We decided on a whim to come here for HRW and it turned out to be one of the best date nights we've had in awhile!!! The service was phenomenal. The table side Caesar salad is not on the menu but a must have! read more

Tony's - HRW - crab fettuccine - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great selection of wine. The Robert Parker wine list is breathtaking. There's a few vineyards I'm very familiar with and that's always a plus. It was nice for the staff to share where can I purchase their gorgeous decanter. Dinner: The Tagliarini with Umbrian Black Truffles is a must have. I come here mostly for this dish.They are generous with the truffles. I was surprised how great the Steamed Mussels taste. The Pinot Grigio used to make this dish isn't just an average $6 dollar bottle from your local grocery store. Yes, I can tell. The Chocolate Souffle was great. It was perfectly made to feed my inner child therapy. My friend didn't like her Mango Souffle as much as I like mine(thought I should point that out). I didn't care to try hers but I will try to venture with other flavors during my next visit. I'm not impressed with the Foi Gras. It's not bad but I've had better. The Insalta Greenberg seems to be very popular but I wasn't crazy about it either. The Center-Cut Fillet was slightly overdone. Still good but not the best. Lunch: You can see the beauty of the restaurant without the dimmed lights. It feels very fresh and relaxing. The Seared Sea Bass is outstanding. The Baby Lobster Salad is one of the best I've had. The touch of Anise takes my palate somewhere I haven't been before. I recommend the Prime Steak Salad, Lump Crab and Shrimp remoulade as well. read more

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Came here for a meeting. Was not allowed in because I was wearing a baseball cap. They did not even ask nicely, they came up to me acting like I did not belong there simply because I do not wear suits. I had on a dress shirt, slacks, and suede loafers, which apparently are too low class for their establishment. They clearly believe they are a cut above the rest and that I looked too much like a peasant. Had to wait in my business partners car for over an hour while the meeting took place. Very sad. Eat here if you look down on people. Their coffee is decent, which I drank before... in a baseball cap. read more

*** HRW Review *** On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest). Food: 7.5 Service: 7.5 Atmosphere: 8.0 (Dinner) Overall: May recommend. The architecture, interior design, and the artworks help set this place apart from the other restaurants. It is also versatile in the sense that it has different sections (bar, dining area, and private rooms) for any occasion. The servers were professional but I wouldn't describe them as friendly or warm. The "Ribbons & Squares" (Bluefin tuba, avocado, soy lime vinaigrette) was my favorite of the night. Crisp roast duckling was good but it didn't blow me away. The purple rice was seasoned very nicely but a bit hard. It also had raspberries on the side which I guess is like having cranberry sauce with turkey. For dessert I opted for chocolate souffle (+$8) since I've read some reviews that raved about it. In the end...I was left wondering if I should have ordered cheesecake instead. P.S. It took them about half an hour and three attempts to figure out how to split our bills correctly (granted we didn't split them evenly). read more

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My wife and I got to go dinner - it was a spurge for a special occasion, and it was so worth it. Everything we ordered was sublime - Scampi, burrata, pansoti and cappelletti pastas and the lamb. This Houston institution is the standard for quality. And the wine list - in particular the Italian choices - are of legend. You won't find a better meal. It's expensive and deservedly so. read more

I am embarrassed to say that we hadn't made it to Tony's new location despite the fact that it has been here for many years already. So naturally, when HRW started we thought we would kick it off at Tony's. The HRW menu consisted of 2 courses, the appetizer, and the main course. For our appetizer, we chose the Pansoti and the Summer Corn Raviolini both were light and very tasty. For the main course, we chose the Ahi Tuna and Crab Napoleon and the Grilled Wild Salmon Insalata, both were very good dishes, Grilled Salmon is always good, but the Napoleon was exceptional. I am usually a very critical reviewer but there is no doubt that the Napoleon was an exceptionally well-crafted dish, the first layer was an avocado spuma (a lighter version of a guacamole) that was packed with flavor. The next layer consisted of Ahi tuna which added to the flavor of the Napoleon, the last layer was marinated crabmeat which was a bit bland but overall made it a well-balanced dish. This dish alone made the meal for me and I would have paid twice the amount for it. That said, I do realize that my taste and criteria is different from others so take it with a grain of salt. read more

