We went to Tony's for my Birthday celebration. The service was top notch and my entree was incredible. I will definitely be back and so glad we decided to dine ar this Houston staple! read more

Insanely rude waitstaff, terribly cooked food. My husband is Italian and I think his nonna would roll over in her grave if she even smelled the food. Complete waste of money, and next time I spend 400 dollars we will just pull it out and light it on fire. read more

I made a reservation 2-3 weeks prior to the day to make sure our big group is catered. When I first called, they made sure we were dressed properly. (Dress fancy : Female: Dress/ business casual Male: Long pants, jackets or button ups, closed toe shoes, no sandals, no sneakers). When I talked to the lady on the phone, they were proud to represent themselves as best authentic italian place. When we finally arrived, there were several hostess walked us to our table. Several servers were hanging around our table area, waiting to be called. I definitely felt like they were very serious with their service, and make sure we get taken care of. However when we started with drinks, we ended up waiting so long for the waiters to take our orders. Some of them actually refused to take our order because he wasn't supposed to help us. Despite of how lovely of this place was with fancy sculptures and beautiful paintings, it seemed like place was so unorganized. Its not the most spacious place, almost reminded me of hotel lobby with grand entrance with several tables. As mentioned, loved how they decorated the place with artistic works. Almost felt like we were dinning at a art museum. We enjoyed the soft music in the background, classic yet subtle. HRW menu was also presented with regular menu, and every dishes were excellent. They weren't americanized or catered towards the general public in that they were very authentic. I loved every dishes they had!! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!!!! With a big group of people, we were able to taste little bit of everything, although it seems to be discouraged to share foods. Every one of them were perfectly cooked, and presented with perfect demonstration with impeccable flavor. Of all the dishes I want to just point out few dishes from HRW and few of my favorite regular menu. 1. Fettuccine alfredo: WASN'T WHITE! 4.5/5 We always assumed Alfredo sauce was white and creamy, but this showed little bit of orange color bit of tomato flavor. Cream was just so flavorful, eating it with bread was another way to enjoy this dish. Now, the pasta though, you can tell they hand make this pasta. It was so soft and chewy. I wish the portions were larger 2. Risotto de fungi: They suggested it was the best risotto in town. They had a record of winning an award for this dish and it didn't disappoint us. Definitely amazing and flavorful with mushroom and cream with aldente rice. Definitely wished it was larger portion 3. WINE!: They have a wine selection called ultra violet. $90 range. It was so amazing. We ended up looking it up and you could only get it from ordering it online. I was surprised they had such a good wine lists to go well with the food. Definitely going to order this wine myself Overall I want to give 4/5: Reason for not giving them not 5 is that, their disappointing service, and overly set price despite of small portion. Tony's definitely already have its reputation for serving high quality food and what not, but wish they can improve their service. read more

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BE FOREWARNED... review's a bit SAPPY! For over 40 years, Tony's been wining and dining guests. From celebrities to dignitaries... no other restaurant has the clout or star power like Tony's. And in its latest location... it's better than ever! For us common folk, Tony's is a special occasion (anniversary, job promotion, milestone birthdays, etc). For "old money" patrons, its a Tuesday dinner. Tony's gotten younger now, a bit current with the times. A modern ambiance, more relaxed stance on the "no jacket & tie" policy, and a young head chef to steer Mr. Vallone's vision. What is about this place that makes its soooo special? What's the hype all about? You may ask... Is the food the best in Houston? No Is the service the best in Houston? No Or how about the dining area? No So what is it then? It's none of that, and all of the above. In short, it's MAGICAL! My review may be a bit skewed because Tony's played host to a night of fond memories for my girlfriend and me. After being turned down by this girl for months, she finally decided to go out on a "real" date w/ me. So I had to impress... only one place conjures up to mind, and that's Tony's. When Houstonians hear "lets have Tony's for dinner"... in an instant, your attitude change. You get giddier, your tone of voice gets higher and pitchier, and everything else is quickly forgotten. DINING AREA: Its been over a decade since I've ate at Tony's. Reservations were for 5:45. As we arrived, we informed the staff that we had a musical to catch at 7:00. So everything needed to be executed with urgency. We were seated in the middle of the dining room. If it was in the old restaurant, we probably would've been seated near the kitchen doors. So I'm happy about the new layout here. It is great for people watching. But none of that would matter tonight, my eyes were totally fixated on her. I did, however, get to scan the entire decor. More contemporary then its former location. Sky-lighted ceiling, arched dining room, glass kitchen, and a huge prevalent sculpture is distinctly remembered. SERVICE: A team of waiters came out to place napkins on our lap, hand us an assortment of bread, and fill our glasses with water. The Headwaiter or maybe captain, dressed in a suit, asked when we needed to get out. So I told him of the situation and from that moment on, service was impeccable. Execution was tactful w/o ever making us feel hurried or rushed. Water was always full, plates were immediately cleared when finished, and new dishes brought out soon after. Their team of waiters were always observant w/o ever being intrusive. White glove service, they were a well oiled machine. APPS: We had Napolean Duo and Crab tower for appetizers. The Napolean duo was basically thinly sliced salmon and ahi tuna carpaccio w/ tuscan melon and asian pear. It was ok, like eating fresh sashimi minus the wasabi and soy sauce. The Crab tower was juicy lump crab meat over diced tomatoes, avocado and arugula. The crab was succulent and sweet. ENTREES: I picked the Veal Medallions and she had the Lemon Snapper. In addition, we ordered Truffled Mac n' cheese and White Asparagus as sides. My two medallions were tender and nicely seared. Didn't care too much for my sauce. It just didn't work with the dish. The salmon was a bit overcooked. Other then that it was ok. Our sides... can't remember. Must be average then if I can't remember. DESSERT: When you come here, and can only order one thing... what do you order? The Grand Marnier Souffle of course! They will only serve it for a minimum of two people. Sitting in a large ramequin, this french classic is huge!!! Creamy inside, with a generous amount of Grand Marnier... it's ethereally light. Accompanied with a tree-like display of strawberries and blackberries. The sweet and tart flavors of the berries, counter-balances the delicate flavors of the souffle. SIMPLY REMARKABLE! After everything was said and done, Tony's laid the groundwork to a wondrous evening. Something celestial occurs in this place... for the first time, my gf admitted she saw me "differently". Don't know if it was my company or the alcohol... but whatever it was, we've been happily in love ever since! It was worth every cent, PRICELESS! THANKS TONY'S!!! read more

