DINING
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza: Italian Goes Mainstream by Tim
HarT
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza should be on your restaurant rotation. I frequent the Planation location, but I have included the east Fort Lauderdale address for our readers’ convenience. This is a very successful operation with locations all over the country and six locations in Broward alone. They attribute the success of the operation to a combination of top-quality ingredients, a simple, consistent menu, authentic, coal ovens and a staff that treats guests like “family.” To begin, they have a very interesting story. Growing up on Long Island in a traditional Italian family, Anthony Bruno, the proprietor, had a passion for great food that started at a very young age. His father, Anthony Sr., moved to South Florida in 1982 and father and son debuted Anthony’s Runway 84, (one of the area’s most celebrated and popular restaurants). In 2002, Anthony unveiled a new concept that introduced the taste of coal oven pizza to South Floridians. He believed there was a great opportunity to create pizza that rivaled the ones he enjoyed growing up in New York. The Plantation location is very nicely laid out. There is table seating both indoors
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and out. There is a fully stocked bar at one end of the restaurant to imbibe while waiting to be seated, or just to enjoy a sporting event on one of the many flat screens that adorn the walls. While it is not the largest of spaces, it is never cramped, but it is quite popular, so get there early or be prepared to wait (the wait is worth it). There are old albums and covers adorning the wall and a great poster of John Lennon. It is a very nice atmosphere. After being seated by the hostess, I ordered the Roasted Chicken Wings to start with. These wings are special. They are served with caramelized onions and focaccia bread. I get the small (10 wings for $9.50) but they have a large (20 wings for $15.50) for the heartier appetite. I compliment this order with a Coal Oven Traditional Pie (12” for $12.25; 16” for $15.50). They cook their pizzas in an 800-degree oven that provides a ‘well-done’ flavor that has become their trademark. They have a number of different specialty named pizzas but you can create whatever you are in the mood for and they will make it. Each additional topping is $1.75 theguymag
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