Still a favorite local place of the RJG. A great restaurant to take out of town guests!
Last visit: January 2012
First listed in the RJG: July 3, 2008
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 something uniquely "Texan". Originally started by Frank X. Tolbert, the legendary journalist who co-founded the Terlingua Chili Cookoff. In 1976, Tolbert opened a chili-themed restaurant in Dallas that eventually closed down. Fast forward a few years later, and his daughter and her husband reopened the place, but in a far more appropriate locale: Downtown old Grapevine.
The setting simply could not be more perfect. The restaurant is set as the cornerstone of one of the many old buildings lining the old town, this one from 1911. Tolbert's is a large space, with a fireplace, full bar, multiple open rooms, and now a concert stage (though I personally preferred the old closed room, which presumably was for rehearsal dinners, conference gatherings, and the like - guessing business for this wasn't brisk). One can just imagine riding in on horseback, roping it to the post out front, slamming through the saloon doors, ceiling fans whirling above... and demanding some chili and a beer.
The food, naturally enough, has a traditional Texas focus with chili, Tex-Mex, chicken fried steak, beef steak and hamburgers dominating the menu. I always get a bowl of red, and ask for it 5 alarm. Sometimes it really is spicy and other times it's medium. Today's chili was a bit mild for me, but it's always delicious. As well, I'll get a Henderson County burger. 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 they are. Mr. SS went for a bowl of 5 alarm red and a chicken fried steak. We both enjoyed a couple of rounds of Shiner Bock, the perfect Texas beer complement. Though for a time they used to have $1 Lone Star's, and while it's a yucky industrial beer, there was something highly appealing about it considering the setting. But those days are gone I'm afraid...
Have family from out of town, and not sure where to take them? Start right here with Tolbert's. You'll be known as the family know-it-all who has the "in" on all the good places in town.
Website
Last visit: January 2012
First listed in the RJG: July 3, 2008
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 something uniquely "Texan". Originally started by Frank X. Tolbert, the legendary journalist who co-founded the Terlingua Chili Cookoff. In 1976, Tolbert opened a chili-themed restaurant in Dallas that eventually closed down. Fast forward a few years later, and his daughter and her husband reopened the place, but in a far more appropriate locale: Downtown old Grapevine.
The setting simply could not be more perfect. The restaurant is set as the cornerstone of one of the many old buildings lining the old town, this one from 1911. Tolbert's is a large space, with a fireplace, full bar, multiple open rooms, and now a concert stage (though I personally preferred the old closed room, which presumably was for rehearsal dinners, conference gatherings, and the like - guessing business for this wasn't brisk). One can just imagine riding in on horseback, roping it to the post out front, slamming through the saloon doors, ceiling fans whirling above... and demanding some chili and a beer.
The food, naturally enough, has a traditional Texas focus with chili, Tex-Mex, chicken fried steak, beef steak and hamburgers dominating the menu. I always get a bowl of red, and ask for it 5 alarm. Sometimes it really is spicy and other times it's medium. Today's chili was a bit mild for me, but it's always delicious. As well, I'll get a Henderson County burger. 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 they are. Mr. SS went for a bowl of 5 alarm red and a chicken fried steak. We both enjoyed a couple of rounds of Shiner Bock, the perfect Texas beer complement. Though for a time they used to have $1 Lone Star's, and while it's a yucky industrial beer, there was something highly appealing about it considering the setting. But those days are gone I'm afraid...
Have family from out of town, and not sure where to take them? Start right here with Tolbert's. You'll be known as the family know-it-all who has the "in" on all the good places in town.
Website
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