Best fillet in houston. Service is great but the wine is over priced. The ambience is worth it all. Great selection of liquors. The whipped mashed potatoes are to die for!!! read more

Tony's - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

1 Syllable says it all "ACE" The word "ace" comes from the Old French word 'as' (from Latin 'as') meaning 'a unit', from the name of a small Roman coin. It originally meant the side of a die with only one mark, before it was a term for a playing card. Since this was the lowest roll of the die, it traditionally meant 'bad luck' in Middle English, but as the ace is often the highest playing card, its meaning has changed to mean 'high-quality, excellence' read more

Tony's makes me feel content, gluttonous and is always a good meal. And you always pay the price, (or at least someone does). Went here with a friend for a business meeting and this was only my second time to dine here. The dining room is very nice, but it falls short of exquisite. The staff is very attentive, there has to be at least 5 of them waiting on you at all times. I'm not even joking on that one. The meal, we had the Zucchini Blossom and Crab meat Tower for starters. Both very good, and meant to serve one person. Tiny little things they were. For the main course I had the Braised Elysian Fields Farm Lamb Shank with aged balsamic, cerignola olives, and wild mushrooms. My friend had the Stuffed Truffled Filet of Beef, stuffed with black truffle butter. For sides we had green beans, sauteed mushrooms, and truffled mac and cheese. Everything was wonderful! I couldn't help but notice some of the apps on the menu were $120, that's a little steep no? Better be putting Jesus juice in that stuff or something... read more

This restaurant space is so old Houston. (That last statement is meant to be as side-notey as Gretchenly possible, especially in light of drama on an oldish talk thread.) It's conveniently located within easy driving distance of both River Oaks and general Houston blue blood. Not necessarily the staunch old rickety, get-dressed-in-formal-attire-to-eat-dinner types, nor the scrimp-every-last-dime-who-drive-their-twenty-year-old-cars-and-darn-their-own-socks types. I'm talking about the special occasioners and patron's of the arts types. Tony's opened in this location a few years ago. I never went to Maxim's, so have no point of reference, but I like the interior decor of Tony's. It tries its hardest to camouflage the fact that an office building is sitting on top of it. While inside, I didn't notice it. Dropping my car off at, and picking it up from, valet, I thought "Hotel drive?!" I think this was the polished drive and the automatic sliding doors. The camouflage is mainly a bubble wall, a few large urns full of flowers and surrounded by wine, and a gigantic window into the kitchen. From my vantage point, I could only see gigantic pots and pans hanging from the ceiling, so I only looked over occasionally. My main focus, when I wasn't distracted by the wonderful conversation at the table, was a Rauschenberg that was hung very prominently over the bar. I was very cleverly sat facing it. (not going to critique it, not going to critique it, not going to critique it...okay fine, but it should have been hung a lot lower than it was. It's mirrored...as in reflective. I don't feel I experienced it properly, as I feel people's reflection should be part of the piece.) There are other pieces around the restaurant, including a sculpture and more paintings. I ordered the three course meal. Tomato soup (very good), Involtini of Chicken, and Sugar Free Ricotta Custard. Eh. It tasted mass prepared. Good, but not stunning. My first choice and intention was to order an entree. There are several that sounded wonderful, but I followed the herd and ordered the coursed meal. Honestly, the thing that really won me over into conceding was the mention of a Sugar Free dessert...and a custard at that. It was good. A little better than good, possibly great...no it was just slightly better than good. I imagine their seafood entrees are great. read more

