Rant III

The Place: Texas Roadhouse at 8744 Northpark Drive, Johnston
(Just north of I-80 at NW 86th St)

The funny thing is, their website says this restaurant chain originated in Clarksville, Indiana in 1993. Seems like it should be called Indiana Roadhouse. Whatever.

Yee Haw!! It is faux roadhouse decor, with greasy, dusty kitsch on the walls, and peanut shells on the floor. (Really, haven't we gotten over that yet?) The floor looks like asphalt, or maybe it is carpet with foot dirt, grease, and peanut shells stomped in.

Everything about this place is BIG, from the parking lot to the building, to the food.

Our group of six arrived at 12:30 on a Friday. It was not too busy, so we were seated after a short discussion about the fact that we asked for a table, while they tried to stuff six of us into a booth. Once that was settled, our server was right there to get our drink orders.

The menus (also greasy) are already on the table, so you can start deciding right away. Good thing, as it is several pages of various combinatiions of red meats, including burgers, steaks, and pork ribs and chops, chicken, and a few fish/shrimp dishes. If you look on the back of the menu, you can get "specials", which amount to several of the same things as on the regular menu, but a dollar cheaper than if ordered from inside the menu. Seems like a scam to me.

Combos ranged from $8-15, with about $10 common, which seems in line with most other restaurants.   
 
The Food:
While you are deciding, they serve hot rolls, which are very sweet with (yuck) cinnamon butter, also sweet. I think it could be fake cinnamon, as there is an underlying chemical taste. I asked for some plain butter, which was delivered shortly. Many of our group love these things, but to me it is just filler. 

Most ordered sirloin steak specials, which include two sides along with as many of the (yawn) rolls as you can eat. I ordered barbequed chicken breast. The sides were the usual suspects, like green beans, mixed vegetables, fries or baked potatoes, etc.

The steak eaters were happy with what they got, and the chicken was not overcooked and had a good spicy sauce. I don't know where the beef comes from, but their website says it is "hand cut". Personally, I pretty much like Iowa beef and pork. It just seems to taste the best.

A couple of people took home half of their food. The servings are large, and if you have stuffed yourself full of those rolls, not to mention nibbled on the peanuts, you are guaranteed to need to take some of your food home.

The Service:

Our server did a great job and cheerfully answered the same questions over and over, since it is so LOUD in there you can't hear yourself think, let alone carry on a conversation. (Maybe a good place to go with people you really don't want to talk to very much).

The Verdict:

OK place for lunch, but for dinner I would certainly choose a quieter, cleaner place, as the price is pretty much the same no matter where you go, unless you are going high end.