Grapevine's best chili: Tolbert's

In Texas, three forms of cuisine are popular everywhere - BBQ, Tex-Mex and Chili. And if you'd like to taste one of the best chilis in all of Texas, you need to drive to Grapevine and visit a spot named 'Tolbert's.'

Tolbert's is a downtown Grapevine staple. Great comfort food menu! Country fried Steak (or chicken), burgers, fries and onion rings.... Steak, shrimp, etc. Big selection of starters, too. Full bar service, too. When we entered for dinner, we were seated immediately and drinks were promptly brought out. Our server was amazing. 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.

Now - about the chili. Tolbert's was founded by the co-founder of the Terlingua Chili Cookoff so this man knows how it's done and won't settle for anything less. This is the Original Texas Red topped with cheese, onions, and...a whole pepper? That's right - as if it weren't spicy enough already, they take it up a notch for all the real Texans out there. You can also get the chili in a Frito pie or on a hot dog if you're especially hungry. I'm an ex-Texan (but came back to Austin for work) and I thought I knew Texas chili & could make good Texas chili this is authentic Texas chili. The Frito Chili did not disappoint.

Their chili is spot on. From the Chili Queens of San Antonio to the annual cook-offs, no state takes its chili as seriously as Texas. Halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Tolbert’s serves a classic bowl of Texas red, bean-free and super-thick with beef chunks.

By the way, save a little room for the peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream if you can. Go with a group of friends - Tolbert's is no place for a quiet date. I also appreciated the atmosphere here. It's on the 'rustic' side, yet very clean and well-maintained and from the moment I walked in the door, I felt at home. I passed the bar and heard a saxophone being played live, beautiful. I ordered an Old Fashioned and my wife ordered a shot of Tequila. We sat, drank and listened. Fantastic.

Spend some time before dinner by walking through the shops and doing a little window shopping, then, waltz into Tolbert's five minutes before dinner time. Hands down, it's the best you're going to get when you're in downtown Grapevine. If you're looking for comfort food in an somewhat historic location, I encourage you to try them, and form your own opinion! I'm confident that you'll love Tolbert's!

423 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051

(817) 421-4888

https://tolbertsrestaurant.com