First off, the chili is strange. It was served at room temperature and the cheese topping did not melt. The texture was really off - mealy ground beef with chunks of beef that were stringy. The chili flavoring was on the bitter side, not bright tasting. Very disappointing. The menu is large but it's all pre-fab restaurant supply - not scratch made (except for chili). I tried the catfish fillets that were thin and heavily coated in cracker meal. Probably the worst catfish I've eaten. Sides all heat and eat poor quality food. Even my husband who rarely criticizes his food was in agreement. We will not be going back. This place really deserves one star but it's Tolberts and I can't bring myself to do that. I guess that's why it still exists on its long gone reputation. read more

We'll it's been a long time since we've been here but so glad we tried it again! The food is just as good and the service is so much better! Kim was our bartender. Friendly & efficient even tho it was busy. We will definitely be back. read more

I have no idea why this is a 3 1/2 star restaurant. We have been nothing but waited on greatly by the bartender. The wings are outstanding best and all of Texas so far that we have tried. Also can't beat the town to walk around and have a wonderful time shopping. The torpedo's are awesome the special the special barrel #9 Margarita is outstanding mimosas on Sundays were a great deal. So I mentioned i have not had great Mexican food since I have lived in Texas. Kevin our awesome bartender got a small bowl for me to taste. The best ever. Y'all need to try it. Will come here every time we visit Grapevine. read more

Tolbert's - Torpedoes - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

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The food is a step up from your usual bar grub and the service is good. Known for their loud and lively live music scene, Tolbert's sits right in the middle of Main St Grapevine. Bring earplugs or loops bc the music is painfully loud no matter where you sit inside, but the bands they've hosted have been pretty good. Nice reprieve from a hot summer evening or afternoon in DFW. During Main Street Festival other big Grapevine events, Tolbert's will be a venue unto itself to host bands. read more

This is our third time to go to Tolbert's. It has been great every time! Today I had fried shrimp with onion rings and okra. I figure if you do fried shrimp fry it all the way! Every bit was delicious. I got the small order and still had some to take home. My husband had the chicken fried chicken. He scarfed everything bit of that up! We will definitely be back! read more

We came here on a Saturday night looking to grab a quick bite before heading down to a movie. Lucky for us it was happy hour and Margaritas were only $2! You can't really go wrong with a $2 margarita and they aren't watered down junk either so happy to have accidentally encountered happy hour - which also I might add lasts until 7! The food here is not for the healthy eaters looking to trim up their waistline. It's definitely built for those with an appetite. Of course you have to try the chili. I mean why wouldn't you given it's in their name! We both got a side of the original which nice enough had no beans. It was pretty darn good. Plenty of chunky meats, not really spicy but enough flavor that I borderline hoped I had a bowl vs a cup. They serve it with a pepper on top also which beware, it's spicy and not just decor :) For dinner I went the route of the chicken friend chicken. It was delicious. the gravy is super good, not bland but the winner here was their mashed potatoes. Not sure how they make them but they are legit and probably my favorite thing on the plate. We also got a steak which we asked for rare and got definitely well done. It was overly salted to the max as well. In my opinion, don't serve steak if you don't know how to gauge the temperature to cook it right. No one ever loved a well done steak - you're missing all the juices and ooo-lahlah when you cook it all the way through. Either way. This place is big. They do have live music. And happy hour is top notch. Also the food, we definitely felt like we got our moneys worth and were stuffed for hours. A cute spot on Main street for sure. read more

Our first time here. Food, service and ambience were great! Try the chili - it's amazing!

