Italian

Anthony’s Runway 84 (Fort Lauderdale)

Posted on July 9th, 2008 · Fort Lauderdale Italian

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*****  Anthony’s Runway 84, 330 West State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315 (954) 467-8484.

The owner of Anthony’s Runway 84, is the same guy who in recent years has been “rolling out” Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza  joints literally all over South Florida.

Anthony’s Runway 84 is a white-cloth-upscale Italian Restaurant…This joint’s decor is Tony Soprano-Christopher Moltisanti-Paulie Gualtieri circa 1970. Anthony’s has an enormous-legendary following, so don’t even think about going to this joint without a reservation…(more on reservations later).

Just so you know…over the years I have eaten at Anthony’s Runway 84 at least 15 times…to be perfectly honest with you, I don’t know if I like or don’t like  this joint…I know that sounds nuts, but that’s the truth.

Anthony’s is notorious for not honoring reservations…over the years it has gotten a reputation for being a joint that hand-picks who gets seated and when they get seated…in the past, sometimes I was timely seated and sometimes I sat in the bar (for the longest period) trying to figure what the hell was going on…

Anthony’s is notorious for having an erratic kitchen…sometimes the food is absolutely incredible and sometimes it produces absolute garbage…in the past, I have had  great dishes, good dishes and garbage.

The one thing that has always been consistent at Anthony’s is the wait-service. Absolutely top-notch. By the way, Anthony’s prices are nothing  too terrible…you get a ton of food for the money.

The perfect Anthony’s Runway 84 experience is an “honored” reservation with great food…I have had such evenings… then again, I have had “honored” reservations with garbage…I have also had reservations “not honored” with great food…and reservations “not honored” with garbage.

Let me put it to you this way…eating at this joint is an absolute crap-shoot. Based on my having eaten in this joint something like 15 times, I must be a gambler and glutton for punishment all rolled up in one.

My suggestion is that you give Anthony’s Runway 84 at least one try…if the stars line-up for you, you will have an an absolutely fabulous dinner. When (if) it comes together, the combination of decor/ambiance/attitude/food/service is fantastic.

Anthony’s is open Tuesday-Sunday for dinner.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

 

18 Comments to “Anthony’s Runway 84 (Fort Lauderdale)”

  1. Mike Petrino says...

    Recently had dinner at Runway 84. The food is second rate. For the same money you can have a top notch meal at Matteo’s which has spots in Hallandale, Boca and Jupiter. Anthony’s is a waste of money.

  2. Johnnie C. says...

    Food C
    Service B

  3. JoyceEatsBagels says...

    Love the food and the service.
    Never had a bad meal.

  4. Mike B. says...

    Food C
    service B+

  5. mark p. says...

    great food and fun ambiance.

  6. jenna says...

    Ate there once, many years ago. It was just OK. Never went back.

  7. ge says...

    dinner last saturday, delicious.

  8. Johnny says...

    I had a bad experience before I even got there. I read this article about Mothers day and I thought it might be a good place to go, but when I called – Ralph answered and started yelling at me that there is no Mothers day brunch. I asked why are you yelling at me? I jsut saw the article and called. He said I dont care what the article or website said. No thanks Ralph- I”ll go somewhere else.

  9. SJA says...

    Eaten Italian food all over and Anthony’s is definitely up there with the best.

  10. Wedder says...

    Love the food here.

  11. KJU34 says...

    Jeff
    Your review is the perfect review.
    When Anthony’s is “on” its great and when it’s “off” it’s terrible.
    Great call.

    • Elaine says...

      Agree
      When on its great and when it’s off its a disaster.
      You got to be lucky when you go then.

  12. GRE says...

    This is my favorite Italian restaurant.

  13. So on the money, a hit and miss joint. Sometimes good sometimes lousy. You never know.

  14. Alex W says...

    Love the food. Been eating there for countless years. They never missed.

  15. SidRidesABike says...

    Have been eating here for over 25 years.
    Last night, jammed.
    Food and service were terrific.
    Try Anthony’s Runway 84 you won’t be disappointed.

  16. Eded says...

    Love their food.

  17. Midwood Gal says...

    Jammed this evening despite major rain storm.
    Food ok but nothing to get really excited about.
    First time for me and my husband.
    We won’t be running back all that fast.

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