Tony’s I-75 Restaurant

Had to stop in to see what all the hype was about. I’ll start off with the negatives and wrap up with positives. The restaurant was really dirty. There were chicken wings and food all over the floor. My wife said she went into the bathroom and there were 2 girls from the staff in there and after they finished in the restroom neither of them washed their hands. Pretty gross!
Now onto the positives. The portions are huge. The food is pretty good. The icecream is legit. The famous BLT was pretty good. Service was okay. Price is decent. Will I go back? If I am starving!

The portions are enormous. Stopped in for breakfast on my way to Frankenmuth. 12 egg omelette and all three little piggies in bacon. It’s definitely a truck stop. If your super hungry or just want look at a ridiculous amount of food please stop in.

Go hungry! You will get full! Perhaps even have leftovers. The first visit for him but I hadn’t been there in years. I ordered a BLT, I’ve never seen one with a pound of bacon! Unbelievable! I could only eat half and had the leftovers two days later for breakfast. He chose a corned beef sandwich with mozzarella and fries AND only got ¾’s of the way done and he NEVER leaves food on his plate! We both had ice tea and he tried everyone, raspberry, sweet and peach, I had unsweet, all very good. Great stop heading north or south on I-​75 at Birch Run.

Not the greatest place around. Quite frankly I don’t know why people continue to go here. Nothing wrong with the service but the food is plentiful but not good quality. I know what brings people here is the large amount of food they serve but why would you want a ton of low quality food? Just not worth it to me.

Love this place! Way too much food, but love it. It is a must go place when I visit Michigan.

The food was good. The pound of bacon served with each of our breakfast orders was jaw dropping. I had not seen this place featured on any of the foodie shows but my sister in law brought us here while visiting her family in Saginaw. My wish would be that they didn’t deep fry the bacon. It was more like bacon jerky which is the only reason I didn’t take the left over ¾ lbs home with me. Bottom line, I’d go back again

When I read that prior to my review that there were 175 before me I will try not to muddy the waters any more than they are. I think this place is unique in the fact that it has been around forever and it seems as if people either love or hate this place.
I think where people get off base is because it has been featured on several tv shows so people get all worked up and expect more than what it is. A roadside diner.
Regardless of the opinions that exist out there no one can deny that the place is legendary. I have been here 5 times over my lifetime and I can testify to the following things: the proportions are huge, the food has been consistently prepared every time, and the décor has remained the same.
Beyond that I tend to review things based on what they are, and this is a roadside diner. Adding the points up my qualifiers are: 3 for quality, + a point for unique proportions, + a point for legendary/​landmark reputation.
Love it or hate it, you should try it once in your life.

If you want quantity over quality then you’ve come to the right place. They gave me a pound of bacon with my pancakes but it was deep fried and inedible. Very wasteful. The bathrooms are gross and the staff is unfriendly. The hostess was on her phone the entire time. Will not return.

This is one of those quantity over quality 5 star reviews.
Food: ³⁄₅. It’s solid diner food. Greasy, massive, and delicious. You don’t come in here looking for fancy décor, or excellent service. Don’t expect complex flavors with surprising depth. Instead, you get exactly what’s promised you. They’re known for their massive BLT’s. And they’re not kidding when they say it’s massive. 2 people couldn’t (or really shouldn’t) eat all that artery clogging cholesterol.
Price: very good for what you get. Ice cream Sunday was ridiculously ginormous. Like could easily feed a family of 7. As mentioned earlier, BLT could feed a family of 5. Their other menu items, though I did not order, likely also follow the trend and could feed a third world country.
Service: while not 5 star service, it’s awesome for a diner. Waitresses are friendly and efficient.
Extra perk: they’re right off the highway by the outlet malls. So first eat yourself to a borderline comatose state. Then drive across the street and burn some calories by walking through all the stores.
Warning: the pepperidge farms outlet is there!!! Could not resist buying an obscene amount of milanos and goldfish at crazy low prices.

I was almost turned away by the negative reviews on here but I decided to go based on my years of wanting to try it out after seeing it on Diners, Drive-​Ins, and Dives. I was not disappointed.
I got the biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon. The side of bacon will feed a table of 6 or more. You only need to get one. The biscuits and gravy was a more-​than-​generous portion of chunky gravy with three large flaky biscuits underneath. I was genuinely surprised when it came to table despite all of the reviews telling me about their generous portions. There was a line to get in when I got there and a line to get in when I left.
Definitely try it out — I will be back for more!