Food: 3.5/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Services: 4/5 Prices: $$$$ (avg 50/person) Finally, I thought I have kept the best for last, but alas, its much-ado-about-nothing... I reserved a table here a month in advance for our 1st Anniversary, I requested for a quiet table and informed them of our "Special Occassion". We arrived just on time at 7.30pm. Pulling into their main entrance to valet we already felt a little intimidated with all the expensive cars parked around the vicinity... As we walked in, we were the only 2 that were wearing "business casual", at least 90% of the patrons have suits or some kind. I'm aware of the dresscode here but just testing the water and was surprised that they let us in... hehehehe, maybe coz they know we are celebrating... Anyway, we were seated in the middle of the restaurant, not so quiet after all with all the action going around us and servers walking behind me. Nonetheless, we felt quite welcomed! Here's the order of our evening: -- Cocktail -- Ginger Blossom $12.50: Way too much Vodka Citron and not much of the ginger & citrus mixtures! I didnt finish it... Prosecco Royal $9: with Hibiscus Flower. Very refreshing and a great aperitif. Highly recommended! -- Appetizer -- Hudson Valley Foie Gras $22: Recommended by the head-waiter. Chilled, its rich and soft but just cant beat the seared version where the taste and flavor comes out. Soft Shell Crab $15: Also a Recommended dish, claimed to be flown in fresh today. Its deep fried with thick breadcrumb coating... really, didnt do the crab justice. The coating tasted so greasy and heavy that I could not even taste the crab. Huge dissapointment! -- Entree -- Veal Medallions $29: Two reasonable size, thick center cut beautifully seared medium rare medallions, still juicy and tender. Unfortunately, the accompaniment sauce was way too sour and just didnt work with the meat. What a let down... Roasted Duckling $32: THE BEST DUCK dish EVER! That says it all... This is a 2-serving order but they accommodated us due to the "special occasion". Just amazingly roasted crispy skin, tender not chewy nor tough, still slightly gamey but not overpowering yet very flavorful. Tony's really nailed this duck perfectly... A MUST HAVE! -- Dessert -- Souffle $12/person: We saw too many tables ordering the souffle, so we were duped! We had the chocolate flavor with Grand Marnier. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of souffle, so, it was A-okay! We both didnt finish our dessert, instead we had quite a few of the steroid-induced (or apple-size according to my partner) strawberry... Surprisingly, they were quite sweet too. Each table gets a "tree" of strawberry with meringue and blob of cotton candy, I dont know why??? So, whats our conclusion? Well, we came, we seen, we ate, we are DONE! Thanks Tony's for letting us in and served us like any other suits wearing millionaires. We are just a middle working class adventurous couple that couldnt and wouldnt fit into the stuffy over pretentious kinda place... However, if you want to see and be seen among the River Oaks folks and maybe some Houston's Forbes Millionaires, then this is the place to be! My final 2cents - Though Mark's of America is not as refined as Tony's, I will choose the former in a heart beat! Meantime, Masraff will be the next destination... read more

Happy Hour? Yes! It is a new option. It is so new that when we went there was no menu, so you have to get the low down from the bartender. I don't have details, but they have food and drink specials for $5. We tried the gnocchi which was flavorful. I think there is a slider option? Again, no menu. But if you are looking for a serene environment to wind down, this is a win! M-F 4-6:30pm read more

Ok, first review, here it goes! I appreciate allowing my first review to be a 5 star job but believe me this place deserves it. I have eaten in some good restaurants across the globe and eaten some good steaks (although never as many as my short time in Houston has provided me with) but this place now sets the standard! From the moment I walked in I was impressed, we were met at the door and from then on the place was, as us Brits say, my "cup of tea"! Don't get me wrong, Tony's ain't cheap however as far as I am concerned you pay for what you get and at Tony's, we got the best. I understand in my little time in Texas, steak is the food of choice, but being a steak lover this was indeed what I plumped for and by God did they get it right! The amount of times I have been in a restaurant and asked for a "blue" steak and got nothing more than a medium-medium rare meal has upset me. It appears to me chefs are too scared to allow a steak to come out still "moo-ing" for fear of a customer complaining, not so here. Both the service and the food was excellent, if you have a spare few hundred bucks in your back pocket you can't go far wrong than enjoying a delightful evening here. I will be back again, but after I've saved up the pennies! read more

Always wonderful. Always... never misses. It's incredible that they can create magic day after day, year after year. Good Job... and thanks. read more

This was one of the most anticipated spots for me to try out during Restaurant Week and I was really disappointed. Like another reviewer said, just because I'm dining off the Restaurant Week menu doesn't mean you should give me mediocre service. Every time I have dined at a 4 or 5 star hotel, I notice that the service is always a cut above a typical casual restaurant. The waitstaff go above and beyond and add in those special touches to show their exceptional service and training. Not the case here. I felt like the waiter just brought my my food and picked up my plates. That's it. There was no custom or personal service. I really expected a lot more from Tony's. As for the food, it was just okay. Portions are a generous size for a fine dining establishment. I probably wouldn't recommend getting anything I got (if you're curious, I had the mussels, red snapper, and cheesecake. Well, the cheesecake was good). If you are looking for a fine dining experience in Houston, there are dozens of other restaurants you can pick from. read more

I've lived within walking distance to Tony's the last 5 years I've lived in Houston, and I finally decided to try it for dinner -- and what a treat! I went for HRW. I opted for the artichoke salad (holy yum!), short ribs (delicious and tender), and the cannoli cake (nice ending to the meal). We were treated to cotton candy. Stellar service by the staff -- friendly and attentive. I would highly recommend! read more

Came here for restaurant week. The owner Scott Sulma personally greeted us at our table (near the cozy fireplace) all of the food and wine was incredible! The steak was 10 oz (a full sized portion) and cooked to perfection "medium rare +". The atmosphere couldn't be more perfect for date night & the staff ALWAYS roles out the red carpet. Free Valet makes it super easy to park, and the decor is classy, elegant and inviting! read more

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We were by far the youngest folks in the room, but that is fine by me. We were seated promptly and given the option of a banquette or a table, the banquette was just straight across, so you were sitting right next to each other, quite an odd set up and definitely not for me. Love that they give you time to settle in before handing you a menu and that the specials are printed out daily on their own separate menu. The wines by the glass selection was wonderful, they even had a great Brunello as an option. I opted to start with the lobster bisque and try the flounder special. Hubby had the short ribs ravioli and the Osso Bucco. The bisque was overwhelmingly rich and I shouldn't have eaten the whole bowl, but I did, making me too full to finish my flounder. They gave us the option of preordering a souffle for dessert, which we did because we had seen them go by earlier and they looked amazing. I think everyone in the place had the souffle. The Osso Bucco was perfectly done and the presentation of the huge steak knife was wasted, it didn't need one at all. I was too full of the bisque to try the truffle mac n' cheese, but I have some to try in my take out container. The ginormous souffle arrived with fresh berries on this metal tree sculpture, with sugar, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. They plated us each a piece of the souffle and took the other half away. I wonder what happens to all the half eaten souffles? Does the staff get to enjoy them? They cannot possibly be thrown out, can they? There was a whole lot of wasted souffle going around. I nearly forgot my to go of my flounder because they leave it at the front desk for you, right as we got into the car my husband remembered and retrieved it for me. So now I have flounder and crabmeat for lunch today...yum! Only one odd thing from the evening, the first person who placed my napkin on my lap came uncomfortably close to groping me. It was the strangest thing. read more