I wanted to like this place so much, but maybe my hopes were TOO high. We started with the onion rings, and they were pretty tasty. As we were enjoying these, two tables, (who were sat after us) got their food within the next 15 minutes. We still didn't have ours, but figured it was turned in later due to having an appetizer. Anyway, I tried a cup of the Chile Verde soup while we were waiting and it was okay. Our entrées finally came, and the waitress apologized over and over for it being late, so I'm not really sure what happened there...anyway, my husband got the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and sweet potato fries. They had to give him double mashed potatoes because they screwed up one of the orders. I got grilled shrimp tacos, and I asked for them to be prepared like the fish tacos on the menu (with the cabbage slaw and dressing). They came prepared that way, but came on flour tortillas which made no sense when the two tacos I was between were both served with corn tortillas. Instead of them offering to remake them, the waitress just asked me if she could bring me some corn tortillas and I said "sure, I'll just dump everything into those." Yeah... so did that, and while I was "dumping" into new tortillas, I noticed a thick crusty, caramelized mess on the bottom of some of the grilled shrimp. I took a bite and I couldn't even chew through it. (You'll see this in the pictures). Then, I took another bite and bit into the tail of the shrimp. Some of the tails were still on! Overall, I was so saddened about my experience because I had my hopes up for an awesome lunch. The best part for me was the canned refried beans that they served on the side and the store-bought corn tortillas . Luckily, my husband really enjoyed his chicken fried steak, and the sweet potato fries that he had with it. I will say, our server realized the delay in our food and put a discount on our ticket without us even saying a thing. Overall, it's a cute place, but the food is nothing spectacular. It probably would be a good place to sit down and have a beer though. read more

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Disgusting!!! I smelled fungus, mold and mildew the minute I walked through the door and was only there long enough to have a Corona with girlfriends and ended up waking up the next morning with a severe sinus infection that lasted three weeks. This place is disgusting and people need to demand they clean it up. Fight back with your bucks!!! Don't pay to be abused! I'm read more

Its been a while since we've been back to Tolbert's. Dropped in for Saturday lunch recently and was absolutely delighted with the salad I ordered. I know..... you're thinking "Salad, big whoop...." but look at this picture. When have you EVER received a salad that was as perfectly plated. All the ingredients were fresh and delicious, our waitress was attentive, courteous and fun! It was a great lunch for me and my wife and I'm glad to be reacquainted with this historic Grapevine locale. read more

Tolbert's - Cobb Salad. Yum. Tons of all the tasty fixing's: Bacon, Blue Cheese etc... - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

Came here to see my Uncle perform with his band. It is your normal run of the mill bar with a stage. The atmosphere is loud & and laid back. Seating filled up pretty quick. Parking lot available. The place is located in the quaint town of Grapevine. I love the area! Food: My Uncle ordered the chicken fried steak. He said it was delicious! I ordered the fried shrimp, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus not expecting much, hey! It's a bar. OMG!! I underestimated the kitchen! what a pleasant surprise! my shrimp were actually cooked to perfection and had a great taste! Loved the sauce that was served with the shrimp. I mixed cocktail sauce with it and yummmmm! The grilled asparagus actually tasted grilled however they were little overcooked but had great flavor. I did not like the plates used for food; they were very small and reminded me of a cafeteria plate. The service was as good as it was going to get, as the place was very crowded and hard to move around, So my server Brett could not check on me as often as I would have liked. Over all the place was fun! everybody there seemed to be local regulars. They were nice and engaging. The live band was amazing! Enjoy read more

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We checked into Great Wolf Lodge late and by the time we got around to dinner, there wasn't a lot of choices. Lucky for us, Tolbert's was open. The menu is varied and our table of 5 adults and 4 kids ordered a variety of things including steak, chicken fingers, the chili dog, and a burger. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The live music was a little loud for the space but if we hadn't had the kids, we would have stayed longer, and had another adult beverage and enjoyed the ambience. read more

We were in Grapevine to see the Christmas lights and parade. We stopped in Tolberts for lunch. The staff was friendly and welcoming. My and my friend had chili while the guys had a burger and fish and chips. Everything was good. You should defined try it. read more

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There were eight of us coming in on a Friday night for dinner. They were able to seat us and had a great attitude while putting the tables together. Our server was 100% awesome! I can't remember his name, but his personality, promptness, him noticing if we were out of a drink he would come and fill it, just fantastic! Great service!!!! We are not big chili eaters but because they're known for chili, we decided to give it a try. WOW!!! As a non chili person, this restaurant could convert me! It was really really good! I had the carne asada, a perfect 10. My husband had the poblana chicken enchilada. He gave it a solid nine!! One of our friends is a margarita snob. He makes his own in his very particular but he really enjoyed his drink here. I'd highly suggest!! read more

Food was really good and well prepared. The chicken fried steak tenders were amazing. Wife had the chili and it was great. The place has a really good vibe inside and the live music every night is a plus. Service was perfect. read more

Tolbert's - Buddy Whittington - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

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I ate here with my partner. We got the fried shrimp, a burger, and the chili queso as an appetizer. The atmosphere was great, the service was friendly and fast, and the food was good. 10/10 read more