Came here for restaurant week. I must say out of all the restaurants I have been to for restaurant week this place had the best food. Service wasn't that great though. It took forever to get our waiter's attention. Appetizers: tonno crudo - wasn't as good as I though it would be and had to pay extra $5 pansoti - get this! sauce was delicious Entrees: roasted duck - perfectly cooked speckled trout - I highly recommend this dish if you like fish Unfortunately, I don't really remember anything about the desserts. read more

My husband and I love coming to Tony's. The food is always delicious and the wait staff is typically very attentive. We enjoy the people watching and I think it is so awesome to see the vallone's so present in the restaurant. Tony or his wife will walk around and ask how your meal was, and I love that they want everyone to have a great time. My favorites on the menu would probably be the lobster bisque and the pasta dishes that they serve with black truffles shaved table-side. So good! Every time we have ordered steaks there, they have always been exactly as we asked them to be prepared. We will be coming back very soon. read more

The best burrata with, grilled bread and pasta with black truffles!!!! So incredible- with the best service in Houston. Love this place!!! read more

Tony's - Pasta w truffles - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

There is not a finer dining establishment than Tony's in Houston, the United States, or anywhere across the globe. This is truly a world-class restaurant. The food, the service, the ambiance are all second to none. Whether for lunch or dinner, special event or everyday dining, Tony's consistently delivers an amazing culinary experience. Most days you will see the legendary Tony and/or Donna Vallone visiting with guests (who often include a who's who of Houston business and social circles). The managers, captains, the waiters, the bus staff, the hostesses, and even the valets are as professional and attentive as one could ever imagine. Everyone contributes to the experience. The food is about quality, flavor and presentation -- the Chef is truly extraordinary and inventive. Do not go there looking for "Texas-sized" dishes hanging over the sides of the plates. That is not what Tony's is about. And, admittedly, this worthwhile quality and service level does not come cheap. That said, the quite-affordable 3-course business lunch offered during the week is perhaps the best meal deal in Texas. In summary, it does not get any better than Tony's. read more

Amazing!! The food is super delicious I'm going for a secound time! These dishes were tasty! I'm looking forward to going again because this place is totally worth it, 100% recommend read more

Tony's - Filet - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Last night was our first time at Tony's and I'm so sad to say it was disappointing. I've always dreamed of going to Tony's and experience it's elegance and amazing food, but it just wasn't what I dreamed it would be. We were seated in a booth next to a very large and very loud table, I was actually shocked at how loud it is in there! If you want romance, this is not the place to go. We asked the server if we could move and he said he'd check with the hostess. He came back a couple of minutes later and told us all the other table were booked. Seriously?!? That was so strange, we just decided to make the best of it. The bread and butter that was served was amazing! You have to try the sun dried tomato bread- it melts in your mouth! My husband had the steak and I had the red fish, both were ok but nothing really to write home about. Truffle Mac & Cheese was the side we selected and it was really good :) All in all, the experience was below average, the food was good but not great, and we probably won't be back :( I think we'll be Vic & Anthony customers for life. read more

I would add Tony's to the list of stuffy old man restaurants in Houston. I like it how the room is brighter than most restaurants in that category. rissoto (2/5) - too salty for my taste. duck (4/5) snapper (3/5) - nothing extraordinary. looked better than it tasted. it was missing something...an acid? souffle (2/5) - did nothing for me. weird texture, I could taste the chocolate, but it didn't add anything to the dessert. I wonder if Tony's used to be great and that's how it got its name. Still good, don't know if I would come back when there are so many other delicious options in the city. read more

This is definitely a fine dining experience. The food is good, but a bit overpriced, but like I said it is the overall experience you're paying for. Recommend to go to at least once. The soufflé was light and airy. I would be okay not returning, but my fiancé really loved everything. read more