Just because I dined during Restaurant Week doesn't mean I deserve second-rate service. Tony's' approach to Restaurant Week is the opposite of what I have experienced at other Houston restaurants. Every other place I have dined has been excellent in quality and service - in hopes that you will come back later and pay full price. Tony's seems to have the attitude that Restaurant Weekers don't have the $ to come back without the discount. Bad assumption. I have been to Tony's several times (not during Restaurant Week) and really enjoyed it, especially the soufflé. However, my Restaurant Week experience changed my mind and ensured that I will not be back. We had to flag down a waiter to give us menus (it seemed they forgot about us). We had to ask again for Restaurant Week menus even though we noted this with our reservation. The food was mediocre at best, and undercooked at worst. Three people at the table had the veal; the flavor was overpowered by the capers. I was the unlucky one that had the chicken that was underdone and made me ill. The bright spot in the whole experience was the praline cheesecake. It was fantastic. After dessert, we were ignored for another 30-40 minutes and had to flag down someone for the check. Tony's is a place to see and be seen. If you're looking for an overall great dining experience, take your money elsewhere. read more

Stuff happens ... but some people handle touchy situations better than others. I had contacted Tony's GM, Mr. Scott Sulma, a couple of days ago to ensure that I would be handed the check for lunch today, not my guest. I have not met him but via e-mail he assured me my server would grant my request. From the beginning, Ms. Donna Vallone approached our table and greeted me and my guest. How delightful and unexpected. But aside from Ms. Vallone's special touch, our server was ready for us--no need to wonder when anyone was going to help. We were not made to rush, so we took our time ordering. Our meals were superb, and throughout our meal, our server and others, including Mr. Vinny Montecuollo, checked on us to make sure all was well and we were enjoying our meals. I enjoyed the seared sea bass; and my guest, the tuna tartar, both from the lunch menu. After our lunch, my guest and I sat and conducted business. She departed, and when it was time to pay our bill, I discovered I did not have my billfold. I had no ID, only my word that I would pay my bill. I was distressed and disclosed this fact to the individual who handed me my check. He nonchalantly stated that sometimes that happens. He asked I wait a moment, so he could apprise his superior about the matter. Mr. Vinny Montecuollo approached me and, without hesitation, set me at ease by telling me to take breath, to relax. I verbally gave him my address, but that didn't matter. He asked for my phone number and told me to drive home carefully; then to call in a credit card number. His kindness and consideration floored me. Who am I? A stranger who walked in to have lunch at this elegant establishment. I calmed down and sat and thought for a moment. I remember being on a trip and taking a picture of the cards (including my ID) I would be carrying in my pocket for the day. I perused my photos and discovered I had a picture of the card I wanted to use to pay for the meal. I proceeded to write it onto a piece of paper and handed it to the gentlemen who was responsible for collecting my payment. Done. But I truly, truly appreciate that Mr. Montecuollo proved to me that accepting one's word alone to complete a business transaction (gentlemen's agreement) is still alive today. Thank you ever so much. read more

Lunch Bunch #18 we decided to take a walk on the wild side, Hello Tony's. Tony's offers a Greenway Express Lunch for $17, which consist of a 3 course meal. To start the lunch you get a choice of a house salad or a tomato bisque. The main course selection consists of breaded baked chicken stuffed with fontana cheese, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach or a cannelloni, and finally a dessert a choice. I don't recall what the choices were, all I heard was gelato and that's what I ordered. Dessert was served in a martini glass with 4 half ounce scoops of pistachio, chocolate, cherry, and vanilla gelato, all were delicious. My only complaint is at the beginning of lunch when they ask you if you are in a rush and you say no, I didn't expect to sit around at lunch for 2 hours, seriously. read more

