Tony’s
410 Market St, Saint Louis, MO, 63102
Tony’s Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
410 Market St
Saint Louis, MO, 63102 - Phone (314) 231-7007
- Website https://tonysstlouis.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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brett d.
The nicest restaurant I have eaten at would have to be Tony's. Everything was amazing. This place is great when you want a meal to be more than just a fill up.
(5)Jeff S.
After hearing about Tony's for years we decided to try it for a 50th birthday celebration. The service was as we had always heard, very attentive and helpful. Our head waiter Nick did a great job. The food was very good also. I just don't know if it should command the prices it does. I guess from all the hype we have heard through the years I was expecting more. Still very good - expect $100-$125 per person with drinks...
(4)Dakota G.
I took my fiancé there for her 21st and I have never had a better dining experience. Everyone we met that was staff congratulated her and made her feel special. Our server, Adam, and his team were quite amazing and extremely professional. We had appetizers, salads, entrees, and dessert with coffee. I chose shrimp as my starter with which I complimented with filet of beef and quail as my main course. She chose the cream of wild mushroom and then had sword fish as her main course. The "Tony's salad" was a basic salad with oil and vinegar. As for our dessert we had peaches from eckerts and house maid ice cream. Half way through our meal we got a personal tour of the kitchen, wine room, and cherry room. Over all, we had an amazing experience and will definitely be back. As a note to someone else, be prepared to spend $$$ and to DINE, not eat out. This is an experience...not a typical dinner. So freaking good.
(5)Tony J.
Tony's is located in an office building near the Arch. I was here for a business dinner during a convention. I was the first to arrive for a 7:30pm reservation of 10 people. The entrance and reception area was quite impressive. Fresh flowers were on the reception desk. Since I was the first to arrive I enjoyed a glass of chianti near the inactive bar. When some of the others arrived they also enjoyed a glass of wine near the inactive bar area. Eventually we were all seated at a great table and some great table service started. I truly enjoyed the carpaccio, with arugula and truffle oil for $12 and the spectacular lobster albanello entrée for $35. Several others enjoyed the lobster albanello as I did. It was a great 4-star dinner. I ended my dinner with an espresso. This was my best restaurant in St. Louis.
(4)Joe D.
Great food and great service. Loved it. Went on a Saturday night and had a great time. Servers were very clean and prompt. Food was amazing.
(5)Chris X M.
Top Quality food and service. Great N Italian dishes, great wine list, flawless sharp and attentive servers. Cheap for NY, above average here, but a deal for *****. Just go. Dress code. No kids.
(5)Trevor T.
I took my wife to St. Louis for weekend to celebrate her birthday. I chose Tony's because I wanted to cap off our weekend at a fine dining and historic establishment. Tony's did not disappoint us. The service was spectacular. Adam our server was great! Additionally, they really made my wife feel special. My wife had their famous and award winning Lobster Albanello and I had the Linguine Lobster and Shrimp. The Tomato Bisque was the best I have ever eaten. This was simply just a great dining experience! Additionally, my wife was pleasantly surprised by a birthday dessert!! We will definitely be back on our next visit to St. Louis.
(5)Rebeccah M.
Dinner at Tony's was the highlight of our recent trip to St Louis. Let's start with the ambience - we were looking for an old-school, fancy dinner out and were not disappointed - the dimly lit room, flowers, white tablecloths all spoke to a special occassion. The food was impeccable, perhaps not terribly modern (our group had beef tenderloin with foie gras, Dover Sole, and Lobster Albanello), but expertly prepared and exactly fit the group's mood and the restaurant's decor. Several dishes (including the bananas flambe) were finished tableside with the sort of flair I've only seen in Rat Pack movies. (Bonus - the Dover Sole was fileted by the servers, and there wasn't a bone to be found, yet the pieces were perfectly intact.) Last - the service, I can't say enough about the service. This is the type of restaurant where the waiters leap tall tables in a single bound to pull out your chair and place your napkin. The owner even stopped by to make sure We ended up closing the restaurant (they make the perfect rye old fashioned, along with a bevy of other perfect cocktails), but we never felt the service slip, nor did we feel rushed. If you're looking for a meal where you will be catered to, with a feel for old Hollywood glamour, and perfectly prepared food, you can't do better than Tony's.
(5)Ellie S.
Perfect. The duck confit linguini was perfectly prepared, light but rich with flavor. The mussels were also a highlight, the tomato-white wine sauce in which they were served was similar to a tomato bisque, and very delicious. The special was a red snapper, filet mignon cut, and cooked to perfection. Bananas foster for dessert was fantastic, flamed with several different liqueurs. Creme brûlée was as good as any I have had in France. I have found a new favorite restaurant.
(5)Roger S.
Tony's is a classic old school Italian restaurant. the veal chop with wild mushrooms is to die for, and so it goes for the awesome veal shanks. this restaurant has been around for a very long time. that's because it's great. the pasta carbonara is so wonderful. you won't go wrong with any selection that you make off the menu and their wine menu is great
(5)Lesley S.
Tony's is a definite date staple in my book. If you want to step up your A game with your lady, take her here. I was surprised when someone took me here as a first date. The guy had great taste (obviously in women and in food) however that's all he had. I had a filet that was seared in wine and I also tried the seared scallops. This place definitely lived up to the expectation of the go-to place in the Lou.
(5)Christopher G.
I consider myself lucky It is not everyone who can eat at Tony's. 1) it is located in St Louis. Now St. Louis is a surprisingly nice town - I grant you. Yet it is in the heart of midwest. No where near anything interesting. . .except maybe corn. Yet it isn't a place you normally visit. . its a place you stop at on your way to somewhere else 2) It is expensive. It is a supremely fancy restaurant which I assume gets lots of action from local senators, state workers, and those people who buy their votes for road construction. I found myself in St. Louis (and appreciating it) due to a conference. I found Tony's due to it being one of the better (if not best) reviewed places in town. I must say. . .I was not disappointing. i haven't had this good of Italian since Mario Batali's babo, and I think Tony can give Mario a run for the money. It is like I imagine a fancy 70s italian restaurant. . . Where to start, why with carpaccio and a heirloom tomato salad (i'm in the midwest afterall). The carpaccio was served with truffle oil, Parmesan, and arugula. I can't tell you how good it was - perfect My main course was a lobster aboglana (basically a cream Lobster over pasta) Once again, it was awesome The final course was a table side prepared Zabaglione over fresh raspberries I had a great time (though made better when my checkbook wasn't impacted). Regardless, if you are in St Louis and want a fancy place that is more than just steaks, try Tony's you WILL NOT be disappointed.
(5)Jay B.
The best place I've seen to take a date. Love how they finish most of the food in front of you. I'd come here all the time if it wasn't so expensive.
(5)Bassam A.
Best service I have ever gotten. A bit over the top, but definitely an experience. Loved the ambiance, warm and relaxing, amazing faux gras! Best tomato brisk soup I have ever had! Kudos to the chef!
(5)Christina O.
we were here for a fancy dinner to celebrate my bday. as stated by others the interior is dated and the plates were mismatched. maybe it was an off thursday night but the wait staff's uniform looked either too small or too large and we did not experience the superior service that tony's is known for. the three stars come figure in-our wine cork being broken in half, the server not knowing how to pour wine (spilled some on the table) and being ignored by our waiter for about 20min right after being seated. however, our meal was superb and the wine list is something to brag. the carpaccio was a star and we were given a complimentary slice of cake and some chocolates for my bday.
(3)Jimmy M.
Dined here with my wife, as part of birthday festivities. Tony's is supposed to be a constant, a landmark in St. Louis. I expected top flight service, food and atmosphere. The food was pretty great (dessert notwithstanding), the service was fair to poor and the atmosphere was ok. This was a major disappointment given the amount of money that I was more than happy to plunk down expecting the legendary experience that is supposed to be Tony's in St. Louis. The inexperienced 30something waiter that took care of us was slow, inefficient and seemed to share an affinity, with a couple of his buddies, for lurking in the corners cutting up. When I show up to plunk down north of $200 for a dinner (without wine), I expect impeccable service. I expect experienced waitstaff to make conversation, recommendations and provide interesting commentary. I also expect to pay for this. Our server spilled half of my wifes first drink while pouring it into her glass table-side (no apology, no replacement) and sloshed her after dinner coffee onto her purse (no apology, no replacement). The flambe of bananas we had for dessert was served over the saddest looking little scoop of icecream ive ever seen. The presentation was awful. Two bright spots. 1) The quality of the fish was outstanding (we had the swordfish and the halibut) 2) Mr. Bommarito himself was milling about the room and is a very nice man, who made us feel very welcome. It is a shame his service staff is not up to the very high standard that he set many years ago. With the surge of St. Louis as a food town, I do not understand why we dont seem to support and want fine dining. We dined at approximately 8pm on a Saturday night. We were dressed to the nines - we were in the minority. There were kids in jean shorts and tshirts, adults in jeans, khaki's - the whole gamut. This is supposed to be part of the experience folks - you can dress up for one evening out can't you? To me, the whole point of Tony's is the experience. You can obtain similar/same ingredients and preparations elsewhere in our town, but the magic is in how its presented and the service/experience Fix the service or you can no longer significantly differentiate yourself from the rest of the increasingly competitive gastronomic pack in St. Louis.
(2)Shelly N.
It would have gotten five if all of the wine glasses were not dirty. No food on them but a film and thumb prints (not mine) on many of them.
(4)Emily V.
Dined here with a large group of family members prior to a family wedding. The service was impeccable. My grandmother was so thrilled with how the older waiters seemed to fawn over her and treated her really special. Everything we had was fantastic, but especially the lobster albanello. My mouth still waters when I think about it. Have thought about planning a trip to St. Louis from Los Angeles just for this dish! The only thing that was a bit less than perfect was that the napkins were so starched that they stood up on their own and left a rash on my aunt's face after she casually wiped her mouth with it. But we all just thought it was funny---we even took pictures.
(5)Amie S.
Food was great however bit disappointed with service. Wine selection was great. The salad was delicious however the main course was a little heavy. They have one of the best cream brûlée I have ever had. Overall good experience
(4)Tom J.
My number one bucket-list restauarant in St. Louis!!! Woohoo!!! Happy Birthday to me!!!! Elegance abounds at Tony's. The staff ranges from highly professional and somewhat engaging to highly professional and trying desperately to remain in the background so as to provide everything you can hope for without being an annoyance. This is all as expected, of course, and you pay for it. I tried to ask the waiter about a couple of the less expensive ($40ish) Italian wines, but he wasn't so interested in expounding on those. Rather, he directed me to another wine he likes to recommend to obvious cheapasses out for a splurge. It was a great recommendation, of course. That's how reputations are made. Vince Bommarito stopped by the table to chat. Very nice and welcoming. We shared a couple of salads - Tony's house salad and heirloom tomatoes. These were both good, but not really memorable. For an entree, I had the tenderloin with foie gras. It was perfect. Again, of course. My wife had the grouper special, which came on a bed of what I"ll call hash, consisting of pancetta, mushrooms, corn and..not sure what else, but it was also amazing. Once again, I'm getting hungry from the memory. We did have a dessert. Some kind of tart accompanied by ice cream with pralines. It was good but like the salads, didn't blow us away. It's going to be a while before we blow over $200 on dinner again, but I'm glad we did it. We noted there are some entrees that are much less expenive, particulary pastas, so you could get out of here for much much less, especially if you avoid alcohol. If you're trying to impress an out-of-town business associate, Tony's is the place. I imagine we'll be back sometime, but for now, it's off my St. Louis Bucket List, so mission accomplished there.
(4)David D.
Fantastic Italian, yet dated austere interior. Some of the best upscale Italian I've had the pleasure to enjoy. Servers are accommodating and prepped in old-school service. This restaurant finishes dishes table side, which is fun and the food especially fish dishes are some of the best in the city. I think I've had every fish dish on the menu, and the avocado-spinach salad may be my favorite in the country (no joke). What holds this back as 4 not 5 stars? Let's be frank, it's the old, austere and literally cold interior. They really need to lighten up the vibe here. The art and color palette overall is straight out of 1995 replete with dated abstract pieces, and overdone grays, maroons, and a touch of silver.
(4)Lana H.
We were celebrating a birthday and wanted something special. We had not been here for several years. Our visit to Tonys reminded us that we should go back more often. The service is, of course, superb. We both enjoyed our food choices, especially the wonderful wild mushroom soup. When "Mr Tony" himself stopped by our table to say hello, we expressed how much we had enjoyed the soup. His response surprised me. "Would you like to take some home with you?" he asked. I was thrilled when a large jar of soup was delivered to our table. What a lovely gesture! The entire evening was made special by a group of very professional servers and chefs. Thanks, Tony's!
(5)TravelPro P.
This is the finest upscale restaurant in St. Louis. It is a 4 star/4 diamond place with the food, service, and pricing to match. The food is delicious and impeccably served. Any body who is any body goes here, along with exec's entertaining clients and guests celebrating special occasions. Whether you live in town or are just visiting, treat yourself to Tony's!
(5)Roadwarriorinheels Z.
Extremely underwhelming. The food was very bland, ambiance was lacking (our reservation placed us in the overflow room which had the effect of a mortuary). The service of our 'captain' was brief. The assisting staff were great. Overall I find this event is not worth it. The five star recommendation may have been warranted at some-point but it appears Tony's is relying on past laurels. Recommendation is pass on this one.
(2)Tracey O.
We went here for our 25th wedding anniversary and were surprised to find it so busy the day after Memorial Day. We could not have asked for anything more from our dining experience at Tony's. From the wait staff: attentive, knowledgeable, witty & we weren't rushed between courses; to the food: we had the tasting menu with wine & it was all so delicious that it would be difficult to choose which was my favorite (but maybe the scallops with black truffles, or the penne pasta with shrimp & lobster, or the decadent chocolate cake with a dollop of fresh banana ice cream); to the ambiance (with not a red t-shirt in sight!): sophisticated & modern; to having Vince Sr. stop our table (as well as everyone else's) a couple of times to see how we were doing & to just chat us up (it was cool). Every restaurant probably has an off night, as evidenced by former reviews; but last night they were spot on & we hope to go back again.
(5)John R.
Great proffering. Good location, if you are a visitor. (I enjoyed the old location on Washington more so, but I'm old school ambience.) Visitors, you'll find Tony's (named after his brother Anthony) offerings are second to none, coast-to-coast, (including the French Laundry's of the world.) My personal recos? Everything is superior, and; * The Lobster Albonello is particularly very, very good. * The, for lack of a better (indescribable) word, signature "mustard" sauce on the shrimp is profoundly unique and delicious. * I've never seen a Swordfish cut as big as the thickest beef filets you will ever encounter (yes, beef filets at Sparks, and yes, Smith & Wollenskys, included, et. al.). Tony's Swordfish sous does not overpower you like the aforementioned mustard sauce can, on occasion, but rather, the Swordfish sous always blends harmoniouslly. Pricey, and therefore, commensurately, a little stuffy (not that royal treatment occasionly is a bad thing.) (Everett, behind the bar, is anything but, and a true delight.) Still the best restaurant in St. Louis if you are entertaining a Client on an expense account, or, celebrating a special, albeit formal, occasion. As always, hoped this helped, John
(4)Karen G.
I rarely write reviews; but the food was so far below average, I decided to add my two cents. The servers were nice, the entry to the restaurant was impressive and the wine list had several solid selections... Unfortunately, that's about all the nice things I can say. I was highly referred to restaurant by the concierge team at the Hyatt Hotel and can not tell you how disappointed I was... I now know why all the tables were empty.
(1)Andy K.
Outstanding choice for fine dining and special occasions. I haven't been to Tony's in a few years and this visit reminded me just how good Tony's has remained. You certainly can find better food, trendy hot spots, and less expensive choices elsewhere, but the combination of the best service anywhere, and top quality food, all within a beautiful dining room cannot be matched in St. Louis. We were a party of six celebrating an anniversary. When we arrived, at least 4 servers greeted us at the table and helped us with chairs and napkin service etc. I haven't experienced this type of service elsewhere. water glasses were refilled, butter replaced immediately, when we left the table to use the restroom, immediate attention was placed to rearrange our silverware and napkins and straighten our chair. A first class service experience. Every wish and refill was attended to immediately The food was first rate, fresh, well prepared and proper temperature. We had the shrimp, steak tartar, and scallop appetizer. All were excellent. The entrée were the trio of veal, peppercorn steak, seared tuna, and lobster pasta. All of these were great as well. For dessert hey brought a anniversary cake plus we received an ice cram pie to split. Definitely worth the extra calories. Areas for improvement, The wine list leaves much to be desired of a restaurant of this caliber. They only offer wines from one wholesaler who happens to be Tony's Brother. Bad form here because they are missing out from offering a more diverse selection. The wine glasses were not of a 4 star restaurant quality either. They should offer riedals or other crystal glassware. Otherwise Tony's is smashing success.
(5)Marlo S.
