For likely the busiest breakfast day of the year, Tony's Cafe knocked out of the park! They were prepared. The service was quick, pleasant and precise. We were seated right away, and although the restaurant was completely full, our food came out perfectly seasoned and hot. Portion sizes were large, so come hungry! We are happy to have a great breakfast restaurant in our new hometown. We will definitely be coming back! read more

Arrived Tuesday at 9:00am. Seated immediately by the gracious host. Food always pretty good however both hash browns and potatoes needed to be cooked a little better were a bit soft all over. Server wasn't very attentive except for delivery of our tab. Over all still a very good experience. read more

Tony's Cafe - Veggie skillet with pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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I am attaching the original review and the owners reply. You decide if its a place you want to spend money at (My review) Food: 3 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 3 Food was good. service was "ok" but the issue is basically not being told there are upcharges that are not disclosed. When a server asks if you want sausage or bacon and you say sausage patties they should be clear there is a significant increase. That increased the order by almost a 1/3 of the total cost. So from $9.5 to $12.50 due to the added $3.00 for sausage patties and not sausage links. I was also given the wrong check. I was told that the total on both were the same as what we ordered so we could just pay this bill. When I got home started to wonder why it was $41.15 I called and was told that the bill was correct. When I quested the total the manager then said well you wanted patties and that's $3.00 more. I said "OK I did not realize that or was made aware there was an upcharge". End of conversation it is what it is but I probably wont go there again since I felt like there should have been at least a comment there was a fee. For the cost I think there are better options available. So if you go to Tony's just be mindful and ask about any upcharges when you order so there are no surprises...................................................... Response from the owner 2 hours ago: Thank you I'm so glad the food was good, but when you order extra you pay extra.: ................. ......................................................I RESPONDED TO THE OWNWERS REPLY:.. I will certainly never return with a snarky comment like that from whom ever it is that responds on here. I have noticed this your way of dealing with people that you fail. I HAVE zero issues paying I even left the server a 20% tip so dont go acting like the "customer" wants something for free.....JUST fair. boss makes a rule to have a ridiculous mark up and then not tell people about a 3.00 upcharge just for patties in place of links. With the way you respond on here you do more damage than the honest reviews. Syrup down the road is so much better SO that is where I will spend my money, You can stick with your denial issues LOL Price per person Food: 3 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 3 read more

We love this place! Locally owned, the staff is always friendly and attentive. We have always ordered breakfast but everything on the menu is delicious. Cute outdoor area with umbrellas. The giant chicken on the patio is a good photo opportunity too! read more

We found this little gem on a search for breakfast restaurants in Crystal Lake. The food was delicious and amazing. Our server Mikayla did a great job serving us and checking back at the table while we waited on our order to be ready. The manager even stopped by the table on the patio to see if we wanted the umbrella back up since the sun was out! The meatloaf & eggs was a surprise and a great value too. Please check this place out! read more

My family and I came on a weekend brunch, and the place was packed even at around 9:45am - we thought this was a good sign! The place is homey, nicely decorated with books by the entrance and even Santa was there. The food we ordered was delicious and a good amount of food, and it came out super quick. All the staff were great and friendly. It can be hard to get around the restaurant when it's so full of people and busy. The food itself was great, we loved the potato pancakes, avocado toast, Irish skillet, and even the coffee! We will definitely be back. read more

Tony's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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I'm not one to give a bad review, but this place really let me down, the reviews were great but unfortunately that was not my experience. Kids and I were gonna go to syrup (we should've) but wanted to try this local spot, because why not, support local places with mind you, great reviews. Let's start with the place , it's cute , semi clean & packed. The service was mediocre we were missing silverware, our waitress wasn't attentive at all my son ended up using a spoon to eat his pancakes . I asked for silverware and napkins and nothing ... more coffee just got refilled once. The food looked amazing but everything was so bland :( , the fried steak was bland and had a greasy after taste , the gravy was mediocre, I'm from Texas so I know a good chicken fried steak and this was no bueno! My eggs were way to runny they grossed me out.. over medium shouldn't be like that at all, they should be a little runny not super under cooked. I'm not one to waste food but I left pretty much my whole meal , the sausages were delicious but the rest ugh! Gross! Unfortunately this food made me sick and I was not able to keep it in long , I was gagging. I won't be back , not sure if the cook had a bad day or if the waitress wasn't feeling working today. It was a terrible experience. There's outdoor seating and also parking , the restaurant is cute. And they serve alcohol too, But that's all I can say about it. read more

