Anthony's Back in Running to Keep Coveted Waterfront Spot

At yesterday's San Diego Unified Port District meeting, officials received positive recommendations on two proposals submitted by different local groups interested in developing the 31,608-square-foot waterfront footprint occupied by Anthony's Fish Grotto for more than 60 years. One project, The Embarcadero, would house concepts from the Cohn Restaurant Group, CH Projects, King's Seafood Company and Stone Brewing Co; the other, Portside Pier, would be a group of eateries from The Brigantine family of restaurants.

But in an interesting turn of events, Anthony's may win the chance to stay at the site when its lease is up in early 2017. NBC7 says that after Anthony's owner Craig Ghio spoke at the meeting, the Port Commission agreed to give the longtime restaurant a chance to throw its hat back into the ring with two other bidders. Anthony's will be tweaking its original proposal, a partnership with The Fish Market, which includes significant design improvements to Anthony's and a new, upscale seafood restaurant called Harbor and Ash.