Get Your Last Taste Of Downtown's Anthony's Fish Grotto | Historic San Diego Bay Restaurant To Close On January 31

January 16, 2017

After more than 70 years serving seafood on San Diego Bay, Anthony's Fish Grotto will close its downtown location after service on Tuesday, January 31.

A controversial subject in San Diego, Anthony's was essentially ousted from it's longtime lease by the Port of San Diego after being accused of allowing its space to fall into a state of disrepair. The Port sought applications for redevelopment of the area, and although both Anthony's and a joint Cohn Restaurant Group/CH Projects bid went on to final considerations, ultimately the Port awarded the lease to the Brigantine Group, who will perform a $13 million renovation on the space to construct its Portside Pier proposal.

Artistic renderings of the Brigantine's Portside Pier

Anthony's Fish Grotto, which just celebrated its 70th anniversary, was first opened as a 16-seat diner by Catherine "Mama" Ghio in downtown San Diego's ferry landing building in 1946 before moving to it's North Embarcadero space at 1360 North Harbor Drive in 1965, where the restaurant claims to have served over 22 million people. Anthony's is planning a closing week party where it will give away gift cards to use at the La Mesa location.

Once Anthony moves out, the waterfront building will be demolished and 66 new pilings will be replaced before construction begins on a 2 story, 37,000+ square foot restaurant complex to include  Brigantine on the Bay, Miguel's Cocina, Ketch Grill & Taps and Portside Gelato & Coffee. There will also be a second floor viewing deck and a dock that can accommodate up to 12 watercraft. The Portside Pier Project is anticipated to be completed by late 2018.

Anthony's Fish Grotto still has a lakeside location at 9530 Murray Drive in La Mesa. For more information, visit anthonysfishgrotto.com.