Tony's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Sitting at a table by hostess stand the vacuum fell.y friend asked her to please sweep the stuff that fell and was right next to her. Someone came over I looked up where the owner was perched holding up the wall and he and his wife were talking about us...I can spend my money elsewhere. As he followed us out calling us miserable people because we decided to leave ...I'm such a terrible person that's why I stood there holding the door for one of his elderly patrons...he should have been doing that instead of telling me I was a horrible person don't ya think. I have always felt that they are very conceited...now I don't have to question it. read more

Delicious. We ordered through DoorDash for Saturday breakfast and our order arrived sooner than expected thanks to the speedy chefs at Tony's. The eggs Benedict was delicious and the pancakes were outstanding. A pancake seems like it would be easy for everyone to make, but I swear, these pancakes were something else. The bacon was delicious as well! Biscuits and gravy were also a big yum! We will order from here again, for sure! read more

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always amazing the staff & the food everything!!! Full menu with so many great options to choose from. Also an amazing outdoor seating area read more

Tony's Cafe - chicken and waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

OMG! My first time here! This is a place where you come in and order. Then there are some people in the back that you never see (or maybe they're elves...or magicians of some sort), but either way it does not matter. Something in the back happens. Then...you wait a little bit. Not too long. Patience padawan! Then the food comes out. The people, elves, or whoever they are in the back have somehow taken some yummy and they added goodness to your food. And the result (shock alert) is that you're eating yummy goodness! I'll come back though I'm not from around here anymore. I'm currently in Houston though occasionally I come back to Illinois. Thanks for the yummy goodness! read more

Tony's Cafe - Yummy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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Ate here several times. If you ask for crispy hashbrowns, you'll get a pile of inedible grizzle. I'll share a Pic. Manager gave 10%off. With the price of meals, this is unacceptable. Also, food is always served first, toast arrives 5min later.....every time. Also, table behind us got up and left because they couldn't get their order taken after 15min. There were only 3 tables being waited on at the time. read more

Tony's Cafe - Hashbrowns so grizzly they just crumble and you can't even fork em. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Our first visit here, but definitely not our last. Excellent food- we had stuffed potato pancakes and a veggie wrap. Very reasonable prices, delightful outdoor patio seating. Great server! Who could ask for more? read more

Great food! Great service! Amazingly clean washrooms. Not much more to say. Waitresses were very nice.

The best!!! The staff is amazing and the food is even better!!!! They have the absolute best soups!

My wife and I stopped at Tony's Cafe for the first time on our way out to Woodstock and we couldn't have been more pleased. The restaurant was crowded, but we were seated in less than 10 minutes and were welcomed and approached very quickly. Our waitress Maya was extremely pleasant and helpful in taking our order to split a Denver Omelet and side by bringing us a pancake and a piece of buttered toast. Food was delicious, prices reasonable and wait staff was professional and accommodating . . . What else can you ask for these days? We will certainly return with friends. read more

We eat here a lot the staff is friendly and accommodating and food is always good! Get in early the place gets crowded

Service was excellent. Homemade corned beef hash was sooooo good! Loved the whole atmosphere of this restaurant. The decor was cool and restrooms were very clean. My friend and I got healthy portions of flavorful food. Traveling through town and found this place. Would stop by again if ever in the Crystal Lake area. read more

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The food is very good. They have so much variety in the menu. Friendly staff could be quicker but in there for the food

Bad service, average food. Last two times outside watched people come in after us and get service. Had to walk out today. Disappointed last x4 times visiting. read more

My GO-TO never disappoint breakfast place! Seriously, growing up in Texas I'm used to my morning mom and pop diners. Well Folks, this place has great hospitality as well amazing food everytime. Wife always gets the skillets while I'm more of a Benedict type of guy. Thank you Tony's for always the great service read more

Great breakfast, good prices. Nice people also. I've been going here for 20 years...give it a try read more

This is really a 2 star place except for the outstanding service. The service was fantastic so i gave a extra star. Like a duck out of water it reminds you of a road side dinner in the country. Definitely old school. Still soup and bread with your meal. The portions are good sized the food so so. I think more a breakfast place. In the country a great stop. But in our area outdated and below average read more

