Tony’s Chicago Style Pizzeria Takes Over From Ross’ in Bettendorf
By Jonathan Turner
Comfort and joy are not only important at Christmas time.
I’ve had a very challenging last few weeks, so those concepts are crucial for survival and my search for comfort food pleasantly led me to my first trip recently to Tony’s Chicago Style Pizzeria’s second location, close to my home in Bettendorf.
Tony’s has been in downtown Moline (1321 5th Ave.) since September 2022, where I even played piano a couple times (as part of the Sound Conservatory “Keys of Unity” program). While the Quad Cities takes deserved pride in its own rectangular style and unique preparation of pizza, there’s no beating some good Chicago deep dish every so often.
A variety of popular dishes at Tony's, which has been in downtown Moline since 2022.
Tony’s success led it to look across the river for its first Iowa-side eatery, and it found an ideal spot at 2297 Falcon Ave. (near 18th Street and 53rd Avenue), following the February 2024 closure of the longtime QC institution, Ross’ Restaurant.
Home of the iconic “Magic Mountain” and beloved diner food, Ross’ had played to host to generations (and many celebrity visits) since 1938, and was forced to move from its popular home at the foot of the old I-74 bridge in Bettendorf in 2015, as plans took shape to build the new billion-dollar bridge.
After Ross’ closed its last location, it took a year for Tony’s to take its place, opening in February 2025, with its first breakfast menu. The pizza place in Moline opens at 11 a.m., but the Bettendorf restaurant opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday (they’re closed Mondays), and serves until 9 p.m. every day but Sunday, when they close at 8.
The interior at Tony's in Bettendorf, which opened at the former Ross' Restaurant in February 2025.
Tony’s large, delicious menu includes standard breakfast fare – such as four steak-and-egg combos, 10 omelets, six skillets, pancakes, waffles and French toast, and two varieties of chilaquiles (which are tortilla chips smothered in salsa, sour cream, queso fresco, and two eggs any style).
Their many pizza options include deep dish, thin crust, gluten-free, specialty (including taco, Greek, ranch chicken fajita), and build your own. They have pasta dishes, shrimp, wings, salads and (of course) Chicago-style hot dogs and Chicago fire fries (loaded with cheese sauce, bacon and spicy giardiniera).
On my recent visit, I had a hefty margarita and the appetizer Tony’s Trio Plus One – featuring onion rings, mozzarella sticks, toasted raviolis and boneless spicy wings. In a word, YUMMMMM. It’s a very clean, spacious place, with attentive, friendly staff.
A regular margarita ($7) at Tony's Chicago Style Pizzeria.
The appetizer Tony's Trio Plus One.
If you want your Chicago food fix without the long drive, try Tony’s. Their Bettendorf website is tonyspizzabettendorf.com.
Jonathan Turner is a veteran journalist and piano player, who has made the QC home since 1995 and loves writing about arts and culture. He is the author of the books “A Brief History of Bucktown: Davenport's Infamous District Transformed,” and “100 Things To Do in the Quad Cities Before You Die”.