This Saturday, Hoboken institution Anthony David’s is celebrating its 20th anniversary at the corner of 10th and Bloomfield streets.
Now a popular BYO, the restaurant has seen several transformations since Anthony and Liz Pino first opened Anthony David’s—named after Anthony, whose middle name is David—in 1998. It was originally a gourmet Italian grocery store and catering business. In 2002, the couple turned Anthony David’s into a full-scale Italian restaurant, offering brunch, dinners and catered events.
In 2013, they revamped the space again, expanding with the addition of a back room for private dining parties and whole new look. At that point, chef Anthony Pino decided to shift the restaurant’s focus, turning it into an all-day trattoria, with a menu that’s both timeless and creative.
Last month, I was invited to a dinner at Anthony David’s. It was one of those last days of August, when the heat wave finally broke, and the evening was cool enough that it required a sweater. I snagged a table outside—of which there are several, located on both sides of the corner restaurant.
Anthony David’s is BYO, but they now carry select wines from Unionville Vineyards, a winery located in Ringoes. You have to order the bottle (no glass pours), but it’s worth it—especially if you forget to bring a bottle with you. Wines start at $18 for a half bottle, and max out around $37. We opted for a bottle of Unionville’s dry rosé ($26.95), the perfect companion to the breezy summer evening. I would have gladly ordered a bottle of the Pheasant Hill Pinot Noir ($36.95), but Anthony David’s had run out of it.
The dinner menu encompasses a range of appetizers, pasta dishes and entrées. We started with the taleggio arancini ($12), which were perfectly crisp and served with a tomato-based, savory ’nduja “gravy.” The rock shrimp risotto ($32) was delicately flavored and colored with saffron, and the smoky eggplant Bolognese ($24), served on bucatini, could give any beef Bolognese a run for its money. Desserts, like the “old school” ice box cake ($10), are delightfully decadent.
Because I was there for dinner, I didn’t have the opportunity to try Anthony David’s crab cake special, a popular item on the restaurant’s brunch menu—but you can get a chance to do so this weekend at the restaurant’s anniversary celebration.
Anthony David’s will be hosting a 20th anniversary block party on Saturday, September 29 on 10th Street between Washington Street and Bloomfield Street in Hoboken. The event will run from 10 AM to 3 PM, and features a sangria bar with wines from Unionville Vineyards, live music and a special menu.
Anthony David’s, 953 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken; 201-222-8399. BYO; Open daily.