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

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!

07/21/09

BIG DISAPPOINTMENT

by DOCTORX

MY WIFE AND I WERE EXCITED TO BE PATRONIZING TAVERNA TONY'S FOR THE FIRST TIME. MUCH TO OUR DISMAY WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT.UPON ENTERING THE RESTARAUNT WE WERE NOT GREETED. AND IN FACT BY THE TONE OF HIS VOICE THE OWNER SEEMED ANNOYED BY THE FACT WE HAD WALKED IN. HE QUESTIONED MY WIFE IF SHE WAS SURE WE HAD A RESERVATION. WHEN SHE ASSURED HIM WE DID HE BEGRUDGINGLY DECIDED TO HELP US.THIS PRETTY MUCH DICTATED OUR NIGHT. MY WIFE AND I DID NOT FEEL WELCOMED WHATSOEVER AND NONE OF THE STAFF HAD A SMILE ON THIER FACE. AS FAR AS THE FOOD GOES IT WAS UNEDIBLE ( OVER SALTED SLOP) IT WAS BAD. SHRIMP, RICE, KABOBs, (@$29.50) AND ALL. IF ANYONE GOES TO TONY'S PLAY IT SAFE AND ORDER THE LAMB. DO NOT EXPECT TO BE TREATED IN ANY SPECIAL WAY. P.S. THE MUSIC WAS JUST LOUD AND REDUNDANT.

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: FOOD, SERVICE

07/19/09

Food heavy, overpriced, bad management

by TDay

You do get huge portions, but a bit too oily for my taste. I'm used to authentic Greek food and it usually doesn't taste so heavy and lardy. The band was good but the owner kept going and yelling at them in Greek, in front of a full restaurant, and you could tell he was visibly upsetting them. As a whole, the manager seemed to be harassing the staff, which was causing some tension. The prices are pretty high, but it is Malibu afterall. Coffee and dessert on the patio might be a better idea.

• Pros: large portions
• Cons: bad management, food too heavy

04/08/09

worst restaurant experience I've had!

by sublime11

we went there for an early dinner on a weekday. you'd think it's a weeknight. they don't have a lot of guests, so the service will be outstanding. right? wrooong.

it was 5 pm, there were about 4 other occupied tables. so pretty empty. We sat down with our menus for a good 15 minutes when a server finally asked us about drinks. He brought our drinks and he started taking our order but then he said he'd be back in a minute. 5 long minutes later a pathetic excuse of a waitress came to take our order. we ordered, when asked about a wine list, she said they have "a really good greek white wine" (really? in malibu?) she pretended to write everything down though. they serve a yogurt dip so we decided to order pita bread for it. our pita came with a plate of hummus. We called her to tell her that we never ordered the $7 hummus. she gave us the look. didn't apologize, she took the hummus and went straight to the owner who was at the bar. they argued a bit then the owner came to our table asking us why we don't want our hummus. we said we never ordered it. he turned to the waitress and said oh they never ordered it? lol it was a joke. I couldn't believe it was happening. but you wish that was the worst of it! so then they left our table and went to the back and we heard some yelling. our server got changed AGAIN. The new guy brought us our entrees. I had ordered the greek salad which sounded delicious in the description. it arrived looking bland. don't order it. it's not worth the $13. but that's besides the point. on the white plate there was a black hair about an inch long. right there, staring at me. It wasn't mixed with the salad. it was on the plate. You'd think servers LOOK at the food before serving it? at that point, I just didn't know what to do. everything that could have possibly gone wrong had gone wrong. I just wanted to somehow disappear. the owner was sitting there, looking at us, following our every single move. he made us feel soo hostile. and we're 3 girls in our 20's. I don't know what it was, but we somehow couldn't just walk out. now that I think about it we totally should have. anyway. they brought me a new salad, which I couldn't dare touch. obviously. and then a "complimentary dessert"? really? instead of comping my salad? or our pita? or both?

we were miserable. I paid my part which was $28 (yuh) tip included and everything.

I don't think anyone willing to spend money to eat out should have the experience we did at Taverna Tony's. what a shame.

