by Fairy Diva
When planning my trips to Walt Disney World, I do lots of research. I am a detailed planner; having my trip scheduled in advance tends to be what’s best for our family. So when making our Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) for our trip, I like to look over menus and read current reviews. I also like to try new places with each visit. Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, located at Magic Kingdom, has always been on my want-to-try list for several reasons. It is the first restaurant you see when entering the Magic Kingdom. Also, Lady and the Tramp is one of my all-time favorite Disney movies and a restaurant themed after that epic spaghetti-sharing moment seems perfect. My family loves Italian food, so it appeared to be a good fit for us. Then I started my research, and boy, did the majority of reviews for Tony’s Town Square sound awful. The menu items appealed to me, so I made my ADR with a bit of hesitation.
Tony’s Town Square is open daily for lunch and dinner. The menu boasts a selection of Italian favorites like pastas and pizzas for lunch, and some of the same dishes at dinner, along with New York Strip Steak and Grilled Pork Tenderloin. Tony’s is located along Main Street USA and has an expansive front porch, which can offer excellent views of the afternoon and evening parades if you time your reservation correctly. Diva Tip: If you would like to view the parade while you dine, be sure to schedule your ADR before the parade time. Arrive a few minutes early for your reservation and request a table on the porch. While there is no guarantee the restaurant will accommodate your requests, this allows you the best chance of getting that perfect table to enjoy a meal while watching the parade go by.
We decided to try dinner at Tony’s. Our ADR was around 5:00pm. I have little ones, and they prefer to eat dinner early. Since we knew there would be no parades during our dining time, I wasn’t concerned with the location of our table within the restaurant. We arrived fifteen minutes prior to our reservation time. I was shocked to see a long line of people waiting to be checked in at the hostess area. It was a warm day, and I dreaded standing out in the heat waiting to sign in. My husband took our children into the lobby area, and I was pleased to find that the line moved quickly, so no standing in the heat for too long! The waiting area was quite full, and I anticipated a long wait despite having ADRs. There were lots of seating options available (though most were taken), and my children were thrilled to sit in the floor and watch Lady and the Tramp, which shows continuously.
Within about five minutes, our family was called for our table. We were seated at a large booth near the adorable Lady and the Tramp fountain located in the center of the restaurant. The restaurant was not overly themed, but had nice touches, including pictures along the wall of scenes from the classic movie. Our server was very attentive and provided some of the best service we had our entire trip. This was a concern mentioned in several reviews, but we were fortunate to have a wonderful server.
Our meal began with drinks and bread. The bread was fresh and we enjoyed it very much. We placed our orders and our food was delivered rather quickly. My husband had a seafood pasta dish and enjoyed it very much. I ordered the Spaghetti with Meatballs and Marinara Sauce (I mean, we were at Tony’s after all!). I had read several negative reviews about the sauce having poor taste and texture, but I did not feel this was the case at all. The food was quite tasty and the portions huge. Our children enjoyed the spaghetti as well. We were on the dining plan, so our meal came with a dessert, though I had little room for it after all the pasta! The dessert was delicious and adorably plated.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Tony’s Town Square. I would not hesitate to reserve this restaurant again. I was thankful that we did not encounter some of the negative aspects reviewed online. It was a great experience on a lovely Bella Notte.
