Delicious!
We were in town and wanted to try a highly rated eatery, Tolbert’s looked like it could fit the bill. And it definitely did!
We were seated immediately and drinks were promptly brought out. Our server was amazing btw. I ordered the fried chicken sliders with fries. Hubby ordered the chili tacos which he let me take a bite of, yum! My sliders were way better than I expected, chicken breading was cooked to perfection. I almost opted out of the chipotle Mayo but I’m so glad I didn’t, it had a savory flavor with just a kick of spice. Loved it!
I recommend giving them a try :)
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Maura Montalvo
Google
a month ago
5.0
Everyone was so welcoming ordered the taco bowl salad, onion rings,kids tenders and key lime pie. Everything was exceptionally great! Did not get sick from food which was a great plus. And everything was reasonably priced.
M
Mark Labbett
Google
2 months ago
5.0
An awesome bowl of the "no beans" chili and a great side salad! Its nice that there is a beans or no beans options to appeal to the northerners who like beans in thier chili. It wasn't too spicy, but a good amount of heat flavor! Ate outside, it was great!
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Adrian Breedlove
Google
3 months ago
5.0
Tolbert's was on my Texas Bucket List that I almost skipped, but I'm SO glad I didn't. I wanted to go to one of the originals in the Chili game, so when I saw it was 15 minutes from my hotel, I made it my trip's last dinner destination.
The menu is much more than chili, but I was on a mission to sample both of their standard bowls. I got a cup of Red, sans chopped onions, and a cup of Chile Verde. The Red has a really good mild base flavor that I could eat repeatedly, but also tweak at home for my own family. If I make it back to Grapevine, I'll get the 5 alarm 😉 The Chile Verde is similar to the kind I've had in El Paso - very brothy. The diced pork was very moist & the diced green chiles, tomatillos, and other items were flavorful. It would be a great breakfast dish with some flout tortillas. The Queso Rojo was pretty darn good. It is their queso dip with a scoop of Red in it.
The service was quick & efficient, the decor was pleasantly what I expected, and the people were really friendly.
If you find yourself near Grapevine, make Tolbert's one of your meal destinations.
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Kayla M
Google
3 months ago
5.0
This was a great experience and they were not kidding when they said their chili is award winning. They have live music and a chill vibe. I would highly recommend that you try this place out for yourself.
2 people $30 (beer was ordered)
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Aubrey V
Google
5 months ago
4.0
The fries here are seriously some of the best we have had. We have eaten here three times now and the fries bring us back each time. I tried the chili since it's supposed to be what they are known for and was sadly disappointed. It was bland and lacking flavor. I didn't even want to finish it. My husband enjoyed their blt and my kids both loved their chicken strips and grilled cheese. Salsa was pretty good and the tortilla soup was decent. Just wished their chili was better. I would still go back for just the fries, perfectly cooked each time. Service has been great each time too. Very friendly staff
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Michael Hill
Google
6 months ago
5.0
Love the atmosphere of this Grapevine Main Street Restaurant. Very good service. Outdoor seating available. Live music at posted times. Good menu and traditional Texas spicy chili.
C
Charles Stafford
Google
7 months ago
5.0
Great bar and grill in the heart of historic downtown Grapevine. They do lots of things well, and of course the chili is no exception. Live music all the time.
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Aaron Metzger
Zomato
Mar 03, 2019
4.0
I'm not a huge fan of chili. It's good, but it's not something I ever have a craving for. I knew Tolbert's was big on their chili, so I never really thought about going.<br/><br/>That being said I wandered in at lunch time a couple weeks back, and I'm really glad I did. The food is great, the service quick, and the prices are solid.<br/><br/>I've had the chicken fried chicken sandwich both times and it's really, really good. I work on main street, so I don't go there very often for dinner, and the ambience and type of food wouldn't really draw me there on a weekend or anything. However, Tolbert's will definately be a once-a-week lunch spot for me from now on.