Soup, get the Award winning soups! The place was packed when we arrived but were able to get a booth right away. They had high chairs which we were thankful for. Our waitress was not very attentive, she kept forgetting things like cream for the coffee, silverware, butter for the pancakes. All of these should be brought out with their corresponding items without asking if it's needed or not. Order: Gyros and Feta skillet $9.99 Hash brown potatoes, gyros, feta cheese, tomatoes, & onions topped with two eggs, any style. Served with tzatziki Comes with a side of hotcakes. Chicken Acapulco sandwich $10.59 Chicken breast sandwich, topped with mozarella, bacon, avacado & salsa on the side. Comes with a cup of soup -New England Clam Chowder Our waitress suggested the Acapulco sandwich which I thought was a let down. It was dry and needed some pizazz. The chowder soup was out of this world delicious. The feta skillet was delicious and tasted excellent, the side of pancakes were tasty. The coffee was not as good as the waitress led us to believe. Over all if my meal and the service was better I would have given 4 stars. I would love to come back and get more soup and definitely try the breakfast. read more

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The food and portion sizes will keep you going back. The staff and management are exceptional people. The fact that it's near a school gave me doubts about it. We thought it might be a dive for the kids. Boy were we wrong. Excellent food. Excellent prices and be sure to tell them to keep your glass full when you order. They get busy and sometimes need some encouragement. Five stars all the way! read more

Excellent food. Excellent service n family ambiance. It's like a mama n papa restaurant

Amazing staff, the best crispy hashbrowns I have had in a while. Solid coffee, biscuit was good, gravy was OK but kind of sweet so not my type of gravy. Sausage patties were great. read more

Best pea soup on earth. Owned by the kindest woman alive she is a gem, so is the café.

Good food and great service at the very reasonable price. Great for breakfast in the morning.

Lived here 14 years and finally stepped foot inside thanks to all the Yelp recommendations. Wow, soups are freshly made daily and taste just like someone spent 10 hours in the kitchen stirring the pot. Hubby ordered a chicken wrap with side of chicken noodle soup. Both delicious. Son ordered bacon cheeseburger which was bigger than his head! I ordered the chili con queso which is chili served in a small crock with cheddar cheese baked on top!! Talked briefly with the owner at the checkout. He mentioned the different soups made each day of the week. Hmm, gonna need to try them all! read more

Tony's Cafe - Cheddar bacon burger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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Ate there and it was a joke. The portion was so small I left hungry. I ordered chicken salad on a pita, there was no chicken salad and they charged extra for the pita. Never again. read more

I had high hopes for this place. I used to live only a few mins away for about 5 years and would pass by this place frequently. I moved further away and would see reviews about this place and knew I needed to make it a point to stop by, so I finally did and unfortunately it wasn't as great as I was hoping for it to be. First I ordered the ultimate skillet which was good, just nothing great stood out about it. The waffle we ordered looked good, but wasn't as crisp as I thought it should be. It was actually kind of soggy like. Service was okay. The waitress was attentive but it wouldn't have hurt to crack a few smiles. The overall place was a typical local diner. Definitely wear and tear throughout the place- the booth seats have cracks in them, the interior is dated, carpet is worn and dirty. The outdoor seating looks nice- I'm just not into bugs flying around while I eat. Wish it lived up to all the hype... read more

The food was great and the staff was very friendly. They also said that they are going to have have entertainment on Friday nights.

We love breakfast at Tony's but I was a bit rushed last week so I tried the takeout for lunch. The food was fresh, hot, and delicious as always. Tony's is a local treasure. read more

Love the food and the service:) Soups are amazing! Clean, close and affordable. Great Crystal Lake establishment! read more

I went there for breakfast and loved the food and the people that wk there. Lucky for me I found it and really enjoyed it. Especially eating outside in the morning with you're main squeeze. read more

What a wonderful breakfast , lunch place... cute little diner Bobbie and John are wonderful hosts. The food was amazing and at reasonable price. This is are second time here and they really do make you feel home. Can't beat the breakfast $8 for two eggs, hash browns and toast or pancakes. I had the avocado stuffed with chicken salad, cottage cheese, and fresh fruit. The chicken salad is homemade and delicious. I highly recommend this place for service, price and atmosphere read more

Very disappointing, just ordered breakfast. I live 2 minutes from here. The eggs were good as was the sausage but the toast was cold and potatoes were so crunchy I thought I was going to lose a tooth. I have been here many times but this was unacceptable. read more

Tony's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

This place rocks!!! Highly recommended to anyone in the crystal lake area!!! Family owned and operated friendly people.

I decided to give this place a try for my daughter's birthday. We sat outside on the patio.. it was a beautiful sunny day so why not.. the food was delicious. The staff super friendly. Once we were done eating the waitress asked if we needed boxes we said yes.. she came back with a cute muffin and candle and sang happy birthday to my daughter who was surprised as much as I was.. did not see that coming.. such a lovely place with the best staff ever!!! Definitely a place to enjoy great food and wonderful atmosphere!!!! Highly recommended!! read more