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Frankie Tomatto's
Categories: Restaurants Buffets Restaurants Italian Buffets, Italian [Edit]
7225 Woodbine AvenueMarkham, ON L3R 1A3
(905) 940-1900
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri 5 pm - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 2:30 pm
Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
20 reviews for Frankie Tomatto's
20 reviews in English
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Review from Kazi R.
Toronto, ON
5/15/2012
Let me tell you why I like this place. I like them only on Monday through Thursday after 9 pm. Because the dinner buffet is only $ 12.99 at that time.
If you are looking for authentic italian dishes, I would not recommend this place. But if you are hungry and like to pack up on somewhat tasty food, this place is for you. Nothing special to write for them, this is a buffet.
The quality may not be always that great, for me the ribs were tender, the fish and meat items were tasty. I did not like their pastas or pizzas that much though. But I did not care as for 12.99 my stomach was happy.
I will not pay more than that for this restaurant. -
Review from Johnny H.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 5/14/2012 4 photos
I went back to Frankie Tomatto's for the first time in a year or so. And Italian dining couldn't get any worse than this. Here's my breakdown:
Calamari: very crispy with nice sauce. This is perhaps the most decent food in the restaurant
Salmon: dry, tough and bland. Tasted like cement.
Spaghetti with meat balls: This is a disgrace to Italian dining. If they can call this spaghetti, then I was born in Sicily. Too much of store-bought flavors. Meatballs were ok.
Ribs: The taste of the meat is quite ok, but it is very tough. It doesn't come off the bone easily at all. You really have to wrestle with the food. But it is huge.
Lobster and crab ravioli: It felt like chewing glue. The texture wasn't pleasing at all. As far as taste goes, it was too artificial and I couldn't really taste those meats. It was salty too.
Meat lover's pizza: Vomit-inducing. The overwhelming taste and smell of herbs coupled with the taste and smell of cheese are worse than rape. Then you notice salty taste kicking in after taking a bite of the meat. Make sure you know where the bathroom is before eating this pizza.
Mussels: Very nice with deep tomato flavors and mussel broth. Mussels were cooked nicely as well
Tomato soup: A bit too sour with some acidic taste. It wasn't appetizing at all.
Then I saw this customer eating his food. On his plate, there was some salad with watermelons and big tomato chunks. On top of the salad were 3 giant onion rings. Then at the top was a slice of pizza. And he mixed them...
Overall, there was some weird sense of sketchiness and shadiness in the restaurant.
The total for 3 people came up to $57 before tip.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/9/2012
The foods are more than decent. Especially the ones from the station in the corner where fried… Read more »
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Review from Keziah T.
Toronto, ON
12/22/2011
Again, I have to remind these other "critics" below me that obviously, we are not in Italy. We are in Toronto. So don't be complaining and saying that this shit is not authentic, NO DUH! And let me remind you, you're not going to some swanky restaurant here. It's a BUFFET restaurant, and you're paying only $25 give or take! It's not like we are in Salerno, Venice or Florence or something, then maybe if we were, that's when you should complain.
For an all you can eat restaurant, it's actually not bad. It is not authentic, but its good, I've tasted better but it's still good. If you're really hungry and are down for some fake Italian food, then go here. I don't think this place is THE BEST, but I always end up leaving feeling I am gonna explode with the amount of semi-decent food that I stuff in my mouth and enjoy it with the people that I spend my time here with - which makes it good for me.
So to others out there who would want to try this place? I say try it. If you're hungry and like I said, down for some pseudo-Italian food, then this place is for you. Plus its good for groups! -
Review from Jeanan A.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2011
I dont even know where to start. I went on a Wednesday night and it was packed. The waiting area was pleasant and I can see why kids like to come here (cheesy decorations and areas for picture taking).
I heard this place was managed by Italians and it's true Italian cooking in a buffet style..... I don't think so! It was the worst food I've had in a long time.
