Antonella's Ristorante in San Jose, CA

In the charming Rose Garden neighborhood of San Jose in northern California is a wonderful Italian restaurant called Antonella's Ristorante. It's located on a corner across from the local middle school and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, a popular tourist site that has one of the largest private collections of Egyptian artifacts. During the week, Antonella's is open for lunch and dinner, but it's only open for dinner on the weekends. There are reservations accepted, but they are not necessary. Since it's not a large restaurant and seating is limited, it's a good idea to get there early. Parking is also very limited, with only a few spaces in the parking lot and some parking on the street out front. The menu is substantial with a good selection of appetizers, salads, pasta, main courses and pizza.

The food is excellent and has a genuine Italian flavor, which is only enhanced by the absolutely lovely ambiance. There are some tables inside and more outside in a heated, enclosed outdoor patio that has a charming, romantic feel. The patio is open during the winter and the warmer months, but in the heat of summer, it can still get a bit too hot, so indoor dining is more comfortable. The heaters manage to keep the patio very comfortable in the cooler winter months. Before the meal, a basket of fresh rosemary sprinkled bread is brought out with oil and vinegar for dipping. The waiters will refill the basket without having to be asked.

Antonella's is a restaurant that's both appropriate for families or for couples looking for a romantic night out together. It's a casual restaurant with reasonable prices. There is a strip mall across the road and many others in the neighborhood. This makes Antonella's a perfect spot for a quick business lunch. Some of the best meals are the eggplant parmesan and the Bay shrimp salad, but even the more simple meals like the house salad and lasagna are better than usual. Even though Antonella's is located away from the downtown area of San Jose, it serves both residents and tourists alike. It's close enough to downtown that visitors to the city who are staying in some of the nice hotels can easily drive the short distance to Antonella's to get away from the expensive restaurants in the hotels. The staff is friendly, the service fast and the food delicious, which makes this a restaurant that should definitely be visited when in San Jose. The address is 1701 Park Avenue.