Tony's? Is it really bad? really?

[djp0630]

Yes, it's really not good. I thought I would try it since we aren't overly picky and it was not good. The sauce was very watery and just didn't taste great.

 

[whitney37354]

It wasn't bad, but it wasn't memorable either. We watched Lady & the Tramp as a family on Saturday. I was I trying to remember what I had at Tony's. I think I had spaghetti & meatballs, but not sure. DD said they were the best spaghetti & meatballs ever, but to a 5-year-old, they could have been! DH & I said it's like Olive Garden for us.

 

[natfrac]

It's all a matter of taste, and maybe hitting a restaurant on a bad day. My Italian (100%) husband from PA likes Tony's and want's me to make an ADR there for our upcoming trip. On the other hand, we've had bad meals at Le Cellier and Brown Derby. The Brown Derby was bad enough we won't go back, but a lot of people rave about this place. So like I said, to each his own and every restaurant can have an off night.

 

[GC&S]

I wouldn't say it was gross, just not memorable. My shrimp had a funny taste and DH's pasta was watery. Bread was frozen and the dipping sauce was just olive oil. No herbs or anything. Desert was good. We won't be going back.

 

[UpstateMick]

By far the worst dining experience we have ever had at Disney...would not go back for free.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I wouldn't say it was gross, just not memorable. My shrimp had a funny taste and DH's pasta was watery. Bread was frozen and the dipping sauce was just olive oil. No herbs or anything. Desert was good. We won't be going back.

you wouldnt say thats gross? funny tasting shrimp, watery pasta, frozen bread? Sounds gross to me!

 

[stephgles]

The food has gone downhill. This use to me a must for our family now, we have no desire to eat there.

 

[DizGirl20]

As someone else said... did it once, probably won't be back again in the near future. It's not REALLY BAD, but with so many other amazing restaurants at WDW, I would advise you to try someplace else.

That being said, we were seated outside on the front porch and had a nice view of the "trolley circle".

 

[kristin08]

Tony's was the first table service we ate on our very first ever trip. We LOVED it! I had the shrimp scampi pasta thing. It was soooo good! Had the pistachio creme brulee which was also good. We are planning on going back for our next trip.

 

[dpmfloyd]

I'm one of the few people that enjoy Tony's. I've only had the Chicken Parm over pasta and i found it to be very good. The chicken was large. Perfectly breaded and very juicy. The amount of pasta and sauce was perfect. The sauce was thick and very flavorful. My fiance always gets the lasagna. She's very picky and still enjoys it.

I've never had a bad meal at Tony's - but I have had two very different dining experiences. The first, our waiter was FANTASTIC. Very well mannered and very helpful. He was as nice as I've experienced in all the restaurants at WDW. He was tipped VERY well. Our second, the waitress was just mean and NASTY. downright rude. very short with other tables. i sensed it when we got to the restaurant, til the time we left -- she did not want to be there. Her tip reflected that.

 

[Makcarly]

I'm really starting to rethink Tony's as my ts choice for my dd's 14th birthday. She's pretty picky but she loves Lady & the Tramp. Not sure what to do. It's one of our MK days and we already have an ADR for CP for breakfast.

 

[Kristineamb]

We've dined at Tony's on several occasions and have always enjoyed it!
In fact it wasn't on our itinerary for our next trip and my DH & DS were disappointed so I squeezed it in. We like to get a later dinner ADR so when we are finishing our meal we can step out onto the porch and watch the parade!
One thing I've heard but haven't tried is ask if Lady & the Tramp are there and get "their" autographs...apparently your server can take your autograph book in the back and stamp it with their paw prints....can anyone who has been there recently confirm this???

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I'm really starting to rethink Tony's as my ts choice for my dd's 14th birthday. She's pretty picky but she loves Lady & the Tramp. Not sure what to do. It's one of our MK days and we already have an ADR for CP for breakfast.

I've eaten at all the MK restaurants, & I'd choose Tony's over LTT or CP dinner. In MK, CRT would be my first choice. If I didn't want to spend that much, I'd choose Tony's. IMO, MK is in need of a great restaurant. Until then, Tony's is pretty much as good as you can get. If you don't mind lunch instead, you may prefer LTT.

 

[ratlenhum]

I always tell people, IMO, that if you are italian and used to good Italian grandma or mom cooking, you'll hate it. If you are from NY or NJ and used to really good Italian food, you'll hate it. If you like Domino's, Pizza Hut or Olive Garden, you'll like it.

