Catherine “Mama” Ghio had a dream. She would start a restaurant featuring the same seafood that her family and friends loved so much when she cooked it at home. Working with her two sons, Anthony and Tod, and her son-in-law, Roy Weber, she realized her dreams, and opened our first location on July 18, 1946. The little café was located at 965 West Harbor Drive, in San Diego, and seated just 18 people. It offered many of the same items that we still proudly feature on our menus today. Mama prepared her sauces and chowder, Tod cut the fresh fish portions, Roy cooked them, and Anthony took care of the front of the house.

In 1954, we began operation of our own wholesale fish market, known as Ghio Seafood Products, in order to insure the quality and availability of our products. The Ghio Seafood operation not only buys fish directly from the local fishermen, who deliver it to us fresh daily, but also buys other types of seafood from all over the world. All seafood items served in our restaurants are stored, processed, and portion-controlled at Ghio Seafood.

In January, 1961, Anthony, Tod, and Roy built and opened a third restaurant on a spring fed lake in a natural setting in La Mesa, located at 9530 Murray Drive. Then, in June, 1966, the Anthony’s San Diego Grotto moved to its current location that was built on pilings over San Diego Bay on Harbor Drive at the foot of Ash Street.

In the same building, we opened our award-winning Star of the Sea in July, 1966. The Star of the Sea was San Diego’s first seafood gourmet dining room, with elegant cart service. The Star of the Sea was extensively remodeled in 1999, with a new contemporary décor, revised menus, and the addition of a lobby bar. The Star was closed in 2006, with plans in place to reopen it in order to better serve our community.

In August, 1971, the gift shop at the San Diego location was closed and the area remodeled to make way for the Fishette, a quick service seafood shop.

In January, 1972, Anthony's Seafood Group made a major change in its fish market, commissary, and office facility locations. We combined Ghio Seafood Products, the Commissary, the Central Office, and the warehouse all into one location at 5232 Lovelock Street, thus assuring better controls and facilitating cost-effective purchasing.

In November, 1974, Anthony’s built and opened a fourth restaurant, Anthony’s Fish Grotto of Chula Vista, at the I-5 and E Street in Chula Vista.

During the mid-1980’s, the company began a transition, as our original founders retired, and the next generation took over leadership. Anthony’s son Rick, Tod’s son Craig, and Roy’s daughter Beverly (Mascari) now oversee all facets of the company.

In January 2006, our quick casual restaurant in Kearny Mesa, known as Anthony’s Sea Grill, opened and offers a balance of the company’s favorites as well as healthy grilled items.

With over 60 years of service to San Diego, we still believe Anthony’s best is yet to come!