Antoine's

Antoine's Review

Owners Tony and Beth Astle have run this renowned restaurant for more than a quarter century, and it retains a reputation as one of the special-occasion spots in town, though it also has its regulars (among them the New Zealand prime minister John Key and his wife Bronagh who live nearby). The decor is low-key, the service immaculate, and the food delicious—and expensive. Tony is still at the stove, and his "table menu" reads as if it were designed by a chef half his age. On his "nostalgic menu" you find classics such as raw spinach salad with chicken livers or oxtail with baby mushrooms. The table menu reflects the season and always pleases whether it's a simple salad to start or double-cooked pork belly with a mushroom congee. The wine list is extensive.