3803 Willow Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15234
Introduction: Nestled in the heart of Castle Shannon is Anthos, a vibrant homage to the bright and fresh flavors of Athens. If you're looking for a meal brought together using the best quality ingredients, coffee sourced from trusted businesses made by caring hands, or fresh bread baked daily, Anthos Bakery and Cafe is the place for your next outing! The Owners:
We had the pleasure of speaking to Tassos, one of the owners of Anthos. Anthos is operated by two families: Tassos and his wife as one half, and his sister and brother-in-law being the other. Tassos left Greece during the Greek economic crisis and arrived in the United States. He grew fond of the Pittsburgh area, as he had visited before with family. Tassos and his family intended on opening Anthos downtown, but the pandemic changed their plans. This ultimately led the bakery and cafe to be opened in Castle Shannon in April 2022. Since opening, Tassos and his family have blossomed as restaurant owners and valued members of their community. He has expressed their persistent commitment to high-quality ingredients. All of their bread is baked fresh in-house, they use only Authentic Greek feta, and their honey is important straight from Greece! Their standard of quality also applies to their delicious coffee. Anthos is the first establishment to brign the high-quality coffee brand Devocion to Pittsburgh. Most of their recipes come from Tassos' wife and sister, which brings their family's influence to their menu and is vital to their mission. Tassos showed us genuine hospitality and kindness during our interview, and we know Anthos will continue to thrive as they grow within our community. The Restaurant: Anthos features a cozy indoor sitting space, often occupied by a warm crowd of loyal regulars. The walls behind the counter are stacked to the ceiling with fresh-baked bread, sending a pleasant aroma wafting across the room. If you're lucky and visit on a nice day, you can enjoy their shaded outdoor patio behind the restaurant. The Food & Member Reviews:
Ean: In one word: quality. I ordered the Horiatiki Authentic Greek Salad and it was true to form, no lettuce, just quality fresh ingredients sourced locally, as well as a taste of Athens from the Greek feta. When speaking to one of the founders and owners, we learned that a salad in Greece is rarely served with lettuce. It would be really hard to find one that includes it. It was served with two toasted pieces of bread to soak up the highest quality olive oil when you finish your salad. Alongside the salad I also ordered hummus and pita, both of which exceeded all expectations. If anyone who has ever tried hummus from the grocery store, I would urge you to drop what you are doing and find a way to get some authentic Greek hummus, there is truly nothing like it. Sophia: Spanakopita, hummus, whipped coffee, baguette: all things I've had before, but never like this. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of everything I ate. The phyllo dough was the flakiest I've ever had, and the whole meal was delicious. It did not come as a surprise to learn that the ingredients were all fresh or sourced from Greece. This created an authentic and amazing experience. We got to try a Greek orange cake for dessert. I immediately knew that I needed to get that again when I go back. The bakery, lunch, and cafe items were all phenomenal. Do yourself a favor and go check out Anthos! Calla: Anthos has perfected every single item on their menu, both traditional and modern. We started with the Meze Platter, which comes with freshly-baked pita and your choice of 3 dips. I was able to try the fava bean dip, tzatziki, and hummus. I can confidently say that each of these dips were the best I have ever tasted. The fava bean dip was rich, the tzatziki was smooth, and the hummus was creamy. I ordered the Greek frappé to drink. It was super sweet, which complimented the savory appetizers. Finally, for my main, I had the avocado toast, which was incredible! The fresh and crunchy sourdough was soaked in olive oil and piled high with smashed avocado, radish slices, spiced pumpkin seeds and fresh herbs. It was delicious, and I will certainly be coming back again. |