Three words:1. BEST
2. CIOPPINO
3. EVER!
What? You don't know what cioppino is? My heart cries for you. Imagine for a moment, succulent scallops the size of jumbo marshmallows, buttery-tender salmon chunks, clams that could be confused for precious gemstones, and monstrous hunks of prime dungenous crab all swimming together in a delicately tomatoed broth that sings of garlic and Italian spices. When I crave it, I not only want to eat it, I want to inject it into my veins and have it course through my entire body. WAIT! I almost forgot, how could I....the shrimp, the size of your ear, with the shell on so that the broth is trapped under the scale-like membrane encompassing the sweet flesh of the shrimpmeat inside. The only way to eat the shrimp is to suck out the broth with the urgency and necessity of an asthmatic on an inhaler, then you peel it and devour it. Let's go back to the dungenous crab....I'm talking shell-on here too: claws and legs and body, enchanted by the broth much the same way as the shrimp so that you must crack it with your teeth (think of that lobster scene with Daryl Hannah in 1984's Splash). The juice runs down your face and chin and you could not be happier. It's pretty awesome.
I love cioppino and there's good cioppino out there. I know because if I see it on the menu anywhere, I must order it. I've had $40.00 bowls and "fusion" bowls (cioppino served with udon noodles)...but nothing compares to the quart size deli container of Antipastos' cioppino. My absolute favorite.
I would end here but the cioppino is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Antipastos' has tons more to offer. I don't even know if the cioppino is what they are particularly known for, it just so happens to be my favorite. Most of the floor space is dedicated to a market specializing in tasty Italian imports and a meat/deli counter. Grab an order slip and customize your own made-to-order-freshest-ingredient sandwich (I suggest the sourdough bread) or veer to the west side of the establishment to the hot counter where you can order the cioppino or from daily offerings like eggplant parm, prime rib (on Thursdays), or homemade fresh ravioli. Plates (that can be eaten there on quaint but limited tables), except pasta dishes, come with bread and butter, penne pasta in marinara, vegetables (or double pasta), and a side salad. Be warned though, you need to know whether you want tomato and bacon on your side salad and what dressing (I suggest creamy Italian) otherwise you might meet who is affectionately known as "The Pasta Nazi". Just like classic Seinfeldian lore, he's a guy with attitude that adds to the character of the entire experience. I'm not sure of the Past Nazi's real name, but he looks like if James Taylor and Michael Gross from Family Ties had a surly baby. I've heard he's gotten better and nicer but either way it's worth it.
Antipastos' is located on McKee Road (near Toyon Ave. Road) in San Jose.
