Toby Keiths I Love This Bar And Grill

Loud, over priced. Fried pickles were good so was the country fried steak and potatoes. Prices were high, I would rather go to Chilis.

I didn't know very much about Toby Keith before visiting his restaurant, but now that I've spent an hour there, I'm pretty sure I would have been happier not having known him.

We visited the restaurant on a Friday afternoon for lunch while we were at the Destiny USA mall. The space is huge, the menu looked like what we were interested in, and there were lots of open tables. So far, so good.

The food is fine. I don't visit restaurants like this very much, but it seemed like your standard Applebees / TGIF fare. Lots of burgers, wings, and salads. It was edible and arrived quickly, but nothing to write home about.

The part I found distasteful was the way the waitresses were all sexed-up in tiny jean shorts and low-cut tank tops. They might as well call the place "Hooters". Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, and the girls are attractive and all, but it's not the kind of thing I'll ever expose my daughter to again. On top of that, our table faced a TV playing a loop of Toby Keith propaganda video, which is, you guessed it, more scantily-clad women. That this place draws a crowd blows my mind.

This was our 2nd visit, it has become our choice place for fun and food when at Destiny!

I do have to say that I was a bit put off by the hostesses this time. I entered with no wait, which I was very happy about as I was on crutches after having knee surgery... I asked for a table for 2 (I was visibly alone, as my mother had parked the car and told me to go get us a table and sit), the hostess asked if my party was all here. I said no, but she's parking the car and will be right along... I was told I had to wait, that it was policy not to seat incomplete parties... I asked if she could make an exception as I was on crutches, she said NO, and then walked away. At this point I was so annoyed that I decided since there was room at the bar, that's where we were sitting!

The bartenders A++! They immediately changed the experience for the better!!! (Side note you can't sit at the bar without opening a tab. I frequent TGI Fridays, Applebee's and Outback and don't have to provide a credit card to order from the bar... So that was a little annoying) but I digress, the bartender was very friendly and helpful! I knew exactly what I wanted but my mother was undecided, she was very knowledgable and helped my mom decide on the iced tea cocktail. She even noticed my husbands dog tags around my neck and asked if I was military, I told her no they are my husbands, he's deployed and she said well "from all of us here at Toby Keith's, thank him for his service and thank you for yours!" It brought a tear to my eye and made me choke up a bit! Very symbolic of the culture and patriotism that Toby is bringing the the restaurant industry!!!! WAY TO GO!!!!

That being said, we ordered the fried Mac & Cheese and the chicken tenders with "freedom fries". Neither of us had ever had fried mac & cheese, it was DELICIOUS!!! Actually it all was!!! And the "freedom fries" quite possibly the best fries I've had to date! Everything was fried just right, not overly greasy at all and I suspect that they keep the fryer oil clean because it tasted as it everything had been cooked in a new fryer!

Despite the loud music, that makes it very hard to carry on a conversation 'we love this bar!' And will be back again and again!!! (I'm dying to give the mechanical bull a try!)