Their valet listened to music in our car. Normally I couldn't care less, but it was changed to a different station which made it super obvious. You know when you were a kid and randomly decided to walk into your mom's bathroom and play with her makeup you'd be super careful to leave it the way it was before so she wouldn't notice and you wouldn't get in trouble? I feel like if you're going to listen to music in my car as a valet, then please just pretend to try to cover it up and change it back to the original station when you bring the car back to me. I probably wouldn't have even mentioned this if I had enjoyed my experience here, but considering the service and food, I will be as picky and judgmental of every fault at this establishment. At the beginning, this place had set itself up for a 4 star review. I had made a reservation and mentioned that we had a symphony concert to attend at 7pm, so we needed to be out by 6:30pm. When we walked in, they seated us quickly and when I gave them my last name they immediately realized I was the one that had a time constraint and had to be out within 1.5 hours (which shouldn't be terribly hard to do, i would think -- and neither did they at the time of booking). This is where the up and down (mostly down) of the dining experience started. We came in with a coupon I got on Google Offers. I guess I didn't read carefully and thought the $40 for $80 tasting menu was for two people, not one. I take full responsibility for that. I will NOT take responsibility for the fact that the rest of the time we felt like we were being a little bit judged / ignored after I pulled out the coupon. Minus 1 stars. The portions were European sized. I actually usually like it when a restaurant gives normal-sized portions like that. But if you're going to bunch three 1-inch diameter, 1/4-inch thick medallions in the middle of a 12-inch diameter plate and charge $18 for it... then at least do a little dance for us or have a live quartet playing in the background. I don't understand how restaurants can get away with that. Minus 1 star. Later through our dinner, our waiter asked my boyfriend and me if it's prom time. And, since I graduated high school 7 years ago, I said I wasn't sure. In part, this is a compliment that we both look so young (boyfriend's been out of school for 9 years). On the other hand, I was slightly offended because of the insinuation that it must be because of our age that we came in with a coupon. Meh. Minus 0.5 stars. I decided to get the flounder. I had never had flounder before but I thought my first experience would probably go best if I got it at a $$$$ place. And I have to say I was not disappointed at all. I now have a top two types of fish: sea bass and flounder. Plus 0.5 stars for giving me that good first flounder experience. The dessert was the one part of dinner that was American sized. For the amounts they charge and the overall snootiness of this place, I would have expected much better dessert. Don't get me wrong, it was good. But I think I prefer La Madeleine's tuxedo cake over Tony's. No points lost, just disappointing. Now it was already 6:23pm by the time they had brought us the dessert. They were cutting it a bit close to getting us out by 6:30pm, but I still had faith in them. But when we finally got someone's attention again, they said our assigned waiter (who we had given our coupon to) had an emergency and had left abruptly so they couldn't ring us up. Well, I'm sorry for your incompetency, but you knew full well we had to be out by 6:30 and now it is 6:42 already. Get with it. (I didn't say this out loud to them; just mumbled it to my boyfriend, instead.) Anyhow, after them alternately coming over to ask us if we'd found the coupon in our emails using our phones and ignoring us to serve the very, very rich people around us, we finally walked out at 6:58pm. Minus 2 stars. Thank you, Tony's, for allowing us to miss the first half of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana." Without you, I may have actually enjoyed my night out. (And yes, that was sarcasm.) read more

Like the movie "Speed II", this restaurant has been a victim of hype. The food is decent, but does not live up to public consensus or the price. We ordered the duck dumplings, pan seared scallops, ribeye and some unmemorable desert. The duck dumplings tasted like it was out of a 'Hungry Man' TV dinner platter, over-sauced and grimy texture. The scallops were tender and flavorful with a nice caramelized coat. The ~$50 steak was not cooked to order. Here's my logic: If you pay more, you should get more. So, if an average restaurant charges above average prices, it warrants a below average ranking. Conclusion: Come here only if you want to impress your high school prom date or your bourgeois wife. Just because a restaurant decides to dim its' lights and is liberal with butter, it doesn't make it 'nice' or 'fancy'. See below for supplemental info: - Price: Not worth it (~$15 and ~$40 per starter and entree, respectively) - Atmosphere: Not my cup of tea, 2/5 (Old Houston blood peppered with 'special occasion' diners) - Service: Great, 5/5 - Sanitation: Great , 5/5 Big turnoff: - Cheesy atmosphere. Is the metal contraption that they skewer strawberries suppose to be chichi? Seriously, it could hurt someone (visually or physically)! read more

Whoever designed Tony's deserves some serious accolades. The water-filled glass ringing the entrance side is beautiful, the massive sculpture in the middle looking like a three-pronged modern statue of Venus is fun to puzzle over for a bit, and as ridiculous as it may sound, the ceiling and red trim are are clean, modern, and very impressive. The decor is spot on. Sadly, even the best eye candy in town can't save the restaurant from its tangible failings: bad service and blah food. My first tinge of doubt hit when I met the Maitre'D. She was nice enough, but seeing her nervously scurrying around like a headless chicken while we waited for a table wasn't a good impression. I got the feeling she was the proprietor's daughter making inroads into the business rather than the calm, seasoned professional one would expect in a place like this. After being seated, it took over 15 minutes just to get menus. The dining room was full but nothing crazy. The same waiter provided a larger table seated after us with food and drinks faster than he did us. Hmm. Out of the 7 courses served, only two were done well: the bolognese and the sea bass. The bolognese was appropriately meaty and flavorful and the sea bass was cooked to perfection with creative saucing. Everything else was drab to bad, including: (1) undercooked risotto; (2) squash blossom with breading that tasted identical to beer battered onion rings served in bowling alleys all across the midwest (though served alongside a nice salad); (3)over cooked, bland duckling puzzlingly served with a butter knife for deboning; and (4) the scrambled egg whites they sold as souffle. The bottom line: bad service and inadequate food seductively gussied up by mind-blowing ambiance. Every high-end game in town I've tried hasn't just been better, they've been far better. Learn from my mistakes, and just spend the same money at Da Marco for Italian food that is considerably better cooked, much more creative, and worth every dime. I'd even say the original Carraba's is superior to Tony's and does it for 1/3 the price. read more

Had the most amazing meal last night at Tony's! Everything, including the service was top notch! Filet was tender and perfectly cooked; butternut squash pasta was one of the best things I have ever had, and the red fish.......heavenly! Will definitely come back. Thank you Tony's for a wonderful dinner! read more

For someone like me it's very hard to be speechless. I ate here for the first time today for lunch and 2 words came to mind... COMPLETE! and PERFECTION! This place allows you to put those two words together in a sentence. Then when I think of numbers... I think of 100%! 100% Service 100% Ambiance 100% Quality 100% Selection & 100% One of the Best Places to Dine in Houston- Hands Down. When I think of how to describe this place, I'm speechless When I think of how Great the food was, I'm speechless When I think of how well the Presentation of it all was, I'm speechless When I think of how well they take care of you, and I mean truly take care of you, I'm speechless The only thing I'm not speechless about is whether or not I'm coming back... and to that, I say YES indeed. Hopefully once a month for the rest of my life. Yeah.. that's how good it was. I ate the "30-Day Aged Akaushi Beef" which is considered the Finest and most Healthiest Meat in the world.- Priced at $125. For my sides I had the Sauteed Roman Artichoke as well as the Oven Roasted Truffled Potatoes. I can't explain how much I enjoyed this meal other than it was like eating what Kings and Queens would have on their menu. The taste was so good that I wanted more as soon as I was finished. They are fairly high priced but I've never felt so good paying so much for such a great meal. My only problem now is to figure out how I can find a HOOK-UP so I don't have to spend a $160 once a month to eat there. I highly recommend! Enjoy! read more

