char. Heavy toppings would definitely over-power this crust. prosciutto was perfect because it's thin, but added a lot of flavor. They were also very generous with the prosciutto, and made sure it covered the pizza.
I am not an expert on Neapolitan pizza, but I do know this was good pizza, on the finer end of the pizza-scale. However, I will note it could have used a little salt and the sauce could have used a little spice for a bit of a flavor kick.
I think this would be a great place for a more casual date or a night out with friends when you want good food, but don't want to drop an overly huge amount of cash.Listed in: Pizza, Pizza
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Review from Martin M.
Los Angeles, CA
6/19/2010 2 Check-ins Here
3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up.
I was surprised to hear that there was an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria in the same nondescript shopping center where I spent the majority of my childhood. Nonetheless, as soon as I heard, I rounded up a couple of the guys and headed out. 4 Appetizers, 3 pizzas, 5+ beers and about $125 later...
For the appetizers, we had the Timballetto (highlight of the night, a delicious pastry filled with pasta), Crocchetta di Patate (not bad, but would not do it again), La Caprese (didn't get to try it), and Calamari Fritti (delicious, but I love calamari everywhere).
I have to echo what a lot of others have said regarding the pizza, the dough seems a little off or inconsistent. I had the Pizza Calabrese (with pepperoni substituted for the spicy salami because the waitress scared me) and a friend had the Pizza Ruspante, the crust of both came out a little soggy and limp in the middle. Another friend had the Pizza del Carcerato which was excellent and not soggy, perhaps they cook it longer because it has cheese in the crust? Either way, the pizza was enjoyable but not quite Mozza.
Overall, I enjoyed both the appetizers and pizza and would come back. It's a good enough and no-hassle Mozza alternative for when you get those cravings. Especially good for me since it's close enough to go for take-out :) Also, seems like it'd make for a decent date place. -
Review from Min T.
Los Angeles, CA
6/21/2007
I should probably try the pizza one day. They are supposedly the only pizzaria to get some fancy certificate from Italy about their authentic Neapolitan style pizza.
But no, I come to Antica for two things-
Chopped salad and fettucine bologanse.
I've been going to Antica for almost ten years now. I've found service can be slow but generally very happy. I never get the hostile vibe from servers who at other restaurants seem supremely bored with their "job." Servers here are genuinely happy to accommodate you. Especially since you insist of dousing said chopped salad and fettucine with liberal amounts of balsamic vinegar. I just think they taste better that way.
The hostesses crack me up. Sometimes it's the older Italian woman (owner?) but generally, they look like New York models all dressed up for the S&M club (is there a S&M club in MDR I don't know about?).
Lunch is low key, take-out is great but dinner can be busy; even during the week days. Sitting out on the patio is nice. And I love the interior with the high ceilings. Very funky and artsy.
I love Antica and it is one of my faves in L.A.
