Crystal Palace vs Tony's Town Square

[sbkline]

Which one do y'alls think is better? We've never eaten at either one, but the wife and I each made a list of places we want to try next year on the DDP, and Tony's Town Square was on each list, so it looks like we'll be trying that one out. But CP looks pretty good too. Should we eat there instead? Is it more for the dollar?

 

[Hakunamatata]

Crystal Palace is better. Tonys really is average or below average itallian.

 

[BRER STITCH]

It's really like comparing apples to oranges, because Crystal Palace is a buffet, and Tony's is a sit-down Italian Restaurant with a much different menu.

I really enjoyed my dining experience at Tony's (for dinner), but hated the breakfast buffet at CP. Again...apples and oranges....

May I suggest eating at BOTH????

If you can only pick one, I'd pick Tony's for the sit-down service. It's an oft-overlooked place, as it is right at the front of the park. We found the service, food, and atmosphere really enjoyable. CP seemd crowded and rushed.

Also, consider where else you will eat during your trip. A lot of my other fave places to eat at WDW happen to be buffet or family style (O'hana, Biergarten, Whispering Canyon), so the nice chance to sit down relax, and select from a menu might be just what you need!

ENJOY!

:wave:

 

[One Lil Spark]

I would say that it strictly depends on which meal of the day you're going to be eating at one of those places. Do you have any clue on that yet? :wave:

 

[gatordoc]

Depends. If you like Chef Boy-ar-dee, then you'll be fine with Tony's :hurl:
Otherwise, go with the Crystal Palace - lots of choices, and the food is reasonable for a buffet.

 

[sbkline]

I would say that it strictly depends on which meal of the day you're going to be eating at one of those places. Do you have any clue on that yet? :wave:

I want to eat all suppers, since we are on the DDP and I hear the food is more expensive at supper time. So I want to make sure I get the most value for my money.

 

[coltow]

The food is nothing special at Tony's, but we enjoyed the change of pace. We always feel a bit rushed and it can be a bit chaotic at CP. Tony's is plesant and quiet. I think it really al depends on if you want to see Pooh & Friends.

 

[One Lil Spark]

I want to eat all suppers, since we are on the DDP and I hear the food is more expensive at supper time. So I want to make sure I get the most value for my money.

Then my vote is for Crystal Palace :wave:

 

[sbkline]

The food is nothing special at Tony's, but we enjoyed the change of pace. We always feel a bit rushed and it can be a bit chaotic at CP. Tony's is plesant and quiet. I think it really al depends on if you want to see Pooh & Friends.

I could care less about Pooh & Friends. I think they're highly overrated anyway. IMO, they are only cheap imitation, Disney character wannabees. :lol:

I guess it depends on if we want a nice sit down meal where we look at a menu or a buffet style. I suppose we could eat at both, but I already have all the restaraunts picked and I don't think I want to give up any of the others. There are too many places at EPCOT that I've been wanting to try. :lol:

 

[AEfx]

I think the food at CP is definately a cut above the aptly-labeled Chef-Boy-Ardee food at Tony's. I was actually surprised about the variety and quality for a buffet, and I like that they constantly refill the platters instead of just putting out a bucket at a time. Food quality seemed higher because of it.

AEfx

 

[Love Mickey 18B]

Oh I am dissapointed to read this thread.

We are doing DDP and have Tony's booked for our dinner before MVMCP. We have never eaten there and wanted to try it. We have a early dinner so that we can do the Christmas Party right after. (we have MVMCP tickets).

We have only eaten at CP for breakfast. What is the dinner food like. I found it very loud and rushed for breakfast.

 

[BRER STITCH]

Oh I am dissapointed to read this thread.

We are doing DDP and have Tony's booked for our dinner before MVMCP. We have never eaten there and wanted to try it. We have a early dinner so that we can do the Christmas Party right after. (we have MVMCP tickets).

We have only eaten at CP for breakfast. What is the dinner food like. I found it very loud and rushed for breakfast.

Hey LOVE MICKEY! :wave:

Don't be dismayed by some of the reviews here of TONY'S.
While some may have had a bad experience there, others of us have really enjoyed it! :slurp:

Check out the menu selections below. They shoot the "Chef Boy-ar-Dee" remarks right out of the water! You also won't find any of these items at the Crystal Palace buffet.

RELAX and ENJOY!