Okay, this post Valentine's Day dinner, I now have a new favorite desert! The baked apple tart in a crispy filo with a lovely brown butter cinnamon sauce (and was that a hint of Frangelico?) As always the pasta, salmon and salads were great. The in-house cut truffle fries with aioli are simply the best in town, period. The super friendly staff treat you like family while Tony and Donna are lovely hosts, personally checking on their patrons. Simply a must dine in Houston. read more

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I've been to Tony's twice and both times was an amazing dining experience. From the second I step foot out of my car, the valet team was attentive, the hostess was warm, and the server absolutely made us feel as if we were the MOST important clients in the restaurant. As for the food... it was all about presentation and delicate flavors. My favorite starter is the beef carpaccio. For entrées I suggest the Braised Lamb Shank or the Osso Buco with risotto. The sommonier was delightful and recommended a bottle of Cab for us that went wonderfully with our dinner. To end the perfect dinner, the server treated us with complimentary ports to accompany our soufflé. Granted, the prices can be a bit high but it's all worth it for the quality of food, ambiance and outstanding service. read more

Amazing experience. Get the course menu with wine pairing. The soufflé is a must! Be prepared to spend $200 a person. This place is for foodies and people who are planning to splurge. Every bite was memorable. Their menu has some really interesting stuff you would have a hard time finding elsewhere. Presentation is beautiful. Very romantic place. read more

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To be fair food was OK. I have had better for less. Although, food was fresh and well prepared - so 3 stars at best - considering the price The reason I gave this place 1 star is their service. At first everything was going great, but then... appetizers come out before wine.. bread was never offered, so I had to asked twice our waiter... they forgot to bring steak knife with the steaks, so all of us had to wait for few minutes before we all could start eating... Carpet was dirty and white table cloth had old stain on it. I think that this place used to be good but now its just very hard to justify paying premium for an average everything read more

I am very sad to write this review. When my boyfriend told me we were going to Tony's for Valentine's Day, I was delighted! I read each of the many, many glowing 5 star Yelp reviews for dish recommendations. But last night was not at all what I had expected. We were seated right away, but all of the tables had been turned longways along the banquette so that we were sitting on the banquette next to each other instead of across from each other. (I guess they could fit more tables with this set-up.) Nothing says romance like gazing into...the back of someone else's head? -1 Wine list: very pricey - the vast majority of the bottles were 3 or even 4 digits. The sommelier was friendly and helpful even though we were clearly at the low end of the list. We ordered a bottle of Altrovino (a Tuscan blend) which was delicious. +1 First course: I ordered the Fettuccini with sausage and crab meat. It was good, but way too salty, and I like salty food. Boyfriend ordered the Carmelli (I think?) which was a lot like tortellini. I don't think either of us were wowed. Our food came out immediately and had clearly been pre-made and sitting under a warmer. -1 Second course: I ordered the Astice salad. WTF (the W in this case is Who) thought that would be a good idea? It was like a mismatch of ingredients all over the place. The dressing was good and the salad overall had a fresh taste but I made a huge error in ordering that. Boyfriend ordered the lobster bisque which was amazing! I should have taken one bite of my salad and sent it back to exchange for the bisque. -1/ +1 Main: I ordered the braised short ribs which were the highlight of my meal. The ribs were pull apart, melt in your mouth tasty. And the 3 parmesan noodles on top were full of cheesy goodness. Yum! I did wonder about plating. My tiny portion of meat (which was ok because with all the bread they kept giving us I was getting quite full) came on a gigantic plate which had a giant green skidmark running horizontally across it. Curious.... Boyfriend had the lamb filet which was tasty, but sort of forgettable in my opinion. +1 Dessert: We did not have a choice of dessert and each received bite sized pieces of cheesecake, chocolate something, and key lime tart. The key lime tart was delicious - the others were not. +1/-1 Service: the waiter to table ratio was very high but there were too many service people running around and rushing. We were the second seating of the night (7:30) so knowing that there was a 9:15 seating had the staff trying to get us out of there as quickly as possible. At one point they took away my silverware and I was still eating my salad. The guy was gone before I could stop him. Also, I guess we were seated along a busy walkway, but the service people were literally running by and at one point knocked over my glass of water (but didn't notice). Luckily it was water, not wine, and fell the other way and not on us! -1 Atmosphere: Nothing says romance like rock n' roll, right? Wrong. Whoever was put in charge of the music and lighting should be fired. Valentine's Day is all about romance. Why didn't they have dim lighting, soft jazz playing, candles or flowers on the tables? Instead it was bright, loud, and business-like. - 1 I understand that this was a busy night for Tony's, but when you charge that much for a meal, you should deliver excellence all around. Maybe instead of being greedy and trying to squeeze as many people as possible into the restaurant, you should focus on creating a superb and memorable experience for fewer customers who will be likely to return and recommend you. This is not the place to go for Valentine's Day. Maybe it's better on other days, but I personally wouldn't want to pay the $$$$ to find out. read more

