Community Corner
New Restaurant Taking Fatty Beltbuckles Space in Rocky Point
Ridge deli owner Anthony Galano is entering the restaurant business with Anthony Joseph's.
A new restaurant is coming to Rocky Point next month and taking over the former home of Fatty Beltbuckles in the Crossroads shopping center on Route 25A.
Anthony Joseph's Restaurant promises to offer "A mix of your favorite foods," as its slogan suggests, and owner Anthony Galano said he's hoping to open the doors Feb. 1.
Ridge resident Galano is no stranger to the food industry, and currently owns a deli in Coram. He said his goal with his new restuarnat venture is to give local families an upscale dining experience at a reasonable price.
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“We want to give the town a treat because I know if people go out to that fancy place more than once a week they can’t afford it," Galano said. "But they'll be treated the same way here."
Before his deli days, Galano worked in Manhattan for 21 years near Restaurant Row, and likened the area in Rocky Point where Anthony Joseph’s will be located to the road in the City.
Along with Anthony Joseph’s, the Crossroads shopping center is home to Assaggio Ristorante, an Italian restaurant and pizzeria. Because of the close proximity Galano said his eatery will serve more than just Italian food.
“It works out better that way because I can mix in my favorite things - even if they don’t exactly fit in with each other,” he said. “It’ll be Italian along with comfort foods, steak and chops.”
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Anthony Joseph's takes a space that's been empty since early last year, when Fatty Beltbuckles closed its doors. The building's former occupant, which also had a location in Farmingdale, was hit hard after allegations that a manager and chef raped a waitress in the restaurant after hours.
Galano had no comment on the space's history and said only that he'd read about the incident and didn't want to "spread any bad news about anyone else."
In addition to budget-friendly meals, Galano said his new restaurant will also feature live entertainment on weekends. Galano mentioned comedians and impersonators as possible acts and a flyer in the restaurant's window advertised karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights.
Galano said he's happy to be opening in his new location and hopes Anthony Joseph's will soon become a part of the Rocky Point community.
