GREENVILLE
PROFILE TONY’S ITALIAN KITCHEN
STORY BY TRAVIS HAIRGROVE PHOTO BY DAVID CLAYBOURN
Good Food, Friendly Service
Home-style Italian staples make Tony’s a local favorite
F
or more than 20 years, fans of
Italian cuisine in Greenville
have made visits to Tony’s
Italian Kitchen one of their most
beloved regular rituals.
Nearly all the locals know the
owner, Tony Kapllaj, and his brother
and executive chef, Sander Kapllaj,
on a first-name basis, and the Kapllaj
brothers can always be overheard
addressing both regular and new
guests as “my friend” or “brother.”
Also, often as soon as customers
are seated, they are served fresh garlic
bread that’s as warm and comfy as the
hospitality.
Both Tony and Sander are from
Albania originally, where they started
helping with the family restaurant
business as children. Sander also
served a stint in the Albanian military
as a cook.
“I came here to visit family and I
stayed,” Tony said. “If you make good
food and are friendly to the people, I
think that’s what is most important.”
In addition to the friendly
customer service, guests are often
pleased with the quality of the
homemade-style food, the portion
sizes and the kitchen’s flexibility when
it comes to custom (not on the menu)
orders.
Tony’s menu is loaded with many
of the most popular Italian-American
staples, including baked dishes like
lasagna and baked ziti, meatball and
sausage parmigiana sandwiches, a
variety of pasta dishes topped with
chicken, seafood or veal, as well
as vegetarian options like pasta
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T H E T E X A S F O O D IE
“If you make good food and are friendly to the
people, I think that’s what is most important.”
primavera and eggplant rolletini.
Over the years, the restaurant has
received consistently positive reviews
online.
“OHHHHHHH MY
GOODNESS! THE BREAD,” wrote
Dana D. of Rowlett on Yelp. “Not the
typical heavy bread you expect in an
Italian restaurant. It’s a heavenly yeast
roll the size of honey bun and if you
have a weakness for bread you will not
be disappointed!
Another reviewer on Yelp, Teresa M. of
McKinney posted, “We stopped here and are
so glad we did.
“I had the cheese tortellini in pink sauce,”
she related. “The serving size was very
generous, so we had leftovers to bring home.
“I asked for a bag of ice to keep
the leftovers cool and they were very
accommodating.”