Who or what is Tony Roma’s? Not that well-known in Malaysia, this restaurant started way back in 1972 when Tony threw some Baby Back Ribs on the grill. The rest, is history.And with more than 230 outlets in 27 countries, Tony Roma’s is considered the best in serving world famous ribs; winning dozens of awards for its achievements. But does it live up to its name? Especially here in Malaysia? This is where I come in.

I came to Sunway Pyramid with my family, hoping to have a meal at a certain restaurant. Unfortunately that said place is no more, and since that dinner was supposed to be a celebration, we decided to try Tony Roma’s instead.

The first thing that struck me was the ambience. Dimly lit, it serves as a nice place to bring your loved one to. And sure enough, most of the tables were occupied by couples all having a romantic dinner there. As a matter of fact, the place looks a little posh.

Next, the menu. Coming from North Miami, you can certainly expect a western menu but on how delicious the food is you can not tell just by scanning the list. But on first impression, I’d say the food served is nothing out of the ordinary. However what would catch your attention is the price. For your main course, you can expect a minimum of RM25+ and some can costs about RM40+. Abit more expensive than the usual restaurants around town, I was a little apprehensive. But if you’re going to be a food gourmet, might as well try it once.

For starters, I had soup – mushroom soup. What I though would be a normal bowl of soup turned out to be more than I expected. The soup was creamy, and has a richer taste compared to what you would find elsewhere. Also, it is accompanied with a packet of paper-thin crackers and some bread with garlic dip. Wow, cant wait to see the main course.

I ordered a very typical plate of BBQ Half Chicken. But what I was served was enough to feed two people. No problem, for a big eater like me, but I did notice from the other tables that the diners actually ordered a single serving and shared it. The chicken was tender, though it was a little dry. Not a problem, instead of your usual bottle of ketchup, we had hotsauce, BBQ and original sauce. Not bad. The chicken was served together with fries, and coleslaw.

Of course this place doesnt only serve chicken and ribs, it also has burgers and sandwiches. The Bacon Swiss Mushroom Burgers tasted good as well,  and it was a big portion. And the ribs? Imho it tasted ok, but maybe I wasnt used to eating ribs to really appreciate the taste. Didnt taste out-of-this-world yet to me at any rate, though it did look good. Dessert? Sorry guys, stomach ran out of space so I guess I cant really comment on that. 

Would I recommend this place. Well I would if you’re going out on that special date. It certainly has that kind of classy and romantic feel to it. However, I would suggest you order a single serving if your partner is not a big eater. At the very least you can be like the table next to us that day, the couple were feeding each other (ahem). Suggestion? Go on a double date with a friend, as I’ve forgotten to add that the layout is a little, cramped. Diners who come in twos sit at tables just nice for them. The downside is that the next table seems a little too close for comfort. And not everybody has proper table manners, most sitting side-by-side rather than face-to-face.

As for families it can be an enjoyable affair, thought I wouldnt say it is a suitable place for kids. Having a bar at one side of the restaurant, Tony Roma’s doesnt actually have a Kid’s Menu. Either that they dont actually cater to young families, or that I need a new pair of spectacles.

All in all, Tony Roma’s a place that you should give a try. Whether it is a romantic evening or a fun outing with friends, Tony Roma’s is the choice. But that’s my opinion of course, best leave it up to you.