I was stunned at how good this was. Obviously, Tony has a colossal reputation, but it's been around so long and it seems so dowdy. I just couldn't imagine that the dishes would be genuinely creative and that the ingredients would all be so perfect. My experience easily rivaled French Laundry, Chez Pannise, or Daniel's in New York (i.e. all the ueber fancy, hyper-pretentious places I've been). Yes, it was a little old-fashioned. I'm sure that tattooed hipster out in Clayton throws together fancier things. But this stuff was just so tasty. Everything. Quick summary: the house white, house red were fantastic. The wild mushroom soup was explosive. (I can still remember the thrill of tasting it.) The white asparagus appetizer with leeks was better than similar dishes I've had in fancy restaurants in Germany. My main course, grouper, was just divine. My sister's three-veal thing was fantastic. My brother-in-law was happy enough that I didn't get the chance to taste his. Really, this is an unequivocal woohoo. If it gets any better than this, please tell me where!
(5)Lauren S.
My mom and I came here while at a conference in St. Louis - and I wish we could visit all the time! We had great wine, and when it was time to make our dinner choice decision the owner/manager asked if we needed any help. I told him the few choices I had narrowed it down to and then he took our menus and said he would take care of us - and boy did he! They reallly tried to accomodate our wishes and in turn we left stuffed and happy. I would happily recommend Tony's to any in the St. Louis area for a great meal and an excuse to get dressed up!
(5)Lorenzo D.
Unbedazzled Wow, this place has a great series of reviews. Wandered in here alone, thinking I might go eat at the bar, have a glass of wine or two, a couple plates, maybe have some conversation. Scope it out for future business dinners. The Maitre very pleasantly "walked" me over to the bar, which was actually in another part of the building. We had to go out the door, into and across an office building lobby, and then into the bar. There were 3 patrons. One, maybe the bar mans lady friend who was finishing up her dinner, and a couple that appeared to have, um, a "professional" relationship. After sizing it up for a minute, I decided to walk myself back to the restaurant, and ask for a table for 1. This was not my kind of bar, anyway. They were very accommodating. I milled about for 5 minutes while they reset a table way off to the back. Large table, but I like to spread out. The service was topnotch. Very reserved, but polished. When dining alone, I prefer a bit more personality in the waitstaff. Not a complaint, just an opinion. Food: I had a half potion of what was the pasta special of the evening, shrimp and lobster ziti in a light herb cream with asparagus and prosciutto, basically. Eh. Lobster was minimal and over cooked, shrimp were bland. The dish lacked finesse. Ordered the Veal Rib chop. What came out were three medallions of loin. I inquired and was told that these were in fact rib chops. Hmmm... I have had veal rib chops maybe, I dunno, 200 times in my life. This was the first I've heard this is how they are supposed to be. I guess the other 199 times were mistakes. They tasted good though, once I scraped off the majority of the overly bitter truffle reduction that was saucing the dish. Well, they said it was truffle. Somehow I missed them. Or was that the Sterno in the reduction... However, the veal was very good quality, thick, juicy and cooked as ordered. Downside is they plate the food table-side, using Sterno cans to keep the food warm. Total buzz kill if you have a decent nose. I like table side service. I wish there were more of it. But for heavens sake, coordinate the service with the cooks so you don't need those nasty smelling cans in the dining room! I skipped dessert, knowing they would bring chocolates anyway :-) The room is nice yet unremarkable, comfortable, nothing to distract or tantalize the eye. Staid. Summary: This place is good. Good place to do business dinner. I guess I'd say this place is efficient. Nothing sexy, nothing emotional, nothing soul stirring. They just get it done. REASON for 3 stars: The awful smell of Sterno cans, the veal mismatch, the slightly below average pasta app, all in light of the cost, make this a 3 star.
(3)Matt M.
I was in ST Louis for a business meeting and my local rep suggested Tony's for a customer dinner. Having been all over the world and had many great meals I must say Tony's is in my top10. The décor is nothing to write home about but the service, food and wine list were all fantastic. We stated off with a Pasta App ( special order not on menu--Prosciutto, Penne, asparagus, mushrooms and a cream sauce), then the white broccoli and then main course. All were great although I would try something other then the white asparagus. If you have traveled to Germany in March/April when it is in season then the Tony's version will disappoint.....overall a great experience.
(5)Mark H.
Wow! What an incredible meal! We started off with appetizers. I had the white asparagus with crumbled Roquefort and Sliced endives drizzled with balsamic vinegar at it was simply phenomenal. My wife opted for the soup which was a mushroom. It too was exceptional. For the first course, We opted to share a Risotto made with eggplant and heirloom mushrooms. It really was awesome and done to perfection. In between the first and second courses, I also had the Tony's salad which was perfectly sized and made with a wonderful house dressing. For the main course, my wife opted for the Lobster Albanello which she said was the tastiest lobster she had ever had in her life. It was perfectly cooked and served with mixed vegetables. I chose the Filet Mignon of Swordfish an it was the best swordfish I have ever tasted. It had an amazing sauce on it and I also opted for the mixed veggies. After we made it through the main course we were really full but just couldn't pass up the Creme Brûlée with fresh berries. It too was simply fantastic. Not over cooked as many are but perfectly finished and presented beautifully. The service was absolutely perfect! Many places have very good service but this was a step above probably every other upper tier restaurant I have ever eaten at in any city. Period. Can't wait to go back again!
(5)Anthony H.
The new decor is beautiful...the food already speaks for itself!
(5)P M.
Not to be confused with Tony's in St. Charles who they should sue for trademark infringement.
(5)Melody Y.
The best classy restaurant in STL. (I am a native of STL so I can definitely say that) Sea bass is phenomenal! the service is a little slow but it is all worth it in the end. This is a great place to entertain potential clients especially from out of town!
(5)Jim G.
Old school. Very good. Very expensive. Is it worth it? I don't know.
(4)Beth B.
I would give this place 3.5 stars -- I feel really conflicted. The food was good, service was good - it was just stuffier and very old school and I guess it was just not my thing. I started with the Tony's Salad, which was good - fresh ingredients, dressed tableside -- but I did feel it had a little too much dressing for me. My husband had the lobster risotto, which was very good. He had salmon (just grilled) with a side of green beans and spinach -- just OK. I had the grouper special with butternut squash, corn, and pancetta - delicious, but the vegetables came in a TON of buttery sauce. If I had known that, I probably would have gotten something else. We split a dessert - an almond tart with caramel, which was really good. It was really wonderful that they brought it out already split on two plates without asking. Overall a pretty good meal - but pretty pricey and we had better meals in the area for less money and more relaxed atmosphere.
(3)Shannon M.
Pros: Service very good, valet parking, nice building Cons: food very pricey, food barely average quality, elevator music put you to sleep, no one in restaurant, and no specialty martini menu
(2)Lauren H.
Good, classic food, simply prepared, with exquisite service. We came by this week for a special event that needed the best restaurant in the city, and Tony's didn't disappoint. It is not cheap, but it's in line with other fine restaurants in the city and the service is simply the best. If you have a special need or desire, they will accommodate you. The valet will have already brought your car around before you have your coat on. Food is prepared tableside, and is well-presented without being stuffy. The relaxed pace allows you to linger over a fine meal in several courses, Italian style, and visit with your dinner companions. If you've ever eaten a fine meal in Italy, you know it is a social experience intended to be savored for hours and not to be rushed. However, if you are in a hurry, let the waitstaff know. I'm sure they'll accommodate you. The environment is very clean and simple, with enough space between the tables to offer an unusual level of privacy, and lighting designed to make you feel like you and your dinner companions are alone in the world. Tony's isn't romantic in a flowers-and-lace sort of way, but it is a great place for a long, leisurely, private dinner.
(5)amy c.
call me a hater but this place isn't all that. I had such high hopes but the lobster tail was overcooked, had been in a deep deep ice age freeze i think. Table side service was nice but didn't make up for blase food.
(3)Jen B.
My fiancee took me here for the first time the day we got engaged. I must say, I have never felt so doted on before. I actually felt uncomfortable and out of place because everyone was watching us making sure if our water dipped below just a little they were sure to please. I didn't like the fact either that the butler was hovering over my shoulder. Geez, give us some privacy! But I cant complain over the food. I got the lamb's rack and it was extremely tender and juicy! I think it would have made chef ramsey pleased. Overall, it was an experience that I'd like to keep minimal. Probably because it was so dang expensive. Next time let me cook! Maybe they'll give us a discount.
(4)Hiromi N.
The service is exquisite and the wine list AMAZING. The price is steep, but what can you expect from a restaurant that wins the coveted five-diamond AAA award? It is also a restaurant that consistently snags the DiRoNa Award. After my dinner there, I understood why. The proprietor came to my table and spent 15 minutes chatting with me in depth about the red wine that I had picked out to accompany my meal. He even offered to show me around the town, as it was my first time in St. Louis. (Tony, you are the best!) This is real, warm Italian hospitality at it's best. The bill made me flinch, but it was a dining experience of a lifetime.
(5)Joel P.
I am not sure what to think about this restaurant. My business associate and I were in town for a convention and looking for a great dinner. It's summer and we were dressed casual and were routed through the lobby and across and their more casual bar are which is totally fine. No problem. What happened there was a 5 minute wait at the bar with no offer for a drink, just water. Finally we got moved over to a table and waited 10 minutes. Finally a waiter dropped some not so fresh bread on our table and took off. Another 5 minutes of neglect went by and we finally got up and left. As for the food, short of the bread, I have no idea. We didn't even see the menu!
(1)Christina O.
we were here for a fancy dinner to celebrate my bday. as stated by others the interior is dated and the plates were mismatched. maybe it was an off thursday night but the wait staff's uniform looked either too small or too large and we did not experience the superior service that tony's is known for. the three stars come figure in-our wine cork being broken in half, the server not knowing how to pour wine (spilled some on the table) and being ignored by our waiter for about 20min right after being seated. however, our meal was superb and the wine list is something to brag. the carpaccio was a star and we were given a complimentary slice of cake and some chocolates for my bday.
(3)Roadwarriorinheels Z.
Extremely underwhelming. The food was very bland, ambiance was lacking (our reservation placed us in the overflow room which had the effect of a mortuary). The service of our 'captain' was brief. The assisting staff were great. Overall I find this event is not worth it. The five star recommendation may have been warranted at some-point but it appears Tony's is relying on past laurels. Recommendation is pass on this one.
(2)Carolyn T.
Tony's will always have a very special place in my heart. I have the world's greatest dad, and when I was a little girl, we used to go on fancy "dates" together. Often times, we would go out to dinner at Tony's (my mom would blow dry my hair, make me wear a "party dress", and put a little bit of blush on my cheeks), and then we would go to Stars On Ice- it was a figure skating show featuring Olympic skaters. In other words, my father made it impossible for any future man in my life to show me a great time. I will never forget the first time I saw fish being deboned table-side. It was fascinating! As a little girl, I vividly remember ordering the Dover Sole and watching a server filet the fish and remove all of the bones. It was so freaking cool to me. I also remember the taste of the spinach tortellini, which was perfect. Fast forward about 15 years, and my whole family was back at Tony's. It was just as I remembered and the food tasted just as great as it did when I was a child. I had the pleasure of ordering a Tony's salad and the Lobster Albanello. Holy. Crap. This lobster dish is one of the greatest things I've ever eaten... ever. It was easily one full pound of perfectly cook and de-shelled lobster meat covered in the most decadent cream sauce I've ever tasted. This dish was wonderfully simple; it didn't have any garnish or frills that distracted from the pure "good-ness" of the food. If you even kind of like lobster, you NEED to go to Tony's to try this dish. One more great thing about Tony's: (drum roll please...) their prices have gone down! Yes, it is still expensive, but it will no longer cost you an arm and a leg (and another leg, your face, and your first born) to eat there.
(5)Brandon W.
Good stuff: Great service and food; veal agnollotti and osso buco stand out. Bad stuff: None that come to mind. I heard that this was the place to go in St. Louis for high end Italian cuisine. I went here on my last night here as celebration for the end of my vacation. With its incredible service and great food, Tony's gave me the farewell I was hoping for. I went here for dinner around 6:30pm without a reservation. It was a bit suspicious that I didn't need one; the restaurant didn't really start filling up at all until 8:00pm. The place is just as classy as the photos suggest; perhaps even more so because the lighting is rather dim and waiters are standing around the room waiting for instruction. Throughout the meal, I'd have up to three waiters serving my friend and me at the table. Our head waiter was extremely attentive and really wanted to make it clear to us that he was there if we had any questions about the menu. Every dish was brought on a rolling cart from the pan. The waiters plate the food in front of you, which is entertaining to someone like me who hasn't witnessed it. We wanted to try two pastas, and they were extremely willing to split the dishes for us. We had the veal agnollotti (similar to ravioli) and the ziti amatricana (like penne in tomato sauce). Both were cooked perfectly and delivered excellent flavor. The agnollotti was very stuffed in veal and the flavor blended very well with the delicate cream sauce it came in. The ziti was perfectly al dente and the sauce had just enough spice to give it mild, stimulating flavor. I had osso buco with risotto milanese. The osso buco was perfectly cooked and the sauce was, like the pasta sauces, delicate but delicious. The marrow portion is served with orange zest. The risotto milanese was al dente, very rich and creamy and was actually my favorite part of the meal. For dessert, I had the banana flambe, which was tasty but lacked sear on the bananas. It was a little bland for banana flambe, but not so much that it bothered me. In conclusion: Tony's Restaurant was worth every bit of the hype I've seen for it. With its great food and impeccable service, it was truly a great experience for me to eat here. I'd return if I had to go to St. Louis again for some reason.
(5)Patti B.
I grew up in St. Louis, and I knew from a young age that Tony's was the best restaurant in St. Louis. Someday when I was older and could afford to dine there I would. I've since moved to San Francisco, and I make enough money to travel and to enjoy fine dining from time to time. Tonight I was back in St. Louis, and my companion and I decided to go to Tony's. To say that it was disappointing would be an understatement. When we arrived we were ushered to our table, and my companion was given a wine list. Five minutes later, someone came by to ask if he wanted to order wine. "Not until we decide what we'll be eating." Five minutes later we got a plate of bread. Fifteen minutes after we sat down we were still waiting for menus. Eventually they showed up, and we ordered. The bread was as flavorless as anything that I've ever had. Our first courses were a tomato and gorgonzola salad for me and a risotto for him. The salad was certainly edible though unremarkable, and it was overly dressed in low-quality balsamic vinegar. My companion's risotto was moderately flavorful but had a heavy, almost sludgelike texture. I've had excellent risotto, and it bore only superficial resemblance to what we were served at Tony's. For main courses I had a steak and my companion ordered "stuffed quail/veal tenderloin, wild rice." My steak was fine if a tiny bit tough, and certainly not out of the ordinary. My companion's dish was... well, bad. The stuffed quail seemed to have had a horrible accident with a pepper mill, and it did not get the better end of the deal. We struggled to find adjectives for the meal while we were eating. "Clumsy." "Second-rate." "Mediocre." By the time the dessert menu arrived we were well and truly done with wanting to eat the food at Tony's. We finished our wine, paid the tab, and left. Service was a mixed bag. Once he figured out we were there, our primary server was attentive and personable. When I asked where the ladies room was located, he told me where it was and then escorted me. When we left the restaurant we were thanked by name. The excellent touch was that our car arrived from the valet just as we walked out of the door. On the flip side, one of our assistant servers was unable to plate the meal properly, dropped silverware on us while doing so, and snorted quite loudly while standing about three feet from our table. He was given a stern look and a biting "Are you OK? No, are you OK?" from our server, which definitely should not have happened within earshot of a customer let alone in the main dining room. (My companion suggested that the problematic assistant server displayed the mannerisms of someone who was using cocaine. I wouldn't be surprised.) The best thing that I can say is that it was an inexpensive meal, as "fine" dining experiences go. I couldn't write that without the sneer quotes, though I tried. The bottom line is that Tony's seems like it is trading solely on its reputation these days-- it would only qualify as a fine dining experience for someone who typically eats at Applebee's and Olive Garden.
(2)Michael B.
This is old-school, fancy Italian food. Tableside service from the waiters is a sadly lost art, but this place does it right. Real caesar salads with actaul anchovies, and all prepped tableside is a treat. The pastas and other options are spot on and the wine list is excellent. This is definitely a special ocassion kind of place, but find an excuse and go as often as possible you won't be disappointed. Trust me and the countless thousands before me over the past several decades.
(5)Danielle S.
This place is first class. Every moment was elegant, from when they took our coats to when they gave us little cookies. It's very fancy, and they treat you like royalty. The owners came by and talked to us several times during the meal. I had the Tonys salad, which was huge and delicious. Plenty of vegetables and great salami. My entree was the seasonal red snapper, which was served with the most delicious combination of butternut squash, mushrooms and pancetta I could ever imagine. It was perfection. We split the triple chocolate torte for dessert, and if you like chocolate, this is for you. Loved the entire experience.
