The word “Italian” is often synonymous with words, “ friends”, “food” and “family”. This is certainly the case at Waxhaw’s very own Bistro D’Antonio.
Named after the man behind the magic, Bistro D’Antonio is owned and operated by Antonio and his wife, Charlene Somers. The family restaurant offers “Italian inspired cuisine, all dished up in a warm and relaxed dining room with old-world touches”, according to their social media manager, Amanda Hartis, niece of Charlene.
Head chef, Carlos Peraza, is a master of the art of food creation. Each dish that leaves his kitchen is sure to satisfy even your Italian grandmother’s discerning tongue.
Chef Peraza has paired with Antonio, who owned Villa Antonio in uptown Charlotte for 27 years, in order to bring their combined expertise in the restaurant industry to our backyard. Together they have created the menu offerings at the Bistro D’Antonio, where they serve Italian favorites to hungry customers.
Some of the most popular dishes at the Bistro according to Hartis, are “lasagna, rigatoni, gnocchi, cioppino, marsala, saltimbocca, ossobucco, and lamb chops.” The list reads as a lineup of Italian classics.
Hartis adds that “our flatbreads are super popular for sharing with friends or as a meal!” It’s truly a dish that captures the family-centric type of dining that Italian culture and Bistro D’Antiono are both known for. However, it’s the Party to Go menu that maximizes the family-style dining option. Party to Go allows you take the party home with you as the items on this menu serve up to eight people, and are made to be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home or gathering space.
Finally, the Bistro offers an All-Inclusive Menu, Monday through Thursday, which boasts a three-course meal for only $25 per person.
With a large selection of wine and a full bar, diners can make any meal complete by capping off their order with an old favorite or imbibing in something new.
In fact, the restaurant recently held their first Wine Dinner, where Chef Peraza pairs hand selected meals with choice wines; enhancing the dining experience while allowing patrons to “taste their way through Italy” for only $40 per diner.
While the first Wine Dinner sold out in a mere three-weeks, another is to be hosted October 18 to celebrate Bistro D’Antonio’s one-year anniversary. These events allow Antonio and Charlene to socialize and celebrate with the customers who they so love to feed.
While the cuisine is their name, people are their game. The Somers are as at home in the dining room with their customers as they are in the kitchen.
Hartis remarks that “everyone who walks in the door at Bistro D’Antonio is automatically family! Antonio greets and interacts with most everyone. Always staying busy and making sure every guest’s experience is top notch.”Charlene is a “social butterfly”, always chatting with customers, especially the familiar faces of their regular customers.
With daily drink and food specials, such friendly owners and pleasant staff, it’s easy to see why so many patrons become regulars at Antonio’s eatery The restaurant is open daily, Sunday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and starting October 2 they will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
