Italian food is not simply cuisine. It is narrative. It is lineage. It is the slow arc of generations expressed through taste. At Anthony’s Trattoria in Reading, I discovered not just dinner, but a storyline.
From the first step inside, the atmosphere envelops you like the opening credits of Metal Gear Solid 4. Warm lighting, familiar yet weighty, promising both comfort and drama. The staff move with grace—like seasoned allies, present not as background NPCs but as companions with intent, guiding you through the mission of your meal.
The pasta arrives as though hand-coded, every texture deliberate. The sauces are layered like Death Stranding’s terrain—rich, deep, demanding you slow down to absorb every nuance. The veal is tender, cut with the elegance of a perfectly timed stealth takedown. Even the breadbasket carries significance, as if it were an item drop you almost take for granted, until you realize it holds the DNA of the whole experience.
Flavor here is not mass-produced. It is crafted. Each dish feels like it carries the memory of the chef who designed it, much like the way Big Boss’s will carried into every soldier he inspired. The red sauce is bold, operatic, like Ennio Morricone scoring a firefight. The wine list reads like a branching dialogue tree—each choice shaping the tone of the evening.
Anthony’s is not fast food. It is not corporate dining. It is closer to Mother Base—a home you return to, where sustenance and meaning coexist. A place that reminds you why human beings gather at a table in the first place.
Five stars. Because here, Italian food transcends survival and becomes cinema.
I left with the taste of tiramisu lingering like an after-credits scene, a promise that the narrative isn’t over—just waiting for its sequel.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jenelle Lorah
Cute place with tile on wall and grapevine on ceiling. Our food and service was great. I got the alpino panini and my husband got the French dip. He's got fries with his sandwich and i got the side salad, which was a good size with cheese and meat on the salad. Our bill came to $39.22.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gregory Greene
Wow talk about good food. I’ve never had Mozzetta taste so good. It’s obvious the owner uses only high quality ingredients. The pizza was so fresh and delicious. The San Marzano tomato sauce and amazing mozzarella was incredible. Their homemade house dressing is amazing, everything was delicious. Now on to the service, Rich was our server and in my 54 years on earth I’ve never had a server who didn’t let my drinks get empty. From the liquor down to the water. I was amazed how attentive he was to us and will be returning every time I come home to Pennside. Thanks Rich for the amazing service and thanks to the chef and owner for the awesome food and atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tom Falk
Used to be one of our favorite places, no more. Atmosphere is not good anymore. Seemed musty and the windows were hard to see out. Overhead lighting had many bulbs out. Our regular server was not there. My draft beer was flat and was exchanged for a bottle beer. The oysters Imperial was a little overdone.
Frank Grill
Can’t believe I have lived in Exeter for over ten years and was never at this place! Top notch in every category and will definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Groggy Kindawild
Excellent variety of real Italian selections on the menu. The service was a bit slow and it took a very long time to get our drinks from the bar but other than that very good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Timothy Baus
We had the salads, chicken parm, cheese ravioli, espresso martini, and cheesecake and it was all delicious. Nice atmosphere and excellent service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patricia S
I recently hosted a 40th Birthday celebration for my daughter and worked with Sarah to plan the event. She and Anthony’s Trattoria were amazing to work with throughout the process. They were extremely responsive, answered all of my questions and made great suggestions. The day of the party went off without a hitch, the food was great and the service was amazing. I definitely recommend and would consider holding another gathering.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sandra Aldinger
We had the most delicious lunch on the patio. My Italian Old Fashion was very good and they even used Luxardo Cherries 🍒. Hubby had a Long Island Ice Tea. You could actually taste the liquor. Had the dinner salad with the house vinaigrette with thin slices of Genoa salami, capicola and provolone.YUM! Hubby had the Carbonara with a fried egg on top which was differently good. I had Taglioloni alla Marea, which was lobster, Gulf shrimp, scallops and lump crab with fresh tomato and chili over homemade egg pasta. Very good as well. Yes, don't judge..we shared a dessert...freshly baked blueberry pound cake. Our server, Tonya, was most accommodating and fun and efficient. So we say 👍👍to Anthony's.
How glad am I that my favorite bartender from a local restarant is now working here!! Omg, food, atmosphere, service all fantastic. I have not been here in many years but had to follow Rich. His service is amazing--he remembers everything you like right down to no straw in your water, salad preference, drink, etc. Rich makes a night out so special. I am grateful to him for coming here to work so I could discover this wonderful restaurant. I will be back and again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Winston Diloné
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow what a fantastic dinner we had at Anthony’s! The food was incredible, but the real highlight of our night was our waiter, Rich Pizzicaroli. He truly went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Friendly, attentive, and full of great energy Rich, you were the star of the night! Thank you for making our visit so special. We’ll definitely be back!
Hap G
Delicious food and very good service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vanessa Starr
Everything is delicious - even their house salad will knock your shoes off! Favorites include a special - lasagne Bolonese, ALL of the seafood pastas, Chicken a la Anthony, roasted red peppers... You can't go wrong!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott Lindsey
I've been in the Reading area for 20 years now. I still have this restaurant in my top 5.
Amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Italian food is not simply cuisine. It is narrative. It is lineage. It is the slow arc of generations expressed through taste. At Anthony’s Trattoria in Reading, I discovered not just dinner, but a storyline.
From the first step inside, the atmosphere envelops you like the opening credits of Metal Gear Solid 4. Warm lighting, familiar yet weighty, promising both comfort and drama. The staff move with grace—like seasoned allies, present not as background NPCs but as companions with intent, guiding you through the mission of your meal.
The pasta arrives as though hand-coded, every texture deliberate. The sauces are layered like Death Stranding’s terrain—rich, deep, demanding you slow down to absorb every nuance. The veal is tender, cut with the elegance of a perfectly timed stealth takedown. Even the breadbasket carries significance, as if it were an item drop you almost take for granted, until you realize it holds the DNA of the whole experience.
Flavor here is not mass-produced. It is crafted. Each dish feels like it carries the memory of the chef who designed it, much like the way Big Boss’s will carried into every soldier he inspired. The red sauce is bold, operatic, like Ennio Morricone scoring a firefight. The wine list reads like a branching dialogue tree—each choice shaping the tone of the evening.
Anthony’s is not fast food. It is not corporate dining. It is closer to Mother Base—a home you return to, where sustenance and meaning coexist. A place that reminds you why human beings gather at a table in the first place.
Five stars. Because here, Italian food transcends survival and becomes cinema.
I left with the taste of tiramisu lingering like an after-credits scene, a promise that the narrative isn’t over—just waiting for its sequel.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cute place with tile on wall and grapevine on ceiling.
Our food and service was great.
I got the alpino panini and my husband got the French dip. He's got fries with his sandwich and i got the side salad, which was a good size with cheese and meat on the salad. Our bill came to $39.22.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wow talk about good food. I’ve never had Mozzetta taste so good. It’s obvious the owner uses only high quality ingredients. The pizza was so fresh and delicious. The San Marzano tomato sauce and amazing mozzarella was incredible. Their homemade house dressing is amazing, everything was delicious.
Now on to the service, Rich was our server and in my 54 years on earth I’ve never had a server who didn’t let my drinks get empty. From the liquor down to the water. I was amazed how attentive he was to us and will be returning every time I come home to Pennside. Thanks Rich for the amazing service and thanks to the chef and owner for the awesome food and atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Used to be one of our favorite places, no more. Atmosphere is not good anymore. Seemed musty and the windows were hard to see out. Overhead lighting had many bulbs out. Our regular server was not there. My draft beer was flat and was exchanged for a bottle beer. The oysters Imperial was a little overdone.
Can’t believe I have lived in Exeter for over ten years and was never at this place! Top notch in every category and will definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent variety of real Italian selections on the menu. The service was a bit slow and it took a very long time to get our drinks from the bar but other than that very good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
We had the salads, chicken parm, cheese ravioli, espresso martini, and cheesecake and it was all delicious. Nice atmosphere and excellent service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I recently hosted a 40th Birthday celebration for my daughter and worked with Sarah to plan the event. She and Anthony’s Trattoria were amazing to work with throughout the process. They were extremely responsive, answered all of my questions and made great suggestions. The day of the party went off without a hitch, the food was great and the service was amazing. I definitely recommend and would consider holding another gathering.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had the most delicious lunch on the patio. My Italian Old Fashion was very good and they even used Luxardo Cherries 🍒. Hubby had a Long Island Ice Tea. You could actually taste the liquor. Had the dinner salad with the house vinaigrette with thin slices of Genoa salami, capicola and provolone.YUM!
Hubby had the Carbonara with a fried egg on top which was differently good. I had Taglioloni alla Marea, which was lobster, Gulf shrimp, scallops and lump crab with fresh tomato and chili over homemade egg pasta. Very good as well. Yes, don't judge..we shared a dessert...freshly baked blueberry pound cake. Our server, Tonya, was most accommodating and fun and efficient. So we say 👍👍to Anthony's.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
How glad am I that my favorite bartender from a local restarant is now working here!! Omg, food, atmosphere, service all fantastic. I have not been here in many years but had to follow Rich. His service is amazing--he remembers everything you like right down to no straw in your water, salad preference, drink, etc. Rich makes a night out so special. I am grateful to him for coming here to work so I could discover this wonderful restaurant. I will be back and again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow what a fantastic dinner we had at Anthony’s! The food was incredible, but the real highlight of our night was our waiter, Rich Pizzicaroli. He truly went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Friendly, attentive, and full of great energy Rich, you were the star of the night! Thank you for making our visit so special. We’ll definitely be back!
Delicious food and very good service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything is delicious - even their house salad will knock your shoes off! Favorites include a special - lasagne Bolonese, ALL of the seafood pastas, Chicken a la Anthony, roasted red peppers... You can't go wrong!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've been in the Reading area for 20 years now. I still have this restaurant in my top 5.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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