Fat Tony's Italian Pub: About us

About Fat Tony's

Fat Tony's Italian Pub has two locations in Wilmington, North Carolina:

- Historic Downtown, 131 N. Front Street

- Near UNCW and the beach, 250 Racine Drive

Hours of operation: 11 A.M. to 2 A.M. Monday-Saturday and Noon to Midnight Sunday.

We Deliver!

- Historic Downtown, call 910-343-9292

- Near UNCW and the beach, call 910-452-9000

Private Parties are our specialty! We have great semi-private dining areas for small and large groups.

Cigar, pipe and clove cigarette smoking is allowed on our patios -- but not indoors. Thank you.

How it came to be

   In the sun-drenched hills of northern Italy some years ago, a small family-owned estate [Italian: fattoria] produced excellent wines and was known for the gracious hospitality shown to invited guests.

   The jovial patriarch Antonio Lanza loved nothing more than to host friends and family for several days of music, dancing, story-telling, and enjoying good food and drink at his Fattoria di Antonio.

   For those who appreciated fine beers, he built a charming little drinking pub down the lane, between the main house and the winery. There Lanza stocked lagers, ales, and stouts from the great beer-making countries of the world. Rustic tabletops of wood supported by spent kegs provided an appealing atmosphere for those present.

   The summer of 1957, he entered his yacht in a Mediterranean sailing competition and was narrowly beaten by the American sailor George Rose. Good-natured insults were shouted across the water and both men laughed heartily. They met ashore, where Rose introduced his entire crew, consisting solely of wife Tony, to Antonio. This irony of names and George's gregarious manner caused the Italian to spontaneously invite the couple for the upcoming weekend festivities at his estate. The Roses accepted and had a wonderful time, much of it spent in the pub, where Antonio and George played chess and learned that they had also competed against each other as soldiers in World War II. Across a wooden table, and across time, the two men became friends that day.

   Later in the evening, with a wink to his svelte wife, George Rose corrupted "Fattoria di Antonio" to dub it "Fat Tony's Italian Pub."
   During the ensuing 43 years they were invited there many times, always enjoying sparkling conversation and sometimes vociferous camaraderie.

   In the year 2001, Antonio Lanza traveled to America to attend the funeral of his friend. The elegant Italian gentleman, now 86, kissed Tony's hand saying, "My American fratello [brother] will be missed, Belcaro [beautiful dear one.]"

   This establishment in Wilmington, North Carolina, borrows the name Fat Tony's Italian Pub, honoring the spirit of congeniality and the tradition of trusted friends.

   Don't ask for credit.