After seeing this place on the Travel Channel and hankering hardcore for a BLT, my partner and I trekked an hour north to this establishment to try their «world famous» gluttonous BLT of the porkly Gods. On a Saturday night, this place was hoppin’ with so many overweight patrons in camo and pajama pants you could have sworn this dingy diner was parked smacked dab next to Cabela’s.
At first glance, this place is dirty. It is staffed by ladies who just don’t give a crap anymore. They’ve got 5 kids at home to make a living for and you not knowing that the folded up newspaper behind the condiments is the menu is just testament to the fact that you’re a dumb tourist and your metropolitan attitude better not shine through.
But I digress. We ordered the BLT and the chili cheese fries to share. Now, my partner is allergic to raw tomato so in the nicest, most innocent fashion we could muster, we asked her if it would be possible if they could just lightly sear the tomato. No, she says. No? You mean to tell me not any of the ten line cooks you have back there can just take the pre-​sliced tomato and just throw it on the flattop for two whole whopping seconds? Love lost, I let this slide, and waited for my long-​awaited sandwich to arrive.
If you are expecting a nice hot BLT, go elsewhere. The bacon here is lukewarm at best. The entire pound was cold, tasteless (for bacon, that certainly is an accomplishment), and old. The «famous» bread was barely toasted, there was a negative smear of mayo, and the tomatoes tasted like air. As I begrudgingly tucked into this monstrosity, we waited another 7 or so minutes for our fries to come and when they did, I had to choke back a laugh. The chili cheese fries were all beans, tasteless and hard to eat. I don’t come to a dive to eat chili cheese fries with a fork. I want mess, I want chili on my fries, not just beans on them.
The whole «order bacon get a pound» is a revolting concept, but hey if that’s what keeps this disgusting mess from bankruptcy, live and let live. We won’t be back. And I recommend anyone who doesn’t want to waste their hard earned money to steer clear.

So so disappointed! If you want mediocre food, but like, A LOT of it, this is the place for you. Got the infamous BLT (with a lb of bacon) and chili cheese fries on the side (go big or go home). The bacon was lukewarm, there was little to no mayo on the bread, and it just wasn’t anything to write home about other than literally just seeing a huge pile of bacon in front of you. The chili cheese fries were mostly beans and lacked flavor. The service was eh. The environment was lackluster. Overall, I mean if you want to go just to say you’ve been, that’s legit. But it’s not a place is I’d go back to… ever. I kind of want my $ 25 back?

What can you say about Tonys but ‘Bacon’, wow that blt is huge, they say it’s a pound of bacon and you better believe it. To build this mega sandwich they use thick sliced sourdough then pile 2 full hand fills of bacon then lettuce and tomato stab it with a steak knife to hold it together, their you go a heart attack waiting to happen. But they do have a bunch of other things on the menu, most are also mega size. Tonys restaurant motto never leave hungry, and they don’t disappoint.

Probably the stupidest concept for a restaurant: completely irrational portion sizes. The house specialty is a BLT made with a pound of bacon. Nothing else is special about it, just the amount of bacon. You can also get a 10 egg omelette or… well, you get the picture.
Utterly asinine, but somehow it sells, as the word has spread far and wide that if you «go to Tony’s and orser the BLT,» your plate will overflow with bacon. You could apply this to any menu item at any restaurant («Hey, go to Jack’s and order the ‘small’ orange juice… they’ll bring you a gallon of OJ! It’s amazing!»)
Basic diner fare is served reasonably quickly, but the line of waiting gluttons crowding the entryway is a bit off-​putting.

Seen this place on Diners, Drive-​ins & Dives. Wished I could go since they called it «Bacon Capitol of America» all for fate to place me a few miles away.
The people were extremely nice. The atmosphere is great and the portions were crazy!
The bacon. MAN OLE MAN, the bacon was so thick that it turned to ham on its other end. This Restaurant serves 11,000 lbs of bacon a week (or something like that). I had like three and a half inches (high) of bacon in my sandwich. Too much bacon for the weak hearted. But if you’re a general in your own bacon army. This place is a must!
*Bacon God Approved

I’m conflicted on how to rate this place, as the food was surprisingly delicious. Huge portions! On the flip side, it is the dingiest most disgusting restaurant I’ve ever stepped foot in.
Let’s start with the positive: Service was friendly. We visited on a Saturday evening and the place was absolutely packed — I felt bad for the servers and they were clearly understaffed. As you can see from the photos, the menu and portions are gargantuan! I ordered the Deli Mix (pastrami, corned beef, 2 cheeses, deli sauce on grilled italian bread). Very tasty & surprisingly fresh ingredients. I was only able to eat half and still left the place feeling like I was going to have a heart attack. My grandfather ordered the monstrous head-​turning Banana Split. What can I say, it’s a gallon of ice cream with toppings piled high on a plate. I don’t know how this place can make any money with such large portions.
Now the negative: Absolutely filthy. We stepped inside the doors and the place smelled like a dead rotting animal. We walked to our table and my wife nearly slipped and fell on the floor — completely covered in what I’d imagine to be a mixture of spilled soda, bacon grease, and food remnants from guests a few nights before. I understand this is a «dirty-​spoon-​hole-​in-​the-​wall diner», but the atmosphere alone made me lose my appetite. I picked up the grimy newspaper menu and tried to find something that wouldn’t make me sick. This place seems to attract the morbidly obese crowd with very low standards.
Looking back on it, I can say I ate a meal at Tony’s. but that’s like saying I just clogged my arteries and need to take a hot shower to clean the filth off from me.

