Chef Tony's - BethesdaMy partner is a vegetarianMy partner is a vegetarian and the chef personally created a dish for him. We ate at the bar and the bartender was attentative and engaging. All the staff was friendly. This was definitely a most memorable date night. We celebrated the anniversary of our first date, which happened to take place at Chef Tony's as well.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a great timeWe had a great time and fastastic food. Our server Richard was very friendly and greeted us right away. The only negative I have is that we ordered a bottle of wine (1 of only 4 cab selections and the only one offered by the glass) and it came out with a twist top! We sent it back.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMA great findThe food was great, the staff was friendly and fun. This was a really great place to have a Saturday brunch. I would definitely go back.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMRefreshing dining experienceHaving so many restaurants to choose from in Bethesda can be daunting. And, it's always tempting to go with one of the chain stand-bys. Chef Tony's is not a chain. Instead, it's a terrific, laid-back neighborhood find located steps away from the main drag making it just as easy to get to and park. The wait staff were incredibly gracious and friendly. No stress that only 2 out of our party of 5 were there at the time of the reservation. The bartender was good, appetizers and housemade hummus were delicious. I will definitely come back to Chef Tony's!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWeekend in WashingtonMy boyfriend and I went to Washington for the weekend and since we stayed at the Bethesda Court Hotel we recieved 15% off our meal at Chef Tony's we decided that would be great for dinner. We had reservations but I'm not sure they are needed. We ordered our drinks and the beer my boyfriend asked for they were out of so the waiter recommended three other beers for him and that the first one was in him! Our food came what seemed like in seconds it was that fast. It was so good I got the Filet and my boyfriend the trout. Everything was delicious! We got cannolis for dessert and they were also to die for. I would highly recommend everyone to go there the next time you are in the area...you won't be disappointed!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMTruly met or exceeded expectations.Only negative, and certainly not a fault of the restaurant, one woman who couldn't hold her liquor and made us wish we had brought our Bose noise cancelling headphones. Waiter was superb and we enjoyed everything we ordered. Intend to go back.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMall around great experienceRidiculously friendly staff from the hostess to the bartender to our waiter. Felt like we were family. And it was our first time. Food was delicious. We will go back5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Gluten Free OptionThe whole family went. Maybe not the greatest place to bring the kids but we all enjoyed it and the food was awesome.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMVery fresh seafood preparedVery fresh seafood prepared to order with simple fresh ingredients. Personable wait staff and attention to detail. I would recommend this restaurant to a friend.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMDivineBest food I've had in a while. Simple but delectable.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMChef Tony'sThis is a great restaurant. We've now had both brunch and dinner here and thoroughly enjoyed both meals. The service is great and we will definitely return.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyable experienceThe food was very excellent and well presented. Very fresh seafood and nice presentation. Service very helpful and friendly and server and chef accommodated special request. Very enjoyable. Will certainly return5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWORTHY SPOT FOR ANNIVERSARY DINNERIt was our 36th anniversary so my wife and I decided to try someplace new. We don't normally go to Bethesda too often because the traffic and parking can be a hassle, but Chef Tony's is right across the street from a large municipal parking garage so even if street parking isn't available, no problem. The food and the service were both exceptional. We both enjoyed our soups and the bread that preceded our entrees. My wife loved her spicy pasta with five large shrimp (her serving was so large she could only eat about half). I really liked my sea scallops with garlic potatoes and veggies. Finally, we shared a delicious tiramisu. Service was attentive too. Prices were very reasonable. A great bargain. We'll be back soon.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMNeighborhood GemSmall place tucked away on St. Elmo street that has great fish and other food! Parking garage directly across the street! Go! Try it, you will not be disappointed!5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for Sunday brunch.We went for Sunday brunch. Service is outstanding! All the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Food delicious - steak and eggs and eggs Chesapeake, mimosas, and we tried the house infused vodka and bourbon (bourbon was better). We will be back.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMService was friendly but waiterService was friendly but waiter inexperienced. One order of grilled salad arrived not grilled; one order of fish arrived with burned crust - nonetheless food much above average and would return and recommend to others.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious meal and friendly serviceMy friend and I had a delightful dinner last week at Chef Tony's. We were treated very courteously and given the opportunity to choose our table. The waiter was attentive and Chef Tony came by to say hello. Highlights of the meal were the ceviche (one of the best I've had anywhere), the salmon filet with plantains, and the cheesecake. Finally, real cheesecake in the Washington area! The Caesar salad also was delicious and a generous serving. We look forward to another visit to Chef Tony's.