Tony’s Barbecue & Steakhouse

This place is right down the road from where I work, downtown Houston. I try to go a couple times a month for a 16oz ribeye w/​loaded baked potato. It’s surprisingly good for the type of dive this place is. I get it medium rare, and it’s spot on every time. Sometimes it’s a bit fatty, but hey… it’s a steak not tofu!
There always seems to be new staff in there, but the cook (s) seem to be the same all the time. The ribs are decent, but that ribeye is up there. I’d say on par with Saltgrass or Roadhouse… not a Ruth’s Crisp, by far, but pretty good! They always have lunch specials, too. Oh, the ribeye sandwich isn’t half bad, but I try to avoid bread.
My buddy gets the chicken fingers/​tenders all the time, and he seems to like it. He did say the gravy isn’t as good these days, though…
Anyway, if you work downtown, it’s a good lunchtime fav for a lot of us at my place of business.

I got the three meat plate (brisket, sausage, and turkey) all of which were great. The Mac n Cheese was the best part. Only thing I didn’t like about this place was the woman who was rude at the cash register.

Pretty much in and out type of place. It’s right across from my work building and when I crave for bar-​b-​q, I would stop into this place.
I am always stump when I go into a bar-​b-​q restaurant — feeling overwhelmed and rushed. Not to mention the prices at these type of establishment is a little high. I don’t need a huge portion, I am at work, therefore there should be a lunch menu, something that doesn’t make me want to fall asleep right after.
Disliking the portion size and the price aside, I do like the leg and thigh special. It’s about $ 5 including two sides. The meat is tender and portion perfectly.
The side bar is great, take as much as you need.
I enjoy bar-​b-​q, a lot. So whenever it seems like I am in a rush, this would be my go to. When I have enough time to walk a couple blocks for finer bar-​b-​q, I’d go to Pappas.

Their baked potatoes aren’t bad.

Good bbq? yes delicious.

FINALLY! I can breath a sigh of relief. My search for BBQ downtown is officially over. Yeah. I’m done. It’s a done deal!
Let’s be clear; I am a strong believer that it’s near impossible to find really good BBQ at a restaurant in Houston. When I want it perfect I just do it myself at home. So don’t think for one moment by reading this review that I am saying this is the best BBQ spot in Houston because it is not. However, it is the very best BBQ I’ve been able to find in downtown Houston. And when I say BBQ I’m not talking about brisket as I’m not much of a brisket fan. I’m talking about Ribs and Chicken.
The ribs here are tender. Very tender. Deliciously tender. Remember-​ably tender and they are consistent from one day to the next. The chicken… exactly the same. I order them with the sauce on it as well as on the side. Nothing half done here unlike a few other spots I’ve had here downtown. This stuff is tasty and let me correct that spelling as it’s «Tasty» with a capital «T».
If you order anything else besides what I have mentioned you are own your own. The sides here are horrible. I just don’t think there is any help for it. Just follow my lead and get ribs and chicken and you will have a great day. You lean your own way, that’s your doing. A co-​worker told me that the jalapeño sausages are also good, but I’m not going to speak for him as I haven’t tried it myself. I’m good with just my ribs and chicken. Why… YOU…EM…YUMMY!
Eat Well & Prosper!

The Bar-​B-​Que Baked Potatoes are pretty good, but the service is not great. Never try to get food after 7pm, they start shutting down and at 7:30 they lock the door. Their hours say they’re open till 8.

The baby back ribs were bad even by California standards… I had to dunk them in sauce to get any flavor but that didn’t help the fact that they were chewier than beef jerky that had been left on the freeway.

I went there for a late dinner and the food tasted like lunch leftovers. I should have stopped eating but instead, I’m paying the price now at 4AM. I’d give it zero stars if I could.

I came here for a quick takeout dinner on a business trip. Unilocal reviews sounded promising, and it would be food to have another alternative to Pappa’s BBQ, which I’ve had many times.
I was pleasantly surprised at the excellent food quality. The restaurant looked really dated and wasn’t busy at all on a Monday night. I ordered a BBQ dinner plate with brisket and pork ribs, with baked beans and dirty rice as sides. Every item was cooked well and extremely flavorful.
Brisket and pork ribs were both juicy and well seasoned, and barely needed any sauce for flavor. I liked how the meat wasn’t overly spicy nor tangy, but closer to sweet.
Dirty rice was also very tasty — cooked with red onion and tiny bits of pork for added smoky flavor. Baked beans also delicious with a sauce that was also on the slightly sweet side.
Will definitely keep this place on my list while visiting Houston. Not only good food, but also generous portions and reasonable prices.