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Travis Reeves
Zomato
Jul 01, 2018
5.0
Amazing place to eat, Tacos al Carbon had great flavor and one of the few times I enjoyed the rice and beans. One of my favorite of all time will always be the Chicken Fried Steak dinner anywhere I go I have to try it. I would rate Tolbert’s at an 8, very flavorful and very tender cut of beef.
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Kas
Zomato
Dec 08, 2017
2.0
We ate here on a busy Saturday night, so this should provide a reference to my review. Saturday's are difficult nights, but feel that certain service levels need to be attained. We started out waiting at the bar because there was a very long wait. The bar service was outstanding and the quality of our drinks were above average. I had an Old Fashioned and it was made perfectly. My wife had a Long Island and it was decent. Although the bar was busy, the bartenders were fast, efficient, and most importantly, professional and friendly.<br/><br/>We brought some friends with us for dinner and were seated at a round table, which was fine. Although it was packed that night, we were still able to hear relatively well. We ordered our appetizer, which were bean and cheese nachos--which were okay, nothing special. Unfortunately, the salads arrived 1 minute before our entrees. They need to improve on their pacing because with all of the salad plates, it made for a crowded table. My wife and I had their 8 oz. Tenderloin filets done medium rare. They were done nearly perfect, and the sides were only warm, not hot.<br/><br/>Our server was friendly, but obviously over-tabled. He did his best and for that he was tipped well. The bathroom (men's) needed some attention as it could have been cleaner, especially during high-volume times. Restaurants need to comprehend that some of us evaluate a place by more than just the food. Overall: a decent place to eat, a bit pricey for what you get. Drinks were good. Service was good.
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AJ
Zomato
Sep 15, 2017
3.5
Dropped in here for lunch on our last day in Texas as it was recommended by our driver.<br/>Interesting place with a lot to look at while you are there. Service was really good, beer choices good and food was well above average & exceptionally well priced & what a huge menu to choose from!<br/>I started with the donkey tails and a beer and another beer before I had finished and that was just starters. Managed to squeeze in an excellent burger and another different beer - their selection is great.<br/>I hope to come back for an evening when the bands are there - should be excellent.
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Lovesgoodfood
Zomato
May 31, 2016
3.5
Nothing to write home about but good. Decent quality chicken and ingredients. Good craft beer selection. Kind staff. Has a "local bar, restaurant" kitschy atmosphere. Over-rated by locals.
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RJG
Zomato
May 18, 2016
4.5
Simply put, Tolbert's is our favorite place to bring out of town guests who are looking for something uniquely "Texan". The food, naturally enough, has a traditional Texas focus with chili, Tex-Mex, chicken fried steak, beef steak, and hamburgers dominating the menu. I like to start with a bowl of red, and ask for it 5 alarm. In the old days, they use to serve it straight-up spicy. Nowadays, they provide the mix for you to add to your heat tolerance - apparently they received too many complaints about it being too hot. Obviously, the RJG dumps the whole thing in! Mrs. RJG prefers the North of the Border, which basically adds beans to the mix. In addition, we like to get the Henderson County burger with fries as our main meal. Mrs. RJG will tell you that Tolbert's has the best burgers in town, and while I might not go that far, it does underscore how good it can be. We've brought friends and work colleagues alike, and they all go home happy. Some swear by the chicken fried steak.
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Teeds
Zomato
Jan 21, 2016
4.0
The name Tolbert is synonymous with chili. Spotting the sign while pondering the hollow spot in my stomach made stopping an easy decision.<br/><br/>A Bowl of Red, aka Chili, was soon on order and a cold Shiner was on the table next to me. What more could a person want on a cold blustery day? How about a fire. Yup, they have a fireplace as well and I was toasty next to it.<br/><br/>The Red was great but fair warning ... the pepper was hot ... actually HOT ... really DARN HOT ... OK ... TOO HOT FOR MORTALS. I tried it and it nearly burned my lips off. I know how to eat jalapeno peppers and tried and ultimately failed. It sat on the edge of the plate lonely and unfinished.<br/><br/>That meant I needed another beer. Tolbert's gladly provided and that may be their ultimate goal.<br/><br/>In any case, stop in. Public parking is across the side street and there is always a place open so you don't have any excuse.<br/><br/>Stop in. I know I'll be back.
