The Old Tom’s Grill in Jackson: Did You Ever Try the Frog Legs?

Tom’s Grill was one of Jackson’s popular steak houses, located at 3705 Ann Arbor Road.

Whenever I would go by, I couldn’t help but notice the big letters spelling out “TIKI” on the outside wall. After countless times of driving by, my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to take a date to Tom’s to see what this “TIKI” was all about.

Upon going in, I discovered the big letters were promoting the Tiki Room, a separate eating room that was decked out Polynesian style – I almost expected to get waited on by someone wearing a sarong. The atmosphere included a water fountain, many plants, and other special touches. Tom’s added the Tiki Room in 1976, which seated up to 26 patrons.

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It was in the late 1070s when I visited the Tiki Room, and it was an experience I’ll never forget. Not because of the room, or service, or price, or steak...but because of something else I ordered: Frog legs.

These were not the scrawny frog legs I was used to getting at other restaurants.....no, no, no. When the waiter delivered them, my eyes bulged out...no kidding. These frog legs were not just legs, but the whole bottom half of the frog! Part of the torso with both legs attached! It reminded me of a giant, breaded, fried, very meaty wishbone. While I could understand how it might have shocked others, I was actually entertained. And they were very tasty.

Tom and Irene Kosmet opened the restaurant way back in 1938. It started out accommodating 60 people; and if you wanted a good porterhouse steak dinner, it would set you back 55 cents.

A fire burned down the restaurant in January 1969.....it took almost a year before Tom’s was ready to re-open. Once finished, it now seated up to 200 people – it was again open for business that November. The Tom’s legacy of a great variety of steaks continued, along with seafood and Irene’s golumpkis.

Tom passed away in 1993, Irene followed in 2000. Also gone was the Tiki Room with all its decor. The restaurant continued until it was purchased in 2004. It was re-named the Azalea Steak & Seafood Grille but it closed in August 2006.

The building sat deserted until 2009 when it was re-re-opened as the Hard Knock Grill. It closed in 2017 after the health department discovered an over-population of rodents.

Since then, it has become the Enchanted Forest Bar & Grill, getting good reviews.

But I will always think of it as Tom’s.