We have been to Fat Tony's probably 15 times since Covid, when we discovered this gem. I think we have sat at the bar every time except one time, when we brought a group. The food is great. The atmosphere and ambiance is rich with beautiful wood work from years gone by. There is a terrific beer selection and full bar. It is about three levels above your typical bar fare. The staff is always friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Don, the owner is a regular presence. The man cares about the food, the establishment and his staff! Erin is the longtime bartender and bar manager. Delightful. We are always greeted with a warm smile and Don usually drops by to say, "Hi." The Rueben is probably the best I've ever had, the Meatball Sundae is my wife's favorite and is wonderful. The Fish and Chips are perfection and they serve a dynamite Greek Salad. We have seen the pizzas but have not had one yet. It's definitely on the list. If you want a great dining experience in a historic bar, you should definitely pay a visit to FAT TONY'S ITALIAN PUB! read more

Fat Tony's Italian Pub - Neon Light in Front Window. - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

amazing waitress atmosphere and food is the bomb!!! cant say enough about the meatball Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!! We waited 4 years to come back and it did not disappoint. I got a beer at the bar and the bartender was also super helpful got me a local beer and it was excellent! Cant be more pleased with atmosphere friendliness cleanliness and staff food is 100 amazing!!! Just GO!!! ANY and every time I get to Wilmington I will stop here We even wondered if they would ship meatball sundaes with dry ice that is how good they are. Sorry Im not much of a photographer so no pics from me. read more

Take a long walk along the river and burn some extra calories before heading over to Fat Tony's Italian Pub for a great cocktail menu, appetizers, and lunch. Sit outside and enjoy the view of the water, but be sure that you land at the right location since there are several establishments along the same deck. Our server, Justin, was attentive and extremely helpful as we navigated the menu. We ordered some of the seasonal cocktails as well as the Meatball Sundae - YUM and plenty for sharing. The Brisket Rueben was a winner and we liked that they offered a variety of both traditional and healthy sides. read more

Better than expected for a Pub, the Tortellini was on point, flavor and portion size Service was excellent, our server had a smile at all times even when he went to get me a beer and wife tasted it and he went back and got another for her. She eats very little after a big lunch so she ordered the chicken tenders and said they were good The music from next door was excellent but even without the music the view was ah ma zing Would come back read more

Came in here for a drink and some apps. Bar is huge, and there are plenty of tables, as well as some but limited outdoor seating. It was old style and dark. Bartender didn't know the building history, unfortunately. He pointed out some pictures we could look at. I had a tiramisu espresso martini, delicious! But for a short glass, I thought pricey. My husband had a local IPA that he really enjoyed. We had stuffed mushrooms which were very good. Weird, though, there were only 3 in the order. My husband decided to order a pastrami sandwich, which came with fries. Fries had a good spice on them, and he enjoyed his sandwich. There were some pasta dishes and pizzas on the menu. There were lots of people eating at the bar. It was worth the stop into this Market Street eatery. read more

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Tried this place on a whim. Happily surprised. Rustic decor and a legit bar. Food was great and they had a good beer selection. The patio was a great spot with a slight river view. Staff was friendly. For a pub it was solid. read more

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Delicious bar style Italian vibe with amazing meatball appetizer and bread. Good draft beer selection and a super fun patio space for nice nights or evenings. Will go back read more

Fat Tony's Italian Pub - Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We ate the Italian food. Being from the northeast we knew we were taking a risk but we were hangry and tired. Trapped. I wouldn't let my review stop you from trying it, the food was fine, just not for us. read more

Awesome place! Close to public parking, was clean and the staff was friendly. Our waiter was so sweet and attentive. We had a pizza, chicken parm sandwich, and Mac & Cheese bites for an appetizer. Sooooo delicious! My family loved it so much we had to go back again before we left. read more

Stopped in for a beer to watch NFL on Sunday. Place was empty. Ordered a Guinness nice pour from the bartender. Ordered the Sausage and Peppers sandwich. It was one sausage link split in half and ran length wise in the bun. There were 10 (I counted) square pepper pieces On the sandwich. Poor showing by Fat Tony. It's a nice spot but explained why there is no one in there. read more