(5)Joey G.
This was our first time here and everything everyone else has said was absolutely true! The meal, the service, the ambience, everything was absolutely outstanding. I highly, highly recommend coming here!!
(5)Johnny B.
Tony's is decadent, extravagant and worth every penny. Actually, compared to 5 star restaurants in larger cities, the food is priced incredibly reasonably. I believe this is the only consistent 5 star Italian joint in the country, and it lives up to the hype. The Lobster Albanello (mushroom cream sauce) is one of the single best things I have ever eaten. We always seem to end with the bananas fosters, partly for the show, but mostly because it's heavenly. The service is exactly what you expect from one of the top restaurants in the country.
(5)Srini V.
Tony's is a class act all the way from start to finish. Find me a New York restaurant that delivers flawless service, a tasty three-course dinner and a drink, and a spacious setting, all for about $50 in my case, and I will find that elusive sixth star on Yelp to award it. No wonder Tony's has earned more accolades than MJ has trophies. To start with, valet parking comes into play as you approach the restaurant. You are welcomed by what seems like an eager team of four or five, and then escorted to the table and seated with an honorable mention of your last name. Thankfully, not my long one, the last time I was here. The salads we ordered were fresh and appetizing, the risotto was next only to the one I have had at Gramercy Tavern, and the wine list, if you are into wines, is longer than the Elite membership roster of Yelp. The desserts were filling, even if not spectacular. One would hardly expect to experience a restaurant of this caliber in St. Louis. Make an evening out of visiting the arch and then dining at Tony's. You will doubtless be pleased at how far your money can go. And how endearing and attentive the recipients can be. Only at Tony's.
(5)Aman S.
Great service and great food; very reasonably priced. Tony still makes his way around to every table and says hi to every guest. What a treat.
(4)Big Jar S.
Absolutely INCREDIBLE from start to finish. Many thanks for making my birthday dinner the BEST EVER. I had the tenderloin topped with fois gois and my dinner mate had the filet mignon (sauce on side). Champagne $$$$ and Vintage port topped the meal along with "ice cream cake" (aka Baked Alaska). SO happy that this is in St. Louis and SO happy that it has not been compromised for quality. I have two more reservations including new years eve made already. Can not wait.
(5)ChRles C.
This was an awesome experience. We celebrated a grandson's graduation from SLU law school with family. The attention and service was really more than expected. Fillet with fois grois was the favorite. Tony's salad outstanding. Let Bruce select appetizers and desserts It is difficult to please 12 people but everyone gave this a 5 star. Kudos to a memorable time. We will be back when our first great grand child is born in August
(5)Lynn S.
Tony's is my all time FAVORITE restaurant. I love being catered to with excellent food and service. I have been here 3 times since I moved to STL many years ago. I love everything about this place. In their old building they would go up the stairs backward, I always thought that was so cool. The wait staff is so attentive and the fact that everything is done table side is fun. I wish I could go here more often, it is a pretty upscale place and costs big bucks to eat here. Tony's is a special place for special occasions, at least for me.
(5)Craig M.
As others have said, definitely an upscale restaurant, so don't go if you are on a budget, but you WILL get your money's worth! Elegant, knowledgeable and attentive service in a refined atmosphere. The lobster risotto was absolutely top-drawer-- matched what I once had in downtown Milan. The quail-beef tenderloin combo was also as sinful as it sounds. Excellent red wine selection by the glass, also sparkling--the whites were as often a bit narrow. For a special evening or just indulging yourself, highly recommended.
(5)Sachin M.
This is the premier fine dining experience of St. Louis. Seated in a large dining room with frosted glass providing strong spacial separation one enjoys an extremely attentive staff, table side cooking and detail oriented flavor combinations. For those of you from the likes of Alinea, L2O, Next or Girl and the Goat, you will not find the culinary creativity you are accustomed to but more of a traditional perfection to flavors and cooking technique. Every bite was fantastic from the white truffle asparagus to the creamy risotto to the Carmel tart. Unfortunately most of what we ate was off the specials menu so I hesitate to make you jealous by sharing. My tip is to ask about everything. The wait staff was great in their recommendations and helpful when we were indecisive. It is a long dining process of upwards of 2 hours and not in any sense inexpensive.... I suppose it is an investment. But if you are a foodie... This is an investment worth making.
(5)Douglas S.
At Tony's, you do not get a waiter, you get a crew. So, sit back and enjoy the attention, because you are going to get lots of it. The food was excellent: stuffed zucchini flowers (which I have never seen on a US menu before), nicely cooked white asparagus spears, a tasty lobster dish, and probably the best chocolate torte I have ever had. It all adds up to a unique experience. NOTE: Gentlemen are requested to wear jackets on Saturdays only. The rest of the week is business casual.
(5)M G.
Great restaurant for business entertaining. Couldn't decide what to get so I used the prix fixe menu for suggestions. The beef tenderloin with foie gras and demi glaze sauce was amazing. (I'm drooling remembering it.) Very attentive service. This is the only restaurant that didn't refill my ice water -- they replaced the glass entirely.
(5)Alex V.
We had an impromptu business dinner at Tony's and the food was excellent. The ambiance and service reminded me of the classic American fine dining experience. Its really a level of service that you don't very often anymore. The tableside preperation, warm decor, and rich history of the place make it a can't miss if you're looking for a real fine dining experience in St. Louis.
(5)Gaetano A.
First, let me start by saying this place is expensive. You want to eat here, you're going to pay for it. That being said, you definitely get what you pay for. The service is great, and you have multiple people taking care of your table. The atmosphere is initimate, as well. This is a great place to go for an anniversary (as I did) or some other celebration with that special someone.
(4)JulieJuli A.
Julie 3 1/2 Stars on what is supposedly one of St Louis' finest restaurant. The service was impeccable and the place quite busy on a weekday evening when the rest of downtown STL is just dead. Be warned that as the fine restaurant that it is, they will pace you and keep you teased for a good 2 hours, Tony's failed the bread test. It was hard and unsatisfactory. A fine dining event should start with warm bread or a loaf that taste morning delivered fresh. This felt ordinary. App of beef carpaccio was excellent as it was drizzled with truffle oil and parmesan. Nice tender and well proportioned beginning. Entree was a lightly breaded grouper on a bed of veggies. The grouper was borderline dry but still very tasty. The star of the dish was the corn/peas/beans in a tangy sauce with small bacon pieces... The dessert offering was lacking and nothing tempted my palate. Ordered coffee which came in a small 6 oz cup but no refill was offered. It's a plain $5 cup of coffee. I know it's petty to complain about this, but c'mon.. offer some more coffee. In the end... The place very good.. prices reasonable... The service good... but they failed the all important bread and coffee refill test. Yes, those little things matter...
(3)Cheryl K.
Ok, so let me start by saying that the only reason I am giving a 4-star is due to the fact that the service was not quite perfect. Apparently, two ladies don't warrant the same attention as any other table with a man. Our waiter didn't tell us about all the specials for some reason, we overheard him telling a couple on date night about the zucchini blossoms they had that night. We had to bring them up to him. Also, we ordered dessert then went to the ladies room to come back and find they had removed our plates, remaining wine in our glasses and a bit of wine in the decanter - WHAT the ?? The have only like 15 guys waiting on the room and not one of them figured out that we hadn't left - we ordered dessert - we didn't get our bill - and the dining room was only half full so it's not as if they were running like crazy. They did apologize and brought us each a glass of Barolo on the house, but our wine was better. Now for the review of what is really important the food and drink... Started off with a champagne cocktail, then started with shrimp with garlic and butter - Delish! - Poached and chilled white asparagus with Gorgonzola - Wonderful! - We brought a bottle wine and they were kind enough to decant it for us - Next Zucchini blossoms - WOW! I found out I have been missing a delicate creamy delicious treat - my friend has the Lobster Albanello, chunks of lobster in white cream sauce - I had Veal 3-Ways - both of these were perfectly prepared and so enjoyable. - Last, but not least to cap off the night we each had an espresso, sambuca, and a delicious dessert! It was my first visit to Tony's and I was very happy with my meal, the service could have been better. Our meal was just under $200.00 without tip
(4)Steve R.
This was my second time to Tony's, and my second time to be impressed! My wife and I enjoyed the chef's tasting menu during our first visit a few years ago, so we chose it again. Of course, the selections were completely different this time around, but no less superb. The wine pairings were perfect both our first time and last night. The pasta was perfectly cooked and paired with a perfectly seasoned sauce. The tenderloin was both lean and melt-in-your-mouth at the same time. Desserts--we sampled three of them--were fabulous. The service is unmatched. As the four of us sat down, four gentlemen materialized behind us to push in our chairs. I've seen some negative reviews here on service, but that was not our experience. We were not rushed, but we had attention when we needed it. Our visits to Tony's have been the most expensive meals I've ever had, but they've also been the best.
(5)Steve H.
This place is pricey, but the experience is definitely worth it. The filet with foie gras is incredible! I recommend this place for a business dinner or for anyone you want to impressed.
(5)Dave L.
Upscale dining. Formal. Top notch service. The meal was excellent. Come here if you want a 5 star experience, but make sure to bring your wallet. Dress nice...if you wear a t shirt and jeans you will definitely bring attention to yourself.
(5)Lee N.
Best service in St. Louis. Hands down! The food is pretty good but not the best. The place is beginning to get a bit dated. Probably time for a decorative overhaul, and some new menu items.
(4)Jennifer B.
I had the pleasure of being taken to Tony's as a bartering deal for organizing a friend's office. That was the best bartering deal that I have ever made! As I understand it, Tony's is one of a few restaurants in the country to get the AAA five diamond award. Once you go, it is obvious why this is. My meal was chosen for me: Beef Tenderloin and Foie Gras. It was fantastic, beautiful, flavorful and there were so many layers of taste. The tenderloin was medium, with a delicious bit of blood in the center to accent the overall flavor. Oh my, you haven't lived until you've eaten this dish. The staff was wonderful, the surroundings lovely and everything was delicious. I don't know what more I can say, other than that everyone needs to save up and go! I am so lucky to have friends like this!
(5)Julie H.
Tony's is the quintessential St. Louis Italian dining experience. I first went there over 20 years ago (at the original location where the Dome is now) when my husband proposed to me. He picked the right place....it was very romantic. We have been back twice since then...once at the new location. The food and service here are consistently delicious and top notch. Veal marsala to die for! I am not sure what to say to the reviewers that complain about the prices. $100 per person for dinner at such a restaurant is really quite reasonable. I realize that the menu is more classic than innovative but I can barely dine out in Chicago for $100 per person anywhere half as nice as Tony's. Tony's is truly an "experience". Some of the reviewers on here really should get a clue. Tony's is what it is and if you come in with the expectation of something else and then are disappointed, shame on you for expecting something different and then ranting on them for it. They have been what they are, great classic Italian food served impeccably in a warm and inviting atmosphere, forever. It would be ignorant to not know this before coming here as this is what they are known for and have always been known for. If you want cutting edge then don't come to Tony's....go spend 8 to 10 times more at Alinea. (It too will be well worth your money btw.) But, if you want great old school Italian, go to Tony's! They do what they do perfectly!
(5)Matt S.
Ate like a king here last night. Lobster, veal chops, fillet's, mussell's, shrimp, arancini you name it. Place is as classy as it is great.
(5)I Know W.
It took me a few weeks before writing this review. I am a fan but The Palms is only one of a few places I would give 5 stars. The food was delicious, service prim and proper, ambience was a little dated, what made it special was a personal tour of the kitchen from Vincent. It made us order more, but I'm glad of the attention I received.
(4)Jennifer H.
Amazing! I got the filet mignon in a chianti sauce and my boyfriend got the filet mignon of swordfish. It was the best filet I have ever had! It was tender, juicy, had wonderful flavor and melted in my mouth. My boyfriend, loved his swordfish! The prices of the food are fairly reasonable. It's the price of the alcohol that jacks up the bill. We got a Napa Valley Zinfandel wine for $50 (one of the cheapest on the menu), but it was some of the best wine we've ever had! The service was impeccable. We really felt special. Our server was very attentive but we did not feel like we were being watched. Overall, our meal was the best we've ever eaten together and one of the best I've ever had in my life.
(5)Lei T.
Service was great! I love that they serve things table side. Their Beurre blanc sauce is awesome! I don't recommend their salmon appetizer but their scallop appetizer is quite good. I feel like the dark meat could have been seasoned a little more because it came off as a little bland. I think next time i may try the fish or something.
(4)Sue J.
Confirmed to me that it's the quintessential fine dining institution in St. Louis. Blown away by the impeccable food and service. You won't find innovative cuisine here, but the traditional classic American and Italian fare is truly exceptional. Definitely get the rack of lamb and beef tenderloin with foie gras, both of which cooked to perfection! Service was also exceptional. We were really surprise to see that on that night the owner,Vince, went to every table to greet diners about their experience. Overall I loved the whole experience of Tony's. I especially love the formality of the place such as the table side plating of all the food, the jacket requirement, the waiters dressed in suits. Even with all the formality, the place didn't feel stuffy or pretentious. Although you have to plunk down some considerable dough here, it's pretty comparable to other fine dining restaurants in St. Louis. It's really well worth the experience and I hope this place continues to strive for a long time in St. Louis.
(5)Chris C.
The food and service are impeccable, ranking among the very best. The sauces are every bit as good as fine French dining. Portions are a bit large for an establishment of this caliber. Next time, I plan to skip a pre-dinner course to save room for dessert. When the bill came, we noticed an ordering snafu. The manager resolved the issue equitably and quickly.
(5)Howie F.
Ever since I was a kid growing up in STL, I heard of Tony's as the standard bearer for STL restaurants. My parents used to come here for special occasions, so I always wondered what it would be like to eat there, I moved away, have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the country and when I came back, I knew I had to finally cross that threshold. Wow, Tony's really lived up to my childhood expectations. Scallops were divine and the filet with foie gras was mesmorizing, literally tasted like buttery goodness on each bite. I usually cut my steak in big pieces to eat and found myself cutting this steak in tiny pieces to savor it. As good as the beef was, the star of the dinner was my gfs lobster albanello. That had to be one of the best tasting dishes I have ever tasted, literally culinary gold. Service was attentive as expected, but not too attentive where they are always bothering you.
(5)Kenny B.
After hearing from several friends about their great experience I was excited to try Tony's. After tonight I think it is safe to say I will never go back. Our service was absolutely terrible. To cap off the night we complained to the manager and I over heard him say to a co worker " what kind of service do they expect they brought their own f***ing wine." The food was pretty good but there are several places in St Louis that have better dishes and you don't have to put up with the BS.
(2)Imran S.
Service was amazing, food was delicious. From the moment I pulled up till the moment I walked out there was a team attending to my every need. Great waiting staff. highly recommend the Lobster Albanello.
(5)Chris B.
This is an incredible restaurant. Tony's is a treat and worthy of its fine reputation. The food and service are incredible. Regardless of your taste, Tony's will not let you down. If you have picky taste, don't worry about it, they will make sure your food is cooked to your liking. The staff at Tony's is there to serve you. Anyone in restaurant will feel like a king or queen, even if only for an hour or two. Tony's is reasonably priced for fine dining. You will be able to leave Tony's without breaking the bank. This is a wonderful place for any occasion. A birthday, anniversary, a nice dinner before a ball game, this is the perfect spot. Remember to bring a jacket if you are a male, but if you do not have one they do have loaners. This is a must stop if you are in St. Louis.
(5)Max M.
Absolutely, without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in North America. The owners, especially Vince Jr., are extremely kind and professional. Any request is immediately tended to and any dish you can dream up is available. The best in meats, fish and pasta. The service extraordinary. The wine list above and beyond. Outstanding!
(5)B S.
I won't be going here again. We were expecting pricey, but delicious food, fine dining experience. We experienced pricey, not so great food. My husband & I had a reservation for 8.30, we arrived a little early and so they had us wait in the "living room". We ordered drinks and waited. 45mins past our reservation we finally got seated. The atmosphere was okay. We ordered scallops as our appetizer and they tasted delicious. But that was the highlight of our meal. I had ordered the shrimp and lobster linguine, and my husband a steak. I ate a few bites, but it was not good, the seafood was overcooked and very tough. My husband only liked his steak, it wasn't anything special. When they asked us how our food was, I let them know we enjoyed our appetizers but I really did not like my meal, it was overcooked, and I wasn't really wanting them to bring me something else (it was time to just get the check and go home). I would have expected them to take off the pasta from our bill but they did not. I wasn't very impressed and it wasn't worth the price.
(2)Caroline B.
Loved it. One of the best fine dining experiences I've had in awhile. Would love to go back the next time I visit STL. Excellent service, excellent food.
(5)Jeannette S.
Great service and good food. We had a little bit of everything it seems and it was all good. Dinner here is an all evening event so make sure you take good company with you.
(5)Maggie S.