Tony's might be the fanciest restaurant in town. This is a date spot to wine and dine your main chicks; you definitely don't take your side piece here unless you have DEEP pockets. I mean, there's an $85 steak on the menu. I found two sufficient reasons to finally check out Tony's- Houston Restaurant Weeks and a surprise celebration for J's birthday. J gives me credit for upgrading his once pitiful wardrobe. Not so long ago, he lived in tall tees, basketball shorts, and the ultimate fashion faux pas- socks with mandals. Now he's blending in with old money patrons. I never thought I'd live to see the day. We were seated at a round table, which was appreciated. So much easier to converse without having to shout across, and every seat is optimal. We ordered off of the HRW menu and splurged on some extras. Duck, risotto, ahi tuna- classic and understated. I like that they know when to pull back; things don't necessarily taste better as you add more and more expensive ingredients to it. My new BFF was the only one who'd been to Tony's before (her dad actually built the restaurant- what a boss), and she said the chocolate souffle with Grand Marnier is a must. She's never wrong. Totally worth the $8 surcharge, especially considering the HRW desserts (praline cheesecake and tuxedo chocolate cake) were laughably small. They were the size of my pinky. That's like the amuse bouche before my real dessert. Our server presented J with cotton candy and a sparkler, which was nice. Apparently, at really fancy restaurants, they hold your leftovers at the hostess stand for you to pick up on the way out. Don't be that clown (me) asking the whereabouts of your leftovers. Bottom line: the restaurant looks lavish, but the food was just okay. If you're willing to pay a pretty penny, maybe the regular dinner service is better. read more

If you are kind of old, reflect fondly on the Reagan era, and are possibly from New Jersey, then this is your place. Tony's is from a time gone by, and not really in a good way. It is OLD SCHOOL "classy", complete with dozens of really cheesy and gimmicky touches like plates with Tony's face on them, a weird metal tree that they skewer strawberries all over, and food forced into weird shapes (think crab and zucchini mushed up in some fashion to resemble a deep fried tulip). The service is friendly, but kind of misses the point. Overall, it was a tad slow and timing was slightly off. We didn't really seem to have one dedicated server, which was odd. I also didn't feel that our server seemed to be that knowledgeable about the menu. It was the type of place where if you asked for a recommendation, all you'd get is them saying something like "well...people seem to like this or that a lot." As for the entrees, preparations were just so over done and over-sauced that the appeal of the fresh seafood was stomped out for the most part. This was a time warp that I could have just assumed skipped. For a little digression, I'm pretty confused by all the stellar reviews as well as the multitude of recommendations given by Yelpers on the talk threads. It's pretty difficult to imagine a young person really being into this place. Is this really the best there is in Houston? Ah well. To each their own, but in my case the 3rd star is only given as an act of mercy. read more

First time visit to Houston and to Tony's. Pretty decent and well dressed crowd, even on a Monday evening. We were the only group without jackets, although a similar group arrived later. Excellent arrangement of grissini, Parmesan crisps and toasts arrive with a tiny dollop of oil and a generous potion of butter, enlivened with what I thought were truffle shavings, but turned out to be black lava salt. Delicious. It is replaced twice even though we had not finished it. Generous, if a bit extravagant. My host picks a nice bottle of chardonnay, possibly the Phelps, I didn't get a good look. A bit of semantic confusion - my host asks the waiter if the halibut is a steak or filet. The waiter says it's a filet but like a steak. To my mind this makes no sense - either it's a halibut steak on the bone, or a boneless filet. My host plumps for it anyway. He chooses the starter of a cold antipasto. I go with the orecchiete and our other colleague chooses the artichoke appetizer. An amuse bouche of mushroom tea with a bit of almond arrives. Somewhat pointless. The orrechiete with baccala arrive quickly and I realize they are fresh pasta, delicate in a creamy sauce, but a small portion for an appetizer, more of a tasting menu portion. The cold antipasto is lovely to look at, prosciutto, wrapped around what I took to be burrata and figs, but small for an antipasto. The tower of artichoke (insalata ortolano) is the best portion. We are offered delicious breads, a marvelous focaccia and what I thought was explained as pumpkin bread, moist and sweet like a date nut bread. I order a glass of Danjean Berthoux pinot noir ($16) to have with my tagliata. A cutting board arrives, and soon after the steak itself - it's a good sized rib steak, not a fiorentina. The steak is sliced and plated with a tiny scattering of grilled radicchio. The balsamic sauce is one of the better uses that has been made of that condiment. The wine pairs nicely. My host's halibut arrives, a filet of about 6-7 ozs. in a cream sauce. Our colleague goes for the Chilean sea bass. We share a small side of asparagus. The steak is aged to perfection and there is little fat for a rib steak, perhaps it was trimmed away in the slicing. I thought it was superior to the last great rib steak I had, at Joe's in Chicago, but at $68 it was a good bit more expensive. The only disappointment was the rib bone. I believe that the steak had been portioned so that the bone was split between two servings, and the small bone got cold while I ate the slices of meat. My colleagues seemed please with their fish entrees. I eschew dessert, being full and having spent on the steak. My host goes for a panettone french toast, our colleague opts for the tuxedo cake. Both arrive in large portions, atoning for what has come before. Their eyes are bigger than their stomachs. I am forced to share. The panettone toast is delicious, but would serve better as a brunch option. The cake is generous in a size, like something offered by a Jersey diner, but much higher quality. There's enough for my colleague, more than I wanted to eat, and a large piece leftover to bring home for his better half. Espresso is on point, accompanied with a nice almond biscotto. Four different petit-fours is offered - so we each have to try something unique. Pretty sure mine was a tiny key lime tart. Expensive, good service, good food, but larger apps and smaller desserts would make for better balance. A special occasion restaurant. read more