Been wanting to try Fat Tony's for a minute. And finally came to check it out. It didn't disappoint. Super casual vibe and the service is great! Ava was our server and she was so sweet and attentive but not annoyingly attentive. She read us-and didn't bother us when we were in a deep conversation- but checked in when it made sense. The food was really good! I got the clam chowder and the arugula salad no pine nuts. Yum! Both things were delish and very fresh. Loved the balsamic reduction on the salad. Will definitely come here again! read more

Fat Tony's Italian Pub - Clam chowder and arugula pear salad - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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We sat outside to eat so the ambiance was chill. Our server was friendly and attentive. The food was fresh and hot. Our salads were tasty too and I loved the ranch dressing! read more

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The food here never disappoints! I've been to Fat Tony's a few times now, and it's obviously a popular place to go eat and drink when exploring downtown Wilmy. The atmosphere, whether sitting at the bar or at a table, is casual and energetic. Our server was nice and welcoming, and our food came in a timely manner. read more

We were told this is a local's place and it was located near the place we stayed. We enjoyed pasta and the classic sports bar vibe this place has. A small deck outside will allow for outdoor dining. The service was good and the food was delicious. Recommend this "pizza place" as a great pub in the heart of downtown. read more

We went here for my birthday this fall. I wanted pizza, and was not disappointed. It hit the spot! Drinks were good. It was very slow (but it was a week day afternoon). The staff took care of us very well, but were not overly friendly. Prices were ok. I would go back for the food, but it's not a place I would go to hang out. read more

Allover the service was good (Thanks Justin). Here is the breakdown of dishes we ordered. -Shrimp Alfredo 3 out of 10 no season so blan. -chicken Alfredo same as shrimp no flavor - Rubin was a 8 out of 10 enjoyed it. -Pizza was 6 out of 10 nothing to write home about. Overall 3 out of 5 stars and cooks need to use salt and pepper for some favor. read more

cool place, old historic building in a great location with a good view of the cape fear. food was extremely average, perfectly serviceable after a day in the sun. Would I rather a place like this stay in historic downtown or would I rather a new overpriced hipster joint pop up and ruin the vibe and prices, I'll take a slice of fat tony's! read more

First time visiting Fat Tony's in a while. I tried their Blackberry cinnamon margarita... it was so bad. A sugar & syrup overload! Paid over $15 for that. The waiter was very nice and fast. He did a great job so that's why it's not lower stars. I also got the spinach & artichoke dip. The dip was really good but the pita chips that came with them were stale and rock solid. It will be a while before returning after this experience. read more

Fat Tony's Italian Pub - Spinach and Artichoke Dip - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Just left from here! My husband and I waited at the bar for a seat on the back patio. We didn't wait too long. We were seated. A party of 8 was seated after us. The male server never once approached us. We sat for 20 minutes and were totally ignored, but he had Ben to the table of 8 4 times. We left that is unacceptable!!! read more

Skip it! The service was terrible. We had to sit inside since their outdoor patio was packed. Menu was pretty basic with pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and a few Italian meals. We ordered the crab dip and chicken tenders for apps. They took 40 min to arrive. When our meals arrived, our waitress got a few meals incorrect and missed my order completely. I waited ~10 min after everyone got their meal to get mine. I was not impressed by the chicken parm sandwich. It was small and not stuffed with much chicken. The meatballs were probably the best part of the meal but they were also pretty average. My boyfriend had the pulled pork and it had no bbq sauce on it so it was super dry! There are so many other great spots on the same street; not worth it! read more

Fat Tony's Italian Pub - Pulled Pork Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The food was horrible I was charged.60 for extra salad dressing Potato skins were burnt My black and blue salad had sliced deli meat instead of chunks of steak like advertised Personal pizza was advertised as $7.00 but were charged $10.00 They advertised the Reuben would have medaled piled high and we got 3 thin slices of brisket I would not waste your time or money going to this place. read more

