Tolbert's Restaurant & Chili Parlor — Restaurant in Grapevine

Original review below, this is an UPDATE:

I had previously given 5 stars when I was there in December of 2019. We were back 12-14-21, and things were not as great. The hostess who was seating folks was rude to us. Can't recall her name only that she had/has mutil-colored hair. This time we went on a Monday night and we got there around 7, there wasn't a wait and right away we spotted a table tucked in the corner away from the bar and away from the back where the live music is a bit louder than we prefer.

So, we asked the multi-color hair hostess lady if we could sit there. This was after asking to please not be seated at the bar or in the back. She said no but offered no reason as to why even after my husband asked her why not three times and letting her know we were willing to wait to get a table in the area where we wanted to sit at. She did tell us any of tables we wanted to sit at was NOT reserved for anyone, so that wasn't the issue. Then she told us the only table she had for us was at the bar and any other table would be a 45 minute to an hour wait.

Nothing apologetic in her tone, not even an offer to have us wait in case a table became available sooner. No effort or cooperation at all with us. Now at this point I would have left as I could clearly see the other tables we could have and would have preferred to sit at, again she told us they were not reserved, but my husband gave me that desperate look of, 'I'm hungry, let's just take the spot at the bar', so we did.

After we were seated there maybe 5 minutes had passed when another couple came in and they were seated by multi-color hair lady at the table we had asked her for to begin with, the one she had stated was NOT reserved!! Plus, as I mentioned there were about three other empty tables next to that one where we could have been seated at away from the bar! It seemed she, for whatever reason, wanted us at the bar after we specifically had requested to not be seated at the bar. Dinner was not enjoyable when it felt we were basically given no choice but to sit in an area we expressed upon entering that we wanted to avoid.

This spoiled our visit there on this occasion as it showed a marked decline of what once was much better service. We live a good drive from Grapevine and had made a special trip to the area and to specifically dine at Tolberts because we had a great time when we were there a couple of years before.

The food was as great as ever. I could literally drink their chili, it is just that good! The issue we had with this visit was bad service from the lady who pretty much dictated where we would sit. Also, the waiter on this visit was very slow on service that night and it was a week night when they were not very busy.

I've dropped my initial review from 5 star to 3 because of the noticeable decline in what was once good service. Maybe the hostess seating us was having a bad night but is that a reason for being uncooperative and bordering on rude to paying customers? I don't know if we will return again here for dinner which is saddening for me when I think of how nice and fun our dining experience was just a couple years earlier.

The Christmas season is still just as beautiful, maybe even more so in downtown Grapevine and there are several other restaurants in the area that look like a lot of fun to try. Original Review

Really fun place!! The chili is SO good and the night we were there (Saturday) they had live music!! Great service, we asked to be seated away from the bar and away from the back where the musicians were set up and the hostess was so accommodating! Plus, we were seated quickly despite it being very busy. Expect a crowd if you go on weekends, not sure what it's like on regular week nights. Definitely will be back, the chili is amazing!! Plus, the Christmas season in historic downtown Grapevine is a must see, it is a beautiful, beautiful experience that will bring joy...

Update to my review, 17 July 2024:

Went back to Tolberts yesterday afternoon (17 July 24) after a very first class a d gracious response from owner/management.

Our experience this time was by far the kind of attention, service, friendliness and awesome food we had always experienced before.

Kim the bartender was amazing! Not just for us, but for every customer at the bar! Prompt ,courteous, professional, friendly...she was the very example of excellence in everything she did. Way to go Kim!

The food was perfect! A great BLT AND CHEDDAR SLIDERS PLATE! The fries were crispy and seasoned just right. The cup of chili wasnt bad, but the cornbread really enhances it greatly!

The serving staff was courteous and prompt.

And the music playing (not live) was just perfect to enhance the lunchtime experience immensely.

A great atmosphere, service, food... everything was fantastic!

Tolberts is a stand out among similar Maun Street eateries and we will definitely continue our patronage there!

Thanks again and well done!

(The above is an update to the below review)

Been to Tolberts multiple times and never had the issues experienced yesterday afternoon. Perhaps it was a one-off and benefit of the doubt is being given in that regard.

Went in a bit after 1PM, 28 June 2024.

The restaurant was not very busy, the lunch rush was over. Took two seats at the bar. Less than a handful of others were at the bar.

The bartender took very good initial care of us, takin our drink orders promptly. She was very upbeat and friendly. After about 40 min of conversation, we decided to order some food. We went to tolberts for their BLT sandwich and one of their awesome burgers.

After about 15 minutes of attempting to get the bartenders attention, I finally had to specifically ask for some menus since we'd been shown no attention in the interim. another

After ten minutes of perusing the menu, had made up our minds to order.

We tried multiple times to get the attention of the bartender to order, but were simply ignored on those attempts as we had been for too much time given the light customer load.

The situation could have been chalked up to simple distraction had the regulars at the bar not only received amazing service, but also ordered and received food. We were simply ignored.

We decided at that point, after having been at the bar for two hours and receiving such poor service, to pay out our tab and leave.

As stated earlier, this was a first for us and hopefully a one off situation. However such poor service...

Soooo much loved this place! Perfect for my solo dining experiences while traveling to new places 🙂

I entered quite last on a Tuesdtnight attracted by the special burger of the day that was written on the outside board.

Once in, I asked some questions to understand if it was a good option for me. The waiter (Cole if I remember correctly?) first tried to understand my taste and then gently suggested a couple of options that he believed would have satisfied my desire.

And got it right! The burger was super tasty, sumptuous. And it felt as Texan as I could have imagined. The fries on the side were also super tasty and very well cooked.

After the first beer I wanted to try something different. He offered to bring me 3 samples to choose the right one.

I loved that in both cases the waiter served me the food saying a warm "welcome to Texas".

He also spent time talking with me at the end.

I appreciated that he dedicated equivalent time to 2 kids in the restaurant that seemed to adore him.

I didn't have any space left for dessert or I would have certainly ordered one.

The interior of the place was very nice. Welcoming & comforting.

The band was at their second night on that stage and was quite decent, certainly engaging and seemed to have a lot of fun.

Nice surprise at the end: an incredibly cheap bill compared to any other place I have been recently in Dallas or another large city like New Orleans.

I recommended the place to all of...