Chuy's — Restaurant in Tyler

Chuy's Tyler TX catered our wedding of appx 80 on March 19, 2022 at Sunset Oaks venue. The venue had actually recommended them and after looking at other caterers in the area Chuy's seemed like a good option because the price was WAY lower than most other places. We mostly dealt with the manager Gabriel and he gave us options on what they could provide. Gabriel was responsive and had very good communication with us. One time I had to speak to a different manager about something (I think his name was Mark but I'm not totally sure) and I felt like I was talking to Gabriel because he already knew exactly what I was talking about and the details of my order despite it being the first time we had spoken. Very impressive given the size of their business. We opted for the "Mamacita Fajita Bar" which included chicken and beef fajitas, tortillas, rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, pico, chips and salsa, queso, and creamy jalepeno. The price including tax was $1474. That price included full set up, full catering service, tear down, and clean up. I think they usually provide plastic/paper plates and utensils but Gabriel explained that due to supply issues (that EVERYONE is experiencing) they were having trouble getting nicer ones so suggested I might get those myself. With it being my wedding I wanted something a little nicer so I ordered white and gold plastic (china-looking) plates, small bowls for queso, and gold plastic forks and spoons. I simply put the forks and spoons in a glass tumbler and added a few flowers sticking out of the top and it looked amazing (All of that cost appx $100 but worth it to me for how nice it looked). On the day of the wedding the staff arrived exactly when they said they would, promptly set up, and served the best tasting Chuy's food I've ever had. We even had several guests comment on how it even tasted better than actually going to Chuy's. It wasn't a free for all with the guests having to serve themselves - the staff actually prepared plates for everyone and the line moved extremely quickly. The staff were all neat and clean, kind and personable to guests, and totally professional. After the wedding they VERY QUICKLY (ninja-like) neatly packed all the leftover food away in containers for my family to take home. They was a ton of food leftover by the way despite we actually ended up having more guests than planned. If you are needing an event catered - I would highly recommend...

I’m not pushing the review harder down because I know there are other great Chuys out there, unfortunately this is not one. The food is delicious but the service was the worst I experienced on any restaurant in TX. The lady server first approached and we told her to give us a few minutes. She showed up again three seconds after, just a second hon... then she did not approach again, never... when we were ready I call her several times and she ignored me, then she put more chips on the table, that we didn’t need we had plenty, I told her to order she left. Ten minutes after the chips, which was ten minutes after I decided not to call her again she comes to the table looking anywhere but to me. I make the order myself being very specific about our order, only me, for her not to be confused, but she messed up the order anyways. Someone from the kitchen comes with the food and said the name of one dish I said that is not what we order, she approaches and says yes this is your order! It was a total disaster, the sides were a mess, one order was chicken she brought beef, total caos, we waited a few minutes for her to mend the disaster, she didn’t come to the table. We decided to start eating after all and then she approaches: everything good? No, is not good the order is not right and you did not give me chance to complain, she says ok! And leave! Then we asked for the bill, and the bill shows EXACTLY why I asked for... I told her to please bring the manager to make a formal complain she says ok... and after ten minutes nobody came, she didn’t even return my credit card, even when she brought the card machine to the table... I had to go to the cashier and ask for my card, the lady asked what is your card doing here, I thought is was a costumer that left. I asked this lady to call the manager, my family went to our car already, nobody came, ten more minutes, I decided to leave and never comeback! awful beyond understanding. I know the locals will keep coming and they can’t care less about visitors... if you are visiting Tyler, even if you are a frequent visitor STAY AWAY of this place, there are many properly managed amazingly attentive...

There’s a kind of cheer that clings to the walls at Chuy’s, not loud, not insistent, but the kind that feels like a screen door swinging open in the summertime—familiar, generous, and just a little touched by mischief. I went on a Thursday afternoon when the air outside was warm and buzzing, the trees along the highway heavy with green, and inside, the colors were bright as carnival glass, all pinks and aquas and the gentle gold of tortilla chips catching the light.

A woman named Joyce was my server, her hair held back with a pencil and her smile so easy it made you believe she knew your mama, or at least had met her once at a church supper. She called me “sweetheart” twice before the menu had even settled in my hands, and when I asked if the green chile sauce was spicy, she just laughed like I’d told a secret. “Baby,” she said, “it’ll bless your soul and wake your sin.”

The food came quick, full plates with steam still rising, and it was the sort of meal that makes you remember other meals—Easters on porches, birthdays with cousins, nights when your daddy came home early with takeout and the good kind of tired in his eyes. The enchiladas were soft and generous, like they’d been made by someone who hums to herself while she cooks. The rice was a little dry, but nobody’s perfect, and anyway, the creamy jalapeño dip more than made up for it—cool and biting, like the way a Southern woman might compliment you and scold you all in the same breath.

Chuy’s isn’t fancy, but it’s kind, and that counts for something....