Next to the Boheme in Orlando, this has been the best meal of my life. The food is outstanding, the decor is impeccible, and what can I say about the finest service in the United States? I've been here a couple of times, and every time, it amazes me that there is never a drop in service or quality. Their menu is an Italian/Asian fusion combination, but I can never seem to stray from their Filet. It's the best steak I've ever had. Period. I know I already stated this about the Boheme in Orlando, but that was before I knew about Tony's. I've always been here on the weekend an it's always been packed. I recommend reservation made at least a week in advance. But don't worry about feeling like a second rate person, they treat EVERYONE as if they're royalty. Go. Enjoy. And don't forget dessert. read more

I got a invite to Tony's , Changed into my fancy dress pants and boots! This place is fancy, every one was Dressed in suits and tie, ladies in dresses No shorts and T's here ! Dress code? Well the food "a beef steak salad "and service is wonderful the decor is expected for a four star restaurant I only wish the clientele was as vibrant as the food I felt like I was eating lunch in a wax museum!!!!!! Every foodie in Houston should save up and try Tony's read more

Tony's opened its doors today to federal employees affected by the government shutdown, allowing them and a guest to enjoy a complimentary buffet style meal. They were extremely welcoming and gracious. All of the staff was incredibly kind and provided excellent service. The food was incredible, from the short ribs to the snapper. I cannot wait to return and support this wonderful establishment! read more

I would think Tony's is THE best restaurant I've been to in Houston. Hands down. A company took a group of us out and we were in a separate group room. The service was impeccable. They would put the napkin on your lap, refill wines, and scrape the table after eating the appetizer or main course before they serve another dish. The atmosphere and setting was absolutely fantastic and classy. I had some sort of seafood appetizer and main course, and both were fantastic. If only the price was not so steep, I would come here weekly if I could, but fortunately my first experience here was footed on a company bill. The dessert was a cake with sparklers on it. What a grand entrance! I would definitely suggest this place for anything special, be it anniversary, birthday, wedding, whatever. It's good. read more

Wow. This place is first class. I've been to Tony's twice, and both times it has been an incredible dining experience yet to be matched by any other restaurant. It's the food, but it's also the outstanding, impeccable service, and the ambiance can't be beat. Who else in town has a Robert Rauschenberg hanging on the wall in their dining room? From start to finish, meals are out of this world. The last one I had started off with wasabi-encrusted raw fish (three different types), and then moved to a lasagnette (paper-thin lasagna noodles with the most amazing cheese you've ever had, basil, and fresh tomato). Weird choice on our part to put those two together, but we loved them both. We were offered an appetizer of pasta with shaved black truffles that had just been flown in that day (those things were gigantic!), but had to just go for the entree. I had the copper river salmon, with caramelized summer melon and mint, and my dining companion had the truffled filet of beef. Both were prepared impeccably. For dessert, we pre-ordered the chocolate souffle (it's a must at Tony's!). They have 20 flavors of souffle in addition to their regular dessert menu. It's hard to get to the dessert menu when you can get any flavor of souffle you want. If you have a special occasion to celebrate and want to make it an unforgettable event, go to Tony's. They will treat you right every time and make sure you'll be dreaming about the food you had for years to come. read more

I came here with the girlfriend for Valentine's Day. I thought the experience overall was pretty good, but there are definite areas for improvement. And yes, the dinner did burn a hole in my wallet. We started with ordering a bottle of wine with the sommelier's help - he was great and very helpful. We got the Duemani Altrovino, which was fantastic and thankfully not insanely expensive. For the first course, she got fettuccine and I got a dish called caramelli - I liked both, and thought mine was very good. It was rich and cheesy. Excellent. Second course: She got the crab and lobster salad, which was so-so. It was all fresh, but just wasn't exciting. I got the lobster bisque, with a little sherry added. Really, really good. Third course: She got the braised beef short ribs while I got the filet mignon of lamb. Her dish edged mine out slightly, but I was still happy with my lamb, perfectly cooked to medium. For dessert, we each received the plate with a mini key-lime pie (great), chocolate mousse/cake thing (okay), and cheesecake (pretty good). Service seemed a bit rushed; it was often hard to catch someone's eye to get more water, but we got a lot of bread. Weird. I was also not a big fan of the table set-up. We were seated against a wall, seated together on the bench with the table pushed in. It made for a good view of the dining room, but I was sorta hoping to watch my date the entire night, not waiters rushing to and fro. Music: The biggest negative. It ranged from horrible rock music to horrible dance/pop/disco, or something like that. The music was too loud and horrific. It totally clashed with whatever 1) Tony's should be about and 2) what Valentine's Day at Tony's should be about. Basically, it ruined the mood and ambiance. Tony's: remember the name Bill Evans, download his jazz albums, and play them softly. That's the mood you should be setting. read more

Talk about fine dining, this is probably the best I've ever had. The food is phenomenal. I got the duck here once and I didn't expect much more than just well cooked duck, but I could've never imagined how delicious that duck was. It was beyond delicious. Entrees are about $60-$90. Appetizers are $15-19. They also have over 1100 wines in stock including a 1700's French wine for $13000. They are also one of the few restaurants in Houston who carries Louis XIII Cognac. Service 100+, Decor 95. Come here for the experience! read more

After more than 30 years in Post Oak, Tony's is now in Greenway Plaza. I only mention because a restaurant in Houston lasting 30 years deserve a damn medal or something. Very well-heeled clientele, lunch verges on affordable and makes for a good scene, if you're into some people watching. The seafood gazpacho was spicy but great and my friend said her braised short ribs were perfect. We didn't have room but the peach crostada is supposedly legendary. read more

Tony's - wine cellar - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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