• Pros: cons overshadow pros
• Cons: bad service - worse mgmt - food isn't all that - overpriced

10/22/08

One of the best restaurants in Malibu!

by LittleItaly113

Come here if you enjoy Greek food... or not! 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. (The Greek angel pasta and California Greek salad are yummy options.) THE best thing about this place is the bread & dip they bring you at the beginning- AMAZING. I could live off it. I've tried almost everything on the menu because I did the "Greek feast" one night with my parents. It was sooo much food so if you're going for that, be hungry! Everything I've ever ate there has been great.

04/16/08

DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE

by luckyone77

This evening was birthday celebration for my mother, but turned into a very stressful evening, filled with suspense, as to what else could they possibly do wrong....

The experience started as we were seated for dinner without menus. We sat in our seats for 10 min. ignored until I spoke up and asked for menus for our table. I was told that there were none available and as soon as some became available we would get them. Once we received menus it took another 20 min just for someone to take our order. We ordered appetizers, salad and entrees. We specifically asked to have our salad prior to our entree, however everything arrived at the same time. Although the portions are large (one entree is enough for 2 people), the food was mediocre at best. The chicken kabob was very dry, and almost tasted like it was microwaved. The lamb was untrimmed and very fatty.

Once we finished dinner and the table was cleared we waited about 15 min. and never saw our server. At this point I had to excuse myself from the table to find the owner (TONY) to ask for a check. I was told that they were bringing a dessert out for my mother's birthday. How nice I thought, something small to put a candle in and sing Happy Birthday. They brought out a plate with a few different items. Since we were all watching our weight we didn't touch the desserts. Then the check came..... UNBELIEVABLE...they had the nerve to charge us $22.00 for the desserts.

I excused myself from the table to talk to the owner to let him know I mentioned it was mothers birthday so we could get a little something sweet, not a plate of desserts for $22. He just turned around and walked away, unwilling to remove or reduce the dessert charge.

BOTTOM LINE:

Overpriced.

Food very mediocre

Service was terrible

I will never go back or recommend this restaurant.

• Pros: Ambience
• Cons: service, price, food quality

12/30/07

Without question, an excellent greek restaurant and super yummy

by jay2002

On a day trip to Malibu on a winter Sunday we went here based on recommendation by a friend. This is a lovely place at the French market center in Malibu, and very charming. The waiter was a bit slow but made up for it with loads of charm and humor and he was very greek. Tony came by to say hello and everyone was lovely. The food was delicious. The so called greek caviar they serve with bread upfront is to die for, and we had for appetizer the hummus, the grilled eggplant in tomatoes, the meatballs, and they were all stunning. but none compared to the fried calamari probably the best i've ever had anywhere. Then our greek salads arrived and we just had to pack it to go because we were full, but a taste told us we are going to enjoy dinner tonight. If you don't want the fried fish and chips after a day at the beach, this is a healthier albeit more expensive choice.

10/08/07

A Waste of Time

by foodielaguy112233

The service was very slow service. We didn't see a waiter approach our table for 10 minutes after we sat down. When one did show up, he didn't acknowledge that we had been left waiting. We still had hope and thought we'd give the place a chance. We waited and while the atmophere is festive, it's much too loud. My party sat in silence and couldn't communicate anything from across the table. But then came the food; the incredibly mediocore food. It tasted as if it had been heated up in a microwave. Dry, bland and unexciting. Overall, it felt like a waste of time.

• Pros: Close to the Beach
• Cons: Slow service, too loud, mediocore food

10/08/07

this is a great place (with a flaw)

by triki

tony's serves up tasty traditional greek cuisine with a celebratory vibe. the first time my wife and i went (we've been back a few times) we were taken aback by how much fun everybody was having. it was strange at first, like they put mushrooms in the tzatziki, but ultimately infectious. especially when the bellydancer came out. my only complaint about tony's is that if you're a nobody (like me) seated next to a somebody expect to feel like a nobody. (hence, 4 stars and not 5.) the staff will drop everything (while you're in the middle of ordering) to fetch something for whatever movie exec is at the next table, which thoroughly p*sses me off. i'm new to LA, though, so it may just be par for the course. either way, if you're in a room full of other nobodys, expect to have a terrific time! :)

• Pros: great food, great atmosphere, good price, lots of fun
• Cons: if you're less famous than the person next to you, expect to feel that way