Anthony’s Italian Kitchen

We tried this out and agreed it was decidedly middle of the road. The food was bland and the pasta wasn’t fresh. I had the jumbo ravioli and my wife had the chicken parmesan. Both under seasoned and the chicken was dry. Both tasted like store bought pasta. For the price this was expected but underwhelming.

I visited here for the first time the other day and it was quite the experience! My sister and I were just looking for a good sub and we found character too when we walked in here. The man at the cash register, who I believe is the owner, was so nice! He greeted everyone that walked in by first name. He could tell that we were new to his place. His daughter and him were like a small comedy show. They were both very kind people, and I think that is why this place was so great. The food was good too. the owners daughter allowed us to split a sub and order different veggies on each half. I will definitely be back to try the pizza that everyone raves about.

The hole-​in-​the-​wall pizzeria that everyone needs in their lives. The pies are some of he best in town. Like a lot of old school pizza places in P-​town, this is a humble establishment run by an Italian-​Americans.
The sauce has lots of character! Unlike Otto’s or Pat’s, it’s more spicy and herbed than sweet and tangy. The cheese blend is fairly thick and includes a lot of parmesan. I usually have a hard time deciding between cheese and pepperoni.
All of this makes for a thicker and relatively greasy pie. A little different than the classic NY or Boston slice, but that’s not at all a problem. The pizza, the place, and the people all have character! Sometimes you’ll even see Anthony himself working the counter alongside some of his grand kids. Hope his place sticks around for a long time.

Great New York style pizza. We came across this place as they were about to close on New Year’s Eve, but they graciously let us get a slice and we were extremely pleased with our purchases. Reasonably priced (at $ 3/​cheese $ 3.50 for pepperoni) and decently sized. They also have beer by the bottle/​can to purchase which is a nice option to have when eating delicious pizza. We’ll definitely go back.

Great subs for lunch, staff friendly and helpful. Good selection of Hot or Cold subs, Italian pastas, and reasonable prices.

I absolutely ADORE and lust after great Bolognese sauce… but it truly is extremely hard to come by… even in otherwise excellent Italian restaurants. It just so often feels like an afterthought… something thrown together to slather on a pasta side dish… no depth of flavor whatsoever. When I find a great one, Ive found heaven.
And heaven exists at Sabatinos (the gold standard), The Villa, Barba Yianni, Gene and Georgetti, and Club Lago… all in Chicago; Patsy’s in New York; Anna’s in Los Angeles; Gian Tony’s and Cunetto’s, both in St. Louis; Paul’s in Columbus Ohio; and Al’an Rubens Bar and Grill in Washington, PA. NOW, I can add Anthony’s Italian Kitchen to this honored pantheon!
Was not expecting much… as I’ve been burned too many times… but when the gregarious Anthony himself recommended the Bolognese… how could I resist? And it was MAGNIFICENT! Bursting with fresh tomato and meaty flavor… subtle and intense at the same time. Very very fresh tasting and supremely satisfying! Can’t wait for more!!! Plus, wife had a really excellent Italian Roast Beef Sub.
There are other much more upscale and expensive Italian restaurants in Portland that offer their own «re-​imagined» take on Bolognese sauce… and most fall flat on their precious little faces (and in keeping with my personal policy of not disparaging local independent businesses… UNLESS service is bad… I won’t name them)…but Anthony’s version really is a comforting warm hug…
Cannot eat here that often, as I want to still fit in my jeans… but when I can justify a carb and calorie splurge, I’ll be back! Yummm!

The server was funny and fast. I really liked this place. The food was amazing.

Nice to find a place that doesn’t serve just flat bread pizza. Good traditional pizza with lots of flavor. Quick take out. Only open during the week unfortunately.