My dying wish is a meal from Tony's. I was floored by the bad review Patricia F. gave this spot, absolutely floored. I'm feeling the need to defend my favorite place, in a big way. (even though I'm happy to see the rest of the reviews are positive). Tony's is the very very best and I'm not even sure where to begin. I've been fortunate enough to be able to frequent Tony's since I was young for every important occasion in our family. Birthdays, anniversaries, my engagement, my graduation from college etc. If the question is where, our answer (wallet-permitting), is Tony's. Everyone at Tony's aims to please. Vince Bommarito, the owner, is a true master of the kitchen, and of the dining room. Vince, along with his sons and their waitstaff know how to charm and work a room. Moreover, Vince has been good to my family for years and years dating back to when my Grandpa used to sell him chef coats via his uniform business. He makes over my 91 year old Grandma like she's a queen whenever we get to go! Even if it's not on the menu, he's happy to whip it up. I always start with a Caprese Salad, though you won't find it on the menu. Their Spinach salad is also fantastic for an on-the-menu selection. My #1 recommendation is the Lobster Albanello. It's has the most ridiculously sweet and rich cream sauce created from reduced shallots; it's paired with lobster and mushrooms. I always get it sans mushroom and request pasta. The pasta is made in house and makes the dish coma-inducing. Try a side of their creamed spinach. Or ask for salsify as a side, it absolutely melts in your mouth. My other favorite entrees: Try the Dover Sole. The waiter de-bones it tableside and the fish is absolutely the most delectable piece of heaven you can put in your mouth. I could eat 15 orders of the Sole. Veal Piccatta! The edges are slightly crispy and the sauce is dead on. This was my old stand by as a youngster, before I got a taste for lobster and seafood. Other family favorites: Scallops, Rack of Lamb, Tenderloin. You really can't go wrong though, everything on the menu is ridiculous. And desserts: I don't see how you could complain about the creme brulee with berries "thrown on top". They happen to be the freshest in-season berries atop the most de-freakin-liscious creme brulee you can find. (tsk tsk!?). There are not one but two chocolate tortes, homemade banana ice cream, ricotta cheesecake, with raspberry sauce mmmm, I could go on. It's unfortunate that I'm writing this at lunch-time and all the way from Seattle. This should suffice. But, before I finish, I did want to mention that I literally laughed out loud reading the criticism about "cheap flatware" and "serious self-importance". That first claim is just snotty, overblown and not true. As far as the second, well, Tony's has the acclaim it does for no reason other than wholly deserved reverence from the many many people who recognize what an incredibly special treat it is to endulge in such perfectly structured culinary pleasures.
(5)Nelson M.
Visiting St Louis, decided to go to this venerable fancy restaurant downtown. What a time-warp! I imagine this place would be impressive for someone who's never been to a particularly fine restaurant, perfect for prom dates. But for someone who's traveled and dined a lot, Tony's just seems dated and uninspired. The good part: formal and efficient service, pleasant dining room, and a comforting menu of classic fine Italian American dining. Decent wine list; not too long, well chosen, not too expensive. The bad part: the formal service is bizarrely impersonal, brusque bordering on rude. Tony's seems particularly intent on doing tableside preparations of everything, even dishes that would be better finished in the kitchen. OK, so a tableside show is part of the deal, but the point is lost when the waiter doesn't bother to engage you in the preparation or explain the dish when it's set down. It's just fire, heat, and drop the plate maybe mumbling one or two words to the diner. Bizarre. The other bad part: the food is not terribly good. Pasta was undercooked with a pasty sauce. Veal medallions were beautifully cooked, but the sauces were dull, the marsala in particular tasted bizarrely of canned tomato sauce. Deserts were disappointing, tasting purely of sugar and not the lemon or caramel or other promised flavors. If you want to impress a date with a zabaione whisked tableside by a silent young man in a suit, Tony's is perfect. But if you'd rather have an interesting desert or a finely prepared meal from fresh ingredients or service that's simply professional, not silly, then look elsewhere.
(2)Hiromi N.
The service is exquisite and the wine list AMAZING. The price is steep, but what can you expect from a restaurant that wins the coveted five-diamond AAA award? It is also a restaurant that consistently snags the DiRoNa Award. After my dinner there, I understood why. The proprietor came to my table and spent 15 minutes chatting with me in depth about the red wine that I had picked out to accompany my meal. He even offered to show me around the town, as it was my first time in St. Louis. (Tony, you are the best!) This is real, warm Italian hospitality at it's best. The bill made me flinch, but it was a dining experience of a lifetime.
(5)Gary B.
My first time in St Louis. Decided to try Tony's based on other yelp positive reviews plus it was close to the Hilton and tBusch baseball stadium. My wife and I both enjoyed it. Ravioli dishes were perfect and finished at the table. Salads were also prepared at the table, the main courses ... Veal chop and a trio of veal dishes with different sauces were excellent. The Italian wine selection was quality, but a bit expensive in my view. My wfe appreciated the selection of Tuscany wines.. She is the wine conniseur. Service is excellent. Several servers to look after your "needs". Chocolate and coconut at the end of the meal is a nice touch. The owner comes by the table to make you feel special and give insights on what you have ordered. Finally, there is a good desert menu including prepared at your table flaming deserts. I did not have these but did indulge in a rich almod torte with ameretto ice cream. The coffee was only so so. I like rich dark roast. This coffee was too mild. I would go back. A godexperience.
(4)Allan C.
You can easily find just as good a dining experience at plenty other places in St. Louis... cept you're wearing a jacket. The service is excellent, but it took us a while to get the servers to lighten up with us. It was more of a mechanical experience (metronomish, for lack of a better fake word) than an intimate one. One can't help but compare the food with other restuarants in the area. Most of the food that we had could be found elsewhere and very little has set itself from the rest of the pack. I do have to say that this place has the best osso bucco that I've had in St. Louis. Easily. Their marrow scooper outer thingy even had two sides for different widths. Now that's decadent.
(4)Patricia F.
It's not a bad restaurant. If you are in St. Louis and need to have a formal meal out, by all means go. Tony's has many hallmarks of a "fancy" restaurant: attentive service, good wine list, strict dress code (gentlemen MUST wear jackets). But the food is not imaginative or special, if you're used to San Francisco or New York restaurants, and the overall execution lacks the sophistication of a "classic" restaurant. The Chef's tasting menu featured... - Smoked salmon and cream cheese rolls. Enough said - Lobster and shrimp pasta. The buttery and slightly spicy sauce was delicious, but it was 98% ziti, 1.98% overcooked shrimp, and a microscopic amount of lobster - Tenderloin and foie gras, with sauteed spinach on the side. It was okay, but unremarkable. - Cheese course, with New York Camembert and some Italian cheese which I don't remember much about - Creme brulee. You couldn't really taste any vanilla. Served cold (tsk, tsk), with berries thrown on top. - Coffee and petits fours At $200 for two with some good wine (the Barolo served with the steak was excellent), I left well-fed and happy, but it just wasn't that remarkable. Okay, maybe you could argue that they're not trying to be innovative, that they are a "classic" restaurant. Especially for a place with serious self-importance (wall full of signed photos of celebrities from the 80s in the waiting room, banners outside proclaiming it's St. Louis' top restaurant, jacket requirement), they could use a little more polish. I'm going to get a little obsessive-compulsive here, but... - Cheap flatware and plates are a bad idea - Acoustic tile on the ceiling is tacky - When crumbing a table, the waiter should not scrape crumbs off the edge of the table - Waiters should not squeeze between a guest's chair and a table en route to another table, when they could easily go around Apparently this is the best restaurant in St. Louis. Poor St. Louis.
(3)SillyMango P.
the S.O. was very excited to take me here since it was the "anniversary place" that everyone else was going to. how disappointing. Ambience: it's supposed to be a nice place, but we were next to a kid (like 9 years old) in tights, her mother in jeans, and several guys wearing basics slacks... the addition of a jacket makes it nice? Service: They dropped off the menus and only asked us if we needed help about 10 minutes later. We literally sat there staring at the 6 waiters around the wall, hoping someone would be able to answer some questions. And yes, we both had our menus closed. How is this good service? The only "good" part was how quickly they filled our water... but that was also kind of annoying... I don't need it filled after every sip. I just want to know what I'm ordering, or be asked how things are going. They were so distant we didn't bother bringing up the following issues.... Food: This was BAD. I don't know if this was an off night... It started off well. The carpaccio and salmon with marscopone were tasty. It all went downhill from there. Based on yelp reviews I ordered the lobster albanello. The lobster pieces were rubbery and tough, making them unedible. I had to saw at them to cut them with a knife! The wine used to make the sauce was very strong. (If i want pure wine flavor, I'll order it separately please). And the sauce was otherwise very bland. The S.O. ordered the filet with olive oil and garlice. We ordered it medium RARE, and it came out as medium well (ie no red, just pink in the center). This made it tough to eat, although I imagine if it were cooked to medium rare it would have been delicoius. The "rice balls" that come as a side (beef, rice) were greasy and a strange consistency. I was hoping the meal would be redeemed by the dessert. Boy was I wrong! The bananas flambee was good. No great, but good.... like a dessert at chii's (if you want nice bananas foster go to Tenderloin... wow). Then we got the creme brulee. the consistency was disgusting! The top 1/3 was GRAINY. We had to scoop to the bottom to get a little bit of the usual creamy creme brulee consistency and even then the flavor was not good. And the whole thing was cold. This is BASIC. How do you get this wrong? O and the coffee... for $5 you expect at least passable coffee. This was weak and nasty. Worse than the ones you can make for yourself in a hotel room. Overall VERY disappointing. Even if this were standard chain dining (ie red lobster, olive garden, outback, etc) I would have said this was subpar and never return. Come to think of it, I would rather eat at any of those places compared to here. At this price point, this is unacceptable. Bad service, bad food. Very expensive. How is this highly rated in anyone's book?
(1)Pete O.
A great place for the weekend dates or business dinner... Quality of Food: 10/10 (Steak Diavola and Lobster tail are prepared with a perfection along with a fresh caviar, tangy salads and tasty turtle soup - we asked a chef to make somethin' special - after 7 courses later, you'll be satisfied) Presentation: 8/10 (Standard upscale American flavor) Service: 10 / 10 (Ridiculously attentive and pleasant, yet making you feel comfortable) Ambiance: 9 / 10 (A bit too traditional steak house feel but very classy at the same time) Price: 10 / 10 (Great Great price for what you're getting from A to Z at Tony's) Parking: 9 / 10 (Valet service - don't know about self parking?) Intangibles: Great value for 5 star restaurant if you like a traditional steak house or Classic American cuisine for food, wines and service.
(5)Richard S.
I almost gave this place four stars because I'm not a big fan of Italian food. However, the setting, service and quality of food make it worth it even if you're not a fan of Italian food. Also, the thing I don't like about Italian food is that there is cheese on everything but I thought about it and I don't think there was cheese on anything I had when I went to Tony's. The restaurant is elegant and homey at the same time. When you walk in you see a bar area that looks like someone's personal bar/living room. There are photos of famous patrons and large sofas everywhere. Right there, I thought the person who has a room like this in their restaurant has to be an interesting person and he was. The owner, Vincent Bommarito, still works there and he's in his 70s. He walked around inconspicuously offering drinks and waiting on customers. You'd never know he was the owner but he's very friendly once you engage him. I guess he doesn't want to interrupt your dinner but he's interesting if you get a chance to talk to him. His son was also working there and he very engaging as well. I went there with a group for a business trip and we took over a large room in the back that comfortably seated maybe 30 people. They set up a bar in our room and offered to set up the outdoor bar for us. It was winter time so we declined. The regular dining room and the room we were in was very comfortable, also like you were in a someone's home. The paintings on the wall are originals and pretty pricey, I think. The food is great. I was really impressed that even for a large group like ours they let us order off the menu. Usually with large groups they have a fixed menu so they are better prepared to handle all the orders. Not only did they not do that with us, they also brought out a little cooking station and put the finishing touches on our food. I wondered if that was all for show but no, the food was delicious. The salad was really tasty, it was a green salad but it was so flavorful I could have had that for dinner. It would have had to been a lot bigger but still. The veal is savory and sweet as well as tender. The wine, a Pietradonice Sant Antimo Doc 'super Tuscan' Casanova Di Neri, was awesome. Very dry. The service was very attentive and efficient. I can't remember what I had for dessert which is very unusual for me; I usually remember the dessert first then the rest of the meal. I'm sure it was good though. This is a family restaurant in every sense of the word; family owned and operated and it shows! Bravo!
(5)M O.
It was an interesting and entertaining experience, but absolutely not the 5 star experience we were sold by several locals. The waiters were very attentive. Vince (the owner, retired) was overly involved in service -- the first welcome was fine, but four more visits and clearing the table while we were still eating was too much. The special appetizers were excellent, but the rest of the food was average to poor. We actually sent back a pasta dish twice. The desert special was akin to a mounds bar with ice cream and hershey syrup. Why they reheat every course on a burner table-side, I don't know. No kitchen should allow servers to reheat, finish, and plate their all their food. And the average age of the patrons -- 65? Very dated atmosphere, practices, and only average food. Absolutely not worth the money, but we've been laughing for an hour at the experience.
(2)Barry H.
Has anyone out there ever had a perfect meal? I guess four other reviewers have. In the 18 years I lived in St. Louis I had the pleasure of going to Tony's three times. It took a while before I could afford to go there but each meal was absolutely perfect.
(5)Brian A.
I had the best meal of my life here. I haven't been to the best of New York or San Francisco like the the poster below me has, so I cannot compare to those restaurants. Either way, after I tried the chef's tasting menu, I had the coolest dining experience of my life. Before this, I had never had a food and wine pairing that worked so well together. It's been a year or two since I went here, so I do not remember the exact combinations, but some asparagus and a wine pairing went so well it was like a hand inside of glove. The two choices were made for each other. The meal was expensive as would be expected, but for a good three hours of entertainment and a fantastic meal as well as memories, it was worth every penny.
(5)matthew h.
I have been to Tony's a couple times and the first time I was not all that impressed. The food is superior and service is attentive. It is known as THE place to dine in St. Louis and has a traditional dining room. What really impressed me was on my second visit they called me by my name. Yes, that's right, they had remembered my name from my first visit. It's this attention to detail that won me over and would suggest this place to anyone wanting a fine dining experience in St. Louis. This kind of service is virtually unheard of in today's world. BRAVO!
(5)Jonathan R.
I'm going to say what everyone has been afraid to say. The place is NOT that good; you can get a better meal for less without the annoying "Let me put your napkin on your lap for you" worthlessness that comes along with paying way too much. If that's what you're into more power to you, but I'd rather spend my money on something else. All that having been said the two times I've eaten at Tony's the food was delicious, and if you're trying to impress someone shallow there isn't really a better place in St. Louis.
(2)Rob C.
The fanciest restaurant in St. Louis. It's mostly memorable for the experience. One of those jacket-only places--of course, you can't start comparing this to real foodie city restaurants...For most St. Louis people, it's one of those special occasion places.
(4)Mirai S.
Even if you're not in fine dining, I'm sure that you've probably heard about this establishment if you live around the St. Louis area. This is by far the fanciest restaurant in St. Louis. Jacket is required and the ambience is really high-class. The service is top-tier and so are the customers eating here. The food wasn't the best I've ever had but good enough. This is a place to go in St. Louis if you're more about dressing up for a special occasion rather than enjoying the taste of the food.
(4)Nayeli V.
First of all this place has THE BEST SERVICE!!! But i was not impressed with the food! I felt like we wasted $200 We went for our anniversary. My husband and i were left wishing we had just gone to the tenderloin room. Servers are not as friendly as the ones at Tonys but at least we would of left with happy bellies :( I had the tenderloin with Foie Gra ehh! it was nothing memorable to top it all off we were sat next to a group of obnoxious people. They were so loud and it just made it a bad experience. Its our fault we should of asked to be moved. We will never be back.
(1)Baboo E.
Service was awesome, and they have an extensive list of wine but we had brought our own bottle. We had the prosciutto with melon, fresh figs and fresh basil top with a dash of maple syrup, and seared scallops with truffle sauce, and they were just to die for! We cleaned our plates up pretty quickly! I got the beef tenderloin with foie gras and port wine demi glaze, and it just melts in your mouth! For the dessert, we had the creme brûlée and triple chocolate torte, and they were all delightful. A great place for a romantic dinner! Food was awesome! Staff was very attentive to detail! And, oh I love their complimentary valet parking too!
(5)J P.
Insane. From the start I knew this place was going to be good. The host looked like Joe Pesci from Casino - complete with pinky ring and smoke tinted large framed eyeglasses. The mini-bar's walls were adorned with autographed head shots from celebrities of years past. The service was a first for me - we had 3 people working our table all with very identifiable responsibilities. This was some serious service. My pepper sirloin was R I D I C U L O U S. Served up sliced and steaming from some sort of table-side hot plate. One of the best steaks I've ever had. And for the price, it was about on par with a Ruth Chris steak. Not that i cared, the meal was expensed. Oh, it's a suit and tie kinda place.