So, there was a birthday ending in a zero, and of all the fine dining establishments we've hit over the years, the lump-sum Tony's tally was one (lunch decades ago for one of us). We decided to take a chance, which is an odd choice of words given its reputation, but we get leery anytime we see negative reviews involving service and specifics, especially when they're recent. That having been said, we now regret not having come sooner. The gentlemen, being who they were, decided to go the full tasting menu, while their sensible wives ordered steaks (bone-in rib-eyes). Bites were exchanged on a regular basis, and the ladies were not short-changed by their choices. The NY strip from the tasting menu had been replaced for the evening by a cut of heritage pork that was better than many steaks at other establishments --one might imagine what they could have done with a 12oz chop. The evening's rib-eyes themselves were quite good, but may have been slightly edged taste-wise by that pork, an uncommon event The least-exciting item from the tasting menu was the line-caught halibut, because it was merely "very good" and suffered by comparison to the other courses. Those were superior. Caviar does make things better (even scrambled eggs, as we were told afterwards), and the hamachi crudo was no exception. The risotto demanded full attention even before the truffles were shaved. The foie gras tart's accompanying yogurt sauce worked absolutely perfectly. And who doesn't enjoy a nice bufala near the end of a good meal, particularly when it could be mistaken for a panna cotta? The dessert was actually large enough and rich enough to put to bed any ideas about "I'm still hungry." (This refers to earlier complaints about portion size. Hey, it's a tasting menu, the portions are meant to be small! But the Carlotta as served was a good idea.) And yes, you want their bread service. Oh yes, you do. We experienced almost no flaws in the service for a busy Saturday night. The only glitch was that the left-over rib-eyes were lost, but this was instantly made right when a fresh steak was produced as a substitution. Tony's reputation is well-deserved. And... that reputation is priced into the menu and (especially) the wine list --I'm only going to four stars for that reason alone, every other aspect was five stars. This is an Occasion restaurant, and it will not disappoint, but the privilege is dear. read more

Very pricey but well worth it good date night place. They have multiple varieties of souffles which is only reason I came here. I had the bananas foster souffle which is totally decadent watching the waterfalls in the background read more

Tony's - Great apricot souffle - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Probably would have given a zero if I had a chance. Worst restaurant service I have even seen. It took them over an hour to serve food. And when mentioned the same to the manager he simply walked away. Food was ok but the service killed the entire experience, rudest restaurant staff in all of Houston. read more

You may disagree with me giving one star for happy hour, but when you offer a happy hour you need to put effort. We still spent over $40. The best item we got was the duck fat bruschetta, which, while tasty, was... not a bruschetta but a dip. We also ordered the tartare and the chef's special. The tartare was like extra greasy raw hamburger meat on bread with no seasoning. We like tartare usually but this was like eating raw plain animal fat. Now the chef selection was where they earned my stellar rating: three pieces of raw tuna, a ball of cheese with some baby figs, and a tiny slice of ham. It was not particularly high grade tuna, not some amazing flavorful ham, or enough cheese to cover half a slice of toast. This was the most expensive item on happy hour, even though they have a meat-and-cheese plate for cheaper. And all this raw food took almost an hour for them to prepare... read more

Tony's - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Service is very good, but the food was hit or miss. The white truffle pasta is probably the most outstanding dish but very pricy. Baby lobster was decent and sweet but prepared very simple. The Dover sole was not good. Too dry and plain. However, our friends snapper was great, as well as the lamb chops. Soufflés we're very disappointing this time. They didn't even rise or taste very airy. I think it was sitting in the back too long or overcooked. read more

The food at Tony's is absolutely delicious! I had the house salad-amazing! Snapper Sheridan- superb! Cherry crostini- flaky and perfect! Yum! read more

Tony's - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

We got the 45$ restaurant week menu. The food was very tasty. I would def go back. I got the truffle butter ribeye and it was so tender. The squash pansoti( which was basically ravioli) was sweet and savory in the best way. They also have giant soufflé you can split amongst many people. You can also get singles. It was sooo good I wanted a second one. The waiter was really nice and we had pretty good service. They were late w the soufflé cause it was busy so they comp'd it for us! read more

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One word to describe the service, impeccable. The servers at Tony's are on top of their customer's needs and goes above and beyond. I came here for lunch during restaurant week and ordered the insalata and salmon tar tar with fries. The salad was good, but I wished I asked for the dressing to be on the side. The server prepped the salmon tar tar in front of you with an array of fresh herbs and spices. It was a bit salty, but tasted delicious nonetheless. The fries were cooked to perfection! Very crispy. I usually don't go to pricy restaurants, but I think Tony's is definitely worth trying. read more

