Anthony’s Runway 84 Flying High…

By Wayne Koss Circa 2005

Anthony’s Runway 84 is one of the longstanding acclaimed Italian restaurants in South Florida and deservedly so. The vast cuisine menu here doesn’t necessarily rival with the very best of South Florida, yet for many regulars its their favorite palate-pleasing experience. The foremost distinction is the atmosphere and high flow of regular patrons that gather here which always makes it among the most happening of any restaurant in the area scene. It’s full of the power crowd that has been nurtured by a staff that knows how to make each visit special. One, in particular, is owner Anthony Bruno, who is one of those people whose demeanor is calm and cool, really likes people, and is the exact type that should own a restaurant. After all, you can get really good food at a lot of places—well a few, yet you can’t get the experience of Anthony’s Runway 84 anywhere but here. That is why Anthony’s Runway 84’s capacity of about 200 seats are never valued as normal, yet first-class without the exorbitant fare.

You can often still catch the ambitious executive here even with his 26 and steadily expanding Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza’s—unquestionably one of the hottest new businesses in America in these economically challenging times.

The interior host a fine supper club feel in the main room that is rich of dark wood with large mirrors. Linen table cloths adorn the tables and unique booths that portray a plane interior motif—the first-class section that is–along the peripherals here and the bar area. A replica of a plane divides the dining room and the popular cocktail bar with a mural of a classic carrier on the back wall. A piano player performs here from 6 P.M. providing standards mixed with popular classic to both rooms. A spacious entryway patio host diners in a more casual atmosphere. The exterior of the building and surroundings are not the allures that compel you to drive here.

“We’re not a trendy restaurant. Everything here is about being consistent—its the whole game. Keep it going as a fun place to be.”

Anthony Bruno – Owner of Anthony’s Runway 84

The history of the building dates back almost 35 years. “It almost closed down before we took over… it was just about closed they were open a couple of nights a week for dinner after a notable early popularity. Didn’t really watch it or run it properly—not quite sure,” Bruno expresses about when his father and he purchased the establishment in1982. “I was born in the business. My father always had a restaurant supper club in Queens or Manhattan. So I learned to do everything. Clean bathrooms, washed the pots clean the shrimp, bussed the tables waited on tables, whatever you have to do when you run a small business—it was great.” he adds. Therefore, like Bruce Springsteen, little Anthony was born to run and Runway 84 seemed to fit in nicely.

When we moved here from New York we changed the menu a little. Placed some good Italian soul food in an added a little more presence to the place. We changed the wine rack added more color to the airplanes—we didn’t change much—we didn’t want to change the integrity of what it was intended to be. We started out with the real Northeast clientele back then. The older Italian family-type thing very seasonal, because the area was mostly seasonal back then. It was the type of restaurant that was like their favorite up North so when they moved down here they felt comfortable here-so it was like home to them. So we built up a nice customer base with that. Then with that, we started to get a younger trade base because they would bring their kids in. As their kids got older and got into their 20s and then early 30s it became a cool joint for them to come to. I had a relationship with them also. So they knew me already… When you are around this long you kind of evolve with the business the way you supposed too and end up with a crowd that you get a little bit of everybody because of that,” Bruno divulges.

“I’ve had great people from day one. Same Chef for over 25-plus years, a wait staff 25-plus years bartenders 12 or 13 years so it’s that kinda place…when you’re here you’re home. Everybody here keeps the place running right–it’s not pretentious, It’s a fun place to be—it’s different every night… We’ve got the Beatles on the big screen and we pump up the music at times especially later. It’s a simple place yet theirs always something a little different. The food, the energy of the place when you get here. Because it’s a place that I haven’t advertised all these years-that once you get here you meet the same people that seek a place like this after a while. It makes it interesting. It’s by word of mouth–its always been a word of mouth restaurant,” he adds.

The establishment has also become a mecca for celebrities who are regulars or dropping by to say hello as word has spread to bring in major area athletes among the area business elite. You can find hundreds of photos at the entryway of regular Dan Marino alongside other notable celebrities that have frequented the establishment.

Anthony’s Runway 84 radiates nostalgia throughout. That includes the entire operation from attire to only basic computers.

“We’ve got the old registers cranking out the orders. Its great it’s cool I love it. In-house, We have a lot of people who order what they want here. We have a lot of customers who have been coming here so long they almost customize their own meal. They want it a certain way they want it like this so it’s easier to write it down on a slip with the same people who have been working so long to communicate it to the kitchen. Dealing with my customer base with a lot of Italian American variations. There’s always a different variation than they prefer we don’t really change the dish too much. But if it makes them happy to do it-we’ll gladly do it. Some like their pasta cooked longer—some less… just little things…. if you had a dish that was a specialty on a menu 2 months prior that was a specialty and you come in looking for it—I’ll make it for you. The menu has not changed much over the years. Little more music since the early days—well actually a lot more. more,” Bruno said. That includes Anthony getting up to perform occasionally and that’s a special treat too from the accomplished musician vocalist.

We have more of a local base now than seasonal and our numbers keep going up. Our customers are coming from all over South Florida and other areas so you never know what to expect each night. We have a lot of big table reservations for 10-12 that creates bigger energy.

A lot of people just coming to the bar ordering apps and drinks and socializing. Many don’t want a big meal. We’re not a trendy restaurant. Everything here is about being consistent—its the whole game. Keep it going as a fun place to be,” Bruno said. With hearty portions, a visit here is also likely to be a family affair.

Anthony knows that It’s the people that truly make the vibe of the establishment and changes the feel within more than any other factor. He even sites, “We have no windows—it’s all cement block. You can’t tell if it’s 1 O’clock in the afternoon or in the morning,” he quips.

That being said, it’s needless to say—business here will be seeing blue skies for a long time. Because it’s all about what’s inside that is the heart and soul of what makes Anthony’s Runway 84 special to the masses.

Particulars:

Anthony’s Runway 84: 330 State Rd. 84 (between SW 3rd & SW 4th Ave) Fort. Lauderdale, FL | Supper club feel. Prices range for main courses $17-$50+, Attire: Dress pants, Valet parking and lots of self-parking. Hours: 4:30-10pm Tuesday-Thurs. and Sun.; 4:30-11pm Fri.-Sat. Available for private functions. Tel: 954 467-8484