(5)Roxy M.
This place is absolutely fabulous. It's hidden and descrete. The service is amazing, and the food is to die for! I had the filet mignon with the garlic and butter sauce and steamed spinach...The best I've ever had, ever! This place should be a 7 star restauraunt. Will be back for sure.
(5)Michael B.
This is old-school, fancy Italian food. Tableside service from the waiters is a sadly lost art, but this place does it right. Real caesar salads with actaul anchovies, and all prepped tableside is a treat. The pastas and other options are spot on and the wine list is excellent. This is definitely a special ocassion kind of place, but find an excuse and go as often as possible you won't be disappointed. Trust me and the countless thousands before me over the past several decades.
(5)Berg W.
I'm not a St. Louiser or a Missourite, but I had one of the best meals of my life at Tony's. Having spent some time in the area during my friend's wedding, I took a $70 cab-ride to downtown St. Louis, and was thoroughly impressed by this place. Simply looking in the local tourist guides, I stumbled across Tony's with high marks. I decided to take a stab, and make the trek to downtown from the Red Roof Inn in St. Charles. Didn't have a jacket, as required, but they provided one for me, and I felt like royalty, as I looked at pictures of famous people on the wall with Tony, including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis. Had a scotch, made it to my table, and decided to do the five course tasting menu with wine pairings. This experience changed my life forever. Never have I experienced what 5 courses and 5 perfectly paired wines did to the human body. Some of the food was prepared table-side, and it was all good. I actually shed a tear when I drank the chardonnay after the lobster-shrimp pasta. During my service, I saw Tony, the very guy standing with the Chairman-of-the-Board in the picture I saw earlier. He came to my table and wiped the crumbs off my tablecloth. I mean really...that's service. Not that I looked important...he probably knew the jacket he bought, but he still went the extra mile. Very traditional-chic, with Tony's you know what your paying for. Immaculate service, great food, amazing wines. I wouldn't call it breaking new culinary grounds, but they have their food, presentation, and service down to a science.
(5)Trevor T.
I took my wife to St. Louis for weekend to celebrate her birthday. I chose Tony's because I wanted to cap off our weekend at a fine dining and historic establishment. Tony's did not disappoint us. The service was spectacular. Adam our server was great! Additionally, they really made my wife feel special. My wife had their famous and award winning Lobster Albanello and I had the Linguine Lobster and Shrimp. The Tomato Bisque was the best I have ever eaten. This was simply just a great dining experience! Additionally, my wife was pleasantly surprised by a birthday dessert!! We will definitely be back on our next visit to St. Louis.
(5)Dakota G.
I took my fiancé there for her 21st and I have never had a better dining experience. Everyone we met that was staff congratulated her and made her feel special. Our server, Adam, and his team were quite amazing and extremely professional. We had appetizers, salads, entrees, and dessert with coffee. I chose shrimp as my starter with which I complimented with filet of beef and quail as my main course. She chose the cream of wild mushroom and then had sword fish as her main course. The "Tony's salad" was a basic salad with oil and vinegar. As for our dessert we had peaches from eckerts and house maid ice cream. Half way through our meal we got a personal tour of the kitchen, wine room, and cherry room. Over all, we had an amazing experience and will definitely be back. As a note to someone else, be prepared to spend $$$ and to DINE, not eat out. This is an experience...not a typical dinner. So freaking good.
(5)Tony J.
Tony's is located in an office building near the Arch. I was here for a business dinner during a convention. I was the first to arrive for a 7:30pm reservation of 10 people. The entrance and reception area was quite impressive. Fresh flowers were on the reception desk. Since I was the first to arrive I enjoyed a glass of chianti near the inactive bar. When some of the others arrived they also enjoyed a glass of wine near the inactive bar area. Eventually we were all seated at a great table and some great table service started. I truly enjoyed the carpaccio, with arugula and truffle oil for $12 and the spectacular lobster albanello entrée for $35. Several others enjoyed the lobster albanello as I did. It was a great 4-star dinner. I ended my dinner with an espresso. This was my best restaurant in St. Louis.
(4)Danielle S.
This place is first class. Every moment was elegant, from when they took our coats to when they gave us little cookies. It's very fancy, and they treat you like royalty. The owners came by and talked to us several times during the meal. I had the Tonys salad, which was huge and delicious. Plenty of vegetables and great salami. My entree was the seasonal red snapper, which was served with the most delicious combination of butternut squash, mushrooms and pancetta I could ever imagine. It was perfection. We split the triple chocolate torte for dessert, and if you like chocolate, this is for you. Loved the entire experience.
(5)Joey G.
This was our first time here and everything everyone else has said was absolutely true! The meal, the service, the ambience, everything was absolutely outstanding. I highly, highly recommend coming here!!
(5)Joe D.
Great food and great service. Loved it. Went on a Saturday night and had a great time. Servers were very clean and prompt. Food was amazing.
(5)Chris X M.
Top Quality food and service. Great N Italian dishes, great wine list, flawless sharp and attentive servers. Cheap for NY, above average here, but a deal for *****. Just go. Dress code. No kids.
(5)Rebeccah M.
Dinner at Tony's was the highlight of our recent trip to St Louis. Let's start with the ambience - we were looking for an old-school, fancy dinner out and were not disappointed - the dimly lit room, flowers, white tablecloths all spoke to a special occassion. The food was impeccable, perhaps not terribly modern (our group had beef tenderloin with foie gras, Dover Sole, and Lobster Albanello), but expertly prepared and exactly fit the group's mood and the restaurant's decor. Several dishes (including the bananas flambe) were finished tableside with the sort of flair I've only seen in Rat Pack movies. (Bonus - the Dover Sole was fileted by the servers, and there wasn't a bone to be found, yet the pieces were perfectly intact.) Last - the service, I can't say enough about the service. This is the type of restaurant where the waiters leap tall tables in a single bound to pull out your chair and place your napkin. The owner even stopped by to make sure We ended up closing the restaurant (they make the perfect rye old fashioned, along with a bevy of other perfect cocktails), but we never felt the service slip, nor did we feel rushed. If you're looking for a meal where you will be catered to, with a feel for old Hollywood glamour, and perfectly prepared food, you can't do better than Tony's.
(5)Ellie S.
Perfect. The duck confit linguini was perfectly prepared, light but rich with flavor. The mussels were also a highlight, the tomato-white wine sauce in which they were served was similar to a tomato bisque, and very delicious. The special was a red snapper, filet mignon cut, and cooked to perfection. Bananas foster for dessert was fantastic, flamed with several different liqueurs. Creme brûlée was as good as any I have had in France. I have found a new favorite restaurant.
(5)Roger S.
Tony's is a classic old school Italian restaurant. the veal chop with wild mushrooms is to die for, and so it goes for the awesome veal shanks. this restaurant has been around for a very long time. that's because it's great. the pasta carbonara is so wonderful. you won't go wrong with any selection that you make off the menu and their wine menu is great
(5)Lesley S.
Tony's is a definite date staple in my book. If you want to step up your A game with your lady, take her here. I was surprised when someone took me here as a first date. The guy had great taste (obviously in women and in food) however that's all he had. I had a filet that was seared in wine and I also tried the seared scallops. This place definitely lived up to the expectation of the go-to place in the Lou.
(5)Christopher G.
I consider myself lucky It is not everyone who can eat at Tony's. 1) it is located in St Louis. Now St. Louis is a surprisingly nice town - I grant you. Yet it is in the heart of midwest. No where near anything interesting. . .except maybe corn. Yet it isn't a place you normally visit. . its a place you stop at on your way to somewhere else 2) It is expensive. It is a supremely fancy restaurant which I assume gets lots of action from local senators, state workers, and those people who buy their votes for road construction. I found myself in St. Louis (and appreciating it) due to a conference. I found Tony's due to it being one of the better (if not best) reviewed places in town. I must say. . .I was not disappointing. i haven't had this good of Italian since Mario Batali's babo, and I think Tony can give Mario a run for the money. It is like I imagine a fancy 70s italian restaurant. . . Where to start, why with carpaccio and a heirloom tomato salad (i'm in the midwest afterall). The carpaccio was served with truffle oil, Parmesan, and arugula. I can't tell you how good it was - perfect My main course was a lobster aboglana (basically a cream Lobster over pasta) Once again, it was awesome The final course was a table side prepared Zabaglione over fresh raspberries I had a great time (though made better when my checkbook wasn't impacted). Regardless, if you are in St Louis and want a fancy place that is more than just steaks, try Tony's you WILL NOT be disappointed.
(5)Jimmy M.
Dined here with my wife, as part of birthday festivities. Tony's is supposed to be a constant, a landmark in St. Louis. I expected top flight service, food and atmosphere. The food was pretty great (dessert notwithstanding), the service was fair to poor and the atmosphere was ok. This was a major disappointment given the amount of money that I was more than happy to plunk down expecting the legendary experience that is supposed to be Tony's in St. Louis. The inexperienced 30something waiter that took care of us was slow, inefficient and seemed to share an affinity, with a couple of his buddies, for lurking in the corners cutting up. When I show up to plunk down north of $200 for a dinner (without wine), I expect impeccable service. I expect experienced waitstaff to make conversation, recommendations and provide interesting commentary. I also expect to pay for this. Our server spilled half of my wifes first drink while pouring it into her glass table-side (no apology, no replacement) and sloshed her after dinner coffee onto her purse (no apology, no replacement). The flambe of bananas we had for dessert was served over the saddest looking little scoop of icecream ive ever seen. The presentation was awful. Two bright spots. 1) The quality of the fish was outstanding (we had the swordfish and the halibut) 2) Mr. Bommarito himself was milling about the room and is a very nice man, who made us feel very welcome. It is a shame his service staff is not up to the very high standard that he set many years ago. With the surge of St. Louis as a food town, I do not understand why we dont seem to support and want fine dining. We dined at approximately 8pm on a Saturday night. We were dressed to the nines - we were in the minority. There were kids in jean shorts and tshirts, adults in jeans, khaki's - the whole gamut. This is supposed to be part of the experience folks - you can dress up for one evening out can't you? To me, the whole point of Tony's is the experience. You can obtain similar/same ingredients and preparations elsewhere in our town, but the magic is in how its presented and the service/experience Fix the service or you can no longer significantly differentiate yourself from the rest of the increasingly competitive gastronomic pack in St. Louis.
(2)Tom J.
My number one bucket-list restauarant in St. Louis!!! Woohoo!!! Happy Birthday to me!!!! Elegance abounds at Tony's. The staff ranges from highly professional and somewhat engaging to highly professional and trying desperately to remain in the background so as to provide everything you can hope for without being an annoyance. This is all as expected, of course, and you pay for it. I tried to ask the waiter about a couple of the less expensive ($40ish) Italian wines, but he wasn't so interested in expounding on those. Rather, he directed me to another wine he likes to recommend to obvious cheapasses out for a splurge. It was a great recommendation, of course. That's how reputations are made. Vince Bommarito stopped by the table to chat. Very nice and welcoming. We shared a couple of salads - Tony's house salad and heirloom tomatoes. These were both good, but not really memorable. For an entree, I had the tenderloin with foie gras. It was perfect. Again, of course. My wife had the grouper special, which came on a bed of what I"ll call hash, consisting of pancetta, mushrooms, corn and..not sure what else, but it was also amazing. Once again, I'm getting hungry from the memory. We did have a dessert. Some kind of tart accompanied by ice cream with pralines. It was good but like the salads, didn't blow us away. It's going to be a while before we blow over $200 on dinner again, but I'm glad we did it. We noted there are some entrees that are much less expenive, particulary pastas, so you could get out of here for much much less, especially if you avoid alcohol. If you're trying to impress an out-of-town business associate, Tony's is the place. I imagine we'll be back sometime, but for now, it's off my St. Louis Bucket List, so mission accomplished there.
(4)David D.
Fantastic Italian, yet dated austere interior. Some of the best upscale Italian I've had the pleasure to enjoy. Servers are accommodating and prepped in old-school service. This restaurant finishes dishes table side, which is fun and the food especially fish dishes are some of the best in the city. I think I've had every fish dish on the menu, and the avocado-spinach salad may be my favorite in the country (no joke). What holds this back as 4 not 5 stars? Let's be frank, it's the old, austere and literally cold interior. They really need to lighten up the vibe here. The art and color palette overall is straight out of 1995 replete with dated abstract pieces, and overdone grays, maroons, and a touch of silver.
(4)TravelPro P.
This is the finest upscale restaurant in St. Louis. It is a 4 star/4 diamond place with the food, service, and pricing to match. The food is delicious and impeccably served. Any body who is any body goes here, along with exec's entertaining clients and guests celebrating special occasions. Whether you live in town or are just visiting, treat yourself to Tony's!
(5)Lana H.
We were celebrating a birthday and wanted something special. We had not been here for several years. Our visit to Tonys reminded us that we should go back more often. The service is, of course, superb. We both enjoyed our food choices, especially the wonderful wild mushroom soup. When "Mr Tony" himself stopped by our table to say hello, we expressed how much we had enjoyed the soup. His response surprised me. "Would you like to take some home with you?" he asked. I was thrilled when a large jar of soup was delivered to our table. What a lovely gesture! The entire evening was made special by a group of very professional servers and chefs. Thanks, Tony's!
(5)Tracey O.
We went here for our 25th wedding anniversary and were surprised to find it so busy the day after Memorial Day. We could not have asked for anything more from our dining experience at Tony's. From the wait staff: attentive, knowledgeable, witty & we weren't rushed between courses; to the food: we had the tasting menu with wine & it was all so delicious that it would be difficult to choose which was my favorite (but maybe the scallops with black truffles, or the penne pasta with shrimp & lobster, or the decadent chocolate cake with a dollop of fresh banana ice cream); to the ambiance (with not a red t-shirt in sight!): sophisticated & modern; to having Vince Sr. stop our table (as well as everyone else's) a couple of times to see how we were doing & to just chat us up (it was cool). Every restaurant probably has an off night, as evidenced by former reviews; but last night they were spot on & we hope to go back again.
(5)John R.
Great proffering. Good location, if you are a visitor. (I enjoyed the old location on Washington more so, but I'm old school ambience.) Visitors, you'll find Tony's (named after his brother Anthony) offerings are second to none, coast-to-coast, (including the French Laundry's of the world.) My personal recos? Everything is superior, and; * The Lobster Albonello is particularly very, very good. * The, for lack of a better (indescribable) word, signature "mustard" sauce on the shrimp is profoundly unique and delicious. * I've never seen a Swordfish cut as big as the thickest beef filets you will ever encounter (yes, beef filets at Sparks, and yes, Smith & Wollenskys, included, et. al.). Tony's Swordfish sous does not overpower you like the aforementioned mustard sauce can, on occasion, but rather, the Swordfish sous always blends harmoniouslly. Pricey, and therefore, commensurately, a little stuffy (not that royal treatment occasionly is a bad thing.) (Everett, behind the bar, is anything but, and a true delight.) Still the best restaurant in St. Louis if you are entertaining a Client on an expense account, or, celebrating a special, albeit formal, occasion. As always, hoped this helped, John
(4)Karen G.
I rarely write reviews; but the food was so far below average, I decided to add my two cents. The servers were nice, the entry to the restaurant was impressive and the wine list had several solid selections... Unfortunately, that's about all the nice things I can say. I was highly referred to restaurant by the concierge team at the Hyatt Hotel and can not tell you how disappointed I was... I now know why all the tables were empty.
(1)Andy K.
Outstanding choice for fine dining and special occasions. I haven't been to Tony's in a few years and this visit reminded me just how good Tony's has remained. You certainly can find better food, trendy hot spots, and less expensive choices elsewhere, but the combination of the best service anywhere, and top quality food, all within a beautiful dining room cannot be matched in St. Louis. We were a party of six celebrating an anniversary. When we arrived, at least 4 servers greeted us at the table and helped us with chairs and napkin service etc. I haven't experienced this type of service elsewhere. water glasses were refilled, butter replaced immediately, when we left the table to use the restroom, immediate attention was placed to rearrange our silverware and napkins and straighten our chair. A first class service experience. Every wish and refill was attended to immediately The food was first rate, fresh, well prepared and proper temperature. We had the shrimp, steak tartar, and scallop appetizer. All were excellent. The entrée were the trio of veal, peppercorn steak, seared tuna, and lobster pasta. All of these were great as well. For dessert hey brought a anniversary cake plus we received an ice cram pie to split. Definitely worth the extra calories. Areas for improvement, The wine list leaves much to be desired of a restaurant of this caliber. They only offer wines from one wholesaler who happens to be Tony's Brother. Bad form here because they are missing out from offering a more diverse selection. The wine glasses were not of a 4 star restaurant quality either. They should offer riedals or other crystal glassware. Otherwise Tony's is smashing success.
(5)Marlo S.