Tony's has been considered one of Houston's top tier restaurants since it's first iteration in the 60's. My wife and I came for dinner to celebrate a special occasion recently and I'm happy to say that they still got it. Interior is modern and airy, but still intimate. Not counting the private event rooms, there's probably 20 or so tables in the whole restaurant, which makes for a fairly quiet dining experience compared to other more raucous trendy spots. Regarding attire, jackets are strongly suggested for men, which I am all for, but there were a handful of younger guys without. You'd be more comfortable with one on though. FYI We settled on the 3 course tasting menu with wine pairing, deciding to each choose 3 different dishes from the available 7, so we could taste a little bit of everything. Like most tasting menus, the portions aren't massive but you'll still be full after eating all plates. Plating was artful and most dishes were easy to attack even with the drizzle, dots and stacking of food. Everything was executed well and absolutely delicious. Lots of truffles and rich sauces which also made smaller portions fill up the stomach. I've seen that service is often a big linchpin for peoples' reviews on here and we luckily had an excellent experience. There were multiple waiters tending to our table. Also mentioned before in other reviews, the timing of service is fairly laid back, but it really is up to your preference. Their default seems to be, let the guests relax, talk and take it slow. We ordered cocktails to start prior to ordering food. They were served to our center on the table as a marker that we weren't ready to order food yet. Once we were, we simply moved the glasses over to their usual spot and nodded at our waiter. Menus came shooting out to us and off to the races. We asked the wait staff at another point to wait a beat between two dishes and service followed suit. My point being that maybe the people who complain about pace aren't aware that it's under your control if you just simply ask. Another kudos to good service came at the end of the night. We had signed the check and were just working on finishing our cocktails, obviously done with dinner. This is usually the part of the night out where the wait staff disappears on your table to never be seen again. I was happy to see the waiters still making rounds checking our table and even the water glasses were kept full while we sat there finishing up our drinks. Prices, are well, pricey. You get what you pay for and I would say Tony's is easily a top 5 Houston restaurant contender if not higher, depending on your tastes. That being said, their price point is on par with my experience eating at Michelin Star restaurants, so come ready to spend. We had 4 cocktails and both selected the 3 course tasting menu with wine pairing. The bill at the end of the night, with tip, was right around $300-ish. Tony's was one of the top fine dining restaurants in the U.S. during the 80's, but being associated to that decade of peak oil and decadence carries a double edged sword that Tony's at times has felt. Like hyper colors and pushed up sleeves on a blazer, things come in and out of fashion, including modern cuisine and white table cloth restaurants. I would argue though, that Tony's still offers a unique and delicious meal to Houston restaurant goers if you're willing to put on your Sunday best and spend a little cash. Call it an offering to the ghosts of $100 oil. read more

Having dinner at Tony's was the perfect example of typical fine dining that I both enjoy and hate. Overall, the service was quite exquisite. I was there for a dinner party with friends so we had a large table. The restaurant has such a gracious and beautiful Decor that would be perfect for any date or event. After being seated we had a wonderful set of waiters and waitresses. The staff took care of our large group with a calm ease. They were attentive and provided great class throughout the whole entire experience. In regard to the drink selection it was exquisite. They had anything I could possibly have desired to drink which is such a rarity. I tend to enjoy different yet how your qualities of wine and spirits and they were all here. I decided to go with the Pappy Van Winkle since this maker is normally hard to come by at restaurants or just about anywhere. So up until this point I am enjoying the evening but then I get to the food and this is where it tends to always go sideways for me. For my entree I ordered the Monte e Mare which consists of the Colorado lamb, Mediterranean octopus, a medley of Corona and fava beans. To put it bluntly I was unimpressed. I've had better tasting Lamb on the streets of Mexico City the week before with more flavor. And generally with locations like this it tends to always be a smaller cut so it adds additional heartache. Honestly, the saving grace for the night was the Pappy. It had been a while since I had it so that enjoyment was above everything. I don't intend to come back but if I did I would probably try the Japanese Striploin since I heard positive reviews at my table. read more

Well the Shrimp Poboy I,m not sure the size lol Maybe a little bigger than 6" but not 12" Bread is soft but really narrow. Not many shrimp on the sandwich but did have a good flavor. It's overall small. I'm from New Orleans and used to places like this to have Shrimp falling off the sandwich usu enuff to fix an extra lol The fries here are hard and terrible.. Was a friendly atmosphere with fast service. read more

Have been to many high quality restaurants before in my profession all over the world and was given the chance to dine here recently. Quality is simply breathtaking. From the ambience, to the food choices to the wine list and the service, this is one place I would visit Houston for. I had the amatriciana and the Kobe beef steak and if I was wearing a top hat, I would dip it in honor of the quality. Tony, you are a true boss. And that is all the way from Australia. read more