:sohappy:


Appetizers

Soup of the Day - $4.69

Fried Goat Cheese - corn-flour crusted goat cheese with roasted garlic tomato sauce $7.49

Spinach and Artichoke Dip - three cheese blend, tomatoes, and served with grilled bread $7.69

Crispy Calamari tossed with olive relish and drizzled with caper aioli $8.19

House Salad - salad mix tossed in house dressing with croutons and Feta cheese $4.69


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Entrees

Veal T-bone with sweet russet mashed potatoes and shallot balsamic sauce $25.99

Spaghetti with choice of meatballs or sweet Italian sausage in Tony's own tomato sauce $18.99

Eggplant Rotini - roulade of eggplant and ricotta, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese $19.49

Chicken Florentine - chicken breast topped with prosciutto, spinach, melted cheese, served with roasted potatoes, and marsala mushroom sauce $22.49

Pork Shank - braised in red wine sauce and served with spinach gnocchi $21.49

Pan-Seared Salmon with crisp lemon risotto cake, saffron butter sauce and sweet onion jam $23.49

NY Strip Steak with roasted potatoes, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and spinach tossed in a warm pancetta vinaigrette, topped with red wine gorgonzola butter $25.49

Seafood Pasta - clams, mussels, calamari, and shrimp in spicy tarragon-tomato sauce $22.99


---------------------------------------------------------------------

Dessert

Banana Chocolate Creme Brulee - with carmelized bananas $5.49

Hazelnut Chocolate Torte - chocolate filled pastry with hazelnut caramel $5.49

Mini Cannoli - Classic Italian dolce with chocolate chips and drizzled with chocolate $5.49

Caramelized Apple Cake - Caramelized heirloom apples with cinnomon gelato and a warm sour cherry sauce $5.49

Tiramisu - espresso soaked lady fingers, whipped mascarpone and dark chocolate shavings $5.49

Amaretto Cheesecake - with whipped cream $5.49

Assorted Gelato - seasonal flavors of Italian style ice cream $5.49


Espresso - $3.19


Cappuccino - $3.69

That's Amore Cooler - Smoothie of the day served in Lady and the Tramp collector's mug $7.99

 

[gatordoc]

I don't mean to be argumentative, but I should clarify that I have never had a bad experience at Tony's. The food just isn't very good, at least to someone who grew up on the cooking of his Italian mother, aunts, and grandmothers. Menus are fine, but you can give anything a fancy name, and fill a description with all sorts of tantilizing ingredients. None of that makes it taste any better.

 

[One Lil Spark]

From reading fellow posters reports, it seems that the DDP is making people feel 'rushed' at times throughout their meals. I am not sure 100% about this, but I would prefer to eat at CP because of the buffet style of the meal. That way YOU control when you get your food and how long it takes you to eat it and such.

Just something to consider before your trip! :wave:

 

[sbkline]

But they don't know your on the DDP until the end of the meal when it's time to pay, right?

 

[MSTINKHERBELL01]

I love CP..but I have to say that the dinner is not the best...for dinner i'd rahter enjoy Tony's

 

[One Lil Spark]

But they don't know your on the DDP until the end of the meal when it's time to pay, right?

Right, but either way, the general consensus is that all meals are feeling a little more rushed. If you want to control your meal a little, teeny bit more, I'd opt for CP.

Keep us posted on what you choose!

 

[sbkline]

Right, but either way, the general consensus is that all meals are feeling a little more rushed.

I'm starting to picture "I Love Lucy" and some of those other old sitcoms where they try to rush someone through a meal. Set the soup down and yank it away before the person has a chance to put the first spoonful to his mouth. Come back with the salad, then yank it away as he's getting ready to have his first bite. I hope that's not what they're doing at WDW nowdays. :lol:

As of right now, I think we're leaning towards Tony's. I had my wife look at menues for each last night and I think she like's Tony's better. Of course, it's 8 months away yet, so we have plenty of time to make up our minds...although I guess the two month mark to October is really the deadline we should be looking at.

 

[Rora]

I've only had CP for the breakfast buffet. This is more in defense of Tony's since I see so many people slamming it. I went there for the first time this summer on the dining plan. I got the New York strip and it was FANTASTIC. One of the best steaks I've ever had. And I loved how they did the family style deserts. The cheesecake was to die for, as were the cannoli and tiramisu. And the fact that it was free didn't cloud my judgement, it was just that good. My only issue was that it was a little crowded and hectic because because of the dining plan. But it wasn't that bad.

 

[luna99]

Depends. If you like Chef Boy-ar-dee, then you'll be fine with Tony's :hurl:

oh come on now! tony's isn't that bad.

Now, I can't compare the two places because I've never been to CP, but my family and I love Tony's. It's sort of a tradition that we eat there when we go to MK for an early lunch. I don't think the food is spectacular, but it's also not terrible. It's just typical italian ... but I love the atmosphere and it's really beautiful if you can sit out on the covered terrace area and people watch early in the day.. it's really relaxing.

If it's still there, they have a fountain in the middle of the restaurant that has Lady and the Tramp on it and occasionally I've had waiters and waitresses who have really cool italian accents! it's fun to listen to them talk. I also really like the waiting area and store next door where you can browse before they call your name and they usually have lady and tramp showing on the tv to entertain kids (or you!) while you wait!

anyway, that's my two cents!