I was stunned at how good this was. Obviously, Tony has a colossal reputation, but it's been around so long and it seems so dowdy. I just couldn't imagine that the dishes would be genuinely creative and that the ingredients would all be so perfect. My experience easily rivaled French Laundry, Chez Pannise, or Daniel's in New York (i.e. all the ueber fancy, hyper-pretentious places I've been). Yes, it was a little old-fashioned. I'm sure that tattooed hipster out in Clayton throws together fancier things. But this stuff was just so tasty. Everything. Quick summary: the house white, house red were fantastic. The wild mushroom soup was explosive. (I can still remember the thrill of tasting it.) The white asparagus appetizer with leeks was better than similar dishes I've had in fancy restaurants in Germany. My main course, grouper, was just divine. My sister's three-veal thing was fantastic. My brother-in-law was happy enough that I didn't get the chance to taste his. Really, this is an unequivocal woohoo. If it gets any better than this, please tell me where!
(5)Lauren S.
My mom and I came here while at a conference in St. Louis - and I wish we could visit all the time! We had great wine, and when it was time to make our dinner choice decision the owner/manager asked if we needed any help. I told him the few choices I had narrowed it down to and then he took our menus and said he would take care of us - and boy did he! They reallly tried to accomodate our wishes and in turn we left stuffed and happy. I would happily recommend Tony's to any in the St. Louis area for a great meal and an excuse to get dressed up!
(5)Lorenzo D.
Unbedazzled Wow, this place has a great series of reviews. Wandered in here alone, thinking I might go eat at the bar, have a glass of wine or two, a couple plates, maybe have some conversation. Scope it out for future business dinners. The Maitre very pleasantly "walked" me over to the bar, which was actually in another part of the building. We had to go out the door, into and across an office building lobby, and then into the bar. There were 3 patrons. One, maybe the bar mans lady friend who was finishing up her dinner, and a couple that appeared to have, um, a "professional" relationship. After sizing it up for a minute, I decided to walk myself back to the restaurant, and ask for a table for 1. This was not my kind of bar, anyway. They were very accommodating. I milled about for 5 minutes while they reset a table way off to the back. Large table, but I like to spread out. The service was topnotch. Very reserved, but polished. When dining alone, I prefer a bit more personality in the waitstaff. Not a complaint, just an opinion. Food: I had a half potion of what was the pasta special of the evening, shrimp and lobster ziti in a light herb cream with asparagus and prosciutto, basically. Eh. Lobster was minimal and over cooked, shrimp were bland. The dish lacked finesse. Ordered the Veal Rib chop. What came out were three medallions of loin. I inquired and was told that these were in fact rib chops. Hmmm... I have had veal rib chops maybe, I dunno, 200 times in my life. This was the first I've heard this is how they are supposed to be. I guess the other 199 times were mistakes. They tasted good though, once I scraped off the majority of the overly bitter truffle reduction that was saucing the dish. Well, they said it was truffle. Somehow I missed them. Or was that the Sterno in the reduction... However, the veal was very good quality, thick, juicy and cooked as ordered. Downside is they plate the food table-side, using Sterno cans to keep the food warm. Total buzz kill if you have a decent nose. I like table side service. I wish there were more of it. But for heavens sake, coordinate the service with the cooks so you don't need those nasty smelling cans in the dining room! I skipped dessert, knowing they would bring chocolates anyway :-) The room is nice yet unremarkable, comfortable, nothing to distract or tantalize the eye. Staid. Summary: This place is good. Good place to do business dinner. I guess I'd say this place is efficient. Nothing sexy, nothing emotional, nothing soul stirring. They just get it done. REASON for 3 stars: The awful smell of Sterno cans, the veal mismatch, the slightly below average pasta app, all in light of the cost, make this a 3 star.
(3)Matt M.
I was in ST Louis for a business meeting and my local rep suggested Tony's for a customer dinner. Having been all over the world and had many great meals I must say Tony's is in my top10. The décor is nothing to write home about but the service, food and wine list were all fantastic. We stated off with a Pasta App ( special order not on menu--Prosciutto, Penne, asparagus, mushrooms and a cream sauce), then the white broccoli and then main course. All were great although I would try something other then the white asparagus. If you have traveled to Germany in March/April when it is in season then the Tony's version will disappoint.....overall a great experience.
(5)Mark H.
Wow! What an incredible meal! We started off with appetizers. I had the white asparagus with crumbled Roquefort and Sliced endives drizzled with balsamic vinegar at it was simply phenomenal. My wife opted for the soup which was a mushroom. It too was exceptional. For the first course, We opted to share a Risotto made with eggplant and heirloom mushrooms. It really was awesome and done to perfection. In between the first and second courses, I also had the Tony's salad which was perfectly sized and made with a wonderful house dressing. For the main course, my wife opted for the Lobster Albanello which she said was the tastiest lobster she had ever had in her life. It was perfectly cooked and served with mixed vegetables. I chose the Filet Mignon of Swordfish an it was the best swordfish I have ever tasted. It had an amazing sauce on it and I also opted for the mixed veggies. After we made it through the main course we were really full but just couldn't pass up the Creme Brûlée with fresh berries. It too was simply fantastic. Not over cooked as many are but perfectly finished and presented beautifully. The service was absolutely perfect! Many places have very good service but this was a step above probably every other upper tier restaurant I have ever eaten at in any city. Period. Can't wait to go back again!
(5)Anthony H.
The new decor is beautiful...the food already speaks for itself!
(5)Melody Y.
The best classy restaurant in STL. (I am a native of STL so I can definitely say that) Sea bass is phenomenal! the service is a little slow but it is all worth it in the end. This is a great place to entertain potential clients especially from out of town!
(5)Jim G.
Old school. Very good. Very expensive. Is it worth it? I don't know.
(4)Beth B.
I would give this place 3.5 stars -- I feel really conflicted. The food was good, service was good - it was just stuffier and very old school and I guess it was just not my thing. I started with the Tony's Salad, which was good - fresh ingredients, dressed tableside -- but I did feel it had a little too much dressing for me. My husband had the lobster risotto, which was very good. He had salmon (just grilled) with a side of green beans and spinach -- just OK. I had the grouper special with butternut squash, corn, and pancetta - delicious, but the vegetables came in a TON of buttery sauce. If I had known that, I probably would have gotten something else. We split a dessert - an almond tart with caramel, which was really good. It was really wonderful that they brought it out already split on two plates without asking. Overall a pretty good meal - but pretty pricey and we had better meals in the area for less money and more relaxed atmosphere.
(3)Shannon M.
Pros: Service very good, valet parking, nice building Cons: food very pricey, food barely average quality, elevator music put you to sleep, no one in restaurant, and no specialty martini menu
(2)Lauren H.
Good, classic food, simply prepared, with exquisite service. We came by this week for a special event that needed the best restaurant in the city, and Tony's didn't disappoint. It is not cheap, but it's in line with other fine restaurants in the city and the service is simply the best. If you have a special need or desire, they will accommodate you. The valet will have already brought your car around before you have your coat on. Food is prepared tableside, and is well-presented without being stuffy. The relaxed pace allows you to linger over a fine meal in several courses, Italian style, and visit with your dinner companions. If you've ever eaten a fine meal in Italy, you know it is a social experience intended to be savored for hours and not to be rushed. However, if you are in a hurry, let the waitstaff know. I'm sure they'll accommodate you. The environment is very clean and simple, with enough space between the tables to offer an unusual level of privacy, and lighting designed to make you feel like you and your dinner companions are alone in the world. Tony's isn't romantic in a flowers-and-lace sort of way, but it is a great place for a long, leisurely, private dinner.
(5)Carolyn T.
Tony's will always have a very special place in my heart. I have the world's greatest dad, and when I was a little girl, we used to go on fancy "dates" together. Often times, we would go out to dinner at Tony's (my mom would blow dry my hair, make me wear a "party dress", and put a little bit of blush on my cheeks), and then we would go to Stars On Ice- it was a figure skating show featuring Olympic skaters. In other words, my father made it impossible for any future man in my life to show me a great time. I will never forget the first time I saw fish being deboned table-side. It was fascinating! As a little girl, I vividly remember ordering the Dover Sole and watching a server filet the fish and remove all of the bones. It was so freaking cool to me. I also remember the taste of the spinach tortellini, which was perfect. Fast forward about 15 years, and my whole family was back at Tony's. It was just as I remembered and the food tasted just as great as it did when I was a child. I had the pleasure of ordering a Tony's salad and the Lobster Albanello. Holy. Crap. This lobster dish is one of the greatest things I've ever eaten... ever. It was easily one full pound of perfectly cook and de-shelled lobster meat covered in the most decadent cream sauce I've ever tasted. This dish was wonderfully simple; it didn't have any garnish or frills that distracted from the pure "good-ness" of the food. If you even kind of like lobster, you NEED to go to Tony's to try this dish. One more great thing about Tony's: (drum roll please...) their prices have gone down! Yes, it is still expensive, but it will no longer cost you an arm and a leg (and another leg, your face, and your first born) to eat there.
(5)Brandon W.
Good stuff: Great service and food; veal agnollotti and osso buco stand out. Bad stuff: None that come to mind. I heard that this was the place to go in St. Louis for high end Italian cuisine. I went here on my last night here as celebration for the end of my vacation. With its incredible service and great food, Tony's gave me the farewell I was hoping for. I went here for dinner around 6:30pm without a reservation. It was a bit suspicious that I didn't need one; the restaurant didn't really start filling up at all until 8:00pm. The place is just as classy as the photos suggest; perhaps even more so because the lighting is rather dim and waiters are standing around the room waiting for instruction. Throughout the meal, I'd have up to three waiters serving my friend and me at the table. Our head waiter was extremely attentive and really wanted to make it clear to us that he was there if we had any questions about the menu. Every dish was brought on a rolling cart from the pan. The waiters plate the food in front of you, which is entertaining to someone like me who hasn't witnessed it. We wanted to try two pastas, and they were extremely willing to split the dishes for us. We had the veal agnollotti (similar to ravioli) and the ziti amatricana (like penne in tomato sauce). Both were cooked perfectly and delivered excellent flavor. The agnollotti was very stuffed in veal and the flavor blended very well with the delicate cream sauce it came in. The ziti was perfectly al dente and the sauce had just enough spice to give it mild, stimulating flavor. I had osso buco with risotto milanese. The osso buco was perfectly cooked and the sauce was, like the pasta sauces, delicate but delicious. The marrow portion is served with orange zest. The risotto milanese was al dente, very rich and creamy and was actually my favorite part of the meal. For dessert, I had the banana flambe, which was tasty but lacked sear on the bananas. It was a little bland for banana flambe, but not so much that it bothered me. In conclusion: Tony's Restaurant was worth every bit of the hype I've seen for it. With its great food and impeccable service, it was truly a great experience for me to eat here. I'd return if I had to go to St. Louis again for some reason.
(5)Jeff S.
After hearing about Tony's for years we decided to try it for a 50th birthday celebration. The service was as we had always heard, very attentive and helpful. Our head waiter Nick did a great job. The food was very good also. I just don't know if it should command the prices it does. I guess from all the hype we have heard through the years I was expecting more. Still very good - expect $100-$125 per person with drinks...
(4)brett d.
The nicest restaurant I have eaten at would have to be Tony's. Everything was amazing. This place is great when you want a meal to be more than just a fill up.
(5)Patti B.
I grew up in St. Louis, and I knew from a young age that Tony's was the best restaurant in St. Louis. Someday when I was older and could afford to dine there I would. I've since moved to San Francisco, and I make enough money to travel and to enjoy fine dining from time to time. Tonight I was back in St. Louis, and my companion and I decided to go to Tony's. To say that it was disappointing would be an understatement. When we arrived we were ushered to our table, and my companion was given a wine list. Five minutes later, someone came by to ask if he wanted to order wine. "Not until we decide what we'll be eating." Five minutes later we got a plate of bread. Fifteen minutes after we sat down we were still waiting for menus. Eventually they showed up, and we ordered. The bread was as flavorless as anything that I've ever had. Our first courses were a tomato and gorgonzola salad for me and a risotto for him. The salad was certainly edible though unremarkable, and it was overly dressed in low-quality balsamic vinegar. My companion's risotto was moderately flavorful but had a heavy, almost sludgelike texture. I've had excellent risotto, and it bore only superficial resemblance to what we were served at Tony's. For main courses I had a steak and my companion ordered "stuffed quail/veal tenderloin, wild rice." My steak was fine if a tiny bit tough, and certainly not out of the ordinary. My companion's dish was... well, bad. The stuffed quail seemed to have had a horrible accident with a pepper mill, and it did not get the better end of the deal. We struggled to find adjectives for the meal while we were eating. "Clumsy." "Second-rate." "Mediocre." By the time the dessert menu arrived we were well and truly done with wanting to eat the food at Tony's. We finished our wine, paid the tab, and left. Service was a mixed bag. Once he figured out we were there, our primary server was attentive and personable. When I asked where the ladies room was located, he told me where it was and then escorted me. When we left the restaurant we were thanked by name. The excellent touch was that our car arrived from the valet just as we walked out of the door. On the flip side, one of our assistant servers was unable to plate the meal properly, dropped silverware on us while doing so, and snorted quite loudly while standing about three feet from our table. He was given a stern look and a biting "Are you OK? No, are you OK?" from our server, which definitely should not have happened within earshot of a customer let alone in the main dining room. (My companion suggested that the problematic assistant server displayed the mannerisms of someone who was using cocaine. I wouldn't be surprised.) The best thing that I can say is that it was an inexpensive meal, as "fine" dining experiences go. I couldn't write that without the sneer quotes, though I tried. The bottom line is that Tony's seems like it is trading solely on its reputation these days-- it would only qualify as a fine dining experience for someone who typically eats at Applebee's and Olive Garden.
(2)Srini V.
Tony's is a class act all the way from start to finish. Find me a New York restaurant that delivers flawless service, a tasty three-course dinner and a drink, and a spacious setting, all for about $50 in my case, and I will find that elusive sixth star on Yelp to award it. No wonder Tony's has earned more accolades than MJ has trophies. To start with, valet parking comes into play as you approach the restaurant. You are welcomed by what seems like an eager team of four or five, and then escorted to the table and seated with an honorable mention of your last name. Thankfully, not my long one, the last time I was here. The salads we ordered were fresh and appetizing, the risotto was next only to the one I have had at Gramercy Tavern, and the wine list, if you are into wines, is longer than the Elite membership roster of Yelp. The desserts were filling, even if not spectacular. One would hardly expect to experience a restaurant of this caliber in St. Louis. Make an evening out of visiting the arch and then dining at Tony's. You will doubtless be pleased at how far your money can go. And how endearing and attentive the recipients can be. Only at Tony's.
(5)Aman S.
Great service and great food; very reasonably priced. Tony still makes his way around to every table and says hi to every guest. What a treat.
(4)Big Jar S.
Absolutely INCREDIBLE from start to finish. Many thanks for making my birthday dinner the BEST EVER. I had the tenderloin topped with fois gois and my dinner mate had the filet mignon (sauce on side). Champagne $$$$ and Vintage port topped the meal along with "ice cream cake" (aka Baked Alaska). SO happy that this is in St. Louis and SO happy that it has not been compromised for quality. I have two more reservations including new years eve made already. Can not wait.
(5)ChRles C.
This was an awesome experience. We celebrated a grandson's graduation from SLU law school with family. The attention and service was really more than expected. Fillet with fois grois was the favorite. Tony's salad outstanding. Let Bruce select appetizers and desserts It is difficult to please 12 people but everyone gave this a 5 star. Kudos to a memorable time. We will be back when our first great grand child is born in August
(5)Lynn S.
Tony's is my all time FAVORITE restaurant. I love being catered to with excellent food and service. I have been here 3 times since I moved to STL many years ago. I love everything about this place. In their old building they would go up the stairs backward, I always thought that was so cool. The wait staff is so attentive and the fact that everything is done table side is fun. I wish I could go here more often, it is a pretty upscale place and costs big bucks to eat here. Tony's is a special place for special occasions, at least for me.
(5)Craig M.
As others have said, definitely an upscale restaurant, so don't go if you are on a budget, but you WILL get your money's worth! Elegant, knowledgeable and attentive service in a refined atmosphere. The lobster risotto was absolutely top-drawer-- matched what I once had in downtown Milan. The quail-beef tenderloin combo was also as sinful as it sounds. Excellent red wine selection by the glass, also sparkling--the whites were as often a bit narrow. For a special evening or just indulging yourself, highly recommended.
(5)Sachin M.
This is the premier fine dining experience of St. Louis. Seated in a large dining room with frosted glass providing strong spacial separation one enjoys an extremely attentive staff, table side cooking and detail oriented flavor combinations. For those of you from the likes of Alinea, L2O, Next or Girl and the Goat, you will not find the culinary creativity you are accustomed to but more of a traditional perfection to flavors and cooking technique. Every bite was fantastic from the white truffle asparagus to the creamy risotto to the Carmel tart. Unfortunately most of what we ate was off the specials menu so I hesitate to make you jealous by sharing. My tip is to ask about everything. The wait staff was great in their recommendations and helpful when we were indecisive. It is a long dining process of upwards of 2 hours and not in any sense inexpensive.... I suppose it is an investment. But if you are a foodie... This is an investment worth making.