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My husband and I had dinner at Tony's last night and it was nothing short of amazing . The service was absolutely the best we have received at any restaurant and the attention to detail was perfection . We both decided upon the tasting menu and although the portions were small the dishes were all phenomenal. We absolutely loved the ahi tuna with caviar and blood orange reduction , and I highly suggest the wine pairing if you want something extra special . We will definitely return read more

Tony's - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Was the worst Italian I've ever had - from an Italian. Nothing was cooked correctly, wait staff was insanely slow, and the order was completely messed up. Having been to the majority of nice restaurants in houston, I can confidently say that this place is a must skip. Don't even bother. read more

The service was outstanding. The wait staff was very attentive and friends. I wasn't that impressed with the food. I had a steak and it wasn't very tender. The tuna appetizer was really good but for being such a high end restaurant I left feeling somewhat unsatisfied. read more

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I wish the service was a bit friendlier. Everyone seems a bit too uptight, we came for my birthday and tried to make a few jokes with the hostess and the waiters but they hardly smile when you come in left alone laugh with you. I've hard better steak and experience at steak 48. read more

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For the ambiance and prestige of this place, I thought this would have been better. The Di Campo salad was divine! A perfect blend of savory and sweet. Some things that irked me-my friend's beef sangiovese was undercooked and my fish was kind of tough, as if it had been under the heat lamp for too long. In addition, one of the faucet's was broken and continuously ran water all night! I was told that they were "working on it." Let's hope that's not the only thing they're working on! read more

Tony's is incredible but also incredibly expensive, so keep that in mind if you choose to go. Also, it is valet only and the service is extremely slow - an apparent hallmark of authentic Italian food. I started with the insalata milano, which had treviso, burrata, pomegranate seeds, and blueberries. The dish was artfully arranged and very flavorful, as well as large enough that it was enjoyable but not too large to disturb the entree portion of the meal. For my entree I got the pansoti, which is a butternut squash sage ravioli. Typically this is an appetizer but you can ask for an entree portion. The portion looks small when you first receive it but is extremely rich and flavorful. I highly recommend! For dessert, my table got a chocolate caramel souffle. Tony's is known for their souffles, which they make to order with any flavors requested and are about the size of a large saucepan. It was incredible! The souffle was cut and served at the table by the waitstaff. Additionally, because we were celebrating a special occasion, we received a hand-spun cotton candy at the table. If you have the money to spend and are looking for an upscale dining experience, I highly recommend! read more

Review is based on two Houston Restaurant Weeks experiences--one lunch and one dinner. My wife and five our her girlfriends had lunch on Wednesday, and arrived to a beautifully-set table, enjoyed preprandial drinks, and absolutely wonderful appetizers of Pansoti and Lasagnette. However, the entrees were a total disaster. Four of the ladies ordered the Snapper Francese; two sent it back in favor of the Salmon Tartare, and the other two ate it, complaining (as did the first two) that the fish did not taste fresh, and it tasted as though it had been reconstituted with cracker crumbs, Panko crumbs or something similar. The other two ordered the Steak salad, and the steak came out burned (not just charred) on the edges. Unlike typical Tony's typical service, no attempt was made to appease the diners--the meals were not comped, nor were any dishes offered as replacement. Saturday night, three couples dined there again using the HRW menu. The meal began with amuse bouche of a delicious ravioli (mushroom?). Our appetizers included Escargots, Roman Artichoke Salad, Rigatoni Bolognese Bianco and Pansoti, all of which were delicious. Entrees included the Grilled Abalone Mushroom, Niman Short Ribs of Beef, both of which received rave reviews, and the Halibut Prosecco, ordered by all three of the men. This dish was served bare--no decoration of any sort on the plate, so it was visually unappealing; moreover, while it had a wonderful flavor, all three of us agreed it was somewhat tough, meaning it was probably overcooked. The desserts were simply outstanding--the Italian Beauty (for the chocolate lovers), Panna Cotta with blackberry sauce (the best I've ever tasted), and Un Bacio Arancione (if you like a citrusy type dessert). The only other comment I can make is that we certainly did not receive the same service that "regular" diners did--our wine/liquor bill would probably have been 20-30% higher had our waiter paid any attention to us, rather than ignoring us. read more

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

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

I came here for lunch and had Houston Restaurant Week menu. The food was the definition of delicious. I had the Rucola salad, everything about it was perfect. For my main dish I had the Snapper Francese and again perfection. I apologize for my lack of descriptive words but I've just never had food as good as this before. My only issue is they charge gratuity. I can only assume it is because we ate off the HRW menu. read more

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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