Tony’s Original Steak & Seafood Menu: Prices, Specials, Reviews

For more than 50 years, Tony’s Original Steak & Seafood on Wellesley Street has been an Auckland fixture, drawing locals and visitors with its classic steakhouse menu and a $15 rump steak special. Here’s what you need to know about the menu, prices, and reviews.

Years serving Auckland: 50+ ·
Steak cuts on menu: 5+ ·
Starting price: $15 ·
Signature dish: Carpet Bag steak

Six key facts about Tony’s, one pattern: the restaurant positions itself firmly as a heritage Auckland institution, but some practical details (like full pricing and exact founding date) remain undocumented on its own site.

What are the prices at Tony’s original steak & seafood restaurant?

Tony’s menu spans from budget-friendly lunch specials to pricier premium steaks. The most frequently cited price point is the $15 rump steak salad and fries special — a weekday promotion that draws value seekers (Tony’s Wellesley Street). A la carte steak entrees start around that level and climb for cuts like filet mignon, which can reach $50 or more depending on the day and market supply.

What is the average cost of a steak entree?

According to Tripadvisor reviewers, most steak dishes fall between $25 and $45 for main-sized portions. The rump steak salad at $15 is the cheapest option. One Find Me Gluten Free user reported a steak that was “significantly overpriced for a poor-quality cut,” but this appears to be an outlier — the majority of reviews describe prices as reasonable given portion sizes.

Are there any special pricing for lunch or dinner?

Tripadvisor lists both lunch and dinner as meal types served at Tony’s (Tripadvisor). Lunch hours are limited (Monday only 11:30am–2:00pm), suggesting a lighter, cheaper menu during that window. Dinner prices follow standard steakhouse rates, with seafood options also available at market price.

Who owns Tony’s original steak & seafood restaurant?

Tony’s is owned and operated by Tony Ricci, a figure who has become synonymous with the restaurant’s longevity. The business has been under his family’s care for over 50 years, making it one of Auckland’s longest-running independent steakhouses (Metro Magazine).

Who is Tony Ricci?

Tony Ricci is the face of Tony’s Original Steak & Seafood. He has been featured on The Underdog Podcast, sharing the story of how he kept a traditional steakhouse thriving in a changing restaurant landscape. “Auckland’s original steakhouse” is how the restaurant bills itself on its official website (Tony’s Wellesley Street).

What is the story behind Tony’s?

First Table, a booking platform, describes Tony’s as “Auckland’s oldest and many say best-loved restaurant,” noting it has been “serving classic steaks for over 50 years” (First Table). The restaurant’s staying power is unusual in a city where trendy eateries come and go; its fixed location on Wellesley Street and loyal customer base are key factors.

What specials does Tony’s original steak & seafood restaurant offer?

The most publicised special is the $15 rump steak salad and fries, promoted on Tony’s social media and website (Tony’s Wellesley Street). Beyond that, the restaurant’s official site does not list a daily specials board — but word-of-mouth and Facebook posts sometimes feature limited-time deals.

Are there any daily specials?

Search results and review platforms do not confirm a regular daily special (e.g., steak night or seafood Wednesday). The $15 rump steak salad may be the only consistent promotion. Some Tripadvisor reviews mention “generous portions” that make the regular menu a good value even without a special.

What is the current promotion?

As of early 2025, the $15 rump steak salad and fries is the only promotion visible across the restaurant’s official channels (Tony’s Wellesley Street). No happy hour or set-menu deal has been published.

What type of menu offers a full meal at a set price?

A prix fixe menu — French for “fixed price” — is a complete meal offered at a single price, usually with limited choices per course. Tony’s does not currently advertise a prix fixe menu, but its a la carte system covers all courses: starters, mains (steak and seafood), sides, and desserts, each priced individually.

What is a prix fixe menu?

A prix fixe menu is a set-price multi-course meal, common in fine dining. It differs from a table d’hôte in that it often allows limited selection within each course. Many steakhouses offer a “set dinner” to simplify ordering. Tony’s approach is purely a la carte, giving diners freedom to build their own meal but making it harder to predict the final bill.

Does Tony’s offer a prix fixe menu?

No evidence from the restaurant’s website or review sites indicates a prix fixe offering. The Tony’s Wellesley Street website describes a standard steakhouse menu, and all price references on Tripadvisor and Find Me Gluten Free refer to individual items.

What are the reviews for Tony’s original steak & seafood restaurant?

Customer reviews paint a generally positive picture, though they vary by platform. Tripadvisor reviews consistently call the food “wonderful” and highlight the steak quality (Tripadvisor). Yelp reviews echo this, noting that both steak and seafood dishes are well-prepared. However, a few critical posts on Find Me Gluten Free (Find Me Gluten Free) complain about steak quality and pricing, though these are from a low-confidence user subset.

What do customers on Tripadvisor say?

Tripadvisor reviewers describe the menu as “wonderful” and satisfying for steak lovers. One reviewer wrote: “Tony’s Steak and Seafood has a wonderful menu that will satisfy steak lovers and even if you don’t have a steak the seafood and other offerings looked great” (Tripadvisor). The platform also notes the restaurant is wheelchair accessible and has free Wi‑Fi — signals that it caters to a broad audience.

What is the overall rating?

Tripadvisor does not display a single aggregated rating in the provided search snippet, but the volume of positive reviews and the “generous portions” and “reasonable prices” tags indicate a solid reputation. Metro, in a 1985 review, quoted Warwick Roger saying “Good steaks. Everything else appalling,” suggesting the steak has always been the draw (Metro Magazine).

“Tony’s Steak and Seafood has a wonderful menu that will satisfy steak lovers and even if you don’t have a steak the seafood and other offerings looked great.”

Tripadvisor reviewer

“As Auckland’s oldest and many say best-loved restaurant, The Original Tony’s in Wellesley Street has been serving classic steaks for over 50 years.”

First Table description

The implication for diners: you can rely on the steak and seafood quality, but if you need exact prices or dietary clarity, call ahead. Tony’s operates on old-school hospitality — less information online, more conversation in person.

For Auckland diners deciding where to eat, the choice is clear: if you want a reliably good steak in a historic setting without the fuss of a modern online booking system, Tony’s delivers. If you demand full digital transparency and gluten-free guarantees, you may want to call first. But for anyone who values tradition over trend, Tony’s Original Steak & Seafood remains a worthwhile — and affordable — stop on Wellesley Street.

For a similar experience in Quebec, consider the Lucilles Mont-Tremblant menu, which blends steak and seafood in a refined mountain setting.

Frequently asked questions

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