DROPPING ANCHOR IN

from Kendall County Magazine_Winter 2022

by Shaw Media

’TIS THE SEASON TO GIVE

DROPPING ANCHOR

IN OSWEGO

LEGENDARY LEGENDARY NEW YORK NEW YORK WING WING RESTAURANT RESTAURANT PLANS PLANS TO OPEN TO OPEN SOON ON SOON ON ROUTE 34 ROUTE 34

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske Photos provided by Samm Dimech

It’s a taste of New York in the middle of Kendall County. Local couple Samm and Laura Dimech are excited to launch the newest location of Anchor Bar, a beloved New York eatery known for the origin of the Buffalo wings, in Oswego. It’s expected to open this fall. “It’s a must-stop place, and it has the best sauce,” says Laura Dimech.

According to restaurant history, one night in 1964 owner Teressa Bellissimo fried up some chicken wings using a secret sauce for her son Dominic’s hungry friends. They were an instant success.

Dimech traveled to New York for her daughter’s game with the EDGE Chaos softball team a few years ago and had a chance to try Anchor Bar. She immediately loved it, buying sauce and souvenir

T-shirts to bring back home. “It was such a great experience,” she recalls.

When the couple began considering a new business venture, they ultimately found their way to Anchor Bar Restaurant, and are excited to bring the first location to Illinois and the Midwest.

“There is definitely a following throughout the country for New York-style foods and definitely for Anchor Bar Restaurant,” Dimech says. The couple chose Oswego not only because they live in the area, but because of the tremendous growth in the community. According to online 2020 U.S. Census figures, the population in Oswego had topped 34,000. The couple is excited about the great location for the restaurant — on the Route 34 corridor, which is also close to athletic fields and provides a great option for family dining in the community. “We jumped on the chance to build in that area because it needs more venues like this,” Dimech says. The couple purchased the former site of Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que and undertook major renovations to create a new look. Inside there is a sports bar dedicated to Buffalo Bill as well as interior tables, a private party room and an outside patio for lounge

and table seating. With 50 TVs throughout the restaurant and even on the outdoor patio, the restaurant is a prime place to watch sports. Even before the restaurant doors opened, Dimech says she’s received inquiries from guests who want to reserve the party room for an event. She looks forward to hosting athletic team celebrations, birthdays and much more. “We are absolutely a family place,” she adds. While the restaurant stays true to its New York roots, Dimech says they’ve been able to incorporate local aspects as well, from sports gear from Chicago’s professional sports teams to football and baseball jerseys from Waubonsee and the Oswego high schools. Not long after the restaurant exterior and signage appeared, the Dimechs began fielding calls from hungry locals clamoring to know when they could dive into the restaurant’s menu favorites, from the famous Buffalo wings to its Buffalo chicken soup and roast beef on weck. “We’ve had people specifically ask about the roast beef on weck,” she says. Along with pizza, entrees and sandwiches there will be soup, salads and appetizers. The couple has even incorporated a few local favorites, including a chopped salad and cheese curds. “We tried to stay with the traditional Anchor Bar Restaurant items as well as add a few items.”  ANCHOR BAR 2440 Route 34, Oswego 331-717-2900 www.anchorbar.com/locations/oswego-il