Great local place. Had the perfect vibe to sit and watch the bad play. Service was great for a packed Saturday. Good selection of beers and the trio of chips and dips were perfect read more

Came here for drinks and snacks with some friends and was a good time! The bartender and servers were kind even when it was busy. They had live music which was fun to listen to but wasn't overwhelming to the whole ambiance. The fried zucchini was great! It's not something you see often, so it's a good menu addition. I will have to come back again to have a true dinner here! read more

I like Tolbert's: good menu options, lots of tables and decent service. The Torpedoes are great starters. For entrees there are lots of choices. They also offer cattle drive style chili or chili with beans. Prices are reasonable with filling plates. Mixed drinks use mixes, so the Margaritas and others may be good specials but may be bland compared to natural ingredients, so I recommend a draft beer or wine. Usually a good experience here. read more

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I wish I could talk about the food or service, but never got to experience it all. Sat around for 10 or more minutes without ever being tended to, no drinks, no hello from a waiter. Meanwhile the couples sat in our same area were tended to within maybe 2 minutes, one had barely put their butt in the seat. At that point I said forget it and we left. I want to give this place the benefit of the doubt because of how well my S/O talked about them, but at the same time I really have no care to ever try it now. First impressions are everything. read more

Comfort food done right. Really good bar food with some of the best chilli I've ever had. Prime location in the middle of downtown Grapevine. read more

I went to Tolberts because Yelp said it was open til 10pm. it was about 9:15pm. I wanted to try this so-called famous chili. The hostess seated me and gave a menu and a drink menu. After that, I was totally ignored. No one ever came to serve me. After about 20 minutes I went to the bar and asked if I had to order from the bar and serve myself. I was told "no more food!" You should change your hours on Yelp if you are not going to honor the times that are posted. read more

Service is always good. Food always fantastic. This time we were a party of 4. They had a bowl of red and a teachers salad and loved it. I had a burger with a little chili in the side. It was awesome! read more

Tolbert's - Live music most days. - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

The poblano chicken enchiladas are amazing! I've never eaten anything here I didn't enjoy and they have a great selection of beers. It can get loud and crowded when certain bands are playing so if that's not the atmosphere you're looking for check the schedule before going. There's a great little patio area that is covered to keep you dry or shaded during those hot summer days. The staff is always friendly and attentive. It's our favorite spot on Main. read more

The chili really is excellent and I recommend the peach cobbler. There were lots of local regulars when I was there, which want a surprise after meeting the bar tenders. Very friendly, and really know their business. The live music was a very pleasant surprise. read more

Tolbert's - Mural outside Tolbert in Grapevine. - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

Have not been to Tolbert's since late 70s 80s when in Dallas on Greenville Ave. So while in Grapevine had to stop by for a cool beverage and some nosh. Nostalgia at it's best as you walk in there is the original chalk board sign with pricing from the past. Jennifer was our bartender and did not disappoint, masked and ready to pour. We wanted loaded tater tots not on the menu but no problem. Crispy tater tots smothered in Tolbert's famous chili which you have to try no matter what you order. The tots were then covered with cheese and spicy jalapeños at there best. We shared and there was still plenty left for another day. Some would say a heart attack on a plate Tiki Hubby and I say pure heaven. We can juice cleanses tomorrow. Washed this down Tolbert's own barrel aged tequila with Chico and lime. And Tiki Hubby had a Mai Tai. read more

Tolbert's - Loaded chili tater tots not on menu but our favorite - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

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Insanely awesome tourist trap. I'm here because it's on my Texas burger bucket list. We're trying the Terlingua burger. It's lunchtime. The ambiance is Texas cowboy saloon. And they scored on that one. Great place. Cool bar and a stage for live music at night. Downtown in all the shopping so there's lots of people watching. So, Frank Tolbert is famous for his Texas red chili, no beans of course. You can get it mild, melt your tongue, or somewhere in between, take your pick. Now the burger. Take a good cheeseburger, add a big old heaping scoop of red chili, then top it with 3 onion rings. It says eat me! So I did. It was Very good, but the chili was really dry. I wasn't expecting that. I thought grease would be running down my arms as I yelled more napkins please! Maybe greasy next time. Anyway, it's a great place that you need to try when your in the area. Forks up! read more

