So, seriously... I have to blog about the T&P Tavern a bit. You may know I started working in restaurants 37 years ago and owned my own small chain for over 20 years, so I like to find a good place to eat. As important though as food is to me I like a special place where the staff seem to like their jobs. That's what I always tried to achieve at the Texas Grills.
When I moved into the T&P Lofts I made a conscious decision to avoid the bar downstairs. Now when I say "avoid" I mean I did not want to become Norm from the Cheer's bar. So I have set a general boundary of going no more than twice a week. Whenever I'm working late it's tempting to step on the elevator and head down to the Tavern, and on more than one occasion I have succumbed to the urge, but it's gotten a bit more difficult lately because I REALLY like that place. The menu is simple and good and that's smart of the owner because the kitchen is small. Everything I have had though is good and I especially like that several of the dishes feature genuine Hatch green chilis. The homemade salsa is dope and they have like 20 unique beers on tap.
Here's the thing though. I think the space has a special character about it. Even beyond the friendly employees (who all learned my name quickly and obviously care that people who walk in the door feel like they belong). I dare say it may have something to do with accoustics. Seriously.
I started wondering why it was that I always meet new people and have some cool conversations when I'm there. If you don't know me, let me just say that I am a really friendly guy. I will talk to anybody anywhere about anything as long as it's not creepy or vile. But I almost never score as many connections as I have at the T&P Tavern. I started paying attention to this dynamic a few visits back and I realized that in this big old cavernous former train station lunchroom there is a virtual privacy in the midst of lots of noise. So if you're talking to your date, you feel like you are in a private spot, but about 10 seconds after the conversation wanes you can pick up on a nearby conversation or someone talking halfway across the room without invading their privacy... because, nobody has the expectation of privacy in a train station, right? Lean over and join the neighboring table's conversation at Ruby Tuesday or Grace and everyone will be just a tiny bit weirded out... Not at the T&P Tavern. I think it's a synergistic mix of environment, acoustics & space, all supported by a nice, friendly staff, solid menu and good selection of beers.
There's more to say about this place. It's something like 7,000 square feet, with beautiful restored art-deco ceilings a stainless steel lunchroom soda-fountain back-bar and a chill covered patio outside with terrazzo floors and the most gigantic fan you have ever seen swirling slowly overhead. On any given night you'll find bands, combos or even full orchestras set up outside for virtually private parties, but the place never closes to the public, they just blend the private group in with strangers in a way that just could not happen in many places except a train station.
I'm a Realtor at Keller Williams Realty in Fort Worth and the owner of the FindFortWorthHome Buyer Services Group. There's lots to see and do in Fort Worth and we also have some beautiful neighborhoods and special homes in all price-ranges. To learn more contact me at www.TimDyoung.com
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