Four of us arrived around 6:30pm on a Saturday night and were told there'd be a 40 minute wait for…read morea table. Luckily we were able to find 3 seats at the bar despite it being very crowded. We put in our drink order: Apple Cider Whiskey Smash (fantastic!), Bottled Beer, Tito's & Club, and a Lemonade, and looked over the menu while we waited for our drinks. We were in the mood for small plates and finger food, so our plan was to share a bunch of appetizers. As soon as we put in our first 3 appetizers at the bar, we got a text that our table was ready (much shorter than a 40 minute wait). The bartenders were accommodating and notified the kitchen we'd be moving to a table.
I liked how the bar was the focal point, smack-dab in the middle of the restaurant with high-tops and booths neatly aligned around the perimeter of the floor. There was definitely a buzz in the air. It was loud, but not in a bad way, if that makes sense. Lots of people just having a good time. Our first round of appetizers came out: Fried Calamari, Chicken Nachos, and Spinach Dip. I thought the Fried Calamari looked incredible, but they ended up being tough and chewy. The Chicken Nachos were okay, but they were topped with hard, dried cheese and most of the chips under the top layer were bare. My wife, who I'd classify as a dip enthusiast (with Spinach and Artichoke being one of her favorites), really enjoyed the dip.
My wife went into the night saying she was going to stick with one drink, but her Apple Cider Whiskey Smash was so good she ordered another. I was driving so I stuck with N/A beers (selections were Heineken, Mich Ultra, Sam Adams, & Athletic). We also put in a couple more shareable plates: the Timoteo's Trifecta Flatbread (which was my favorite food item of the night) and Coal Oven Roasted Wings. The wings tasted good and were served with 4 different sauces on the side, but the wings themselves weren't my favorite. They were big, a little fatty and chewy, and we had some broken bones.
Must Orders:
* Apple Cider Whiskey Smash
* Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Worth a Spot on the Table:
* Timoteo's Trifecta Flatbread
Final Thoughts: I thought the service that night was accommodating. The atmosphere was nice enough that I could see myself enjoying a Saturday night here at the bar. The food, especially after the positive reviews I've heard, was somewhat disappointing. The menu is large and has so much (maybe too much) variety. I'd prefer a smaller menu with more perfected dishes than a larger menu of average food.
I was in between 3 and 4 stars, and I feel like a 3.5 rating would be warranted. However, this was not my first visit to this Tommy's location. I had visited a couple of years prior, during the week and a little later at night. It wasn't busy whatsoever. My mom and I sat at the bar, where bartenders continually walked by us and stood around talking to each other. Other than handing us a menu when we sat down, they never acknowledged us. We ended up leaving without being helped.