Having only had the meatballs that Tony so graciously donated to a cast dinner a while back, (we were in a show together), I knew that I was in for a treat when I went in to the restaurant. The atmosphere was warm & welcome, the menu was full of great options, and the portions were huge! I will say that the seating leaves something to be desired, as I didn’t realize it was such a small dining room; however, it just lead to the warm & cozy environment that I *was* expecting it to have. The pasta, meatballs, and sauces I had were delicious and filling, and I’m very eager to return & continue trying new and seemingly delicious dishes.

I ordered online for a work lunch and asked for delivery. Not only did Anthony call me to let me know it would be no problem, I got a follow up call the next day to see if everything was to our liking. Class act for sure.
I discovered this restaurant in my college days and always come back. Everything is delicious and the staff is amazing. They are efficient and attentive.

For a fast food pizza-​by-​the-​slice kind of place, Anthony’s is good. If you want real Italian at a nice sit-​down place where someone takes your order, this is not the place to go. My family and I came here for
a quick dinner and while their meals were ok (gyros were dry but edible, ziti and meatballs were ok but the sauce tasted like Ragu, pizza was good) the chicken Marsala I ordered was pretty awful. It tasted like they just dumped Marsala wine and olive oil over some microwaved chicken tenders and mushrooms (from a can) and called it a day. I threw most of it out, and that’s saying something because I will eat almost anything, and hate wasting food. So avoid the chicken Marsala, don’t expect a nice sit down type place, and you will be fine!

I go to Anthonys at least once a week, as I work in town. I have never been let down. The pasta, the pizza, and the sandwiches are all supreme. For all the haters calling out the «basement» feel — I think that is half the allure of Anthony’s! You feel like you are tucked away in a real Italian bistro.
Also, Anthony and his daughters are the best! We always get the best customer service and he always has a smile on his face. He goes out of his way to have personal interactions with everyone that walks through the door.

My friend and I decided we wanted calzones and, having searched for Portland’s premier calzone establishment on Unilocal,settled on Anthony’s Italian Kitchen.
Arriving at store, we perused the selection of calzones listed on their wall-​mounted menu. Having made our decisions, we attempted to place our order with the cashier. He informed us that they did not have any calzones. He then offered to sell us pizza instead, and so we agreed that, as we were both very hungry, we could simply order a few slices. We placed our revised orders, at which point the cashier informed us that he just had a pizza that he was willing to sell us for the combined total of the slices we ordered, but with the requirement that we leave the store immediately if we accepted this deal.
We took the pizza. It was 14 dollars, and I guess it was alright, but I could’ve easily purchased a pizza of comparable quality at a chain pizza place for 66% of the price. Also, I’m pretty sure Pizza Hut has calzones on the menu and that they WILL serve them to you if you ask and offer to pay the listed price.
Also, they will not ask you to get out immediately after making a purchase.
Do not come here if you want a calzone, and especially do not come here if you want to eat a calzone sitting down. If you want «discount» overpriced pizza, this seems like a great restaurant at which to purchase it.

I succumbed to a weird bolognese craving and unreasonably positive Unilocal reviews and ordered the angel hair (it was that or ziti) with the «meat-​based» house red sauce here. I don’t know why I expected an Italian restaurant in a basement in the Old Port to be anything but a funny-​smelling checkerboard-​floored room adorned with red curtains and walls plus lots of fake foliage and a late-​Elvis cover band on the soundtrack, or to include any discernible meat in the «meat-​based» sauce, but I was disappointed. Stay away if you can help it.

This place is alright… nothing off-​the-​wall awesome about it. Everyone in there has always been super nice, so great service. Good Italian sandwiches & pizza.

A few weeks ago, another Unilocaler checked in at Anthony’s Kitchen. It instantly reminded me of years past when I worked closer and visited regularly. My mouth began watering at the thought of their oh-​so-​delicious chicken parmigiana calzone. I could taste it, and I wanted it, badly.
That’s the power of Anthony’s Kitchen… years after your last bite, the mere mention of the place sends you on a quest across Portland in the rain for its deliciousness. Anthony and his staff are super sweet, helpful, and light-​hearted. You can feel the happiness when you walk in and chat with them for a few minutes before your meal arrives (and yes, my chicken parm tasted exactly as I remembered).
I absolutely love this spot, and I don’t know whether I should thank or strangle the Unilocaler-​who-​checked-​in. He helped me rediscover an old haunt — but now I crave more from the kitchen across town!

