Anthony's Pier 4: Boston Icon

Anthony's Pier 4: Boston Icon. . , In 1960, "people told me I was crazy when I bought the Northam Avenue site," recalled Anthony Athanas. But he was determined a restaurant on the dismal old pier could work. And it did. Anthony's Pier 4 became one of the highest grossing restaurants in the country. For decades, diners celebrated life's milestones at Anthony's, feasting on seafood, prime rib, and popovers, partaking of the extensive wine list., Athanas attributed his success to hard work and his involvement in every facet of the business. Colleagues in the foodservice industry rated his great instincts and vision., Four-year-old Anthony had emigrated from Albania in 1915. He left school at 13, working to help support his family. He never forgot his roots. Fellow Albanians pointed new arrivals seeking work to Athanas. A map at the restaurant showed employees' countries of origin. Athanas made a point of attending their naturalization ceremonies., By the end of the century, dining options in Boston expanded and shifted. In August 2013, eight years after Athanas's death, his flagship restaurant served its last meal., (photo captions) , Top For almost 50 years, Anthony's Pier 4 was a vital part of the city's social and political life. To get to the dining room, one crossed a small bridge spanning a lobster pool. Athanas wanted his customers to feel like they were making a "grand entrance.", Bottom images left to right , Liz Taylor helped put Anthony's Pier 4 restaurant on the map when she dined there. She is pictured here next to Anthony Athanas and his wife, Esther. Their sons Paul, Robert, Anthony Jr., and Michael stand behind them., S.S. Peter Stuyvesant arrived at Pier 4 September 1968 and waited while and elaborate docking facility was built. For a decade, the former Hudson River steamship served as the restaurant's special events venue and cocktail lounge. , Then, during the Blizzard of '78, hurricane-force winds tore apart the underwater cradle and the steel and concrete attaching it to the pier. The vessel sank and could not be salvaged. , ~Courtesy of the Boston Globe Archives., The restaurants foyer walls were covered with photos of celebreties who dined at Pier 4. In his tribute to Athanas in the U.S. Senate in 2005, Senator John Kerry noted, however, that "irrespective of name recognition or social standing, every guest received the same gracious reception from Anthony." , "The best part is watching the steam escape from a popover when you break it apart, the butter melts instantly in them," wrote a diner. A fresh batch of popovers came out of the oven every 15 minutes. , ~Images courtesy of the Athanas family