From the time I put the pasta on my plate and sat down, the food was COLD (didn't sit far from the buffet mind you). The flavor was bland and the pasta all stuck together into clumps (the ravioli, shells, spaghetti). The only thing that was close to decent were the rice balls and potato wedges.
The pizza was too doughy (looked almost raw in some areas) and there weren't any Italian seasonings! I'm not Italian, but I've had Italian in Italy and THIS my fellow yelpers is not Italian.
We were disappointed in the quality of the food mostly. The ambiance is cute and cheesy and the service was pretty good. Our waiter was very attentive. But if I'm going to pay that much for food I'd love to leave the place full, not hungry. -
Review from Jorge L.
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Frankie Tomatoe's
I've been here too many times that I can walk with blindfold and still be able to spot where the beef ribs, calamari, lemon, gnocchi, roast beef, pizza and ceasar salads are. The menu has not changed in MANY years. This is a default birthday restaurant place because for $ 7, they will sing for your celebrant. The catch? Almost every group has a birthday celebrant - all of them anxiously waiting for their Frankie Tomato birthday song and dance portion.
It's cute. They give celebrants a tomato-shaped balloon, a Frankie Tomatoe crown and take your pictures. And comes with $ 6.99 are three tired waiters clapping for the celebrants.
The food is not great but the experience makes it worthwhile to go. That is, if you have an egoistic friend whose life dream is to be serenaded.
In terms of food (I keep forgetting I am reviewing a restaurant), my choices are beef ribs, salmon, cheesecake, seafood pasta and their clam chowder. It's a buffer so come in an empty stomach.
Oh did I tell you that there's an Italian language lesson in the bathroom? Seriously. Bring your assignment.Listed in: My 30-day challenge
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Review from Rajendra S.
Ajax, ON
12/15/2011
I love this place because of the variety of foods that can be had. I know many others that hate it though.
Don't go here expecting authentic Italian food. The cooks are Oriental and Sri Lankans. -
Review from K V.
Thornhill, ON
5/17/2011
If for some reason you don't know about the existence of Pizza Hut or you are just so tired of it already you might want to check out Frankie Tomatto's. This being one of the cheapest buffets around town is probably the only positive thing I can say about it.
The food is an American take on Italian favorites, lots of bread, garlic, onion, pasta, Kraft dressings and not much else. It is very loud inside with lots of children running around, overall not my cup of tea.
If I want Italian I go to Italian restaurant if I want pizza I call pizza delivery and if I want pasta I cook it my self, not much space left for Frankie.Listed in: Buffet/AUCE around GTA
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Review from Ryan T.
Toronto, ON
7/24/2011
Satisfies my larger family gatherings, who tend to be simple eaters, and also really enjoy buffet's. Lots of families and children running around can be annoying.
The food is OK, and sometimes good. There are lots of options: the grill has chicken ribs veal and sausage, a deep fried station, a carving station with roast beef and pork, a couple warm dish stations, a pizza table, pasta table, salad table, an antipasto station, a soup station, vegetarian station, and three dessert tables.
Everything seems pretty fresh, and the restaurant has a fun atmosphere, though It's a little cheesy.
Check it out if you want something cheap and easy for a large group. -
Review from Joe L.
Richmond Hill, ON
11/30/2011
Frankie Tomatto has been a stalwart in Markham for many years. I remember eating there 15 years ago as a young boy and being absolutely amazed at the selection and decor. I thought to myself: "This place is like East Side Marios on steroids".
Sadly, Frankie Tomatto no longer invokes those fond memories. Just disappointment.
I'm always a little skeptical of establishments--Italian ones--that do not in fact have Italian people in the kitchen. Even the "executive chef" here is not Italian. Frankie Tomatto does not do anything to alleviate these stereotypes.
Further, it was particularly busy on my visit so I parked around back. I always make it a point to observe the receiving area of restaurants because they usually are a true tell when it comes how cleanly the place is.
Let me spare you the gory details: the back of this place is disgusting.