Tolbert's - Too early for the good stuff - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

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Always good food, service, and live music in the evenings. Alexa is our new favorite server, and always makes us smile. Christina is also fantastic. Huge bar, local Texas family owned. Can't go wrong! read more

Tolbert's - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

Good spot to grab a meal, atmosphere is pretty cool. They had a great band. The Hostess was on the phone when we got there and seemed to be annoyed to seat us. We got a table farthest from the band that we could be. We asked could we sit closer to the band. The hostess said everyone wants to sit closer. After our meal we asked could we go to the bar and sit and the hostess said it's pretty full right now. There were 2 bar tables open. Would never ever go back. read more

Tolbert's - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

This is a delicious local place. If you're visiting from out of town, make sure to stop in and get a bowl of their famous Texas Red Chili. On this trip I got the Large Shrimp Platter. It was very filling, and delicious. I always recommend their Onion Rings, which are huge, and breaded just right. This place is great! read more

Tolbert's - Large Shrimp Platter - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

We checked this place out while walking around the Main Street area, and we enjoyed our visit. We got a version of queso that has chili mixed in it, and it was really good. I had a bowl of the Texas Red, and it didn't disappoint. Servers were friendly and the prices were fair. We would definitely come back. read more

Tolbert's - The Original Texas "Bowl of Red" Bowl - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

Update #2. After my last review, the owner contacted me and was extremely kind and I was invited back for another chance. This visit was much better than last weekend. The service was fantastic and the food was great. I imagine that it gets extremely busy being on Main Street during the holiday season but everything was smooth. read more

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I wasn't super hungry so ordered a cup of the bowl of red chili which is their signature dish. It was super good -true rich and dark Texas chili with lots of chili pepper and other spices. I also ordered the coleslaw but it was more like mayo soup which I didn't enjoy. Loved the old historic building it sits in. I will definitely be back! P. S. Do not bite into the serano pepper that sits pretty on top of that bowl of chili unless you want your face to explode. read more

Tolbert's - Cup of "Bowl of Red". Watch out for that pepper! - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

Stopped in for a quick bite...oh so good! The frito pie was the bomb and Donkey Tails are extremely good, reminiscent from years ago on Oaklawn read more

Nice restaurant in Old Grapevine. Award winning chili menu with live music. My order did not include chili but I will certainly try on my next visit. Enjoyed a grilled chicken sandwich and onion rings as my main course. Our table also enjoyed an appetizer sampler. The fried zucchini and donkey tails were pretty good. This is a nice and practical place to dine. read more

Went here to celebrate a friend's birthday and it was a good time. Food was good and Cole our server was great! Our party had a wide range of food from salmon to chicken fried steak and taco and Caesar salads. Food was good, but this place is more known for its chili. Has a great history to the restaurant and a cool back story. There was a live band that played 70's and 80's rock music and the place was packed. Older crowd but very friendly and lively bar scene. Tolbert's is one of those places you have to go to while in downtown Grapevine. read more

Tolbert's - Stage for live music - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

Great atmosphere food is good and music is the best in Grapevine. Nice crowd of mature people!

Great staff! Very attentive and fun! Bartender Kim is a doll! Her personality lights up the room! Come join the fun!!

Been here a few times and while it's good it's not out of this world or anything. Being a Texan I'm all about a good bowl of chili, but this is straight heartburn in a bowl. I do like that they give you crackers now with your chili instead of tortilla chips like they used to. They also give you a (I believe it's a) Serrano pepper. It's VERY fresh and full of seeds. Even after deseeding it, it was too hot. The flavor does go good with the chili, but only if it was cooked a little longer so it looses just a little heat. The menu is pretty limited unless you're a beer/wine drinker, which I am not. The service was good, nothing over the top though. After this last time I probably won't be back, we just happened to be in the area. read more

Tolbert's - Bowl of chili & chili burger + fritos - American Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

The food was great! I had the jalapeno cornbread muffins which were awesome and the trio of chips and dip. The queso was so creamy and delicious . The chilli Verde was AMAZING! I could eat that every day. HIGHLY recommend it. Live music was a little bit buzzkill. Would've preferred something more lively. The place was busy but our waiter, Cole was nice and also attentive. I recommended this restaurant on the microphone in a big room of people at our conference today so hopefully you get more business from it! read more