On Tuesday, I decided to visit TGI Friday's on Golf Road. And I was pleasantly surprised because I was in and out in less than 30 seconds (minutes really) while enjoying a complete delicious dinner. Servers carry this PDA like device in which they enter orders, and guests can make payments at a lightning speed.
My first course was a side salad ($2.69) that could qualify as an entree by itself. A large bed of fresh iceberg lettuce topped with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, diced tomatoes, croutons, red onions, and a novel way to put the dressing in between. Most places would put your dressing on top or on the side. This side salad came with a garlic bread which I enjoyed very much because most corporate restaurants don't serve you bread with the salad, not even a cracker with the soup.
My second course was a flat iron Steak ($11.29) with extra grilled key west shrimp ($3.99). The 8 oz cut was an unbelievably tender and juicy sirloin smothered in a buttery burgundy wine sauce. I would expected something like that at a premium steakhouse, but at a corporate chain for less than $25 that was an exceptional value. This steak came with lightly crispy onion rings served on a separate boat dish. That was a great touch because they didn't get soggy by the time I got to them. As an extra, I ordered a fire grilled shrimp skewer. I could taste the flame.
The food quality and the service were impeccable and flawless. My server Michael and his teammates were on top of it. And the hostess, at the beginning, was this happy teenage girl who seemed to have fun at her job.
This said, the only aspect I did not like was the level of noise even though it is expected at a Friday's, Barnelli's or Fox and Hound on a weekend night. Had I been with a company, this would have seriously irritated me. I thought that at 5PM on a Tuesday, it was a bit much.
The menu is definitely focused. It features 16 appetizers prized from $6.19 to $13.99 with an average at $8.22. Unique items are the Parmesan Crusted Sicilian Quesadilla ($8.69), BBQ Pork Ravioli Bites ($6.59) and the Jalapeno Poppers ($6.39).
The dinner menu includes 29 single-protein dinners and 9 double-protein dinners. In the first category, you'll find 8 chicken dinners ($8.19 - $11.99), 8 beef dinners ($9.99 - $16.49) and 7 fish dinners ($8.69 - $11.99). The second category includes 3 chicken-seafood dinners ($12.49 - $14.29) and 1 chicken-pork dinner at $5.99. But if it's ribs that you want for dinner, I would recommend you Ruby Tuesday's instead.
Some of the unique items are the Prime Rib Stroganoff ($9.99), the Dragonfire Chicken ($8.19) and the Baby Back Ribs ($15.99) in addition to the Jack Daniel's brand dishes.
Since their menu strength is the concentration of selection and of prices - nothing off the road - their weakness includes: no vegetarian dinner and only steamed broccoli as a healthy side dish. Dinners are extremely high on animal protein which makes them unbalanced. The menu does feature a three item "Better for you" section but two of them are categorized as "low carb" without reference of what that actually means. A truer health conscious section ought to include lower portion items, vegetable protein items and more balanced meals. That steak with the burgundy sauce was my entire day's protein and fat allowance.
Overall, this experience at Friday's was great. But if you visit Yelp.com, this location only scored an average of 3.0/5.0, a good grade.
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