The Kardashian’s host birthdays there, Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady celebrate Father’s Day there, and on any given night Morgan Freeman can be seen hunched over eating some homemade Avgolemono Soup.
It’s the fabled Taverna Tony, famous in the media and world-renowned for their traditional Greek Feast, housed inside the famed Malibu Country Mart. Known for their animated ambiance and live music and belly dancers, Taverna Tony has become a Malibu staple for longtime locals and tourists alike since its opening two decades ago.
Taverna Tony is where you go with a large gathering, birthday or anniversary-type crowds, which can be entertained by the atmosphere as much as the food. Seating outside in the veranda under the bougainvillea is best (they’re dog-friendly, too) for a party, and they’re accommodating for even the latest of reservations. With a valet and full bar, Taverna Tony is likely to satisfy even picky eaters and persnickety restaurant-goers.
Because the restaurant’s menu showcases the best of Mediterranean cuisine vegetarians, pescatarians, and carnivores can co-exist at the dining table. Grilled vegetables and addictive dips match nicely with the fresh shellfish and rotisserie chicken kebab, along with quality you can taste in their steaks, veal chops, and game.
To skip fuss and confusion, go with the house’s Greek Feast, the ultimate taverna experience. For $43.95 per person and a minimum of two orders, patrons get a selection of 15 different house specialties served consecutively on 15 different plates – similar to an Omakase menu, or “I’ll leave it to you” in Japanese. You get the best salads, all dips, hot appetizers, Greek-style pasta, lemony seafood and chicken, and baby lamb worthy of ritual offering to the gods.
Though table-space gets scarce once the array of mezzes (appetizers) arrives, don’t get overwhelmed with American-like portions – embrace it.
Save room and pace yourself, because it only gets more indulgent. The tender, charred octopus dressed in a little olive oil and lemon is the best introduction, along with the earthy hummus and roasted eggplant purée. Then come the dolmades – grape leaves stuffed with rice, freshly ground meat, greens, and herbs topped with lemon sauce. With the tabbouleh and Greek salads, next are the souvlaki meats of chunky chicken and lamb, served boneless alongside pita to wrap up in.
For an a la carte adventure, the flaming Saganaki Cheese, a sautéed Kefalograyere flamed with cognac served on a piping hot pan, is always a crowd-pleaser. Don’t miss out on the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail Santorini-Taverna Style, which is lightly sprinkled with olive oil, lemon, spring onions, feta, and tomatoes. For a lighter meal, opt for the Garithosalata, or shrimp salad, with chilled jumbo shrimp, liberal avocado dices, over the Peasant salad.
Fresh seafood favorites include the grilled Mediterranean Bass (served whole, Greek style) and the grilled Center-Cut Swordfish. But it’s not a Greek meal without some meat. A whole rack of baby lamb is flavored with a hint of garlic, oregano, and light Peppercorn sauce. The three grilled quail is served over a bed of sautéed greens. And the Chicken Oreganato is always a good choice.
Everything on the menu is a unique take on the taverna style, something that food chains often try to sell en masse while sacrificing authenticity and taste. But Taverna Tony has latched onto something special with their blend of Mykonos-resort chicness with Greece’s mythos as the birthplace of Western civilization. Laughter and chatter fills the air during the dinner rush. Seniors and toddlers enjoy the place as much as the foodies do. And the location in central Malibu is the perfect way to top off a beach day or shopping spree.
Taverna Tony is located at 23410 Civic Center Way, Malibu, and open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 am to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.
For more information visit tavernatony.com or call 310.317.9667.
