Restaurant Details: Taverna Tony

Taverna Tony Rating: *Location: Taverna Tony, 23410 Civic Center Way (at Cross Creek Road), Malibu; (310) 317-9667; www.tavernatony.com.Ambience: Lively and fun Greek restaurant with live music, occasional belly-dancing, and a breezy bougainvillea-covered outdoor veranda. A Malibu institution, the taverna gets a mix of locals and tourists for its hearty and generous Greek fare.Service: Warm and friendly, though food comes out faster on a weeknight than on busy weekend nights.Price: Dinner appetizers, $8 to $17; pastas, $13 to $20; main courses, $17.95 to $35.95 combination platter, $25.95; Vegetarian’s Paradise, $21.95; Greek Feast (15 dishes on separate plates), $35.95 per person, plus $6 for coffee and dessert; desserts, $4 to $7.Best dishes:Taramosalata, lamb and veal sausage, flaming saganaki cheese, dolmades, baby octopus, pastichio, rack of lamb, rice pudding, yogurt with honey and walnuts.Wine list: Basic selection of Greek wines, including Grand Reserve Boutari, along with an uninspired selection of California wines and a handful of overpriced French wines. No outside wine allowed.Best table: In the corner of the outdoor veranda.Details: Open 11:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Full bar. Valet parking, $4. Also parking on the street and at Malibu Country Mart.To see a photo gallery, go to latimes.com/food.Rating is based on food, service and ambience, with price taken into account in relation to quality. ****: Outstanding on every level. ***: Excellent. **: Very good. *: Good. No star: Poor to satisfactory.