A Review of the New Menu at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World got some tasty-sounding menu updates recently. Historically, Tony’s is one of Disney World’s most poorly reviewed restaurants. Do these updates elevate the dining experience? Here is a review to help you decide whether you should book it on your next visit.

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant

It is no secret that dining isn’t exactly the Magic Kingdom’s forte. However, when we found out about the recent menu updates for Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, I (Kate) had high hopes that perhaps things were turning around and that it was finally time to give it a try!

For those unfamiliar with it, Tony’s is an Italian restaurant located on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. It is near the main entrance, right next to Town Square Theatre, so it is easy to find.

As I mentioned, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant has been panned over the years by diners. In fact, I have been hesitant to try it, especially when there are so many delicious options just a ride away on the Monorail. These options include California Grill, Kona Cafe, Grand Floridian Cafe, Narcoossee’s, and Steakhouse 71!

However, the menu updates were intriguing to me. Plus, my fellow writer Susan loves the atmosphere (you can see why HERE). Tony’s is themed to Lady and the Tramp, which has always been one of my favorite Disney movies.

Plus, the children in my travel party love spaghetti and meatballs, so I decided the stars were aligning and it was finally time to give Tony’s a try!

Timing Your Reservation

We booked a dinner reservation for 6:40 in the midst of prime dinner-time crowds. This was strategic so we would be wrapping up the meal right in time to step onto Main Street for Happily Ever After. This is something I HIGHLY recommend!

Pirate Tip: Select a reservation time at Tony’s earlier than 6:30 PM so you have a chance to see Happily Ever After as soon as you finish dinner. You don’t want to book too late in case your seating runs late! Or, select a time at 8:20 or later so you can dine after the show. Alternatively, if you prefer to watch the daytime parades or cavalcades, select a time that coordinates.

It worked out well for us. We checked in at 6:30; however, our seating was delayed because the restaurant was running a bit behind. It did not matter because we were able to get nice spots on Main Street about 7 minutes before showtime regardless. We felt we were pushing it just a bit, which is why I’d recommend an even earlier time than 6:40.

If you want to be extra sure you finish your meal in time for the show, be sure to mention it to your server. They can probably help you out a bit as long as you have booked a reasonable meal time.

Atmosphere

Because we selected prime dinner time for our reservation, the waiting area for Tony’s was extremely busy and crowded. We were prepared for this. We were also prepared for the delay in seating as this happens frequently at Disney restaurants. Lastly, we were prepared for it to be pretty loud, and it was.

The staff let us know they would text us when our table became available. Happily, Tony’s is connected to a shop called Box Office Gifts if you’d like to do some browsing while you wait. Also, Lady and the Tramp was playing in the waiting area, so my little ones gleefully watched the movie.

The restaurant’s style is really quite lovely. Tony’s has charming woodwork and beautiful stained glass throughout both the indoor and outdoor seating areas.

Additionally, it has Lady and the Tramp decor throughout including a fountain, which was decorated for the holidays during our visit. The imaging on the walls is akin to framed lithographs. It doesn’t look particularly polished. But, it is fun if you love the film (and I do).

The Food

The moment of truth came when we tasted our meals. I wanted to love the food. I really did. In fact, I was pulling for Tony’s to be better than expected. But, dear readers, it was not.

My son ordered the adult portion of his very favorite food: spaghetti and meatballs. He can technically still order off the kids’ menu, but when our server told him that the kids’ meal comes with a single meatball, he asked for an upgrade.

The spaghetti was perhaps a little too al dente. The meatballs and sauce were fine, but bland. My child said it certainly wasn’t the best spaghetti he’d ever had, and he wouldn’t ask to eat there again.

My daughter had the kid’s macaroni and cheese. The meal also came with sides, so she selected fruit and a gelato sundae.

She enjoyed the mac and cheese well enough. The pasta is more like little “o”s than macaroni noodles, so if the appearance is important to your little diner, be advised.

My husband selected one of the new entrees, the Chicken Parmigiana. Again, the pasta was undercooked and pretty bland. The breading was soggy, and the chicken itself reminded me of a frozen dinner.

I was so excited to try the Braised Beef Short Rib, which is also one of the newer additions. The menu describes it as “tender Beef slow cooked in Beer and Pepperoni Sauce with Crispy Parmesan Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables.”

Sadly, the Braised Beef Short Rib was not tender.  In fact, it was dry, tough, and chewy. And, it was bland despite the promise of nice flavors. I’d even venture to call it flavorless. It is easily Disney’s worst short rib dish.

On the other hand, I really did enjoy the parmesan potatoes. They were flavorful, crispy, and delicious.

One Silver Lining

The kid’s gelato sundae was the highlight of the meal. Our wonderful server kindly brought my son one as well because she did not want him to feel left out.

This vanilla gelato was creamy and delicious without being overly sweet. Tony’s could do very well for itself as a gelato stand.

Final Thoughts

Tony’s is a charming place to eat. Plus, is so convenient if you want to enjoy the Magic Kingdom’s entertainment options before or after a meal. Additionally, we experienced lovely service and wonderful interactions with all Cast Members from check-in to departure. But, if you are looking for good food, Tony’s is not going to impress you.

I am hoping we caught it on a particularly bad night. After all, every restaurant is capable of having a bad day and then rebounding.

However, a future visit to Tony’s will be a tough sell for me given the high price point and the abundance of delicious options elsewhere around Walt Disney World. I’d prefer to save my meal budget for places I love.

Do you want more options for dining in the Magic Kingdom? Head over HERE for a full guide and tons of reviews.

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Have you ever eaten at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom? Was your experience better than mine? Let us know in the comments. Also, be sure to share this review with your friends and family who are planning trips so they know whether they want to book a reservation.