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Eating Out
Zomato
Jan 04, 2016
1.0
I have been to Tolberts twice and the experience was the same both times. The service and food are bad. Normally, I try to balance the experience, but there were so many issues I do not have a positive. The servers are hard to flag down. We went 30 minutes between drinks and order. When we tried to flag her down she told us she had other orders to fill. One order asked for beans instead of fries. We got fries. We asked for replacement, and they never came. Our tea glasses sat empty. The food is just as bad as the service. When placing the order I was asked how I want it done. Pink in the middle please, it came out dry and cooked well done. The queso is thick liquid cheese and not pleasant. The BLT had no tomatos and a single piece of lettuce and and one strip of bacon on one side. The other half was just a grilled cheese without any of the B, L or T. Eight of us did not enjoy the food or service. As this is the second time to have this bad of an experience, I am giving this place a one.
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Melissa Dunstan
Zomato
Dec 28, 2015
2.5
Ok, so I'll admit, I'm a vegetarian and being so, the entire Texas cuisine has been a nightmare. However, usually every restaurant has something I can eat. I ended up eating a grilled cheese here and my belly didn't appreciate the white bread and American cheese. I suspect that if you like fried meat, this place could be the bomb.
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Don R
Zomato
Jun 27, 2015
3.5
Always enjoy Tolbert's as a "pub" that also offers a quality bite to eat. The food is above average bar food, with a cool vibe, cold beer and a nice little setting to see a live band.
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Food Reviewer
Zomato
Feb 25, 2015
2.0
The fajitas came out on a smoking plate on top of burnt onions and burnt peppers... The microwaved tortillas were hard and dry. One of our party was served cold nachos... Cold cheese and cold chicken... Asked for a replacement and it never arrived ... 20 minutes later we cancelled it. Poor service and awful food.... Save yourself the trouble and go elsewhere.....
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Hiryu
Zomato
Oct 25, 2014
4.5
Had chicken fried steak- quite good! Also, fajita chicken tacos- very good! Service was awesome, too! 2 thumbs up!
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Enjoysmuff
Zomato
Jun 29, 2014
4.5
I come here for the entertainment. Have seen some good bands here and the food was pretty good. Had the fajitas and wife had tacos el carbon and enjoyed both. I really like this place and look forward to coming back each time i am here. The service here is good and everyone is nice. Big thumbs up
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Rubezahl
Zomato
Nov 22, 2013
4.5
Chili and a beer. Can only comment on their chili and beer selection. Enjoyed the chili and found the beer choices to be varied offering several Texas brewed beer as well as craft beer from other brewers outside Texas. Nice atmosphere and good service.
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Pinny
Zomato
Nov 10, 2013
2.0
Friendly Staff/ Subpar food. Had a couples night and to try something new stopped by Tolbert's in Grapevine to finish off the evening. <br/><br/>Pros: <br/><br/>The staff, both at the bar, and our waiter once we were seated were friendly and attentive even though the place was busy.<br/><br/>They also have a nice list of local Texas brews on their beer menu. Definitely a plus to support local breweries.<br/><br/>Cons: <br/><br/>Live music is extremely loud. Set expectations to arrive earlier in the evening if you're not into that scene.<br/><br/>Food:<br/><br/>The nachos we all shared for an appetizer were pretty good. Lots of toppings, few chips however. <br/><br/>The chicken fried steak didn't taste like a sirloin, it tasted and looked like hamburger meat poorly pressed out. The fried batter was thick, mushy, and tasted 'off.' The cream gravy was barely room temperature. It was also sticky and lacked flavor. Onion rings suffered a far worse fate, as they were cold. <br/><br/>Another of our group ordered the green chicken enchiladas and ate about 1/2 of one, before pushing the plate aside.<br/><br/>Overall: Good local beer list, loud live music, and sub-par bar food. We won't be returning.
