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Magic Words at Enchanted Forest

 


Hold everything! New HoCoLocal restaurant brings back a local favorite!

This glowing testimonial comes from the Howard County Eats FB Group:

We went to Tony's of NY in Ellicott City tonight and everything was great!!! We had garlic knots, Caesar salad, mozzarella logs, pepperoni and cheese New York style pizza!!! We will be back again.

Yes, community foodies have been abuzz with word of the opening of Tony’s, more officially known as Tony’s of New York, Ellicott City. They’re located in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center.

Image from Google Maps 


Here’s a reel from their Instagram that gives you a glimpse of today’s magic words.

“All You Need” Tony’s of NY EC

Have you guessed yet? No?

It’s “garlic knots”.




Long time hocolocals may remember the outcry that arose when the Tomato Palace at the Lakefront took garlic knots off their menu. The outrage! The laments! And it wasn’t just a brief objection - - people mourned the loss. It was ongoing. 

Some folks even went so far as to suggest that it led to the eventual demise of the establishment itself.

Knot a Rumor, Village Green/Town², 7/6/2017

If you don't know the story of the garlic knots, let me know, and I'll tell you. Or ask someone who has lived here a long time. Suffice it to say that the garlic knots were right up there with the Poinsettia Tree in the third rail of Columbia essentials. How important were they?

Well, before I went to bed last night I spotted this response on social media:

"That's too bad. I used to go there all the time but I stopped when they got rid of the garlic knots."

Honestly, the Tomato Palace garlic knots are as legendary in local history as the nice little cheese shop in Wilde Lake. 

I’m sure that Tony’s has plenty of other appealing things on their menu. When the initial opening frenzy dies down we will probably pay them a visit. But, when I saw those two words on HoCo Eats, they leapt off the screen like a front page news story. 

“Extra, Extra! Read all about it! Garlic knots return!”

If you (or someone you know) are amongst the hordes of grieving garlic knot fanciers - - perhaps a trip to Tony’s is in your future. Or, if you are new to the whole thing, just imagine the culinary discoveries ahead.

Still, it won’t be long before someone says, “But they’re not like the ones at the old Tomato Palace…”


Village Green/Town² Comments

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  1. Julia A. McCreadyJuly 20, 2026 at 4:16 AM

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