(5)Douglas S.
At Tony's, you do not get a waiter, you get a crew. So, sit back and enjoy the attention, because you are going to get lots of it. The food was excellent: stuffed zucchini flowers (which I have never seen on a US menu before), nicely cooked white asparagus spears, a tasty lobster dish, and probably the best chocolate torte I have ever had. It all adds up to a unique experience. NOTE: Gentlemen are requested to wear jackets on Saturdays only. The rest of the week is business casual.
(5)M G.
Great restaurant for business entertaining. Couldn't decide what to get so I used the prix fixe menu for suggestions. The beef tenderloin with foie gras and demi glaze sauce was amazing. (I'm drooling remembering it.) Very attentive service. This is the only restaurant that didn't refill my ice water -- they replaced the glass entirely.
(5)Alex V.
We had an impromptu business dinner at Tony's and the food was excellent. The ambiance and service reminded me of the classic American fine dining experience. Its really a level of service that you don't very often anymore. The tableside preperation, warm decor, and rich history of the place make it a can't miss if you're looking for a real fine dining experience in St. Louis.
(5)Gaetano A.
First, let me start by saying this place is expensive. You want to eat here, you're going to pay for it. That being said, you definitely get what you pay for. The service is great, and you have multiple people taking care of your table. The atmosphere is initimate, as well. This is a great place to go for an anniversary (as I did) or some other celebration with that special someone.
(4)Joel P.
I am not sure what to think about this restaurant. My business associate and I were in town for a convention and looking for a great dinner. It's summer and we were dressed casual and were routed through the lobby and across and their more casual bar are which is totally fine. No problem. What happened there was a 5 minute wait at the bar with no offer for a drink, just water. Finally we got moved over to a table and waited 10 minutes. Finally a waiter dropped some not so fresh bread on our table and took off. Another 5 minutes of neglect went by and we finally got up and left. As for the food, short of the bread, I have no idea. We didn't even see the menu!
(1)JulieJuli A.
Julie 3 1/2 Stars on what is supposedly one of St Louis' finest restaurant. The service was impeccable and the place quite busy on a weekday evening when the rest of downtown STL is just dead. Be warned that as the fine restaurant that it is, they will pace you and keep you teased for a good 2 hours, Tony's failed the bread test. It was hard and unsatisfactory. A fine dining event should start with warm bread or a loaf that taste morning delivered fresh. This felt ordinary. App of beef carpaccio was excellent as it was drizzled with truffle oil and parmesan. Nice tender and well proportioned beginning. Entree was a lightly breaded grouper on a bed of veggies. The grouper was borderline dry but still very tasty. The star of the dish was the corn/peas/beans in a tangy sauce with small bacon pieces... The dessert offering was lacking and nothing tempted my palate. Ordered coffee which came in a small 6 oz cup but no refill was offered. It's a plain $5 cup of coffee. I know it's petty to complain about this, but c'mon.. offer some more coffee. In the end... The place very good.. prices reasonable... The service good... but they failed the all important bread and coffee refill test. Yes, those little things matter...
(3)Cheryl K.
Ok, so let me start by saying that the only reason I am giving a 4-star is due to the fact that the service was not quite perfect. Apparently, two ladies don't warrant the same attention as any other table with a man. Our waiter didn't tell us about all the specials for some reason, we overheard him telling a couple on date night about the zucchini blossoms they had that night. We had to bring them up to him. Also, we ordered dessert then went to the ladies room to come back and find they had removed our plates, remaining wine in our glasses and a bit of wine in the decanter - WHAT the ?? The have only like 15 guys waiting on the room and not one of them figured out that we hadn't left - we ordered dessert - we didn't get our bill - and the dining room was only half full so it's not as if they were running like crazy. They did apologize and brought us each a glass of Barolo on the house, but our wine was better. Now for the review of what is really important the food and drink... Started off with a champagne cocktail, then started with shrimp with garlic and butter - Delish! - Poached and chilled white asparagus with Gorgonzola - Wonderful! - We brought a bottle wine and they were kind enough to decant it for us - Next Zucchini blossoms - WOW! I found out I have been missing a delicate creamy delicious treat - my friend has the Lobster Albanello, chunks of lobster in white cream sauce - I had Veal 3-Ways - both of these were perfectly prepared and so enjoyable. - Last, but not least to cap off the night we each had an espresso, sambuca, and a delicious dessert! It was my first visit to Tony's and I was very happy with my meal, the service could have been better. Our meal was just under $200.00 without tip
(4)Roxy M.
This place is absolutely fabulous. It's hidden and descrete. The service is amazing, and the food is to die for! I had the filet mignon with the garlic and butter sauce and steamed spinach...The best I've ever had, ever! This place should be a 7 star restauraunt. Will be back for sure.
(5)Steve R.
This was my second time to Tony's, and my second time to be impressed! My wife and I enjoyed the chef's tasting menu during our first visit a few years ago, so we chose it again. Of course, the selections were completely different this time around, but no less superb. The wine pairings were perfect both our first time and last night. The pasta was perfectly cooked and paired with a perfectly seasoned sauce. The tenderloin was both lean and melt-in-your-mouth at the same time. Desserts--we sampled three of them--were fabulous. The service is unmatched. As the four of us sat down, four gentlemen materialized behind us to push in our chairs. I've seen some negative reviews here on service, but that was not our experience. We were not rushed, but we had attention when we needed it. Our visits to Tony's have been the most expensive meals I've ever had, but they've also been the best.
(5)Steve H.
This place is pricey, but the experience is definitely worth it. The filet with foie gras is incredible! I recommend this place for a business dinner or for anyone you want to impressed.
(5)Dave L.
Upscale dining. Formal. Top notch service. The meal was excellent. Come here if you want a 5 star experience, but make sure to bring your wallet. Dress nice...if you wear a t shirt and jeans you will definitely bring attention to yourself.
(5)Lee N.
Best service in St. Louis. Hands down! The food is pretty good but not the best. The place is beginning to get a bit dated. Probably time for a decorative overhaul, and some new menu items.
(4)Jennifer B.
I had the pleasure of being taken to Tony's as a bartering deal for organizing a friend's office. That was the best bartering deal that I have ever made! As I understand it, Tony's is one of a few restaurants in the country to get the AAA five diamond award. Once you go, it is obvious why this is. My meal was chosen for me: Beef Tenderloin and Foie Gras. It was fantastic, beautiful, flavorful and there were so many layers of taste. The tenderloin was medium, with a delicious bit of blood in the center to accent the overall flavor. Oh my, you haven't lived until you've eaten this dish. The staff was wonderful, the surroundings lovely and everything was delicious. I don't know what more I can say, other than that everyone needs to save up and go! I am so lucky to have friends like this!
(5)Julie H.
Tony's is the quintessential St. Louis Italian dining experience. I first went there over 20 years ago (at the original location where the Dome is now) when my husband proposed to me. He picked the right place....it was very romantic. We have been back twice since then...once at the new location. The food and service here are consistently delicious and top notch. Veal marsala to die for! I am not sure what to say to the reviewers that complain about the prices. $100 per person for dinner at such a restaurant is really quite reasonable. I realize that the menu is more classic than innovative but I can barely dine out in Chicago for $100 per person anywhere half as nice as Tony's. Tony's is truly an "experience". Some of the reviewers on here really should get a clue. Tony's is what it is and if you come in with the expectation of something else and then are disappointed, shame on you for expecting something different and then ranting on them for it. They have been what they are, great classic Italian food served impeccably in a warm and inviting atmosphere, forever. It would be ignorant to not know this before coming here as this is what they are known for and have always been known for. If you want cutting edge then don't come to Tony's....go spend 8 to 10 times more at Alinea. (It too will be well worth your money btw.) But, if you want great old school Italian, go to Tony's! They do what they do perfectly!
(5)Matt S.
Ate like a king here last night. Lobster, veal chops, fillet's, mussell's, shrimp, arancini you name it. Place is as classy as it is great.
(5)I Know W.
It took me a few weeks before writing this review. I am a fan but The Palms is only one of a few places I would give 5 stars. The food was delicious, service prim and proper, ambience was a little dated, what made it special was a personal tour of the kitchen from Vincent. It made us order more, but I'm glad of the attention I received.
(4)Jennifer H.
Amazing! I got the filet mignon in a chianti sauce and my boyfriend got the filet mignon of swordfish. It was the best filet I have ever had! It was tender, juicy, had wonderful flavor and melted in my mouth. My boyfriend, loved his swordfish! The prices of the food are fairly reasonable. It's the price of the alcohol that jacks up the bill. We got a Napa Valley Zinfandel wine for $50 (one of the cheapest on the menu), but it was some of the best wine we've ever had! The service was impeccable. We really felt special. Our server was very attentive but we did not feel like we were being watched. Overall, our meal was the best we've ever eaten together and one of the best I've ever had in my life.
(5)Sue J.
Confirmed to me that it's the quintessential fine dining institution in St. Louis. Blown away by the impeccable food and service. You won't find innovative cuisine here, but the traditional classic American and Italian fare is truly exceptional. Definitely get the rack of lamb and beef tenderloin with foie gras, both of which cooked to perfection! Service was also exceptional. We were really surprise to see that on that night the owner,Vince, went to every table to greet diners about their experience. Overall I loved the whole experience of Tony's. I especially love the formality of the place such as the table side plating of all the food, the jacket requirement, the waiters dressed in suits. Even with all the formality, the place didn't feel stuffy or pretentious. Although you have to plunk down some considerable dough here, it's pretty comparable to other fine dining restaurants in St. Louis. It's really well worth the experience and I hope this place continues to strive for a long time in St. Louis.
(5)Lei T.
Service was great! I love that they serve things table side. Their Beurre blanc sauce is awesome! I don't recommend their salmon appetizer but their scallop appetizer is quite good. I feel like the dark meat could have been seasoned a little more because it came off as a little bland. I think next time i may try the fish or something.
(4)Chris C.
The food and service are impeccable, ranking among the very best. The sauces are every bit as good as fine French dining. Portions are a bit large for an establishment of this caliber. Next time, I plan to skip a pre-dinner course to save room for dessert. When the bill came, we noticed an ordering snafu. The manager resolved the issue equitably and quickly.
(5)Howie F.
Ever since I was a kid growing up in STL, I heard of Tony's as the standard bearer for STL restaurants. My parents used to come here for special occasions, so I always wondered what it would be like to eat there, I moved away, have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the country and when I came back, I knew I had to finally cross that threshold. Wow, Tony's really lived up to my childhood expectations. Scallops were divine and the filet with foie gras was mesmorizing, literally tasted like buttery goodness on each bite. I usually cut my steak in big pieces to eat and found myself cutting this steak in tiny pieces to savor it. As good as the beef was, the star of the dinner was my gfs lobster albanello. That had to be one of the best tasting dishes I have ever tasted, literally culinary gold. Service was attentive as expected, but not too attentive where they are always bothering you.
(5)Kenny B.
After hearing from several friends about their great experience I was excited to try Tony's. After tonight I think it is safe to say I will never go back. Our service was absolutely terrible. To cap off the night we complained to the manager and I over heard him say to a co worker " what kind of service do they expect they brought their own f***ing wine." The food was pretty good but there are several places in St Louis that have better dishes and you don't have to put up with the BS.
(2)Imran S.
Service was amazing, food was delicious. From the moment I pulled up till the moment I walked out there was a team attending to my every need. Great waiting staff. highly recommend the Lobster Albanello.
(5)Chris B.
This is an incredible restaurant. Tony's is a treat and worthy of its fine reputation. The food and service are incredible. Regardless of your taste, Tony's will not let you down. If you have picky taste, don't worry about it, they will make sure your food is cooked to your liking. The staff at Tony's is there to serve you. Anyone in restaurant will feel like a king or queen, even if only for an hour or two. Tony's is reasonably priced for fine dining. You will be able to leave Tony's without breaking the bank. This is a wonderful place for any occasion. A birthday, anniversary, a nice dinner before a ball game, this is the perfect spot. Remember to bring a jacket if you are a male, but if you do not have one they do have loaners. This is a must stop if you are in St. Louis.
(5)Max M.
Absolutely, without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in North America. The owners, especially Vince Jr., are extremely kind and professional. Any request is immediately tended to and any dish you can dream up is available. The best in meats, fish and pasta. The service extraordinary. The wine list above and beyond. Outstanding!
(5)B S.
I won't be going here again. We were expecting pricey, but delicious food, fine dining experience. We experienced pricey, not so great food. My husband & I had a reservation for 8.30, we arrived a little early and so they had us wait in the "living room". We ordered drinks and waited. 45mins past our reservation we finally got seated. The atmosphere was okay. We ordered scallops as our appetizer and they tasted delicious. But that was the highlight of our meal. I had ordered the shrimp and lobster linguine, and my husband a steak. I ate a few bites, but it was not good, the seafood was overcooked and very tough. My husband only liked his steak, it wasn't anything special. When they asked us how our food was, I let them know we enjoyed our appetizers but I really did not like my meal, it was overcooked, and I wasn't really wanting them to bring me something else (it was time to just get the check and go home). I would have expected them to take off the pasta from our bill but they did not. I wasn't very impressed and it wasn't worth the price.
(2)Caroline B.
Loved it. One of the best fine dining experiences I've had in awhile. Would love to go back the next time I visit STL. Excellent service, excellent food.
(5)Jeannette S.
Great service and good food. We had a little bit of everything it seems and it was all good. Dinner here is an all evening event so make sure you take good company with you.
(5)Baboo E.
Service was awesome, and they have an extensive list of wine but we had brought our own bottle. We had the prosciutto with melon, fresh figs and fresh basil top with a dash of maple syrup, and seared scallops with truffle sauce, and they were just to die for! We cleaned our plates up pretty quickly! I got the beef tenderloin with foie gras and port wine demi glaze, and it just melts in your mouth! For the dessert, we had the creme brûlée and triple chocolate torte, and they were all delightful. A great place for a romantic dinner! Food was awesome! Staff was very attentive to detail! And, oh I love their complimentary valet parking too!
(5)Maggie S.
My dying wish is a meal from Tony's. I was floored by the bad review Patricia F. gave this spot, absolutely floored. I'm feeling the need to defend my favorite place, in a big way. (even though I'm happy to see the rest of the reviews are positive). Tony's is the very very best and I'm not even sure where to begin. I've been fortunate enough to be able to frequent Tony's since I was young for every important occasion in our family. Birthdays, anniversaries, my engagement, my graduation from college etc. If the question is where, our answer (wallet-permitting), is Tony's. Everyone at Tony's aims to please. Vince Bommarito, the owner, is a true master of the kitchen, and of the dining room. Vince, along with his sons and their waitstaff know how to charm and work a room. Moreover, Vince has been good to my family for years and years dating back to when my Grandpa used to sell him chef coats via his uniform business. He makes over my 91 year old Grandma like she's a queen whenever we get to go! Even if it's not on the menu, he's happy to whip it up. I always start with a Caprese Salad, though you won't find it on the menu. Their Spinach salad is also fantastic for an on-the-menu selection. My #1 recommendation is the Lobster Albanello. It's has the most ridiculously sweet and rich cream sauce created from reduced shallots; it's paired with lobster and mushrooms. I always get it sans mushroom and request pasta. The pasta is made in house and makes the dish coma-inducing. Try a side of their creamed spinach. Or ask for salsify as a side, it absolutely melts in your mouth. My other favorite entrees: Try the Dover Sole. The waiter de-bones it tableside and the fish is absolutely the most delectable piece of heaven you can put in your mouth. I could eat 15 orders of the Sole. Veal Piccatta! The edges are slightly crispy and the sauce is dead on. This was my old stand by as a youngster, before I got a taste for lobster and seafood. Other family favorites: Scallops, Rack of Lamb, Tenderloin. You really can't go wrong though, everything on the menu is ridiculous. And desserts: I don't see how you could complain about the creme brulee with berries "thrown on top". They happen to be the freshest in-season berries atop the most de-freakin-liscious creme brulee you can find. (tsk tsk!?). There are not one but two chocolate tortes, homemade banana ice cream, ricotta cheesecake, with raspberry sauce mmmm, I could go on. It's unfortunate that I'm writing this at lunch-time and all the way from Seattle. This should suffice. But, before I finish, I did want to mention that I literally laughed out loud reading the criticism about "cheap flatware" and "serious self-importance". That first claim is just snotty, overblown and not true. As far as the second, well, Tony's has the acclaim it does for no reason other than wholly deserved reverence from the many many people who recognize what an incredibly special treat it is to endulge in such perfectly structured culinary pleasures.
(5)Nelson M.
