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Printer-Friendly ModeHeavy portions, light prices
April 18, 2011 —
If you’re looking for a delicious meal with a homecooked taste but a fast food price tag, look no further than Tony’s, an Italian restaurant located on Saginaw’s State Street.
Tony’s, owned by Dave Hilbrandt, has been open since 1964 and offers a no-nonsense approach to tasty food.
All but two items on the menu are under $10, and every single item will satisfy your taste buds and fill your stomach.
Tony’s boasts deliciously traditional Italian meals, such as spaghetti and meatballs, mouthwatering pizza and 25 sandwiches, all of which are served on thick Napolitano Bread. Another menu staple is the Italian Wop Salad, covered in olives and Italian dressing.
The food has a homecooked taste, unlike that found at many larger restaurants, and the portion sizes are beyond compare,perfect for sharing, splitting and saving.
If you order even just a half order of spaghetti (served with a Wop Salad and bread for only $5.95), be prepared to take some home.
Tony’s offers a childern’s menu with options such as a hot dog, spaghetti and meatballs, and even a cod fillet. Each of these items comes with bread or fries and a drink for only $3.90.
If you’re craving a hamburger, Tony’s offers a thick, filling burger for only $1.80, which comes topped with whatever your heart desires. However, if you’re not a meateater, Tony’s has vegetarian options for you to enjoy.
The breakfast menu has eighteen choices, from a vegetarian omelet to eggs, cornbeef hash and toast. Of all the delicious entrees on the Tony’s menu, my favorite meal is eggs and toast, served for just $2.25.
The meal, like all the meals on the breakfast menu, is cooked to order and served anytime. This seemingly simple meal perks my taste buds with thick, homemade toast and lightly seasoned eggs cooked just the way I like them. Whether fried, scrambled, or sunny side up, the eggs are fresh and full of flavor.
The menu also has a dessert section that includes shakes, sundaes, root beer floats and one of the resturaunt’s most famous items: the Jumbo Banana Split. This banana split should not be eaten for dessert, but rather as a full meal. Huge scoops of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream comes topped with pineapple, strawberry and chocolate syrup for $6.95.
Besides its delectable foods, hefty portions and seemingly impossible low prices, Tony’s offers something else to customers: a relaxing place to eat. The restaurant does not use any gimmicks to create a mood for diners. Instead of playing loud music or sporting dim lighting, Tony’s gives a more honest approach to food service.
The booths inside the restaurant are comfortable, and the lighting is bright without being harsh. A local radio station plays softly in the background, and mounted televisions broadcast sporting events.
The décor in Tony’s is also low-key: old photographs are hung on the walls, and a few mementos from sports teams and colleges are scattered about as well, offering a local homey feel to the eatery.
It is easy to chat and catch up with friends in the relaxing environment, and the welcoming interior offers a getaway from the fast-paced lives many of us lead.
Tony’s is the perfect restaurant for college students. With cheap prices, a laidback atmosphere and delicious food, college students can afford everything on the menu.