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Mother's Day BrunchWe had a wonderful mother's day brunch and want to go back to try dinner. Excellent and very fresh good. Attentive but not overbearing service. Prices are very reasonable for the quality.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolute hidden GEM in Bethesda!!!!Found this quaint restaurant as a result of a LivingSocial deal and are SO happy we purchased it! Food was fabulous - my husband and I agree that it was the best meal we've had all year and we eat out regularly! Staff was attentive and helpful and the restaurant was so quaint - such a NICE break from the large, chain-y restaurants that are the norm on Elm Street in Bethesda. This restaurant is off our regular beaten path and without the LivingSocial deal to lead us there, we probably would have never found it. I am so glad we did because we are definitely hooked and will absolutely be back when we are in the mood for the FRESHEST seafood offered in great variety of delicious dishes!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways deliciousChef Tony's is easy to overlook in its modest spot on a quiet street, but somehow one day we went in and it's now one of the places we go to sometimes when we don't want to be disappointed. I like Caesar salad, and their grilled version is delicious. We get to add anchovies now, and they are so fresh and tender. This last time I ordered the fried softshell crab. It was subtly seasoned, lightly battered and not oily, very very fresh -- letting the crab shine through -- and perhaps the best softshell I've ever eaten. I think it could have come with something that was not mashed potato (although that was very good).
Just come here when you want fresh, unpretentious yet well-prepared, high quality food.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMReliably goodWe've been to Chef Tony's four or five times now and always enjoy it. Very good food, generous portions without being Cheesecake Factoryish. Not the most beautiful place in town but a nice little place tucked into the older, less crowded part of Bethesda. Will definitely return.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMSolidI enjoyed the soup and desert and would choose a different main course next time, though if you are a linguini fan with a side of salmon, it's a winner.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMA place for Bethesdan's to discoverI feel this restaurant is worth checking out if you live in the area and are searching for seafood well prepared and served at a reasonable price. The front room (and exterior entrance) in my opinion does not have acceptable ambience for a date compared to the many choices in Bethesda. The 2 other rooms are hit or miss depending on your standards. The food is very good and like I said if you are searching for a restaurant serving superior food without the ritzy prices and decor then you might very well find a restaurant that feels like a neighborhood comfort place you would feel comfortably visiting several times throughout the year.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMyesAn excellent experience. excellent food and service5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience with excellentGreat experience with excellent service. The wine list is great as well.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat neighborhood restaurant!Chef Tony is a great guy. He attends to his guests and his food is always delicious and fresh. We go often for a comfortable atmosphere of just a carefully prepared seafood. Highly recommend!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThe meal and ambiance wasThe meal and ambiance was excellent. Chef Tony personally greeted guest and made everyone feel welcomed and at home. Although quaint, Chef Tony’s is perfect for a first date, or a gathering of friends.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently Good!Had our 3rd or 4th meal here and really enjoy the food. In general, I find it well-prepared and really like that the salad (I had the fresh achovy salad with greens) isn't too small and "nouvelle" in size. Will definitely be back!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMEmphasis on fresh seafoodEmphasis on fresh seafood has made this one of our favorite places to visit in the Bethesda area.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love Chef Tony's. Great,We love Chef Tony's. Great, fresh food, good service, great prices....what more could you ask for??? We have dined at Chef Tony's before and have never been disappointed!
Tony grows his own mint for Mojitos in the front of the restaurant.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMScallops and Oysters OutstandingScallops were outstanding so was the Oyster salad.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMOur server was very nice andOur server was very nice and accommodating. Service was slow so I wouldn't recommend it if you're in a hurry.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food here is excellentThe food here is excellent complimented by a great presentation. We loved it.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful Romantic RestaurantTerrific menu which rotates daily with some overlap based on fresh ingredients. Frankly, we had a hard time deciding what to get as so many menu items sounded so good. The service was excellent and very attentive.
Ask for "lover's lane" - a set of tables for two in a quieter section of the restaurant for a more intimate setting but anywhere in the restaurant is fine.
Get a to go box as the portions are ample.
