Have you ever pulled up to a restaurant and the line was out the door and around the building? Most people would pull off to find another restaurant. However, the delectable entrees at Tony’s I-75 restaurant are well worth the reward for those who dare wait. Tony’s I-75 restaurant is located in Birch Run, MI, about a 1-hour and 32-minute drive from my house at Woodhaven. I will say, the drive and the wait were worth it.
I will start by saying this, the line was so ridiculously long. I was going to walk to the McDonald’s across the street with how busy Tony’s was. The line may seem awful initially, but the wait is worth it. The staff member maintaining the line was incredible. She asked, “How many people would be dining with us?” My mom responded by saying “four”. When seats were available, only a handful of people could be seated at once. When going into the restaurant, it was your typical diner, packed with people seated, waitresses coming by with food and drinks, and the smell of great food. Everything had a great feeling and an amazing atmosphere, so I gave it 10/10.
The service was good; the waitress seated us and took our order. I got the orange crush which was a basic drink; my brother, on the other hand, asked for a milkshake. The waitress told us beforehand that the milkshake might take a while. I thought that was kind of her to tell us that. Ordering food wasn’t an issue. Customer service was outstanding even when our waitress wasn’t available. Other people were willing to help us. Leaving her that $15 tip was the right decision. She honestly deserved it while taking the orders from three other tables. I’ll give it a 10/10. The place had really good service.
Cleanliness is what makes a restaurant a hit or a miss, and I would say it was a hit for me. The table was fairly clean, and the silverware wasn’t bad. The floor was disgusting; it looked like it hadn’t been mopped in a few days. However, considering it was busy with people walking from one side to the other, it makes sense. Tony’s is a fairly average-sized diner-about the same size as Leo’s Coney Island. What made it feel small was that there were so many tables and chairs in there. Trying to find a walkthrough without bumping into people was difficult, especially with someone who’s my size. So far, cleanliness is about 7/10. It is not the cleanest place, but it was maintained well.
The food is why I’m writing this food review article. They had a big menu with a lot of stuff like omelets, burgers, burritos, and BLT. Their BLTs are insane in size, and it’s what Tony’s is known for. At Tony’s, they give you a whole pound of bacon on the BLT, and it can also be a side dish. I got the western omelet since I hadn’t had much protein that day and some hash browns, and personally, it wasn’t bad. My brother got a basic cheeseburger, with a side of fries. My mom got a patty melt, and my grandma just got a basic breakfast. The presentation looked good. When my mom took a piece of the patty to give me, there was a phenomenon of provolone cheese pull. My omelet looked like it was just off the stove and ready to be served. For the presentation, I gave it a 9/10. It wasn’t perfect, in my opinion, but it was still good.
When people think of the prices of a restaurant, they think of it as high-end, spending $30 for a sandwich but that’s not the case. Their pricing can depend on the customer and their wants. For example, the fries at Tony’s are $7 compared to places like Leo’s Coney Island where a side of fries is $3.19. That’s only for a side of fries. My Omelet alone was $10-not including my hashbrowns and at Leo’s; it was the same price. Altogether Tony’s order was $12.99 compared to a similar order at Leo’s $13.19, there was about a 20-cent difference. For the price, Tony’s does take the cake for being a little expensive even though comparing omelet prices came to be a 20-cent difference. Tony’s pancakes come close to $8 while Leo’s just rests at $6. They are pricey, so I’ll give it a solid 7/10. Their price is justifiable with the insane portion sizes.
This place is known for its portion sizes. Specifically, their menu has 1 pound of bacon, which looks insane. Almost everything on their menu is twice the normal size. There isn’t much to say about their serving size. However, I am concerned about how their massive portion sizes affect the calorie count in the food. Tony’s doesn’t give the calorie count on their food menu, so if you’re trying this place out, I recommend being mindful of what you are ordering. I give it a 7/10. Their portion sizes are good, but what’s in them may have people going here concerned.
Returning to the food, the western-style omelet, presentation-wise looked good, and the hash browns too. When you cut into the omelet in the middle you can see a mix of egg yolk and cheese melting. I didn’t expect it, but trying it was delicious and different. The egg yolk in the middle of the eggs may not be for everyone, but if you do get it, I recommend trying it with the hash browns. The omelet had large peppers and onions in them. I wasn’t a big fan of it, but I don’t mind eating them. I have to have something with it like eggs, meat, or potatoes to eat a chopped pepper. The omelet was well seasoned, but I can’t say the same for my hashbrowns which had no seasoning on them. Texture-wise they were fluffy and cheesy with the ham juice. It was so good. If I saw the person who made this omelet I would hug them. Although when you put that side of Frank’s hot sauce on that omelet-oh my gosh. My whole Omelet was a good 10/10, and the food my folks ate was a 10/10 because when the food got there we were quiet for 10 minutes just eating.
People can have their opinion on Tony’s whether it is good or bad. The uniqueness of Tony’s will always be special in the hearts of its fans. What Tony’s I-75 is known for is what makes them special. I can’t think of any other restaurants that are like that. My overall experience was good. I can’t speak for everyone, but I say my overall experience was a 10/10. The service was good the food was good. The community that’s built up there was just amazing, seeing families and friends enjoy themselves. I hope that people who experienced Tony’s I-75 restaurant like me will also have a great time there.
