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Tony's Oyster Bar
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Cajun/Creole Seafood, Cajun/Creole [Edit]
107 Edinburgh S DrCary, NC 27511
(919) 462-6226
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Thu 5 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 1:30 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Brigs offers a huge variety of Breakfast items, hot sandwich platters, and really cool salads. In addition there are $5.99 Weekday Breakfast Specials, a… read more »
13 reviews for Tony's Oyster Bar
13 reviews in English
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Review from Pam G.
9/17/2011
Had dinner at Tony's last night before heading over to Koka Booth for the Styx show. I have to say that I was less than enthusiastic when my husband suggested that we got to Tony's for dinner, but he loves oysters so I figured I would bite the bullet and go. It had been a few years since I've been there and I didn't really have bad memories, just didn't remember it a being anything special. I happy to report that I haas pleasantly surprises by our experience. We chose to sit on the oyster bar and started with a dozen raw oysters. The oysters were pretty small which I was happy about because I don't like those big slimy ones that require chewing! I was also happy to see that they seem to have upgraded their wine list since I was last there. They don't have a large list, but they had some decent choices, both by the bottle and by the glass.
I had a nice glass of Cline Zinfandel and DH had a beer that he was quite happy with. We followed up the oysters with some steamed peel and eat shrimp which was quite tasty! Nicely spiced and piping hot. The cocktail sauce didn't have enough horseradish for our liking, but our server had no problem bringing us some so we were able to remedy that quickly. W ended our grazing meal with a big Caesar salad that we split. It was quite tasty and wasn't loaded down with dressing like at some places. OMG, I almost forgot to mention the hushpuppies! I could make a meal on those alone. They set down a basket of hot puppies as soon as you sit down with butter to dip them in and they are divine!
I didn't catch the name of our server, but our service was outstanding and I won't wait so long to go back again! -
Review from Mark D.
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was a tough one. I almost gave it 3 stars because they do grill their seafood in a very taster manner; however, the atmosphere was a disappointment. I expected it to be way cooler and it could pass for pretty much any generic-looking, white-walled small restaurant anywhere. I expected a dark atmosphere, with dark wood and boating paraphernalia about the room. Instead it was pretty bland, indicating nobody really cared about that.
Now the prices aren't cheap in my view. It's on par with a fancy restaurant and you'll drop something in the high twenties for the typical entree. When I asked the waitress if the scallops on one of the dishes served were sea or bay scallops, she looked at me and said she didn't know there was a difference. RED FLAG.
We got the surf & turf. It wasn't bad tasting. The shrimp weren't super small, but not wonderfully plump either. The garlic mashed potatoes were basically just plain mashed potatoes - a bit mushy. And the steak was jaw-droppingly small. I mean I don't expect an 8 inch slab across the plate, but I do expect something slightly larger than a Post-It note - and something thicker than one! Again, it tasted okay though.
I wouldn't go back nor recommend for these and other reasons. It gets two stars from me because what was served was edible. If the prices were around $10, it might all make sense. That's what the entire experience felt like, if that.
Oh...and those scallops? They were the smallest sea scallops I've ever seen. Maybe they were slightly larger bay scallops. ;) -
Review from Caroline S.
Durham, NC
11/6/2011
Sorry to report, but I found Tony's to be very disappointing.
The service was all over the place. At first our server was trying to be overly attentive, waiting minutes at our table until we stopped talking so that she could announce the specials (which were on a board right above our table). Then, we stopped seeing her. Sure she came back to serve drinks, but when we weren't ready to order, she went missing for another 15 minutes. It was nice to at least see the generous bread baskets (with hushpuppies, garlic knots, and biscuits) being whisked around to various tables while we sat waiting for service. Our server was really sassy, it was fun in a way, until she refused to allow a salad to be boxed up to go, even though it came with the entree. A tiramisu that was ordered came out as a creme brulee, another 5 minutes until we could get her to change it out.
Speaking of the food, well I don't need to speak too much to it, it wasn't good. I ordered the Seafood Duo: shrimp, scallops, mushrooms, ham, spinach with angel hair in alfredo sauce. When I received the vat of sauce, I found some smaller than life scallops and overcooked shrimp in dire threat of drowning. I couldn't eat more than a couple bites, and stuck with the nice hushpuppies instead.
Sigh. I guess the best thing about Tony's is that it converts to a nightclub after 10:30pm. Stick around to get a "show" -
Review from Charles M.
Memphis, TN
1/31/2012
I enjoyed it, the steamed Oysters were very good, and since that is what I went there for it was worth it.
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Review from Erik J.
Willow Spring, NC
9/24/2011
My wife and I went here on a date night... first in a while. The wine and food were excellent, but our server didn't seem like she wanted to be there. The server for the table behind ours was quite good though, she helped us more than our actual server. I won't hold that against the restaurant though, we all have our bad days. Get there early, it fills up quick. The restaurant area does have a coastal appearance, almost mess deck like you might find on a ship. The floors are wood and so are the booths. They weren't the most comfortable, but there is plenty of space. My wife and I hope to go back soon, we may try out the bar area instead of the restaurant side.
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Review from Denise M.
Apex, NC
4/9/2011
Love to sit at the seafood bar and order a peck of steamed oysters and an order of crab legs...and then often another peck of the oysters.
The guys at the seafood bar work hard and shuck fast!
Sunday is half price/reduced prices on some of the seafood bar options, including the oysters, clams and crab legs, but we never have trouble getting a seat.
Disappointed they recently stopped carrying king crab legs, but the snow crab legs are good, too. -
Review from Psalm S.