Came here on a Saturday night of St. Pattys Day weekend. They had an open table and my party had 10 people. The server was nice but the food and how long for the food to come out was not good. We ordered a few appetizers and it took almost an hour for them to come out. We wanted the calamari but by 7:30pm they were already sold out. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was incredibly dry with no sauce on it. The fries were good. Overall most of my party was disappointed in the service and food quality. read more

Fat Tony's Italian Pub - Pulled Pork Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Had a great experience. Selected to sit outside. Service was spot on and the Meatball Sundae was delicious! Meat was tender and flavorful. Loved the addition of a good quality ricotta scoop added in. Loved it so much came back 2 days later and had the baked ziti which could have fed 4. Great place to come for affordable good quality bar food. read more

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The food - not all that. Was it delicious... yeah sort of. We tried a few of the apps and they were a good drinking type of app. The marinara sauce though was super thick and tangy. Not at all what we are accustomed to. We got the baked spaghetti - sounds like a novel way to serve it but for us it was ruined by the tangy sauce. The chicken cutlet sandwich. Same tangy sauce. A personal size pizza - I was breaking a sweat chewing it. Not quite the quality we are accustomed to either. The kids Mac n cheese was Kraft. If that makes a difference to you. The servers were outstanding. It seems like a good drinking bar with okay food not a restaurant with alcohol. Would we go back - Nah. Fuggetaboutit. read more

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Held a private celebration here. Food was delicious, great portions, friendly atmosphere. Manager Erin and Server Caitlyn were amazing. Would highly recommend!!! read more

Had the spinach ravioli, bruschetta and a few glasses of a good Malbec wine. I will have to come back. Sit on the deck and enjoyed the live music. read more

Great Service and the Food was awesome!! We had Chili and a Chicken Parmigiana sandwich! Will be back soon ! Thank you read more

Overall a great last minute choice to meet friends for dinner before going line dancing one night! We ordered the caprese salad which was fresh and tasty, the lobster ravioli (delicious!), and a meatball sandwich. All of them came out quickly, the server was friendly, the restaurant wasn't super packed, and we had a lovely time. Parking is a pain just like for every place in downtown Wilmington. Not the best Italian food in town but definitely not a bad option. read more

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Fat Tony's is one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Wilmington. It has that old world feel. I sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and very attentive. The food was fantastic and delicious. Fat Tony's is one of those places that I've never had anything bad. Just one thing can y'all please bring back that black & bleu burger?! read more

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Overall decent. Big area with lots of room. Making a reservation was difficult with whoever was on the phone. Server Noah was awesome Pizza overpriced but yummy Table was a little dirty when we sat down Decent food place for a quick bite and lowkey pub vibes. read more

The service was terrible- wanted forever for food - seems like the kitchen just wasn't moving at all. The food quality was subpar at best. The bathrooms were gross. There seemed to be a lot of staff so unsure why we were surrounded by dirty tables. I ordered the sausage and peppers sandwich and it had absolutely no flavor and the peppers and onions were greasy. Will never go back read more

First time - now the Favorite!!!! Ownership - management - staff - Kitchen!! All Aces!!! Best overall experience we've had in a long time!! Food was amazing, kitchen turn time was insane and the wait staff could not have been any better!!! Just before our party of 8 came in, a party of 22 and a party of 9 had just gotten seated. They got us seated in under 5 min and our drinks were served in under 3 mins and our food was under 10min from order. Absolutely amazing and we will be back A-LOT!! 10 STARS for this experience!! read more

Fat Tony's Italian Pub - Baked Ziti and Meatball parm calzone - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Absolutely lovely. We happened upon Fat Tony's for lunch after a long day of travel. I had my dog with me, so we asked for a table out front near the sidewalk. The hostess suggested the back patio would be quieter and more private and allowed us to walk through the restaurant rather than go all the way around the block to the back entrance. I ordered a BLT (delicious) and got a burger with fries from the kids menu for my dog. Our waitress (Kayla, I think?) asked specific questions about how to prepare my dog's meal - is a bun ok, is cheese ok, what amount of seasoning for the fries - which was very thoughtful and sweet, especially seeing as it was for an animal who eats grass regularly. We were very happy with the quality of the food, the price, and our service was excellent. Thanks so much! read more

