Oli George
I love introducing people to the joyful experience that is dining at Antoine’s Restaurant. Tucked into a strip mall across from Ed Smith Stadium behind a 7-Eleven is not where one expects to find an elegant fine-dining establishment, but walk the red carpet that leads from the sidewalk through the front door, and you’ll find yourself in a beautifully appointed jewel box of a dining room with sumptuous scarlet walls and striking chandeliers.
Antoine’s has built a solid reputation that is reflected in its numerous online accolades: consistently ranked in the top 10 restaurants on Tripadvisor, 4.9 stars on Yelp, 4.9 stars on Resy, and an outstanding 4.7 on Google Reviews. The location helps to preserve its mystique as an undiscovered gem even though the intimate dining room is always full and reservations are often hard to get (especially for the popular Monday Mussel Mania special of "all you can eat" mussels).
I recently read the following description of the Eastern concepts of yin and yang: “Yin and yang represent duality, or the idea that two opposite characteristics can actually exist in harmony and complement each other.” I can’t think of a more perfect illustration of this concept than that of the power couple owners of Antoine’s. Angela M’Bairounga is the queen of the kitchen, an exacting and talented chef who stays behind the line and cooks every exquisite dish. Olivier Georges is the king of the dining room, and he rules with a velvet touch. Oli, as he’s affectionately known to his friends, is as integral to the success of Antoine’s as is the fabulous continental cuisine. He’s a big personality with a handlebar mustache, a thick Belgian accent, and an eclectic wardrobe (see the yellow shirt covered in flamingos that he’s sporting in the picture). Oli is the star of the show at Antoine’s: He greets you at the door, helps you select the perfect wine, guides you through the menu, and talks you into dessert, all while keeping an eye on every guest and supervising his small team of service staff.
Oli’s distinctive voice can be heard above the din of satisfied chatter as he playfully makes recommendations for wine pairings: “If you don’t like the wine, I’ll drink it!” he proclaims as he pours a glass with a flourish. “Presentation is important, but my real job is pouring wine for my wife, so I get a lot of practice.”
There’s a lot to love at Antoine’s, baskets of warm homemade bread, giant pots of steaming mussels, perfectly scored duck breasts, Filet Mignon en Croute, and the best Belgian chocolate mousse you can find outside of Brussels. Of course, the most lovable aspect of dining at Antoine’s is also an export from Brussels: His name is Olivier, and if you don’t like the wine he’ll drink it—though he’s confident that you will.
> Antonie’s: 1100 N Tuttle Ave, Sarasota; 941-331-1400;
antoinessarasota.com
