(310) 317-9667

23410 Civic Center Way
Malibu, CA 90265 34.0368 -118.6858

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Neighborhood: Eastern Malibu

TAVERNATONY.COM

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 10.15.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Outdoor Dining

Cuisine:

Greek, Mediterranean

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Taverna Tony

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Family-style dining gets the Malibu treatment at this raucous restaurant. B-list celebrities and beach bunnies hold court at the busy bar, while groups of diners quaff Greek wine, encouraged by bazouki music and belly dancers. Those seeking a more quiet experience gravitate to the sprawling, garden-like patio. The menu spotlights the usual Greek dishes, like dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), spanakopita (feta- and spinach-stuffed pastry) and moussaka.

Editor's Tips

Look Good:
Good for groups, the Greek Feast offers a selection of house specialties from appetizers to mains, served family style.
Where to Sit:
There is live entertainment nightly so sit inside if you want to get a good hear.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Good food, good service, good atmosphere”
  2. “Not only is the atmosphere warm and cozy, but they do not flinch a bit when my little guy exibits his age.”
  3. “I'd go back as it was a fun evening and food was good.”
  4. “Located on Cross Creek in Malibu this authentic Greek restaurant has beautiful mountain views and live music every night.”
  5. “The food was decent, but hardly a value and the ambience and entertainment were nice, but if customer service is important to you steer clear of this place.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “My favorite dish is the baby lamb and the grilled swordfish - the desserts are to die for, and I have no idea how they can always have the sweetest and crunchiest watermelon all year around.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Inside is great, too, with live music and great bartenders for eating at the bar.”
  2. “The patio is a very nice place to sip wine and relax and have some pita bread and dip.”
  3. “It's NEVER too hot, even for lunch, and the food and drinks are great.”
  4. “we ordered, when asked about a wine list, she said they have "a really good greek white wine" (really?”
food quality
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. “The food was decent, but hardly a value and the ambience and entertainment were nice, but if customer service is important to you steer clear of this place.”
  2. “My favorite dish is the baby lamb and the grilled swordfish - the desserts are to die for, and I have no idea how they can always have the sweetest and crunchiest watermelon all year around.”
  3. “Great portions and great food.”
  4. “Located on Cross Creek in Malibu this authentic Greek restaurant has beautiful mountain views and live music every night.”
  5. “Everything I have tried from the fresh pita to the skewered shrimp has been excellent.”
  6. “recommend the pita bread.”
  7. “Good food, good service, good atmosphere”
  8. “Without question, an excellent greek restaurant and super yummy”
  9. “I'm used to authentic Greek food and it usually doesn't taste so heavy and lardy.”
  10. “The food was good and portions hearty.”
  11. “The chicken kabob was very dry, and almost tasted like it was microwaved.”
  12. “they serve a yogurt dip so we decided to order pita bread for it.”
  13. “Come here if you enjoy Greek food.”
  14. “It's NEVER too hot, even for lunch, and the food and drinks are great.”
  15. “The food was delicious.”
  16. “Such terrific food and a casual setting.”
  17. “I'd go back as it was a fun evening and food was good.”
  18. “Although the portions are large (one entree is enough for 2 people), the food was mediocre at best.”
  19. “The same weekend I was scheduling my wedding, Antony Hopkins was ALSO having Taverna Tony cater his wedding (I guess I have good taste for food, lol).”
  20. “One of the best steaks in town, and the baby lamb melts in your mouth in an explosion of flavors.”
  21. “(The Greek angel pasta and California Greek salad are yummy options.)”
  22. “the place was packed, all the food looked great, everything we ordered was dee-lish, the lamb is awesome, and no one chased us out even tho people were waiting.”
  23. “tony's serves up tasty traditional greek cuisine with a celebratory vibe.”
  24. “The great thing about this place is that they have all the traditional Greek dishes you'd expect but if you don't like Greek food, there are other dishes on the menu that you can have instead.”
  25. “Its great food, reasonably priced and Tony is the best.”
  26. “We have been coming here for many years, and have never had a bad meal.”
  27. “The patio is a very nice place to sip wine and relax and have some pita bread and dip.”
menu variety
50.0% positive
  1. “The great thing about this place is that they have all the traditional Greek dishes you'd expect but if you don't like Greek food, there are other dishes on the menu that you can have instead.”
  2. “(The Greek angel pasta and California Greek salad are yummy options.)”
overall
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. “This restaurant is the absolute best restaurant.”
  2. “The patio is a very nice place to sip wine and relax and have some pita bread and dip.”
  3. “The great thing about this place is that they have all the traditional Greek dishes you'd expect but if you don't like Greek food, there are other dishes on the menu that you can have instead.”
  4. “This is by far the best restaurant in Malibu.”
  5. “this is a great place (with a flaw)”
  6. “The food was decent, but hardly a value and the ambience and entertainment were nice, but if customer service is important to you steer clear of this place.”
  7. “It is a great place for large parties.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “I'd go back as it was a fun evening and food was good.”
  2. “will never go back or recommend this restaurant.”
service
58.33000183105469% positive
  1. “As a single parent with a two year old, it is hard to find nice restaurants that are child friendly.”
  2. “they don't have a lot of guests, so the service will be outstanding.”
  3. “The service was very slow service.”
  4. “the place was packed, all the food looked great, everything we ordered was dee-lish, the lamb is awesome, and no one chased us out even tho people were waiting.”
  5. “The service is always so warm and the owner Tony (who is always there) is fantastic.”
  6. “Tony is great and always friendly.”
  7. “Good food, good service, good atmosphere”
  8. “The waiter was a bit slow but made up for it with loads of charm and humor and he was very greek.”
  9. “Inside is great, too, with live music and great bartenders for eating at the bar.”
  10. “The food was decent, but hardly a value and the ambience and entertainment were nice, but if customer service is important to you steer clear of this place.”
  11. “Worst customer service Experience Ever”
  12. “Although the portions are large (one entree is enough for 2 people), the food was mediocre at best.”
value
80.0% positive
  1. “You do get huge portions, but a bit too oily for my taste.”
  2. “Although the portions are large (one entree is enough for 2 people), the food was mediocre at best.”
  3. “Great portions and great food.”
  4. “The food was decent, but hardly a value and the ambience and entertainment were nice, but if customer service is important to you steer clear of this place.”
  5. “The food was good and portions hearty.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “The service was very slow service.”
  2. “The waiter was a bit slow but made up for it with loads of charm and humor and he was very greek.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/15/11

