Tootses — Review by Brennen Taylor
Not specified, United States — American casual dining
Tootses is a fun, retro-themed restaurant with an adult Chuck-E-Cheese vibe and arcade games, but the quality is inconsistent. While appetizers and fried items like the fried pickles and onion rings are excellent with perfectly light, crispy batters, the main dishes like the Reuben, burger, and Philly cheese steak are underwhelming with dry meat and lack of flavor.
What was great: Fried pickles with light, crispy batter; honey barbecue wings; thick, crispy onion rings; fun, retro atmosphere with arcade games
What could improve: Reuben sandwich had dry, flavorless meat and too much cheese/sauerkraut; Toot's style burger was plain and mediocre; Philly cheese steak had dry, thick meat with dense bread; buffalo wings too spicy; curly fries not fried properly
The Dishes
The meal started strong with complimentary fried pickles, which arrived with an impressively light and crispy batter that felt like a Lays chip. These were genuinely delicious and stood out as a highlight. The honey barbecue wings were also excellent, featuring perfectly crispy exterior while maintaining juicy meat inside, with a delicious sauce combining barbecue and honey notes. However, the main courses disappointed. The original Reuben sandwich came with a pickle and sauce on the side, but was criticized for having dry, flavorless meat that seemed aged, combined with too much cheese and sauerkraut rather than balanced ingredients. The Toot's style burger, despite looking like a classic thick patty preparation, tasted plain and mediocre with little flavor. The Philly cheese steak featured mostly thick, dry meat with dense bread and overwhelming jalapenos. On the positive side, the thick-cut onion rings with substantial batter were fantastic and better than the main dishes. The buffalo wings were too spicy for the reviewer's preference, though the frying technique was impeccable.
The Experience
The restaurant had an unexpectedly fun atmosphere, giving off an adult version of Chuck-E-Cheese with game rooms, arcade games, and retro decorations everywhere. The staff was friendly and welcoming, with the server Destiny being apologetic about being new. The hostess even brought complimentary fried pickles for first-time customers, which was a nice touch. The decor featured various signs and vintage memorabilia dating back to the restaurant's 40-year history. The overall vibe was playful and nostalgic, making it a visually interesting dining experience.
Value and Pricing
Price range information was not explicitly mentioned in the transcript, though the restaurant appeared to be a casual dining establishment with a full bar.
Notable Moments
They're known for our fried pickles. We like to treat all of our first time customers just with a little sample.
Menu items with this badge are Toot's original famous recipe we've served for 40 years.
The reviewer compared Tootses to Flanigan's restaurant from Florida, noting the similarities in style and the discrepancy between excellent appetizers and weaker main courses.
The Verdict
While Tootses excels at fried appetizers and has an entertaining retro atmosphere that makes it worth visiting for the experience and casual bar scene, the main dishes are mediocre and disappointing. The restaurant's strengths lie in its fried foods like wings, pickles, and onion rings, but the sandwiches and burgers should be avoided. Best for those seeking a fun atmosphere, bar experience, and quality appetizers, but not for serious main course dining.