I normally don’t go for BBQ or meals with too much meat for lunch time, but the day I went here, I really wanted some brisket. I ordered a brisket sandwich. I didn’t really have high expectations, but their brisket wasn’t half bad. My wife ordered the BBQ chicken, and although I only tried a small piece, I could tell that it wasn’t that great. This place is great overall. Employees are friendly and they keep it clean. I will go be going back whenever I crave some brisket.

Decent brisket. Scratched the bbq itch before flying home.

Sorry Tony’s. I really wanted to like you — but after two disappointingly bland meals, I have to say «Meh.» Nothing horrible, but nothing particularly good, either.
The meat was fine, but I couldn’t taste any of the advertised smoke at all.
The sauce on my brisket sandwich moistened things up, but didn’t add much in the way of flavor.
I’ve had better banana pudding in plastic containers with pull-​off lids.
The place was clean and the service was quick.
But I won’t likely be going back.

This was my first time in Texas and didn’t have a lot of time to find BBQ. I found Tony’s was only a couple of blocks from my hotel so I thought I would try it. It kind of looked like a chain place, but I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing it was.
I got the Brisket/​Ribs combo with fries and cole slaw. The brisket was incredibly fresh (considering they were about to close) and the ribs were tender and meaty. Fries were great, slaw was also great. Again, for everything to be so fresh 15 minutes before closing was impressive.
The manager was who took my order (I think his name was Frank) and was a great guy. Asked me where I was from, what I was doing in town and really seemed to care aboout his restaurant.
There may be better BBQ in Texas, but for a quick dinner downtown and under $ 20, you can’t beat it.
Great experience that I would HIGHLY recommend and can’t wait to get back.

The building I work at nighttime on Travis/​Polk is right across the street from this establishment. I love that I can walk about 15 feet and I“m out of work and into a restaurant.
My first day there I felt a little awkward because I made it in one of those times when it seemed like everybody was relaxed, finishing the shift (4:00 pm?) and was having their friends pick them up or something.
The first day I ordered the bacon mushroom swiss cheese burger special. It got to the table… OMG this thing was huge. I felt that I had to unhook my jaw and swallow it like a python swallowing a medicine ball or some sort. Pictures of this hamburger are on the photo slot of this place. The burger is a 4 ½ star. I don’t remember if it was a soft bun like a Fuddruckers or Carriage House but none of it was bad. I took a picture of it next to a salt and pepper shaker to scale what I“m talking about.
On my second visit I had the sausage/​rib combo with fries. The sausage was good, didn’t blow my mind, the rib meat kind of fell off of the bone (that’s a good thing right?) but the sauce was a little too watery and weak for me. I like thick and semi sweet BBQ sauce but different strokes for different strokes. I do remember the BBQ sauce being a little smokey, me likes dat.
On my third visit I had the ribeye sandwich. If any of you ever had the ribeye sandwich at Beck’s then it is parallel to that. Nice flavor, nice size, a little expensive but it’s a real ribeye for a sandwich and pretty tender. The fries, oooooh I have to talk about the fries. These are seasoned fries with a zing to it. I think they put maybe a sprinkle of cayenne or something but whatever it was I wanted to keep hatching them down.
Foundtain drinks are available here, that is a big plus with me because even with my moderate frame I can still down about 4 or 5 20oz cups of soda with ice and not worry about a $ 1.00 for a 12 oz can of soda.
The people after my first visit were friendly. Even the guys the different times cooking seemed to step up and take charge on asking me what I would like that evening.
I gave it a generous 4 star and I’m sure it’s all the way that if they can find a way to stiffen up the BBQ sauce in the future but it’s more than a 3 ½ star.

If you’re working downtown and looking for a cheap place to grab a quick BBQ-​based lunch, be sure to keep Tony’s on your radar. It’s nothing extraordinary, but it’s cheap, filling, and good enough.

Just got back from the trip there with a group of coworkers. Overall it was very solid. Each of us spent less than $ 10 and left completely satisfied. I’d definitely say it is better than Otto’s in the park shops. The only dish that was subpar was the mac n cheese.

Went here for lunch during the week, I ended up w/​the brisket sandwich. Although I was tempted by the side dishes specially the dirty rice that looked very tasty. I ate it at work, the sandwich was pretty good the meat was tender and flavorful. I see my self going back to dry other items on the menu.

Probably the best BBQ brisket I’ve had here in Houston. It even rivals Rudy’s for quality and taste. I bought 5 pounds (yes, 5) and took it back to the office — the guys destroyed that tray in under 30 minutes, along with the sauce.
All of them were begging for more — and I told them they have to buy their own crack now. And I showed them where :)
The brisket is smoked just right, with that nice pink ring and well. its just heaven for your taste buds. The sauce is smokin’ too, with just a bit of spice to it – its really good!
Not sure who Tony is, but he’s got it goin’ on! And just to make sure, I’ve been there 3 times now :) and every time that brisket has been spot on!
If you’re in downtown, be sure to check them out.