Famed Southington Restaurant Anthony Jacks Getting A New Look

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A popular restaurant in Southington is getting a completely new look. Construction began Monday on the new version of Anthony Jacks Wood Fired Grill.

The project will last until early next month.

"I'm standing here in front of a completely gutted bar area and I'm thinking when people walk in after we're done, there are going to be, like 'whoa,'" said Cheryl Moran, who owns Anthony Jack's with Barry DePaola. "It's been a great 20 years, but the inside has run its course."

The outside will stay the same, but Moran said to expect a "totally different" interior. All the "dark" wood will be gone with dark grays and blues replacing the browns and rust, Moran said.

The walls will be painted as well as the ducts, she said. New lighting fixtures will be added. An artist is expected Tuesday to renovate a wall on one side of the dining room with a "plaster over brick look," Moran said. Other walls will be "live with window boxes, she added.

A dedicated takeout area will be fashioned.

"We have so much takeout, we need a separate area now," Moran said.

Anthony Jack's trademark open kitchen will remain, well, open with a few added aesthetics. Industrial piping will line a new back-lit bar, Moran said.

Construction is starting at the bar, so that leaves the kitchen available for for takeout only this week. The hours are:

• Wednesday (March 23) from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Thursday (March 24) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday (March 25) from 4 to 9 p.m.
• Saturday (March 26) from noon to 9 p.m.
• Sunday (March 27) from noon to 7 p.m.

Construction will be finished — and Moran repeated the word FINISHED — By April 13.

"We'll definitely be back open by that date," she said.

One "bittersweet" aspect is the elimination of part of the mural, but the renovations will be worked around DePaolo's mom and dad, who are featured in it.

"Some sentimental things we'll be keeping," Moran she said.

See more on the construction schedule here.

Anthony Jacks is family owned and specializes in fresh ingredients with all its meats and seafood cooked over a unique wood fired grill. One of the specialties is the spinach dip, which the chef says, "is to die for."