Native Prism: Anthony's Italian Restaurant -- Saturday March 26, 2016

Anthony's Italian Restaurant

Several months ago December 26, 2015 my mom dad and I went to Anthony's Italian Restaurant. We had an awful experience. The waitstaff was inattentive, an old guy busing tables was down right rude to the point of really creeping us out and the food was awful!

Saturday, the 26th of March, we returned optimistic that we may have a better experience. As we entered the restaurant, we could immediately sense a huge change in the atmosphere. The wait staff was hustling and very attentive. We were graciously asked if we wanted a booth. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The menu seems like it is upgraded and is new.

Living in Fianna Hills in Fort Smith, Arkansas, my parents really wanted a nice restaurant close by so they did not have to drive all the way down to Rogers Avenue.

The experience that we had with them in December was the second bad experience; my parents had a bad experience previously. So this past Saturday we really got excited that things have changed. As we were ordering the waitress was wonderful and also knowledgeable about the beer selection (a big plus for me). I was able to order and IPA without issues. Immediately, bread was brought to us and was warm and fresh. Unlike the Olive Garden, Anthony's actually serves olive oil with the fresh bread and the olive oil is mixed with balsamic vinegar. Wonderful!!

An evening that we were expecting the worst, we found that we were having a great experience. At one point, my father dropped his fork on the floor as he was unrolling the silverware from the napkin … immediately a supervisor replaced the entire napkin and silverware set. Service above and beyond!!

When the food arrived, my mouth started to water. I ordered the pasta sampler and my parents ordered the spaghetti. The sauce looked wonderful and the smelled amazing. This was the difference between night and day after our last visit. The sauce had an orange look and was not very appealing. My sampler was fantastic. The texture of the pasta and the diced tomatoes show one that care and preparation of the entrees was attended to in detail. The ingredients were fresh and spiced to perfection and it was obvious that the meals were prepared that day. The meatballs were so good, my mom and dad ordered extras to bring home.

Anthony's did a fantastic job. All the waitstaff was hustling, the tables were cleared in minutes as people were leaving and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. If you haven't been to Anthony's lately, it's time to go back. They have made a 180 degree turnaround from our previous experience.