Situated in a small square by a shopping centre, Chapelfield, Tootsies is adjacent to a well-tended church and grounds.
The restaurant was very light and airy and, on a Monday evening was quite full, Tootsies is very family orientated, with nearly every table having children in the party. The staff were friendly and welcoming.
Our table for four was large and round offering plenty of space for us to spread out. The children were offered crayons and an activity sheet on arrival. The service was efficient and helpful. There were relaxing gaps between ordering and courses and never any feeling of being rushed or on a conveyor belt.
The food was very tasty and the portion sizes extremely generous. The children went for garlic bread for a starter and then spaghetti bolognaise and a chicken burger for their main course. We have had very dodgy versions of both of these in other restaurants, but these were both excellent. The chicken burger was in fact a grilled breast fillet with no batter or breadcrumbs.Seven year-old Joe ate every bit of it and really loved it alongside some lovely fat cut chips.Ten year-old Mathilde opted for the bolognaise. She felt that this would be a healthier option without the chips. The sauce was quite chunky, and contained some finely-diced vegetables. This definitely showed the Annabel Karmel influence. It was very tasty and came with a small side salad of cos lettuce, cucumber, carrot and tomatoes, all very child-friendly (no rocket or red leaves in sight).
Our grown up food was equally tasty, starters of maple chicken wings (a few stolen and enjoyed by the children) and a very healthy superfood salad full of raw vegetables, nuts and seeds. A chicken dish with bacon and cheese went down a treat, and a steak and ale pie were ordered for the main course. The pie (huge, with lots of gravy and mashed potato) had a rich, tasty filling within short crust pastry. We complimented our meal with a couple of cold beers, and a jug of cold tap water, refilled without asking, was put on the table at our request.
We could not rise to a dessert, except a shared bowl of chocolate ice cream with four spoons. Whilst we were enjoying our coffees outside, the children were brought snakes and ladders to amuse them. When the siblings' over-competitive nature began to get out of hand (they take after their father!) we decided to leave.
We had a lovely evening which was very relaxing for the parents, and the children had a great time too.
Compliments and many thanks to Tootsies staff, Norwich.
There are 24 Tootsies restaurants located throughout the UK - to find your nearest one check out their website www.tootsiesrestaurants.com