Anthony's Pizza & Italian Restaurant

So. It's been quite awhile since my family and I have been to Anthony's in Malvern. I have to say that the more they renovate the worse the restaurant becomes. We took my dad there for his 76th birthday. There were 7 of us altogether. My wife kids and grandson arrived first at 5:15. It was not crowded-there were many tables available for seating. The hostess informed my wife that we could not be seated at a table until all of our guests were in the restaurant. We were a bit confused by this since we had never experienced this before at Anthony's or anywhere else. I told the hostess that my father was a minute out-nonetheless, we could not sit at a table until he arrived. Which was baffling due to the fact that there were at least 10 tables open and no wait. The funny thing is we did not ask to sit down-we were informed that we would not be seated until all guests had arrived. When we spoke to the owner after we bein seated-upon the arrival of our one missing guest-he informed us that this has always been the policy and the main reason is to keep the wait staff from having to come back to the table and explain the specials a second time to the late arrivals or have to take a second drink order. Honestly if my server can't take the time to do that-I will not be able to take the time to figure out what 20% is! After this baffling exchange no specials were explained, we were instructed they were written on the first page of the menu. Which is fine by me if I don't know what something is I'll ask. Now I would have been willing to let all this nonsense slide-we don't get a chance to dine out often-but-and this is the truly disappointing part to all of this. The food was not good. At all. In the past, before the place was remodeled-and they added a bar etc etc the food was magnificent. Our service at this visit was excellent minus the bumpy start but somewhere along the path of expansion and remodeling-the quality and quantity of food has been forgotten. It wasn't just myself who thought this either. There were 7 of us and 5 of our clan were not impressed with the food. Enough so that this will be our last trip to Anthony's of Malvern. It wasn't so much about the whole seating "policy". The facts are -we go out to eat on special occasions. Birthdays, anniversaries, we work hard so we deserve a night out, those types of occasions. I/we want to enjoy the food we order to celebrate those occasions. I ordered the raviolis with two meatballs topped with their pink sauce. The raviolis were overcooked, the meatballs tasted as if they were 1/2 bread crumbs and the pink sauce was bland and unsatisfying. We make the Irish version of pink sauce at home by combining 1/2 jar of Alfredo with a 1/2 jar of marinara. It's not great but it is certainly tastier than what I was served last night. As my wife and kids tell me I've lectured too long! Save yourself the hassle and trade in the Anthony's of Malvern for the Anthony's if Downingtown. In a society that puts so much emphasis on the outside beauty of things, the old adage is true. Beauty is only skin deep. Anthony's of Malvern may look spectacular, something on the inside needs mending. To put it nicely. I've only eaten at Olive Garden once or twice for a reason. It's not truly authentic Italian food. I would spend my money and eat there before sitting-not before all my companions arrive mind you- before dining at Anthony's again. They should be done with the seating policy as well as start a remodel on the quality of the food. As I stated in the beginning of this rant-we've eaten there for decades. We will visit the other Anthony's (Downingtown) when it's time to celebrate Italian style time. In the owner's defense-he did give my father a free piece of tiramisu for his birthday-even though he was late. Thanks

Been going to Anthony’s since it opened, never a bad meal!

Excellent food and great service on an extremely busy Saturday night. They were BYOB, but now have a liquor license.