Antica Pizzeria & Ristorante

I took a drive today and ended up in Niagara Falls Canada. Whatever brought me here today wanted me to have lunch at Antica Pizzerria & Ristorante. This family owned business, gives new meaning to La Familia! There is Anthony who I was greeted by, Mom and Dad front and centre in an open concept kitchen, and the rest of the siblings all around making sure everyone is well taken care of. The smell of pizza being created in their wood fired oven, is mouthwatering. I could not wait to order. I started with my Arancini ( I just can’t get enough of them) Risotto fried, with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, cradled in homemade tomato sauce. Each bite was more scrumptious than the next. Calamari Fritti with homemade sauce, another weakness of mine. A generous portion of fried squid, I lightly drizzle lemon over top and start dipping, Yum! PIZZA next! Pizza Siciliana black olives, anchovies, Sicilian sausage, hot peppers. garlic and olive oil. Just the thought of all those ingredients, sizzling and coming together in that hot wood oven, baked to perfection with a smokey char all around my pizza crust, I savoured with each mouthful all the flavours of my exquisite pizza Delicious. Little C ordered a mini cheese pizza and enjoyed it as well, its always a plus when a ristorante can cater to children. This place also serves gourmet paninis, pastas, and other great Italian traditional dishes. As I enjoyed my meal, I watched as staff made sure everyone was family, enjoying their stay at Antica. The atmosphere is rustic, full of life, and gives off a warm aura. This Ristorante is large and can cater to just about any sized party. I couldn’t leave without trying some dessert. Tiramisu brought in from Italy, was like I was sitting in my own Italian piazza with a cappuccino, pure Italian Heaven. It gets better…. The Lemoncello Mousse was light & divine. This dessert had a buttery oatmeal like crust, that just went so perfect with the lemon mousse, a definite favourite of mine. I come from a family business, and I know it’s hard somedays to work, and try to please family members. We are harder on each other than anybody else. The Mascia Family make it work, they make the saying ” a family that plays together stays together” look easy. Antica might have been Niagara’s best kept secret, but it’s no longer a secret. The best pizza I have had to date.

Grazie!