Cya Frankie, it was nice knowing you. -
Review from M T.
11/11/2010 8 photos
Mega buffet, Italian style! Don't let the fake leaning tower of Pisa in front of this joint sway you, this is Canada. "
"Just five of you, eh?" said the waiter.
"Eh?", this was the second time I heard it on our Canadian adventure.
The mister and I came here for brunch as our last meal in the outskirts of Toronto. My godson, and his mom and dad brought us here. Not bad for brunch, 15.99 per person including your choice of soda and coffee/tea. This is about quantity not quality. Stations of pizza, pasta, seafood, salads, desserts, and roasted meats.
The food stations are organized and always attended. I opted for salads, fried calamari, and the brunch items, eggs benedict. My godson gawked at me for having eggs, but I explained to him in America, we have eggs for brunch not steamed mussels, pepperoni pizzas, and BBQ ribs. I was watching what I ate here.
This place was packed and busy everywhere. It's family time here and your place to eat your heart for anything almost Italian. To my surprise, you can learn Italian in the restrooms. When I was in a stall, I heard a lady saying the numbers in italian. It turns out, it was an Italian lesson replaying over the speakers. So if you are doing No.1 or No. 2 or vomiting, you'll come out saying, uno, due, tre.... Why go to Pisa, when you can come here, Frankie Tomatto's?Eh? -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
2/26/2010 3 photos
Frankie Tomatto's is a good place to go for AYCE buffet when you are tired of all those Japanese and Chinese buffet places.
I only come here when there are visitors from overseas... ok one of that is my mother! She loves to try out little bit of this, little bit of that, she got to see what she is eating and when she does not eat Japanese, this is a good alternative.
Talking about kids having fun here! If you have kids, please go Monday. If you don't have any, please avoid at all cost going there on a Monday! I did not realize that Kids eat free on Monday with 1 paying adult... and of course the whole restaurant was overun by sugar high kids. I have to fight with the kids in order to get my dessert/ice cream.
There are weekday specials, early bird specials.. so make sure you check out the deals on the website to plan your visit accordlingly!Listed in: Italian Restaurants I visited…, Stuff Myself Silly!
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Review from Ariel G.
Updated - 2/26/2010
Well I broke down and took a hungry grandson to Frankie's. After 1 piece of cheese pizza (a few bites), and 3 zittis, he was ready for dessert.
A few little desserts later, he was ready for Ice Cream. After a couple of Ice Cream balls (Chocolate and Vanilla), he pronounced himself ready to explode.
I sampled a few things, and they were not nasty, actually edible, and much better than last time.
You can't beat the 'fun value' of Frankie's for a hungry kid. And thus I am 'upgrading' my precious review. Fine italian dining it ain't! But fun it is especially for kids.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/21/2009
What happened? Was there last week and the buzz was that ownership has changed. I thought that the… Read more »
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/29/2008
Really, now? Even for buffet standards, this place is top-notch blarh, full of families that have the temperament and excitement of the colour beige.
The Italians in the city are probably praying the rest of Toronto finds the better way, something like the TTC... away from this place. I came here a couple of times as a university student, happy to get a free meal from family members who were eager to try a new buffet joint. And it's fair -- you know, something you'd probably embrace were you riding along an American highway and it was well past the time for IHOP. You know, the last chance restaurant?
I understand the allure of buffets, and I am a fan of some of them. An Italian buffet just seems so wrong, and it'd just be so much better to go to a proper restaurant for decent slow-cooked food. In all honesty, The only time I would consider returning is if I 1. somehow ended up in the suburbs 2. was with a picky friend didn't want to look at his or her misery. I have high doubts either of those will happen anytime soon, thank you very much. -
Review from Helen L.
Toronto, ON
10/6/2009
Frankie Tomatto's is a guilty pleasure of mine that I indulge in once or twice a year. The others are right, the food isn't that great but it's not bad either. I can't really explain why I like this place either other than the fact that we've been going there for as long as I remember. I am not a fan of buffets but I do enjoy going to Frankie's for dinner. I disagree with the accessment that Frankie ranks lower than East Side Mario's as I won't even step foot into that place.
