Tony + Benny's — Restaurant in Maryland

My fiancé and I were traveling back to Chicago from Florida and had a layover stop at BWI airport. We were very hungry and did research a few options for food and wine, but one establishment was forthcoming and not open yet, and the other was nowhere to be found where it was listed.

As a result, we came upon two or three more options and decided to try Tony + Benny’s. We ended purchasing a pan slice of the Classic Sausage and Pepperoni pizza.

Being 1st generation Italian (98.5 % Calabrese), I have grown up with phenomenal Italian cooking and innumerable Italian American pizza options in Chicagoland, as well as in New York (while visiting my relatives in times past ), and every attempt at various styles of pizza in between—coast to coast.

I’ve also sought out true Italian establishments (like Il Ritrovi in Sheboygan WI of all places) for AUTHENTIC Neapolitan pizza.

I’ve even make my own homemade pizzas and in various styles.

I have to say, the “Brooklyn Style” pizza from Tony + Benny’s was exceptionally delicious and had that certain something that set it apart from many pizzas I have tried, regardless of style or region.

I Wish I had another piece of the sausage and pepperoni right now! Speaking of the sausage, growing up, I made Italian sausage at a mom and pop local establishment and know what ingredients I like in the mild or hot sausage itself including fennel seed).

I didn’t have time to micro-analyze the sausage on a layover, but the sausage used on our pizza at Tony + Benny’ s tasted more like what I grew up with and was delicious.

The pizza slice gets a 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Last but not least, the person taking my order was very kind.

There was not the fully engaging “wow” customer experience offered overall from the personnel there that was more engaged in speaking and joking with themselves. Yes, it’s still an airport, and generally busy, and it was in the evening; and unless you are an owner operator, I’m sure no one is getting wealthy working there.

At the business I help manage, my work ETHIC is to treat every patron as a welcome guest and proactively pay attention to them and ready to serve them and or engage and answer any questions at a moments notice.

So the customer service at that moment when I visited was a flat 2.75 stars. Nothing awful.

I will definitely seek out Tony + Benny’s pizza again if we ever get...

Review of Tony and Benny's at BWI Airport

I recently had the unfortunate experience of dining at Tony and Benny's at Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Airport, and I feel compelled to share my thoughts, particularly regarding the management and overall atmosphere of the establishment.

First and foremost, I was extremely disappointed by the behavior of the general manager, Phyllis. As someone who frequently visits this airport and often purchases food from various eateries, I can confidently say that her attitude leaves much to be desired. It is disheartening to witness a manager who not only lacks basic customer service skills but also seems to take pleasure in verbally abusing her staff in front of customers. This kind of toxic environment is not only detrimental to employee morale but also creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for patrons.

On multiple occasions, I observed Phyllis ( the general manager) interacting with her employees in a manner that was nothing short of disrespectful. Yelling at them during the morning rush or belittling their efforts is not how a leader should conduct themselves. It's appalling to witness such behavior, especially in a service-oriented industry where teamwork and positivity are crucial for success.

Additionally, her interactions with customers were equally troubling. I experienced firsthand her condescending tone when addressing questions or concerns from passengers. Her dismissive and rude demeanor not only reflects poorly on her but also on the restaurant as a whole. As someone who works in the airline industry and understands the importance of good customer relations, it’s disheartening to see a manager driving away guests with such a negative attitude.

The food at Tony and Benny's is decent, but the service leaves much to be desired. A restaurant can only thrive when its staff feels supported and valued, and it’s clear that Phyllis is not fostering that kind of environment. Until there are changes in management and a focus on customer service, I cannot recommend Tony and Benny's as a place to eat while at BWI. The experience left a sour taste in my mouth, and I will be seeking alternative dining options...

While I realize that BWI airport does not attract the best possible employees, I was extremely disappointed by the "service" I received. The woman behind the counter ignored me almost completely and spent most of the time speaking to her friend who was speaking to her on my side. Apparently they didn't think much of some of their own staff because I overheard how one employee cuts the pizza too big and "I'm sick of him." I asked for two slices of cheese, the woman behind the counter grabbed one that was literally almost cut in half and falling apart, and I had to ask her to please provide me a whole slice instead. She didn't warm up the pizza slices, and handed them to me on a plate, even though I said "to go", as apparently they do not have to-go boxes at the airport? She wrapped the plates in foil and handed them to me then went back to her conversation. I moved down the cashier station where I had to wait for her to finish her conversation before she acknowledged me again. She asked if I wanted anything else, and I said no, and tapped my card. As soon as I did, she walked away again to talk to her friend. No receipt, no thank you, no nothing. I literally had to ask her, "am I all set?" There was no response. I took the pizza and left. The pizza was undercooked, oversauced, cold, and poorly constructed. Even my 8 year old told me it was disgusting, and he has had pizza from everywhere. Not only is this not "Brooklyn style" (I have had brooklyn style), this is the worst restaurant in the entire BWI airport. At $6 per slice, I expected even a...