1/29/2011
Went here for an impromptu dinner with my co-workers and boss (who loves this place). It's in a bizarre schoolish-looking plaza that apparently has trouble keeping many businesses afloat. Tony's is in the back left and has a nice little outdoor eating area that looks into a field.
Inside, I felt like I was transported back in time to the '80s. The decor seemed very outdated, but we were greeted pleasantly enough and decided to sit at the oyster bar. Now, I can't speak for the taste or quality of the oysters myself, it's just not something I'm into, but the people that did order them seemed really pleased. By the way, the appetizers were half-off until 6:30 on this Friday night -- not sure if this is a nightly occurrence or not.
I actually ordered a half-rack of ribs with a real yummy BBQ sauce, mac 'n cheese and garlic mash. It also came with a garden salad, as well as all the hushpuppies you could eat for the table.
All the waitstaff were friendly, helpful and attentive, and our bill wasn't as large as I thought it would be. Apparently, they also have nightly music and as we were heading out, things were getting busier. All in all, I had a good time with some friends and a meal that was tasty, but I won't be rushing back anytime soon. -
Review from Bruce G.
1/23/2011
3.5 to 4 star line
My review for Tony's Oyster Bar (Or Tony's OB) is another one of my reviews based on visiting over the years, and not one particular visit. I have probably been to Tony's over 50 times previously. (Mostly to hear a band). The place is decorated with a New Orleans Mardi Gras theme. There is a bar for drinks, an oyster bar (which isn't very big) and a dining section with tables. I have mostly dined at their Oyster Bar and it can get very crowded and hard to get a seat there, especially on the weekends. The times I have gotten a seat and eaten there has been great. I think they offer half priced appetizers on Thursday's, at least they used to. They offer daily specials on their entrees, but they can be quite pricey, so I tend to stick to the appetizers and oyster bar. The oyster bar staff is very attentive and helpful (as is the bar staff in general).
As I mentioned previously the restaurant changes into a bar with live entertainment in the evenings on weekends and also I believe Thursday nights. They move away the tables in the dining area, and open up a stage to some of the hottest local bands in the area. There is dancing up front, but the area is small and it can get very crowded in there. Also the clientele late at night on the weekends can sometime resemble the bar scene from the first Star Wars movie, and it's not too surprising to see a fight there when it's crowded and the alcohol is flowing. You might get mauled by a cougar too, but that is another story :-)
Overall a real fun place with good Cajun themed seafood. My one complaint about Tony's is the bathrooms, they are messy and cramped with no ventilation. At least the men's bathroom is this way, cannot speak for the women's.Listed in: Old Reliables, Cougar Dens
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Review from Doug S.
Westland, MI
9/2/2010
When I was in Cary for a business trip, I ate at Tony's twice.
The first experience was very good. I sat at the bar (not the oyster bar) and received excellent service from a super helpful bartender. I asked her to suggest a fish dish and gave her a few parameters and ended up with a very good blackened swordfish. Tasty and cooked to my liking.
The next experience was less than acceptable. I sat at the oyster bar and was jonesing for some steamed oysters. They ran out that night so I didn't get what I really wanted. But I'm flexible so I tried to talk with the dude in the t-shirt and sideways baseball cap to figure out what else was good.
I really felt as if he couldn't care less about helping me. It was 9pm and he wanted to go home I'm sure.
I ended up having to get up and walk across the floor to go and talk to him to ask him if mussels were available. He mumbled something that I could not understand.
The steamed shrimp and clams came out, and the plate was placed in front of me and he walked away before I could ask for some horseradish. With my glass of Turbo-Dog almost empty, he didn't even ask me about a refill. At least the food was tasty - but I expected a better experience. -
Review from Jules M.
Cary, NC
11/5/2011
5 stars for oysters & crab legs, 2 stars for everything else. Check out their weekday specials and come in for some stellar oysters and crab legs. Not a fan of anything else on the menu. Prices are decent without the specials but more than worth it when you happen to visit on one of those days.
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Review from dave a.
Richland, WA
3/26/2009
Best jambalaya I've ever had. Loaded with seafood, andouille, and chicken, and served over just the right amount of rice to assure no sogginess. The place is known more as an oyster bar, but it's cajun dinner offerings are spectacular.
I've eaten here 3 times and will always have this place on my list when visiting the Triangle. -
Review from Eric M.
Raleigh, NC
9/13/2008 1 photo
Well, I'd heard some negative reports on service here from others, but I'm pleased to say that all of our waiters and bar staff were very attentive and happy to help us.
Tony's serves New Orleans style food and oysters, so I was a little wary that I wouldn't be able to find any vegetarian options when I went in. To my surprise, they did offer three different veggie-friendly options. I tried the cheese ravioli and it was delicious.
Tony's also often features live music and has a DJ on Thursdays.
All in all, not my favorite restaurant, but not half bad! -
Review from Melodie S.
Cary, NC
6/21/2008
Tony's makes a great Po' Boy with oysters, and they also do a Buffalo Shrimp Po' Boy that took some coaxing for me to try, being the purist that I am when it comes to Creole, and I am now hooked. All your favorite Nawlins nibbles are represented, Jambalaya, Peel-N-Eat Shrimp, Gumbo, and the best choice, in my humble yankee opinion, the Cajun Sampler that arrives with downsized portions of Jambalaya, Gumbo and Crawfish Etoufee. Perfect for the indecisive. I haven't summoned the courage to order the Cajun Fried Alligator, but it's on the list. They also host live entertainment on the weekends.