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Matt Baulier
Zomato
Jul 26, 2012
4.5
Always a Great Choice. Great ribs, great mex, excellents steaks, and absolutely love the chilli. If you like salads, try the Teachers salad, always excellent. Portions are large, service is always top notch, and so is the live bands. My family (wife and 3 childrens ages 17, 13, & 7) have been eating here for years, love it!!!<br/><br/>Love the enviroment, Kathleen does a great job carrying the family traditions forward!<br/><br/>Matt & Carol Baulier
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Linda
Zomato
Apr 22, 2012
4.5
Love this restaurant. One of my favorites! Everything is good! The pinto (we called them red beans when i was growing up) beans are wonderful! Fish,steak, burgers....all good and the service is outstanding.
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CaboWaboCharlie
Zomato
Apr 08, 2012
4.5
Great place!. My wife and I went late on a Saturday night based on all the good reviews about the place and some tv show I had seen mentioned how great the chili was. Everyone was right.....great place, great atmosphere, and great chili. The cheesy, live band was the only negative on the whole evening, but we didn't go there to listen to them.<br/>We added the five alarm sauce to our "superbowl" of chili, which we shared, and it was every bit as good as everyone had said. A must for all chili heads.!!
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Alan
Zomato
Mar 22, 2012
4.5
Tried this place for lunch and the service was great and the chili was superb.
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Trent Campbell
Zomato
Feb 07, 2012
4.5
Tolbert's = Awesome. Great Place to eat!! My wife and I pick different restaurants every weekend to eat at and we were very pleased with Tolbert's... Great food, great prices, and an amazing atmosphere. Must try at least a small bowl of the chili, it adds so much fun to the dinner just to see how much heat you can stand to add to the equation... Definitely will be back for more!
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Jeff
Zomato
Dec 09, 2011
4.5
Great place. Great atmosphere and food. I had a hamburger and the caramel cheesecake. The restaurant was part of a quaint downtown area.
J
JR
Zomato
Jul 25, 2011
4.5
Great Good Ol' Bowl of Red. Tolbert's is the BEST! They've got the best down home bowl of red. I had the catfish last time though and it was amazing. Perfectly fried. Crispy on the outside, tender on the in. They had a great cover band playing. My whole family had a great time. Thoroughly enjoyed!!
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Mark
Zomato
Jun 24, 2011
4.5
Love their "North of the Border" Chili!. Their North of the Border ("with beans") chili is awesome. Great flavor and I would just just add a touch of their five alarm sauce because it is definitely 5 alarm hot and I probably prefer 1 or 2 alarm hot.<br/>The music there is really fun too. I am not sure if it is every night of just most night around 9pm, a band will set up and play in the back. A fun authentic Texas feel.
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Catherine
Zomato
May 06, 2011
4.5
Neat ambiance and interesting history!
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Laura
Zomato
Feb 03, 2011
4.5
Love it!. Great chili and signature dishes, always had pretty decent service. Wish they would bring back the original smoked salsa, but other than that someplace I'd recommend to anyone looking for a great weeknight restaurant!<br/><br/>Live music is cool, more of an older scene but great fun if you bring your own crowd (as most people seem to do).
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Glnorrisjr
Zomato
Aug 03, 2010
4.5
A pretty good place on a low-key Tuesday. After reading some reviews, etc., I decided that it was an adventure and went to Tolbert's.<br/><br/>So. The Chili. It's good, ol' fashioined Texas red chili. No beans, a little cheese and some onions. The chili had just enough heat for presence and a whole lot of flavor. Whoever got the watery bowl of beef chunks should have sent it back for the real stuff.<br/><br/>The donkey tails - nothin' much to write home about in my opinion, but again it wasn't anything bad or misleading. For those who love it, they love it.<br/><br/>Overall? I can see coming back for their superbowl of red chili and no appetizer. I liked the fact that I didn't have to explain a godfather to the bartender.<br/><br/>Caitlin did a fine job of looking after me, and appeared to have the snap to have ramped up should the place have livened up some.
