Has Tony's really improved?

[Orion Nebula]

I ate at Tony's a few years ago and it was by far the worst TS place I had ever visited. It was so bad that my TA review ended up a few pages long, the entire experience from A-Z was just... bad.

I have heard that the place changed their Chef and their menu recently, I don't know how recently though. But the place overall is still one of the worst rated restaurants (TA) in all of WDW. It was even scorned by Disney Tourist Blog (no review date), But this of course includes the reviews over many years.

So has it changed? We booked ADR's but I am not excited over it. I figured if things have been improved it may not be so bad. I would much rather eat at Skippers but my kids won't eat anything there. Liberty has the same foods as we often make at home, and we picked Royal Table for our "big" one.

 

[gharter]

Have not been there for quite a few years, for you mentioned reasons.
The Dis Dining show did a review a while back when they had a new chef that was somewhat favorable. Sounded like the food had improved, but they were still hindered but cost constraints on what they could purchase.
In the past, avoiding the red sauce made a huge difference, and that seems to be what many posters have said that have eaten there.
Personally, not in a hurry to go back.

 

[chris grecian]

We went to Tony's for lunch on March 15, 2020 (the last day the parks were open before the closure) with the parade package. I was reluctant to book it because I had read many "blah" to bad reviews of it...but given the people in our group and the premium we put on viewing the parade...I went with it anyway. I would say that we were all pleasantly surprised with the experience. The food was largely average to above average...but the parade package was too much food. We really enjoyed the appetizers a lot (the highlight of the meal for us), the entrees were pretty good across the board, but the deserts were mostly just average to below average. We went in with pretty low expectations and they were largely surpassed.

 

[jsmla]

I’ve been three times since the reopening and all three were pretty meh. My chicken Caesar salad was beyond bland and the pizza bordered on raw. On the plus side they have patio tables (not doing indoor dining) and beer!

 

[DisneyDiana]

We needed a sit down dinner over the summer for lunch at MK for a break since I with my parents who are in their 70s. We were pleasantly surprised. The pizzas were expensive but good and if I remember correctly the tiramisu was pretty good too.

 

[mcnorthwdw]

My family and I ate their last Sunday, and we really enjoyed it! I got the chicken parm and thought it was great, my only complaint was my dad's pizza was not the best when I tried it, but he seemed to love it! We loved the lady and the tramp theme and we had a great server. Maybe I am biased because honestly just eating a sit down meal that day was a much needed break from the insane Valentine's day crowds, but overall we thought it was great

 

[KristaZ]

I ate there on a trip in December. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't particularly great either. I wasn't disappointed because I went in knowing what we were getting, but It was overpriced for what it is - basically Olive Garden quality "Italian" food.

 

[Shelleyfs]

We went last year mostly to get the parade package, but we enjoyed it. I had the shrimp pasta, my son had some sort of combo plate, my daughter had chicken parm and I don't remember what my husband ate. Everyone was well fed and content. It isn't Il Mulino - I didnt expect it to be, but it was fine.

 

[figmentfinesse]

I'm feeling crazy but I'm a sucker for fresh mozzarella so I'm gonna get a reservation for my August trip to try the fried fresh mozz balls and a glass of wine. I hope it has gotten better!

 

[hedberg1661]

Given all of the restaurants that are still closed across property I am still trying to figure out how this one made the cut to be open.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

I'm feeling crazy but I'm a sucker for fresh mozzarella so I'm gonna get a reservation for my August trip to try the fried fresh mozz balls and a glass of wine. I hope it has gotten better!

That's EXACTLY what I had the last month and those little friend cheese balls were heaven - as was the sauce with it. I also had a side salad and a glass of wine.

To the OP: Tony's isn't a gourmet meal by any means. But it's decent and I enjoyed the meal I made out of appetizers. And I purposely made a reservation for Tony's on my next trip so I could have that fried cheese

That said: If you really would prefer Skipper Canteen, look at the kid's menu. Though I am certainly not a kid, the waitress let me order the kid's steak when I was there last month and my girlfriend ordered the kid's chicken - and only asked that if we wanted something other than water (like a soda) to pay the adult price for the beverage. Would your kids eat the food off the kids menu?

 

[kylenne]

Given all of the restaurants that are still closed across property I am still trying to figure out how this one made the cut to be open.

Prime real estate in MK and one of the few outdoor dining options available in parks is my guess. Probably more the latter. A lot of people are looking to minimize indoor dining but it’s rough unless you head to DS.

 

[DreamsCrusher]

We did Tony's last October after many years after hearing it had improved. I had the chicken parm and it really good. DW had the spaghetti and meatballs and that was fine as well. I even finished her leftovers a day or so later in our room. The sauce was better than we remembered - I think that's the key.

 

[DisneyDadWV]

We went as well this past October. Our meal was good, but if I had another choice I wouldn't be heartbroken not to go back. I think it was definitely better than the last time we went before that several years ago.

 

[MamaJessie]

We went in 2019 and I was happily surprised with the food. I had booked it to just try it out (and had the parade package with the dining plan so I felt like there was some value even if the food was just 'meh') , but the food was actually quite tasty and staff was great.

 

[MomOTwins]

Since OP mentions Disney Tourist Blog, would just point out they have revisited post-Covid and now say positive things about it.
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/tonys-town-square-restaurant-review/

The obvious reason why it is open post-Covid is because it has outdoor dining. There is a lot of demand for that.

But we personally like it. It is not the best food or the worst food in MK, but the price is reasonable compared to all the prix fixes (CRT, BOG, CP and LTT), the decor is nice, and the food is decent, especially if you order the new menu items. And as others have said, it boggles my mind how good that fried mozzerella is.

 

[WhoDatDisney]

Ate there last night. Agree with above posts that the chicken parm and cheese ball appetizer was great. Ceased salad was bland

Had the chocolate budino dessert. Was superb. not as good as the pistachio creme brûlée which I hope will one day return

 

[jsmla]

Prime real estate in MK and one of the few outdoor dining options available in parks is my guess. Probably more the latter. A lot of people are looking to minimize indoor dining but it’s rough unless you head to DS.

The outdoor seating is the only reason I book Tony’s. Well, that and beer but they don’t even have decent beer, IMHO. I’ve started taking the boat over to Geyser Point at WL.

The patio seating at Tony’s is really nice though. The cavalcades roll past.

 

[macraven]

The six of us ate there last month January 30
Big mistake for us

Two of us had to send out food back but what we got then was not an improvement


Could have been an off day for them.
(service was spotty for us)

Bill was $300 and that was not an issue but waiting for the beverages did not arrive until way after we got food

Not sure if we will go again.
I keep thinking it might be better and give them another chance before I take the restaurant off my list

 

[figmentfinesse]

The six of us ate there last month January 30
Big mistake for us

Two of us had to send out food back but what we got then was not an improvement


Could have been an off day for them.
(service was spotty for us)

Bill was $300 and that was not an issue but waiting for the beverages did not arrive until way after we got food

Not sure if we will go again.
I keep thinking it might be better and give them another chance before I take the restaurant off my list

What food would you say to avoid?