I usually stay away from all the meats even when I did eat meat but I did enjoy their seafood items like fried fish, calamari with aoili, mussels and shrimps. As a vegetarian, a few of my favs are the greasy garlic bread, greek salad, various types of olives, roasted red pepper & artichokes, potato rosti, eggplant parmasan and I always end my meal there with a small plate of their mini cream puffs in the dessert section. -
Review from Rayn L.
Toronto, ON
6/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great Italian buffet styled restaurant. Adept for a family orientated birthday for kids or older adults. Birthday costumers get a free picture, balloon, and cake with candle. Also the birthday person can spin a wheel for prizes. One of these prizes is 'a chance to win a trip to Italy for 2.' Not that it said 'a chance,' if you wheel lands on it your name is entered in a draw. The food here has great variety, namely in the meat and heavy carbs. Surprising there was a wide selection of breakfast items at lunch. Interior is very authentic in the Italian design and has many opportunities for pictures. All in all this place is great place for kids and seniors, teenagers and young adults may find this place too childish. Yet a great place nonetheless!
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Review from Lynda W.
Toronto, ON
10/20/2008
Like the last reviewer, I too do not know why I like Frankie Tomatto's! Where Italian food is concerned, Frankie's ranks lower than East Side Mario's (sorry east sides, I love you). My rule on buffets is this: YOU KNOW the food is going to be lower quality than a-la-carte restaurants, it's practically a no-brainer. So you set yourself up for crappy food, you starve yourself for the day in anticipation, and so everything (and I do mean everything) looks great!
Frankie's interior is sorta weird, like they are trying to replicate a small Italian village. Instead I feel like I'm in a cartoon painting of a Swedish Town. The stations are pretty standard where Italian buffets go. You got the pizza, the pasta, the salad, the meats, the seafood, the bread station and of course the desserts. The food actually isn't too shabby, I mean again from buffet standards. -
Review from Nasty n.
Scarborough, ON
12/22/2011
Honestly, If the price doesn't say much than you got way too many expectations. The same quality of food and service at Mandarin is value at $25.99 at this time of the year. Frankie's assortments of food and desserts is worth the price over Mandarin. The fact that you can see the food being cooked and fresh ingredients being added. This place epitomizes the saying " worth the bang for your buck"
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Review from Rudy W.
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
when they say buffet, they really do mean huge ass buffet selections.
they have pasta, meat, fruits, cake, ice-cream, pizza, salads, etc..etc.. I lost count on how many items they have.
fortunate enough I tried every single piece of them and let me tell you.
don't eat, just watch and take pictures.
this place have the worst ever italian food. but they have huge amount of food, people seems don't care going in and just stuffing their face.
as I said, if you want to look at the large selection of buffet, same size as bellagio, with fraction of the cost. you can come here. but be warn, just to take pictures. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2008
I'm not sure why I keep ending back at Frankie Tamatto's but I do, there is something so alluring about the idea of unlimited, mediocre food in a kitschy setting that keeps bringing me back. I wish I could tell you that I was being facetious but I'm serious, I keep ending up there. Frankie Tamatto's is a weird place, the set up is an attempt to recreate a small village where every window has large plates of food that you can take, it's fun in the way that playing pretend is fun. It has all the Italian specialties: pasta, pizza, chicken parmesan and all of these are the quality you'd expect from a buffet. The actual dining area is somewhat less spectacular with dingy lights and tables that take you out of the Italian feel. Frankie Tamattos is an excellent place for a birthday because everyone can get what they want and it's easy to split the bill. I wouldn't recommend it for dates or any sort of setting where you are trying to impress someone because, well, it's not very impressive.
Like the review? Check out the link to my blog on my profile. -
Review from Jae k.
11/22/2008
We love this place! There's so much to eat!