I wandered in hungry around noon before the lunch rush. The guy in front of me ordered a «tan jeff», a special, so i got one too. good call. It’s a grilled wheat wrap with house chicken salad and deli slice ham. what? I’ve never seen that combo. And grilled wraps are so good. And so is whole wheat. Unique and tasty sandwich.

I would eat here every day if I could. In fact, I DID eat here every day for a stretch of months until I got too fat and had to stop.
The subs, pizza, and wraps are just pure deliciousness. The meatball and chicken parm subs are especially crazy-​good. I’ve been to Italy a couple times, and this is not authentic Italian. The portions are more generous, the flavors less-​subtle, and the ingredients probably not as fresh, but you know what? I don’t care! It’s hearty American Italian food and I love it.
The atmosphere is weird, but charming in its own way. It’s located at basement level and has no windows. It’s decorated in a musical theater theme with a shrine-​like corner dedicated to The Sopranos (the HBO show). Tony (the owner) is obsessed with performing and musical theater, and hosts musical revue nights at Anthony’s Dinner Theater, which is really just the dining room (which has a stage at one end) with some curtains drawn to separate it from the ordering area. I’ve been to one of these, and it was… unique, but that’s a separate review.
Tony is jovial and clearly loves greeting people and playing host, while his daughters prepare food, take orders, and do table service. All three of them are charming and pleasant to chat with. I am secretly in love with one of his daughters (shhhhhh).
Fun fact: I once heard Tony confess that he’s never actually been to Italy :)

I was in Maine with my field hockey team to play the Southern U. Of ME– but we stayed in Portland. To get ready for our game the night before we needed to get someplace cheap, quick-​ish and big enough to fit my team of 20 athletes.
Even though I called earlier to give them the heads up… no one seemed to have taken a message so they were caught pretty off guard about making 20 dinners. Despite the little oversight it was still a good dinner– we were not there for a dinner show but I hear it’s a hoot!
I ordered the turkey dinner wrap– it was excellent– a little bizarre on a wrap but still good.
We were there for a REALLY long time– but it was still a good time.
This is an order at the counter and they bring it to you kind of place.
It was good. That is all :-D

Anthony’s Italian Kitchen is located in the basement of 151 Middle Street next door to Bull Moose Music. The walls just outside the shop are painted with a Broadway theme and depict musicals such as The Lion King and Les Miserables; enter through the «Stage Door» for Anthony’s Italian Kitchen. The shop itself is very small with a takeout counter, but in the next room covered by curtain is Anthony’s Dinner Theater, which offers a live performance and 5 course dinner ($ 39.95 pp) in an intimate cozy setting every Friday and Saturday evening. For information, visit
Beer and wine available.
The food menu offers roll-​ups, sandwiches (8″ or 10″), ciabatta sandwiches, melts, pizza (by the pie or slice), melts, salads, Italian dinners, chips, and cooler drinks. See the menu at

We stopped here for dinner takeout over the weekend and ordered two Italian dinners (choice of pasta) served with garlic bread. The total came out to $ 10.69 with tax and buy one get one free coupon. The service was quick and the food was all set to go in 8 minutes. The Chicken Tetrazzini was rich and had plenty of boneless chicken chunks (chewy), mushrooms, and sliced cherry tomatoes in a parmesan cream sauce over al dente fettuccine. The Chicken Cacciatore was not too heavy and had boneless chicken, mushrooms, onions, and peppers in a light tasting red sauce over al dente fettuccine. Both dinners were pretty good and fresh. The baked buttered garlic bread (sub roll halves) was soft and firm outside. We enjoyed the food here and would definitely return. A full course dinner and a live show already sound great!