Plattsburgh
Anthony’s
Palate Travel at Owner and executive chef Scott Murray serves up New American cuisine at iconic Plattsburgh restaurant celebrating 40th anniversary. By Robin Caudell Photos by Kayla Breen Two jumbo jade plants grace a bay window, circa 1990, with a southern exposure at Anthony’s Restaurant & Bistro in Plattsburgh. In Feng shui, jade plants are traditional gifts to new business owners to attract wealth and prosperity. The jade mojo is on point 11 years and counting for Anthony’s owner and executive chef Scott Murray, who crossed the threshold of the 19th-century Cosgrove farmhouse in November 1982. Fresh from a Sahara Tahoe apprenticeship, Scott entered founders Drew and Linda Sabella’s two-yearold dream of establishing a gourmet Italian restaurant, which was named for Drew’s uncle and godfather. EIGHTIES SCENE At the time, local choices included Arnie’s, Roman Gardens, Royal Savage Inn, The Stonehelm, Valcour Lodge, and The Butcher Block, where Drew was one of the original partners. The Sabellas purchased the Route 3 property from Frank Akey and fused the house and barn into its present 4
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A brightly lit sign illuminates the entrance to Anthony’s Restaurant & Bistro.
“But I know there are times when people walk in here thinking this is a solidly Italian restaurant,” he says. “We know that happens and that’s why the Bistro is designed to be more casual, classic Italian. People call all the time or they meet me, and they can tell by the way I carry myself that I’m the owner, and say, ‘Oh, you’re Anthony.’ No, I’m Scott actually. But, yes I do own it.” His surname indicates Scottish There might be people or Irish origin, but it was Anglicized we are compared with from the original Morian of FrenchCanadian extraction. who are more food Two nights ago, diners asked him if he was from Europe. artists. I don’t consider “Normally they assume, if you’re us that. I consider us French, you think the chef here has to be French because it’s no way he can just solid cuisine. do this cuisine,” Scott says. - Scott Murray “If you’re Italian, the chef has to be Italian.” So, Scott and Anthony’s are The restaurant’s name is somewhat a misnomer now, but it’s iconic and chameleons and not what they first appear. Scott knows he cannot change it. configuration. Anthony’s opened in January 1980, so this January marks the restaurant’s 40th anniversary. Its cuisine segued from upscale Italian to Nouvelle cuisine with Italian influence to what Scott calls New American.
