An Experienced Hand Stirs The Pot

At Antonio’s Bistro

Antonio’s Bistro at 270 Federal Road in Brookfield serves fine northern Italian cuisine under the watchful eye and skilled hand of chef/owner Mhr A. Bhuiyan, well known to area diners for his tenure with Mona Lisa Restaurant in Newtown.

Known to his friend as “Al,” he arrived in the United States in 1985 at the age of 20. He initially worked in restaurants in New York City and made his way to Newtown in the late 1980s. Al worked for Mona Lisa for more than a decade before moving on to create his own vision of the marriage between kitchen and dining room. Al and his wife Ruma are in their second year of operation at Antonio’s Bistro.

The bistro’s elegantly appointed décor features soft earth tones, including walls of goldenrod above wainscoting of sage. Curtains of burgundy, with matching table linen, define the dining room, which parallels the entry/waiting area to the hostess stand. The spacious dining room, seating approximately 60 people, features a large fish tank toward the rear. In warm weather, the terrace offers seating for an additional 20 patrons. Tucked neatly behind the dining room is a bar area offering space for another 15 guests and which hosts a Thursday and Friday Happy Hour.

Antonio’s offers an extensive and well versed wine list to accompany it fine meals.

The lunch menu is varied, offering salads, grinders, burgers, and sandwiches ($7.95–$10.95), as well as appetizers, soups, and entrees. Current lunch and dinner specials can be found on the eatery’s website, www.antoniosbistro.com, along with full lunch and dinner menus. Antonio’s also offers Lunch @ $8.99, with eight selections that include Boston scrod, penne shoe makers, and pork tenderloin Marsala. Soup or salad can be added for $2.95.

The dinner menu offers patrons their choice of more than a dozen appetizers, including Caprise Bruschetta, spicy shrimp and fresh mozzarella for two, and five soup choices. Entrée choices are extensive, with a variety of chicken, veal, beef, pasta, and seafood selections available. Dinner prices begin at $14.95 and top out with the house specialty Lovers Choice for Two — two Maine lobster tails, New York strip steak and grilled chicken breast finished with a Champagne mushroom and green peppercorn cream sauce, served with rice, pasta, and vegetables — at $79.95. Most entrees are priced between $14.95 and $23.95.

The menu also features two other house specialties, zuppa de pesce (Maine lobster tail, shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, and the catch of the day prepared in a choice of marinara, fra diavolo or a white wine and garlic sauce served over linguini) available for one or for two; and veal and shrimp Juliet (medallions of veal lightly egg batter dipped with shrimp sautéed with artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and green peppercorn in a brandy cream sauce.)

Offered as well are evening dinner specials. Recent choices have included Chef Al’s seafood stuffed chicken (baked scaloppini of chicken breast, stuffed with shrimp, scallops, asparagus and herbs, topped with a creamy mushroom Marsala sauce and served with lobster ravioli), pork chop Casanova (grilled and finished in a Madeira wine and mushroom sauce), and lamb shank Romano (braised in sauce of fresh vegetable puree).

And of course, there is always pizza at Antonio’s. Available in 14-, 16- and 18-inch sizes, prices begin at $10. There is also a selection of gourmet pizzas ranging from the Margarita (tomatoes, mozzarella and basil) to clams casino (whole baby clams, onion, bacon, peppers, garlic, oil and seasonings.)

The entire menu is available for takeout. Antonio’s also provides catering services and hosts private events.

Antonio’s Bistro, 270 Federal Road in Brookfield, is open for lunch Tuesday–Saturday, 11:30 to 2:30 and for dinner, 5 to 9, to 10 on Friday and Saturday; Sunday noon to 9 pm. Closed Monday. All major credit cards are accepted; reservations are suggested.

To place takeout, reservations, or for information call 740-8664 or visit the website, www.antoniosbistro.com.