About Anthony's Italian Restaurant
Anthony's Italian Restaurant is a Bryson City pizza and pasta stop on Depot Street, not a Cherokee address, so plan for the short drive if you are staying near the Oconaluftee end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It sits in the part of Bryson City that feeds the train crowd, the river crowd and the Deep Creek hikers.
What to expect
The menu is Italian-American: pizza, pasta and calzones. Visitor reviews on Tripadvisor single out the pizza and the size of the calzones, and mention a long list of craft beers and other drinks. Seating is indoors and outdoors, and reviewers describe the place as dog friendly. An attached bar called Derailed is 21 and up only, so families should plan on the restaurant side.
Where it fits in your day
Depot Street is the walkable core of Bryson City, near the departure point for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. A train ride followed by a calzone is an easy plan that needs almost no driving. The North Carolina tourism office also lists Anthony's on its Road to Nowhere and waterfalls itinerary, a good pairing if you spend the day on the quiet southern side of the park.
From Cherokee, take US-19 south and follow it into Bryson City, about 10 miles. From Deep Creek, where Juney Whank Falls is a short walk from the trailhead, it is a few minutes back to town. If you rafted the Nantahala River, you are heading back east on US-19 and US-74 toward town.
Practical notes
Call 828-488-2073 for current hours before you drive over, especially on Sundays, holidays and in winter, when small-town restaurants often trim their schedules. The hours listed online disagree, so a phone call is the safe move.
Parking is on the street and in town lots near the depot. Train days and summer weekends fill the blocks around Depot Street, so arrive a little early or walk in from a lot a block or two away.
Who it suits
Families and groups that want a no-fuss dinner after a hike or a river day. It is comfort food, not regional Cherokee cooking. If you want that, the Cherokee side of the park has options worth the drive, and the Museum of the Cherokee People is a good place to start your planning.
Good to know
- What kind of food does Anthony's Italian Restaurant serve?
- Italian, Pizza. It’s known for pizza and calzones.