Me and my family go to Frankenmuth/​Birch Run a few times a year, but hadn’t been to Tony’s in years. Went there recently with my newlywed wife because everybody and their brother were raving about this place.
We stopped in around lunch time on a Wednesday, and the place is a zoo. Medium size facility but the place gets a lot of business. It’s an older building, and kinda dirty ish. You don’t come to this place for the exquisite dining facilities. The staff were friendly, but kinda sassy like any small non-​chain business.
The food is alright. It’s not the best, not the worst. Average breakfast food, and there really isn’t anything special about it, other than the fact they give you enough food to feed a small army. I am by no means a person that is concerned with starving kids in third world countries, or wasting food, but this place is absurd. People are almost shocked with the amount of food they get, and have to take home agrigous amounts from what I noticed, or they leave it to throw it away. It’s a novelty to be handed that much food, but it’s almost annoying.
I don’t know if I would go back myself, it’s kinda pricey for what it all is. They give you wayy too much food to eat at once, but it’s not really good enough to want to eat later. Worth a try though for sure.

Tony’s is the kind of restaurant that dreams are made of. It’s the kind of random diner you’d see on a certain Food Network show (and maybe it has been, I have no idea).
The portions at this place are absolutely massive, especially for the price. Tony’s claim to fame is that when you order, you get a pound of bacon. Who doesn’t love bacon? (Well, vegetarians I guess… But this is the WRONG spot for you!) My family was excited, and proceeded to order their various combinations of bacon, eggs, and toasts. Silly me, I thought this only applied to breakfast, so I ordered a BLT. What I got was a glorious mound of bacon with some bread and mayo on top, and I regret nothing. It’s not what I expected, but one can never have too much bacon, and this was the exact opposite of a problem.
When we left, each one of the three of us had a to-​go clamshell that was just filled with bacon, and we snacked on it in our hotel for days.
If you are in the mood for cheap food done well, come to Tony’s. If you love bacon, come to Tony’s. Just be prepared for service to be a bit on the slow side, because from my experience this place is always rockin’ and the waitstaff runs ragged.

Regular readers know I love bacon. I mean, I love anything pork-​related, but bacon and pork belly? Be still my cholesterol-​clogged heart. So when I was in Michigan, I knew I had to stop by Tony’s in Birch Run to try their BLT.
I don’t normally order simple BLT’s. But when I do, I go big or go home. What’s so special about Tony’s BLT? We’re talking abut a joint that serves over 1,000 pounds of hash browns on an average weekend. More importantly, they serve 5 and a half tons of bacon weekly! But before we get to the show stopper, let’s check out some of their other goodies.
Hot Beef Sandwich [$ 11.99]
Gravy, potatoes
The hot beef sandwich is served open face and draped with rich gravy, which cascades over tender beef and homemade mashed potatoes. Leftovers for days and a food coma to boot!
Grilled Cheese Trio [$ 4.95]
American, Swiss, Mozzarella
Thinking that she could grab a few strips of bacon off of my plate (was she joking?), the GF opted for a simple grilled cheese. This was a bit disappointing in that the cheese was not fully melted. Still, it’s hard to completely mess up grilled cheese — the bread was well toasted and sufficiently buttered.
But really, we’re here for the BLT. We had a few friends with us, so check out these heart stoppers. Did I mention that Tony’s served 11,000 pounds of bacon per week? Insane. We definitely got a few envious (disgusted?) stares our way.
BLT [$ 9.99]
Pound of bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo
What I was most surprised about? How good the BLT was. Yes, I knew I’d be happy with the bacon alone. But the complement of fresh greens, ripe tomato, and a generous slab of mayo between two thick slices of toasted Italian bread was just right for this portion of porky goodness. And the bacon? Amazingly thick and crispy. It was good enough that I could have easily finished this behemoth. But I could feel some judgement coming from my compatriots. But let it be known that I enjoyed bacon for breakfast the next few days!
French Fries
This was rounded off by a basket of fries that were shared by all. While it wasn’t seasoned, they were crisp on the outside and creamy within.
So if you’re ever by Birch Run, I’d highly recommend you stop by Tony’s I-​75. I know the next time I’m in the area, I’m going to have to tackle their banana split. You’ve seen how they do justice to the BLT. If you can imagine this applied to a banana split, you’ll get a sense of what to expect. Life goals people!

So much food so little time.
Every time I go here I’m not sure what to order.
Everything on the menu sounds so good that I want it all. It’s still early in the day, so I ordered breakfast.
The eggs and hash browns are so good. They give you some of the home made strawberry jam. I had to order more. It is so good on anything really.
It’s busy all the time. So be prepared to wait. However the wait is worth it.