Really Good Greek Food

by pburstyn

I have been here a few times and really like this place a lot.

The atmosphere is great, the food is amazing! Do not miss the spanicopita. It's warm and crispy and makes your mouth sing.

We have had the Greek feast a couple of times, but honestly it is too much food, really, no really!

Overall, if you come to L.A. and you like Greek food, make sure you visit this place, but expect to pay a pretty penny, this place ain't cheap.

Peter Burstyn is a former chef from NY and is now an insurance agent with Farmers Insurance. Visit farmersagent dot com/pburstyn

3 Star Rating: Average

04/21/11

Authentic Greek food with an attitude

by TastefulTammy

I love the food here (try any lamb special they offer) and the bar scene is jovial and tweet-worthy but I find that there are inconsistencies every time I go. First and foremost, Tony's is open until midnight seven days a week. BS! It's a lie. Everytime I try it, they are closed by 11pm at most. Who does Tony think he is? Matsuhisa Nobu? I'm tired of Malibu institutions being snooty divas because they can. It's a community, neighbor! Treat me like an a-hole and I won't come back no matter how great your food is. I called at 11pm and the answer I got on the phone from Tony himself was that he was open until midnight. I showed up 15 minutes later (11:15pm) and they were closed. When I told him I called and journeyed to his restaurant directly after he told me he would be open, he yelled at me and and made me feel like an intruder, even though I was there 45 minutes before their published closing time, not to mention 15 minutes after he told me that they would be open, dismissing my cynicism with "We're always open 'til midnight." Despite the yummy morsels, I won't be back. Taverna Tony reminds me of the soup nazi.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/27/11

I don't see why people complain about this heavenly place

by Dimitriosmichael

Firstly, the food was incredible. After the salad alone, we were full. Nothing was pretentiously Greek. Everything was modest, yet, very very very Greek. The staff were lovely. I had no complaints with the food at all, but the waiters persistently approached me to ask whether the food was acceptable. Our table was full of olive oil and bread before we even ordered.

The music had that Greek groove that only sitting at the base of the Parthenon can reveal. The musicians didn't care about playing for money, or for acknowledgment. All they seemed to care about was the art or Greek music.

The owner was there sitting with people and talking to them.

After reading some bad reviews, I and friends were skeptical, but, we really have to ask if these bad reviewers are mixing TavernaTony's with another place.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/09/09

Good food, good service, good atmosphere

by DenaG

The food was good and portions hearty. There were 2 of us and we started with the calamari and greek salad and were feeling pretty full with the appitizers. The patio is pretty and there are plenty of heaters to enjoy outdoor dining even on these chilly November nights. I'd go back as it was a fun evening and food was good.

  • Pros: Tasty food and attentive service
  • Cons: bathroom was messy, paper all over the floor
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/25/09

This has to be the absolute BEST restaurant in LA

by susieobrien

I live in Santa Monica and I've been going to Taverna Tony for over 10 years. This restaurant is the absolute best restaurant. I go there all the time not just to eat, but to celebrate special occasions (my anniversaries, birthdays, friends birthdays, etc.). It is incredibly fun and festive, but depending on where you sit, is also really romantic (especially on the patio or by the fireplace). The food is second to none, so if you want to plan an event, you won't regret it. It's constantly written about in the papers and magazines for it's fab food and given very high ratings.

There are a ton of celebrities there all the time. The same weekend I was scheduling my wedding, Antony Hopkins was ALSO having Taverna Tony cater his wedding (I guess I have good taste for food, lol). The owner is Tony and he is just awesome - whether I come with friends, or schedule parties of 20 or more, he takes care of every detail, Greek style. The service is usually very quick, and I think that's because most of the waiters are Greek and are naturally just "speedy" and energetic. I find the last two reviews pretty strange as I've never had a bad experience there, nor have my friends and we eat there all the time.

My favorite dish is the baby lamb and the grilled swordfish - the desserts are to die for, and I have no idea how they can always have the sweetest and crunchiest watermelon all year around. This is by far the best restaurant in Malibu.

  • Pros: Incredible food, gorgeous restaurant, friendly waiters
  • Cons: I wish there was more than just one!

The Details on Taverna Tony

Place Categories:

  • great greek food
  • best greek restaurant
  • great place
  • good atmosphere
  • worst customer service
  • never bad experience
  • order baby lamb
  • recommend pita bread
  • great everything
  • very dry chicken kabob
  • worst restaurant
  • very greek waiter
  • beautiful live music
  • good band
  • never bad meal
  • good taste
  • really good greek
  • all very good starters
  • great drinks
  • terrific casual setting
  • beautiful mountain views
  • nice value
  • favorite malibu restaurants
  • always friendly taverna tony
  • great bartenders
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