 

[Hollymom1229]

DH and I had a very mixed experience at Tony's. We loved the theming, the calamari, and the side meatball. We didn't like the Chicken Parm or the service. What it really came down to was we felt horribly rushed and the marinara sauce was truly dreadful. I have had better from a jar. The calamari was great though and we would go back for that.

 

[Disneyluvr81]

We have eaten at Tony's twice. Once on our honeymoon in 2008 and then again this past September with my inlaws. We enjoyed our meals on both vists and my MIL even took left overs back to the room to have for lunch the next day. My calamari was extremely tasty (I decided on it for my entree...just sounded so good at the time) and while they only brought out olive oil with the bread our waiter was more than happy to bring out some Balsamic too when we asked for it. I haven't read the entire thread so I don't know if service has been brought up but the service we had was very good even though the restaurant was packed (both times were before the Halloween Party).

I wouldn't hesitate to go back again but totally understand how subjective dining can be and because of that we are always pretty willing to give a place a try once. Also, just because we liked it doesn't mean the people at the table across from us did and vice versa. Just don't go in expecting homemade, authentic Italian food. I would probably put it in line with say an Olive Garden chain type restaurant - which isn't bad for what it is, it just isn't really, really good Italian.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I always tell people, IMO, that if you are italian and used to good Italian grandma or mom cooking, you'll hate it. If you are from NY or NJ and used to really good Italian food, you'll hate it. If you like Domino's, Pizza Hut or Olive Garden, you'll like it.

I say the same thing about LTT for anyone who has had even decent country cooking at home.

That said, I'm not Italian, from NY or NJ, & won't eat at the places mentioned above. I guess I'm one who defends Tony's, because it's not nearly as bad as some people here say. It seems to get the most exaggerated negative reviews of any restaurant on this board. I'm not referring to yours, as it's probably pretty accurate for most people. I appreciate a negative review as much as a positive one, maybe more. I just don't understand why some people feel the need to over exaggerate things. IMO, Tony's marinara sauce is bland & reminiscent of chunky Ragu. Those reviews are right on target. It's definitely not the best WDW has to offer, & not one we'll likely repeat any time soon. To be fair, there's many non-signature restaurants @ WDW that we're not likely to repeat any time soon. However, it's not worse than Chef Boyardee & it's not too bad to even swallow. Then again, food would have to be rotted for me to refuse to swallow something I already have in my mouth. Bottom line, the food is definitely edible, & you wouldn't think that by reading some reviews here.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I say the same thing about LTT for anyone who has had even decent country cooking at home.

That said, I'm not Italian, from NY or NJ, & won't eat at the places mentioned above. I guess I'm one who defends Tony's, because it's not nearly as bad as some people here say. It seems to get the most exaggerated negative reviews of any restaurant on this board. I'm not referring to yours, as it's probably pretty accurate for most people. I appreciate a negative review as much as a positive one, maybe more. I just don't understand why some people feel the need to over exaggerate things. IMO, Tony's marinara sauce is bland & reminiscent of chunky Ragu. Those reviews are right on target. It's definitely not the best WDW has to offer, & not one we'll likely repeat any time soon. To be fair, there's many non-signature restaurants @ WDW that we're not likely to repeat any time soon. However, it's not worse than Chef Boyardee & it's not too bad to even swallow. Then again, food would have to be rotted for me to refuse to swallow something I already have in my mouth. Bottom line, the food is definitely edible, & you wouldn't think that by reading some reviews here.

See this is just your opinion. Its not fair for you to claim im exaggerating. Cause im really not. I mean every word I type. Lol. The meatball was disgusting, I really couldnt swallow it. And ive never spit food into a napkin at disney before. Only at Tony's. I actually do prefer chef boyardee's ravioli over the cr#p they served. Thats just my opinion. Its not an exaggeration. Its bad Italian food. REALLY BAD. Even the salad was gross! how do you screw up salad?? Its like they left the salad sitting under a heat lamp. Never again.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Admittedly, I haven't eat Chef Boyardee, since I was a child. It must have improved by leaps & bounds since then, if it's better than Tony's. I'm not trying to pick on you at all, & this isn't personal. I just can't imagine how bad food would have to be to make it impossible to swallow. I've eaten some bad food in my lifetime, but it's never been bad enough for me to spit it out in public. Tony's definitely doesn't serve the worst food I've ever tried to eat.

 

[stitch34]

Tony's isn't bad.... it's just the pasta sauce that is horrific!
We always enjoy our meal there - love the meatballs, actually!
But oh, that sauce is pretty lousy.
While the food tastes nothing like Olive Garden - I still rate it as similar. So-so italian food - which we really enjoy at both places in spite of it all!

But really, everythign we've found great at Tony's... just the sauce is the exception!