Nice place to grab some food and a drink in downtown Wilmington. Great inside seating as well as outside (front street and back with river view). Got the calamari as an appetizer. Calamari was okay but not great. After that we grabbed a carnivore and margherita pizzas. Not sure if the Margherita was on the menu but they made it for us anyway. Pizza was 4 stars. Atmosphere is great. Service is good. Great drink selection. COVID information - Mask required and enforced - Temperature taken at the door read more

Giving it a 3 star for food. Trust me, awesome food. Giving it a 2 star for service. Went in on Sat evening and wanted a drink and to go food. Bartender was rude, abrubt and basically said "we close in 15 min so hurry the hell up" Never came back to check on us, had to flag her down to get check, and when she brought food, threw it down saying "have a good night" so almost felt like a racial issue. Recommend the food, but be cautious of the bartender serving. Make sure to tread lightly with order, and to not expect quality service. If you agree to this you're good. read more

A few months ago my husband and I were in Wilmington for a wedding and Fat Tony's was our first stop for a quick bite! We really enjoyed the Caesar salad, garlic buffalo jumbo chicken wings and pepperoni pizza with some beers. Our food and beer came out fast and everything was the right temperature which was such a relief as we had just traveled all day and were starving! The salad was fresh, the wings were very tasty and the pizza was too - the crust had a nice crunch and I enjoyed the flavor. Kiely was our waitress - she was incredible. My husband had a ton of questions about the area we would be staying for the next few days and she was so sweet and happy to help. The restaurant was fairly busy during our visit, but she took the time to make us feel welcomed and offered lots of great information. Thank you again Miss Kiely! The overall vibe was cozy bar. The interior boasts wooden floors, wooden tables and plenty of space to tuck away. There is also a back patio that offers an unobstructed view. We will definitely be recommending Fat Tony's to anyone coming to Wilmington! read more

Horrible service. If you want to wait 20 minutes to get your drinks or 45 minutes to get your food then it's fantastic. The food is not worth the wait at all. read more

The hostess told us they didn't have any silverware when we tried to put our name in. We said that's fine, we'll order a round of drinks first. Hostess asked if we wanted inside or out, and then said it didn't matter if we wanted to sit outside bc she didn't have any availability and the only table she had inside had a stroller blocking it. I understand if they don't have seating in certain sections, but the restaurant was dead - 3 people at bar, 2 tables seated inside, about 20 people total outside. Another server sat finally us and told us they are short staffed, so it'll be a while til someone comes over. Waited 10 min with no acknowledgement. The server who seated us didn't even offer menus or water. We left before it got any worse. read more

We like Fat Tony's. We stopped in last evening about 8:30 for a late dinner. It was obvious the dinner crowd was gone as the place was mostly empty. This can be a red flag, but we've eaten here before and know better. Cindy our server was excellent. Friendly and attentive, she made a feel right at home all evening. FT's got to have signature dish is their meatball sundae. It won't disappoint. Five good-size meatballs with marinara, ricotta and mozzarella and baguette to soak up all that marinara goodness. We decided to split a "build your own" calzone. We added sausage, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and black olives. It was delicious! Their draft beer list is pretty good with lots of local and regional choices. However, we decided to order a bottle of their Italian Chianti, Cavaliere D'oro Classico. It also didn't disappoint, although it was the only Italian red on the menu. This place is still a pub, so it has a typical pub menu such as sandwiches and burgers as well as several Italian dinners, pizza, calzones and even Stromboli. Overall a great experience. We will be back! read more

Great place for a good cocktail and AMAZING Spinach & Artichoke dip! You could tell that the dip is homemade and a bonus is they make their own garlic bread for you to eat with the dip. For a homemade spin dip, this one takes the gold medal. They had really good daily specials like personal pizza for $5.99 and 1/2 of select appetizers. Great place! Mo was a great bartender and extremely sweet! read more