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Sara
Zomato
Jul 02, 2010
4.5
Chili and live music. Originally known for their famous chili, I would say that Tolbert's is almost even more known for their live music now. Don't get me wrong, they still make a good and popular bowl of Texas Red (their chili) and get the occassional write up in some gourmet magazine listing the top chili places in the country, but in recent years they have become kind of a go to place for live music on really any night of the week. <br/><br/>Usually the weekend nights of popular cover bands, Tom Petty, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Eagles, the Beatles, Santana, etc. During the week they have some more local singers that take the stage. <br/><br/>It is really kind of an odd mix that they are able to pull off that is still very much a restaurant that slides more into a concert place as the night goes on. People still stay at their tables as the music starts (ordering dessert or an extra couple drinks), there is a small area in front of the stage where some people will get up and dance but there isn't a large dance floor. They are able to walk the boundary between restaurant and concert place pretty well.<br/><br/>I think the service is decent. It is good when not busy, but I have had problems getting drinks when they get slammed later in the evening with people listening to music, but then you just have to go to the bar to get a few drinks or be a little patient to wait for the servers to make it around.<br/><br/>Definitely a fun place to either go for lunch or dinner to try their chili (I would recommend ordering it spicy) or to go late and have some drinks and listen to some fun live music.
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Food Critic
Zomato
Jun 16, 2010
2.0
Hire some better help...including the cook. I've lived in Grapevine for the last 7 years and most people here are friendly. Went to Tolbert's when it first opened and was pretty excited about a new experience. But Tolbert's didn't deliver. Food isn't all that it should be and the same could be said for the service.<br/>While the food was tolerable the service was the icing on the cake for why I won't go back. <br/><br/><br/><br/>2 Thumbs Down
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IFOODCASTER
Zomato
Apr 08, 2010
0.0
Tolbert's by far is the strangest place I have been in a long time. The minute we arrived, they made us feel like they were doing us a favor. Some strange lady kept staring at our party of seven the entire time. Like really strange stares! The wait
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Joe Thomas
Zomato
Apr 07, 2010
4.5
We visited Tolbert’s yesterday for lunch. The atmosphere is fantastic. Tolbert’s is located in the center of downtown Grapevine along Main Street.
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Froneputt
Zomato
Apr 02, 2010
4.5
Great Bowl of Red. I admit it -- I've visited various Tolbert's since about 1980. I've always stuck with the basics -- bowl of red, chiliburger, donkey tails, fries -- have always been happy. Older now -- so it's all about the bowl of red with me. They make a great one. I must admit, the price is to the point where I don't visit often. A good bowl of red? Let's face it - $3.95 tops. I think Tolbert's could get there if they were more of a hole in the wall - it should be a Hole in the Wall!! forget wood booths and a large restaurant -- give me tables, a rustic bar, peanut shells on a cement floor, and the ubiquitous TV -- be who you are - lower the prices, limit the menu and serve great comfort Texas food. Put a guitarist in at night, a band on the weekend - have fun and get back to Frank X's roots.<br/><br/>Enjoy the basics.
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RobbyP
Zomato
Mar 25, 2010
4.5
Excellent Chili. If you find yourself in Dallas you will want to make your way over to Tolberts in grapevine. The menu is extensive but they hold bragging rights for the best chili in North Texas. I would stick to a classic bowl or move the chili tortilllas for a bigger meal. There is a fair spice and good mixture of ingredients. It is very unique.
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The Gastropod
Zomato
Feb 02, 2010
4.5
Kick ass steaks, catfish, and more!. I've been to Tolbert's MANY times. I've never had a more "beefy" flavored chicken fried steak in my life, and the catfish is perfectly breaded and fried. The drinks are too good - stop at one or two, otherwise, you'll call a taxi. Let's not forget the live entertainment, which dominates as well.<br/><br/>Best comfort food in Grapevine - hands down.