Key items we were particularly pleased with - Diver Scallops, Grilled Caesar Salad, Banana bread desert (tied with the Cheesecake).
We weren't sure why "Tapas" is on the signage out front - there is one Tapas starter but it's not a Tapas restaurant.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food at Chef Tony'sFood there is top-notch; especially liked the spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. I had the shrimp with linguini and got the mild sauce I requested (menu said spicy); other entree eaten was the sole (good). Dessert of banana bread was on the small side, as was the scoop of ice cream that came with it. But after good-sized salad and entree, a small dessert was quite sufficient for me (woman). Waiter was pleasant with good sense of humor. Tables (at rear) were rather close together, and the waiter was unable to level ours despite several attempts. Will definitely return for their fixed price menu ($40 each; sometimes Living Social coupon of 2 for $40).4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMOur waitress was great. IOur waitress was great. I wanted to get an omelette without cheese (Lactose intolerant) and when I asked her about it, she not only recommended a different option, but then got the chef to add in more veggies when I decide to stick with my order sans cheese. The food itself was okay, my omelette tasted very butter heavy, for a veggie omelette. I feel like they cooked in it a pan that had a ton of bacon grease or something still in it. Other than that though, the meal was a success and I'd probably try it out again even without a voucher. One tip would be to make the mimosas a bit stronger. Just because we're getting drinks on a voucher doesn't mean that a mimosa can be 90% orange juice.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is excellent andThe food is excellent and service very good. We enjoy each visit back to the restaurant.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMCustomized menu.First visit to Chef Tony's, I was looking for a local seafood restaurant where the chef would be responsive to special dietary requests, since my 90 year old parents need a low salt diet and love seafood. All the food was excellent, and to my amazement and my parents' culinary delight, Chef Tony prepared a fresh, delicious crab cake-- with no salt, wonderful flavors and full of hearty crab meat. Service was attentive and friendly, even providing my mother with an extra side plate of a few mussels just to please her whim. We'll be back.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat night out with friendsSeafood is expertly handled. Service is friendly. Even the complimentary pita bread with dipping oil was unusually flavorful.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Dining in BethesdaIt was our first visit to Chef Tony's. The food, which is primarily fish (with other dishes on the menu too), was outstanding and the service was exceptional. The waiter was very helpful and attentive to our table, and we did not get that awful too rushed feeling that you sometimes get elsewhere. We loved our dinners. We started with the mussels and the anchovy salad and we enjoyed both. Then my husband had the cod and I had the salmon and plantains. Both dishes came with many delicious ingredients and additions. Finally I had a rich chocolate cake and he had the cheesecake. We each sampled all 6 dishes and liked all. With the meal we had a lively New Zealand sauvignon blanc. The setting was romantic and attractive.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food!The food and service was outstanding! Elena, our server, was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. Chef Tony was also very friendly. We were a party of four and we all enjoyed the experience and will most definitely dine there again.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe loved this little restaurantWe loved this little restaurant and our waiter Tommy was really great. We had short waits between courses. The food was outstanding. The best calamari I have ever eaten and the sauce on the catfish was excellent. They were right across the street from public parking and that was also a plus.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food. CalamariExcellent food. Calamari is really crisp and not too much coating.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had another pleasant tripWe had another pleasant trip to Chef Tony's. I am "hooked" on Chef Tony's preparation of scallops. I've tried scallops at a number of local restaurants, but none compare to his. My wife says the carrot soup was outstanding. (My Ketel-one martini wasn't bad either). We brought a another couple with us who had not been there before. They were both satisfied and I am sure they will be back. The service staff was classy, pleasant and knowledgable.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMChef Tony's is not only willingChef Tony's is not only willing but happy to accommodate my dietary restriction (gluten). It is a real pleasure to go there and I'm planning on returnig often.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our first visit.This was our first visit. The food was great, especially the calamari.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMSurprisingly good foodThe food was really exceptional, especially for the moderate prices. All of the fish dishes were very nicely prepared, properly cooked, and attractively presented. The fish portions were surprisingly large and the flavors excellent. Everyone at our table was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this neighborhood gem. Service was a bit spotty, but they had recently run a Goupon and I got the impression they were overwhelmed. I would give them another chance on that count. We'll definitely go back!3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding brunch, as always!Outstanding brunch, as always! Chef Tony's never disappoints!!3/3/2013 12:00:00 AM