Plum’s John Anthony’s grows from a good-time bar to family restaurant over 40 years

Gina D’Acierno, owner of John Anthony’s Restaurant in Plum, holds a picture of her mom and dad.

John and Joyce "Joy" D’Acierno at John Anthony’s in Plum for Joy’s 80th birthday in 2017. The D’Aciernos bought the restaurant, previously Johnny A’s, for their daughter, Gina D’Acierno, who desired to be a bartender. John D’Acierno died in September 2018; his wife died in January 2022.

While Carol Vivino says everything is good at her niece’s Italian restaurant, John Anthony’s in Plum, she recommended the eggplant parmesan.

Gina D’Acierno (right) with her aunt, Carol Vivino, at John Anthony’s in 1989. Vivino worked at the Plum restaurant for the first 30 of its 40 years, and was the source of recipes for menu mainstays including the wedding soup, meatballs, sauce and lasagna.

A view of the banquet room at John Anthony’s in Plum. The restaurant, which opened in January 1985, is marking its 40th anniversary.