Thoughts on Tony's

[Mrspeaks]

I need to use one more table service credit. For our trip next week. I'm still looking for a few things to open, but I was able to get a Tony's dinner at 5:55 on a night we would be leaving at 7 the park because we aren't doing the Halloween party. I thought the menu looked good and I don't have an other Italian restaurants planned. What has been your experience with the food and service?

 

[jess1017]

I was impressed with both the food and the service when I went to Tony's for lunch in May! The server was great- super friendly and took the time to explain menu items, answer any questions, etc. The food was also awesome! We shared the chicken parmesan and spaghetti that came with it and a dessert. We had food to spare and left satisfied. I would definitely recommend!

 

[Kricketnp]

I've personally never been, but I have a friend who goes there almost every trip and loves it! She raves about the pistachio creme brulee!

 

[River Country]

I was a long time naysayer about this place.....however I went there in July for dinner and it quite possibly was the best experience I had in all of my 9 days there. Food was above average for a theme park. In fact the Fried Calamari was just as good as I can get here in NY/NJ. The service was so good that I tipped the waitress and extra 20 on top of what my TiW already gave her. Entree's were very good. Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken Parm were very good
Highly recommend

 

[anniebean]

We went back in December for the first time in a very long time, and it was quite good. I don't remember it ever being very bad or anything like the people on here have experienced. My kids used to like it when they were younger. I think it's a solid choice.

 

[Alicefan]

It's not as good as it used to be but IMO it's still worth going to. God I miss the sundried tomato pesto they used to serve with the bread! Damn this scaling back crap!

 

[aebeauregard]

Some people are big Tony's haters...but when we went we had an enjoyable experience. It wasn't the best meal of our trip but it wasn't bad. I really liked the Lady and the Tramp theme. I wouldn't be scared off by the bad reviews people give.

 

[saskdw]

Tony's is a must do for DW, she loves the place. I find it "ok". It's not a must do for me, but it's certainly not as bad as some of the haters make it out to be. I have no problem eating there.

 

[HopperFan]

I'm one who will not return for a variety of reasons.

If you have to leave the park early due to party, my preference would be to stay until 7 so I got my day's worth from my ticket ....

And then to use my Table Credit look at -

- The Wave at Contemporary
- Kona or Ohana at Polynesian
- 1900 Park Fair or Grand Floridian Cafe at GF
- or more likely I would grab the bus to Disney Springs and enjoy that area for the evening.

 

[saskdw]

I'm one who will not return for a variety of reasons.

If you have to leave the park early due to party, my preference would be to stay until 7 so I got my day's worth from my ticket ....

And then to use my Table Credit look at -

- The Wave at Contemporary
- Kona or Ohana at Polynesian
- 1900 Park Fair or Grand Floridian Cafe at GF
- or more likely I would grab the bus to Disney Springs and enjoy that area for the evening.

I agree with this thinking. I wouldn't eat at Tony's if I was leaving the park right after.

But, I still don't think it's a horrible place. Definately better place's listed above though.

 

[Belle5]

We avoided Tony's for years because of negative reviews here on the DIS. A lot of people with really strong bias against Tony's seem to be the folks from the NY/NJ area or areas with a strong Italian food presence. We braved Tony's on our opening night of vacation Dec. 2014 and were lucky enough to have a window seat during the MSEP. It was a magical meal from start to finish! We enjoyed everything from the bread to the desserts! Was it Narcoosee's or any of the other signatures? NO! It was a nice, laid-back, comfortable comfort food dining experience. We wouldn't rush back just because we like to mix things up from trip to trip with the exception of a few must-eat restaurants. It's not a must-eat...but it's no longer a must-avoid restaurant for us, either!

 

[laughinplace199]

We tried Tony's twice. Our visits were about 10 years apart and it was bad both times. We won't be giving it a third try.

 

[loves to dive]

If you are wanting "real" Italian, you probably aren't going to be happy but if you want sort of Olive Garden Italian, you'll be fine. We used to eat there every trip but the last few times we tried it the service wasn't great and the menu had been changed a lot. We haven't been back in over 10 years though and things could have changed. I agree with others, I'd just make an ADR somewhere out of the park after you leave. There is a good Italian restaurant at the Dolphin, you can take a bus from MK to there then walk over to HS and catch a bus to wherever you are staying if you don't have a car.

 

[CynBeth]

We enjoy Tony's and have dinner there every trip.

 

[disneyAndi14]

We ate there about one week ago, the service was okay, very busy at the time we were there. The food was okay, the calamari was fair, not as good as MM or Spice Road. We did have the pizza and it was good. We shared our meal and plenty of food for the two of us. Our waitress was very nice except she never did refill our water and she was so busy and very rushed. I don't feel a need to go again, however not as terrible as some have had on here.

 

[vettegirl]

I like Tonys, it's not the best thing ever but I have had two lovely meals there.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Tony's Town Square: (*rev 05/14/2016*)
. . . food price value: C
. . . food quality: D
. . . food quantity per serving: C
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: C
. . . eatery atmosphere: B
. . . eatery convenience: A
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff attentiveness: D
. . . character interaction: n/a
.
Our Recommendations:
. . . appys:... Zucchini Fries
. . . entree:.. no recommendation
. . . dessert:. Pistachio Crème Brûlée
.
NOTE1: The staff friendliness and the eatery atmosphere are good, but misleading, as the
food is not something to write home about. Meats are average for the Italian entrées, but
akin to CHEF BOY AR DEE - using CHEF BOY AR DEE could be considered an insult to the
famous chef from Cleveland, Ohio. The sauce may be tomato, but it is definitely not a true
marinara. The appetizers are average. In a pinch, Tony's might do, but there are far better
choices. On the plus side, the desserts are simple, but pretty darn good. Hard to
justify going the first time, let alone going back.
.
NOTE2: If available, one can ask for a outdoor patio table. However, it is not a good place
to view parades, even though one might think so.

 

[goofy4prez]

Not a fan of this place at all. The service was nice but the food was just down right gosh awful. It makes the Olive Garden seem like a 5 star restaurant. With you leaving the park that late I'd have to agree with others and recommend one of the restaurants nearby at one of the resorts.

 

[BigAlsGal]

We love Tony's! Eat there every trip.

 

[VolvoManiac850]

If you are wanting "real" Italian, you probably aren't going to be happy but if you want sort of Olive Garden Italian, you'll be fine.

THIS is arguably the single biggest reason many people dislike the restaurant. A lot of it has to do with where you normally eat Italian at home if you choose to go out for it.

Most Italian foods have been heavily Americanized at restaurants, even higher priced/non-chains (this is especially true for pizza, where some random guy will make up an Italian name to try to market it...we had Pizza Outlet become Vocelli around here, and their pizza is NOT going to be called authentic by any Italian...though it's pretty good pizza if you need an American pie).

Finding a good Italian restaurant locally is always a challenge...it's easy at Disney, just go to Epcot. My favorite Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh closed in 1997...

If you go to Tony's, enjoy it for the theming. You can't pretend you are Lady and the Tramp, complete with the look and feel of the place, on any lovely Bella Notte at your local Olive Garden. Sure, you may have an authentic Italian place somewhere that does the food a little better, but where else can you get the experience?