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Bunny Dad
Zomato
Jan 28, 2010
4.5
Love the chili. Love the fajitas. Had the burger tonight and was disappointed. It is family friendly and our service was great
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Eric G. Moden
Zomato
Sep 30, 2009
4.5
Chili King?. From the family of Frank X. Tolbert, one of the original chili kings in Texas, straight from those ol' days down in Terlingua.<br/>Chili and a beer...sounds good.
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CDC-76902
Zomato
Aug 09, 2009
4.5
Great Food, Fun Place. The food a Tolbert's is good for the price, the atmosphere is good for the family during the day and good for adults at night. Basically a family bar. The service is average but the wait is worth it. Try the Chicken Fried Chicken.
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Aaron
Zomato
Aug 08, 2009
4.5
GOOD FOOD, FAIR SERVICE. Like the area (historic), like the ambience. Food good but not great but maybe I should have gotten chili but Texas is so hot in the summer. Worth trying though.
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Traci
Zomato
May 19, 2009
4.5
Recently a fan. Tolbert's live music venue brought me from Fort Worth to Grapevine recently, and I'm ready to return. I think I've been here about ten times now (maybe more) and I always have a great time. The food is delicious, the drinks are well-mixed, and the service staff is beyond excellent! Once there was some confusion with my bill (I ran a tab all evening, then paid cash, but the amount was still drafted from my card) and the owners of Tolbert's got right on to correct the mistake! I'm a stickler for customer service, and they impressed me beyond measure. To top it off, it's a smoke-free environment, so I don't smell like an ashtray the next morning. ;-) I love it!
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RJG
Zomato
Apr 29, 2009
4.5
The Love and War in Texas post had me thinking about Tolbert's, and as timing would have it, my neighbor Mr. SS and I agreed to meet there for lunch soon after. Simply put, Tolbert's is my favorite place to bring out of town guests who are looking for som
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Robert Barger
Zomato
Mar 22, 2009
4.5
Good chili, okay service. Good chili, with or without beans. Both taste good. Chicken Fried chicken is good. I thought it was a bit overpriced for the kids food; but overall a good meal and worth experiencing. I probably won't go out of my way to return though.
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Carson Ingle
Zomato
Mar 04, 2009
4.5
This resturant is a must! From their live music nights to their mouth watering chili tolberts is #1. Tolberts has great friendly service and a fun bar to kick back with a few friends and watch the big game! Tolberts has a fresh original air about it that makes you want to come back begging for more!
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Caitlin M.
Zomato
Feb 25, 2009
4.5
Tolbert's is a perfect restaurant! Great service, quick, and the food is GREAT! I would definitely reccommend this restaurant for anyone that hasn't tried it yet. The best things to eat I think are the 'Donkey Tails', which is a hotdog, wrapped in cheese, and deep-fried. (probably not too healthy, but yummy all the same!), and the chili. Tolbert's is a great place, and I defibitely reccommend it to anyone.
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AT4
Zomato
Jan 14, 2009
4.5
Perfect spot for a shopping break. I love shopping on Main Street in Grapevine and Tolbert's is a perfect spot to stop for a drink, salad or bowl of chili. Friendly, efficient service and a large variety make the restaurant sure to please all ages.
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Mike
Zomato
Nov 10, 2008
4.5
Neat Streetscape. The food is good, I feel like it used to be fair but has gotten better over the years, maybe some trial and error on the part of the kitchen. The decor and streetscape outside have always been the best part of Tolberts and the historic Main Street Grapevine area. When eating in there you can just tell the place and restaurant has an authentic history. The service, similar to the food, seems to be on a slow steady climb of improvement. Basically each time I go there which is only about once every 3 or 4 months, I leave thinking both the food and the service are just that much better than the time before. Definitely I must try when shopping on Main Street Grapevine.
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Babs
Zomato
May 01, 2008
4.5
Great food/great atmosphere!. I didn't know what I was missing until they opened up on Main Street! What I've had on the menu thus far is pretty darn good and it's a great restaurant to have as one of the many choices in Grapevine.