Visiting St Louis, decided to go to this venerable fancy restaurant downtown. What a time-warp! I imagine this place would be impressive for someone who's never been to a particularly fine restaurant, perfect for prom dates. But for someone who's traveled and dined a lot, Tony's just seems dated and uninspired. The good part: formal and efficient service, pleasant dining room, and a comforting menu of classic fine Italian American dining. Decent wine list; not too long, well chosen, not too expensive. The bad part: the formal service is bizarrely impersonal, brusque bordering on rude. Tony's seems particularly intent on doing tableside preparations of everything, even dishes that would be better finished in the kitchen. OK, so a tableside show is part of the deal, but the point is lost when the waiter doesn't bother to engage you in the preparation or explain the dish when it's set down. It's just fire, heat, and drop the plate maybe mumbling one or two words to the diner. Bizarre. The other bad part: the food is not terribly good. Pasta was undercooked with a pasty sauce. Veal medallions were beautifully cooked, but the sauces were dull, the marsala in particular tasted bizarrely of canned tomato sauce. Deserts were disappointing, tasting purely of sugar and not the lemon or caramel or other promised flavors. If you want to impress a date with a zabaione whisked tableside by a silent young man in a suit, Tony's is perfect. But if you'd rather have an interesting desert or a finely prepared meal from fresh ingredients or service that's simply professional, not silly, then look elsewhere.
(2)Mirai S.
Even if you're not in fine dining, I'm sure that you've probably heard about this establishment if you live around the St. Louis area. This is by far the fanciest restaurant in St. Louis. Jacket is required and the ambience is really high-class. The service is top-tier and so are the customers eating here. The food wasn't the best I've ever had but good enough. This is a place to go in St. Louis if you're more about dressing up for a special occasion rather than enjoying the taste of the food.
(4)Nayeli V.
First of all this place has THE BEST SERVICE!!! But i was not impressed with the food! I felt like we wasted $200 We went for our anniversary. My husband and i were left wishing we had just gone to the tenderloin room. Servers are not as friendly as the ones at Tonys but at least we would of left with happy bellies :( I had the tenderloin with Foie Gra ehh! it was nothing memorable to top it all off we were sat next to a group of obnoxious people. They were so loud and it just made it a bad experience. Its our fault we should of asked to be moved. We will never be back.
(1)J P.
Insane. From the start I knew this place was going to be good. The host looked like Joe Pesci from Casino - complete with pinky ring and smoke tinted large framed eyeglasses. The mini-bar's walls were adorned with autographed head shots from celebrities of years past. The service was a first for me - we had 3 people working our table all with very identifiable responsibilities. This was some serious service. My pepper sirloin was R I D I C U L O U S. Served up sliced and steaming from some sort of table-side hot plate. One of the best steaks I've ever had. And for the price, it was about on par with a Ruth Chris steak. Not that i cared, the meal was expensed. Oh, it's a suit and tie kinda place.
(5)Berg W.
I'm not a St. Louiser or a Missourite, but I had one of the best meals of my life at Tony's. Having spent some time in the area during my friend's wedding, I took a $70 cab-ride to downtown St. Louis, and was thoroughly impressed by this place. Simply looking in the local tourist guides, I stumbled across Tony's with high marks. I decided to take a stab, and make the trek to downtown from the Red Roof Inn in St. Charles. Didn't have a jacket, as required, but they provided one for me, and I felt like royalty, as I looked at pictures of famous people on the wall with Tony, including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis. Had a scotch, made it to my table, and decided to do the five course tasting menu with wine pairings. This experience changed my life forever. Never have I experienced what 5 courses and 5 perfectly paired wines did to the human body. Some of the food was prepared table-side, and it was all good. I actually shed a tear when I drank the chardonnay after the lobster-shrimp pasta. During my service, I saw Tony, the very guy standing with the Chairman-of-the-Board in the picture I saw earlier. He came to my table and wiped the crumbs off my tablecloth. I mean really...that's service. Not that I looked important...he probably knew the jacket he bought, but he still went the extra mile. Very traditional-chic, with Tony's you know what your paying for. Immaculate service, great food, amazing wines. I wouldn't call it breaking new culinary grounds, but they have their food, presentation, and service down to a science.
(5)Gary B.
My first time in St Louis. Decided to try Tony's based on other yelp positive reviews plus it was close to the Hilton and tBusch baseball stadium. My wife and I both enjoyed it. Ravioli dishes were perfect and finished at the table. Salads were also prepared at the table, the main courses ... Veal chop and a trio of veal dishes with different sauces were excellent. The Italian wine selection was quality, but a bit expensive in my view. My wfe appreciated the selection of Tuscany wines.. She is the wine conniseur. Service is excellent. Several servers to look after your "needs". Chocolate and coconut at the end of the meal is a nice touch. The owner comes by the table to make you feel special and give insights on what you have ordered. Finally, there is a good desert menu including prepared at your table flaming deserts. I did not have these but did indulge in a rich almod torte with ameretto ice cream. The coffee was only so so. I like rich dark roast. This coffee was too mild. I would go back. A godexperience.
(4)Allan C.
You can easily find just as good a dining experience at plenty other places in St. Louis... cept you're wearing a jacket. The service is excellent, but it took us a while to get the servers to lighten up with us. It was more of a mechanical experience (metronomish, for lack of a better fake word) than an intimate one. One can't help but compare the food with other restuarants in the area. Most of the food that we had could be found elsewhere and very little has set itself from the rest of the pack. I do have to say that this place has the best osso bucco that I've had in St. Louis. Easily. Their marrow scooper outer thingy even had two sides for different widths. Now that's decadent.
(4)Patricia F.
It's not a bad restaurant. If you are in St. Louis and need to have a formal meal out, by all means go. Tony's has many hallmarks of a "fancy" restaurant: attentive service, good wine list, strict dress code (gentlemen MUST wear jackets). But the food is not imaginative or special, if you're used to San Francisco or New York restaurants, and the overall execution lacks the sophistication of a "classic" restaurant. The Chef's tasting menu featured... - Smoked salmon and cream cheese rolls. Enough said - Lobster and shrimp pasta. The buttery and slightly spicy sauce was delicious, but it was 98% ziti, 1.98% overcooked shrimp, and a microscopic amount of lobster - Tenderloin and foie gras, with sauteed spinach on the side. It was okay, but unremarkable. - Cheese course, with New York Camembert and some Italian cheese which I don't remember much about - Creme brulee. You couldn't really taste any vanilla. Served cold (tsk, tsk), with berries thrown on top. - Coffee and petits fours At $200 for two with some good wine (the Barolo served with the steak was excellent), I left well-fed and happy, but it just wasn't that remarkable. Okay, maybe you could argue that they're not trying to be innovative, that they are a "classic" restaurant. Especially for a place with serious self-importance (wall full of signed photos of celebrities from the 80s in the waiting room, banners outside proclaiming it's St. Louis' top restaurant, jacket requirement), they could use a little more polish. I'm going to get a little obsessive-compulsive here, but... - Cheap flatware and plates are a bad idea - Acoustic tile on the ceiling is tacky - When crumbing a table, the waiter should not scrape crumbs off the edge of the table - Waiters should not squeeze between a guest's chair and a table en route to another table, when they could easily go around Apparently this is the best restaurant in St. Louis. Poor St. Louis.
(3)amy c.
call me a hater but this place isn't all that. I had such high hopes but the lobster tail was overcooked, had been in a deep deep ice age freeze i think. Table side service was nice but didn't make up for blase food.
(3)Jen B.
My fiancee took me here for the first time the day we got engaged. I must say, I have never felt so doted on before. I actually felt uncomfortable and out of place because everyone was watching us making sure if our water dipped below just a little they were sure to please. I didn't like the fact either that the butler was hovering over my shoulder. Geez, give us some privacy! But I cant complain over the food. I got the lamb's rack and it was extremely tender and juicy! I think it would have made chef ramsey pleased. Overall, it was an experience that I'd like to keep minimal. Probably because it was so dang expensive. Next time let me cook! Maybe they'll give us a discount.
(4)Johnny B.
Tony's is decadent, extravagant and worth every penny. Actually, compared to 5 star restaurants in larger cities, the food is priced incredibly reasonably. I believe this is the only consistent 5 star Italian joint in the country, and it lives up to the hype. The Lobster Albanello (mushroom cream sauce) is one of the single best things I have ever eaten. We always seem to end with the bananas fosters, partly for the show, but mostly because it's heavenly. The service is exactly what you expect from one of the top restaurants in the country.
(5)SillyMango P.
the S.O. was very excited to take me here since it was the "anniversary place" that everyone else was going to. how disappointing. Ambience: it's supposed to be a nice place, but we were next to a kid (like 9 years old) in tights, her mother in jeans, and several guys wearing basics slacks... the addition of a jacket makes it nice? Service: They dropped off the menus and only asked us if we needed help about 10 minutes later. We literally sat there staring at the 6 waiters around the wall, hoping someone would be able to answer some questions. And yes, we both had our menus closed. How is this good service? The only "good" part was how quickly they filled our water... but that was also kind of annoying... I don't need it filled after every sip. I just want to know what I'm ordering, or be asked how things are going. They were so distant we didn't bother bringing up the following issues.... Food: This was BAD. I don't know if this was an off night... It started off well. The carpaccio and salmon with marscopone were tasty. It all went downhill from there. Based on yelp reviews I ordered the lobster albanello. The lobster pieces were rubbery and tough, making them unedible. I had to saw at them to cut them with a knife! The wine used to make the sauce was very strong. (If i want pure wine flavor, I'll order it separately please). And the sauce was otherwise very bland. The S.O. ordered the filet with olive oil and garlice. We ordered it medium RARE, and it came out as medium well (ie no red, just pink in the center). This made it tough to eat, although I imagine if it were cooked to medium rare it would have been delicoius. The "rice balls" that come as a side (beef, rice) were greasy and a strange consistency. I was hoping the meal would be redeemed by the dessert. Boy was I wrong! The bananas flambee was good. No great, but good.... like a dessert at chii's (if you want nice bananas foster go to Tenderloin... wow). Then we got the creme brulee. the consistency was disgusting! The top 1/3 was GRAINY. We had to scoop to the bottom to get a little bit of the usual creamy creme brulee consistency and even then the flavor was not good. And the whole thing was cold. This is BASIC. How do you get this wrong? O and the coffee... for $5 you expect at least passable coffee. This was weak and nasty. Worse than the ones you can make for yourself in a hotel room. Overall VERY disappointing. Even if this were standard chain dining (ie red lobster, olive garden, outback, etc) I would have said this was subpar and never return. Come to think of it, I would rather eat at any of those places compared to here. At this price point, this is unacceptable. Bad service, bad food. Very expensive. How is this highly rated in anyone's book?
(1)Pete O.
A great place for the weekend dates or business dinner... Quality of Food: 10/10 (Steak Diavola and Lobster tail are prepared with a perfection along with a fresh caviar, tangy salads and tasty turtle soup - we asked a chef to make somethin' special - after 7 courses later, you'll be satisfied) Presentation: 8/10 (Standard upscale American flavor) Service: 10 / 10 (Ridiculously attentive and pleasant, yet making you feel comfortable) Ambiance: 9 / 10 (A bit too traditional steak house feel but very classy at the same time) Price: 10 / 10 (Great Great price for what you're getting from A to Z at Tony's) Parking: 9 / 10 (Valet service - don't know about self parking?) Intangibles: Great value for 5 star restaurant if you like a traditional steak house or Classic American cuisine for food, wines and service.
(5)Richard S.
I almost gave this place four stars because I'm not a big fan of Italian food. However, the setting, service and quality of food make it worth it even if you're not a fan of Italian food. Also, the thing I don't like about Italian food is that there is cheese on everything but I thought about it and I don't think there was cheese on anything I had when I went to Tony's. The restaurant is elegant and homey at the same time. When you walk in you see a bar area that looks like someone's personal bar/living room. There are photos of famous patrons and large sofas everywhere. Right there, I thought the person who has a room like this in their restaurant has to be an interesting person and he was. The owner, Vincent Bommarito, still works there and he's in his 70s. He walked around inconspicuously offering drinks and waiting on customers. You'd never know he was the owner but he's very friendly once you engage him. I guess he doesn't want to interrupt your dinner but he's interesting if you get a chance to talk to him. His son was also working there and he very engaging as well. I went there with a group for a business trip and we took over a large room in the back that comfortably seated maybe 30 people. They set up a bar in our room and offered to set up the outdoor bar for us. It was winter time so we declined. The regular dining room and the room we were in was very comfortable, also like you were in a someone's home. The paintings on the wall are originals and pretty pricey, I think. The food is great. I was really impressed that even for a large group like ours they let us order off the menu. Usually with large groups they have a fixed menu so they are better prepared to handle all the orders. Not only did they not do that with us, they also brought out a little cooking station and put the finishing touches on our food. I wondered if that was all for show but no, the food was delicious. The salad was really tasty, it was a green salad but it was so flavorful I could have had that for dinner. It would have had to been a lot bigger but still. The veal is savory and sweet as well as tender. The wine, a Pietradonice Sant Antimo Doc 'super Tuscan' Casanova Di Neri, was awesome. Very dry. The service was very attentive and efficient. I can't remember what I had for dessert which is very unusual for me; I usually remember the dessert first then the rest of the meal. I'm sure it was good though. This is a family restaurant in every sense of the word; family owned and operated and it shows! Bravo!
(5)M O.
It was an interesting and entertaining experience, but absolutely not the 5 star experience we were sold by several locals. The waiters were very attentive. Vince (the owner, retired) was overly involved in service -- the first welcome was fine, but four more visits and clearing the table while we were still eating was too much. The special appetizers were excellent, but the rest of the food was average to poor. We actually sent back a pasta dish twice. The desert special was akin to a mounds bar with ice cream and hershey syrup. Why they reheat every course on a burner table-side, I don't know. No kitchen should allow servers to reheat, finish, and plate their all their food. And the average age of the patrons -- 65? Very dated atmosphere, practices, and only average food. Absolutely not worth the money, but we've been laughing for an hour at the experience.
(2)Barry H.
Has anyone out there ever had a perfect meal? I guess four other reviewers have. In the 18 years I lived in St. Louis I had the pleasure of going to Tony's three times. It took a while before I could afford to go there but each meal was absolutely perfect.
(5)Brian A.
I had the best meal of my life here. I haven't been to the best of New York or San Francisco like the the poster below me has, so I cannot compare to those restaurants. Either way, after I tried the chef's tasting menu, I had the coolest dining experience of my life. Before this, I had never had a food and wine pairing that worked so well together. It's been a year or two since I went here, so I do not remember the exact combinations, but some asparagus and a wine pairing went so well it was like a hand inside of glove. The two choices were made for each other. The meal was expensive as would be expected, but for a good three hours of entertainment and a fantastic meal as well as memories, it was worth every penny.
(5)matthew h.
I have been to Tony's a couple times and the first time I was not all that impressed. The food is superior and service is attentive. It is known as THE place to dine in St. Louis and has a traditional dining room. What really impressed me was on my second visit they called me by my name. Yes, that's right, they had remembered my name from my first visit. It's this attention to detail that won me over and would suggest this place to anyone wanting a fine dining experience in St. Louis. This kind of service is virtually unheard of in today's world. BRAVO!
(5)Jonathan R.
I'm going to say what everyone has been afraid to say. The place is NOT that good; you can get a better meal for less without the annoying "Let me put your napkin on your lap for you" worthlessness that comes along with paying way too much. If that's what you're into more power to you, but I'd rather spend my money on something else. All that having been said the two times I've eaten at Tony's the food was delicious, and if you're trying to impress someone shallow there isn't really a better place in St. Louis.
(2)Rob C.
The fanciest restaurant in St. Louis. It's mostly memorable for the experience. One of those jacket-only places--of course, you can't start comparing this to real foodie city restaurants...For most St. Louis people, it's one of those special occasion places.
(4)Shelly N.
It would have gotten five if all of the wine glasses were not dirty. No food on them but a film and thumb prints (not mine) on many of them.
(4)Emily V.
Dined here with a large group of family members prior to a family wedding. The service was impeccable. My grandmother was so thrilled with how the older waiters seemed to fawn over her and treated her really special. Everything we had was fantastic, but especially the lobster albanello. My mouth still waters when I think about it. Have thought about planning a trip to St. Louis from Los Angeles just for this dish! The only thing that was a bit less than perfect was that the napkins were so starched that they stood up on their own and left a rash on my aunt's face after she casually wiped her mouth with it. But we all just thought it was funny---we even took pictures.
(5)Amie S.
Food was great however bit disappointed with service. Wine selection was great. The salad was delicious however the main course was a little heavy. They have one of the best cream brûlée I have ever had. Overall good experience
(4)Jay B.
The best place I've seen to take a date. Love how they finish most of the food in front of you. I'd come here all the time if it wasn't so expensive.
(5)Bassam A.
Best service I have ever gotten. A bit over the top, but definitely an experience. Loved the ambiance, warm and relaxing, amazing faux gras! Best tomato brisk soup I have ever had! Kudos to the chef!
(5)