Sboro Family

Mama Mia, those Sboro's make spicy meatballs!

With the descriptions of the delicious home-cooked foods served at these two restaurants, my mouth could do nothing but water. These cozy and well known restaurants are definitely places to try!

Located near the Fairgrounds in Watertown, the Sboro family has owned and operated Art’s Jug since 1933. It was once called the “Stone Jug” because of its limestone building. “Jug” referred to the bootlegging of jugs used during Prohibition in the 1920's. 15 years later, Mrs. Marie Anzalone Sboro - who passed away recently at the age of 99 - and her husband Attilio, opened this restaurant in memory of their son, Arthur, who was returning from war.

In 1948, Arthur and his wife, Johannah, became managers of the restaurant. They set their standards for the restaurant and the relationships with customers very high, with the goal to make all their customers happy. Their children played an important role in the family-run business. In 1988, Arthur and Johannah’s son, Steve, and his wife, took over the business. In 1990, Steve’s brother, Arthur, joined the family business. Many of the employees at Art’s jug have been there for over 10 years, which is a rarity in the restaurant business.

The restaurant does things the old fashion way. They continue to use recipes passed on through the three generations. Almost everything is made from scratch and only the healthiest foods are used. They serve seafood, steak, chicken, veal, and prime rib. Of course there are the Italian favorites, like spaghetti and meatballs. There’s only one word for the Chicken Limone: delicious! It’s lightly breaded, sauteed, and served with lemon butter sauce. There is a pie served here called the Clincher. It’s a layered pie that contains cheesecake and sweet raspberry filling. Mm mm...

They also provide take-out and delivery. The newest addition to Art’s Jug is their pick-up area. There is a customer freezer which contains your favorite meal. It just needs to be reheated and you can have your own Art’s Jug meal right in the comfort of your own home!

This is a great family restaurant. With the pale interior walls, plastered with pictures of mountains and streams, comfy chairs, and perfect lighting, it’s sure to be a relaxing environment.

In 1992, Steve and Art created the second restaurant, the ever-famous Sboro’s. It was built on Grandma Marie’s old homestead.

If you’re ever in the Thousand Island region and looking for a home-cooked Italian meal or a tender, perfectly prepared steak, head over to Sboro’s Restaurant in Watertown. Famous for their pizza, rich in flavor, they are another well known family restaurant. Inside Sboro’s, you can find paintings by local artists and even by members of the Sboro family.

Heather, a waitress at Sboro’s, said their most popular dessert that the customers crave is Sboro’s Italian Cream Cake. It’s a yellow layer cake with coconut filling, topped with coconut European cream frosting. When she told me that, I had a sudden craving. The most popular dish there is Fillet of Sirloin with Jack Daniels sauce. Since Sboro’s is also famous for their specialty coffees, the favorite happens to be the regular Sboro coffee, which has Bailey’s and whipped cream.

The Sboro family caters various types of events such as weddings, showers, business meetings, and reunions. Cindy (Sboro) Beattie, daughter of Art and Johannah, has been doing the restaurant’s catering for years. She is a great event planner with a knack for suggesting menu options.

Although the restaurant doesn’t get a lot of tourists, the locals and regulars keep the business going.

Altogether, there are 11 Italian restaurants owned by the family. Two of them just happen to be located in Watertown. So, if you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves a hearty meal, stop in at Sboro’s or Art’s Jug and pick them up a gift certificate. I’m sure it will be appreciated!

Dinner for the family, with appetizers, will run about $10-$20 per person. Make sure to visit their website to get directions!

Have you eaten at Art's Jug or Sboro's? Tell us about it!