First time at Texas Roadhouse - Disappointed

[Pat]

Is the willingness to wait an hour (or more) an Iowa thing? A few years ago, wife and I went to the Olive Garden in DSM and were told it would be 2 hours until we were seated. At Olive Garden! And... people were waiting!!! At (have I mentioned this?) the freaking OLIVE GARDEN!
I grew up in Omaha (though I have been in in central IA for over a decade) - maybe it is because there are more restaurants, and more densely located, but, even on a weekend, if it is more than 30-45 minutes, we were out the door and on to somewhere else.

 

[blizzisu]

You still wait just as long, you just are able wait in other places.

If you can anticipate when you would like to eat earlier in the day, then there is no waiting.

 

[brianhos]

Why would people wait that long for a higher priced applebees?

 

[MissouriCyclone]

The one in my town is good. Not a lot of wait time and the steak is good. Of course, there's WAY better options in my neck of the woods.

 

[Rabbuk]

how does that save any time? I dont get it.

 

[cyclone87]

Why would people wait that long for a higher priced applebees?

The steak at Texas Roadhouse is definitely better than Applebees, I wouldn't put a TR steak in the elite category but definitely better than what you can get at Applebees.

 

[cyclone87]

speaking of restaurants, there is a new (I'm guessing more upscale due to its location) Italian restaurant coming to Ames.

Guess Who's Coming to Somerset? - Ames, IA Patch

 

[KFitzy87]

Applebees chicken fingers are finger lickin good

 

[FDWxMan]

how does that save any time? I dont get it.

I don't believe it really does. But it has a name that makes it sound like it does, so....

 

[MissouriCyclone]

speaking of restuarants there is a new (I'm guessing more upscale due to its location) Italian restaurant coming to Ames.

Guess Who's Coming to Somerset? - Ames, IA Patch

It'll be interesting to see how good it is. Nothing like real authentic Italian food.

 

[CyCrazy]

This is either a funny joke or an awesome Freudian slip.

Whoa, I am not sure how I made that mistake. lol.

 

[SaraV]

Why would people wait that long for a higher priced applebees?

Are you talking about TR or OG?

Texas Roadhouse, I feel, is the best bang for your buck. Good variety of sides, in what I feel are larger portions, and a touch cheaper than Outback. This may sound slightly blasphemous, but I love the salmon there.

Granted, I may be romanticizing a bit since I've been stuck down here in bleepin' Ottumwa over a year, where Applebees and Pizza Ranch are pretty much the only chain sit down places to eat.

 

[CyCrazy]

speaking of restuarants there is a new (I'm guessing more upscale due to its location) Italian restaurant coming to Ames.

Guess Who's Coming to Somerset? - Ames, IA Patch

I was wondering what was going in there. Hopefully its good.

 

[chuckd4735]

Texas Roadhouse is good, but its just not worth the ********.

 

[Agclone91]

I'm a big fan of Texas Roadhouse. Saying that, I rarely ever order steak there. To be honest, I rarely every order steak when eating out because I feel like I'm paying more for something I could cook better at home for less money.

 

[Broodwich]

The amount of time people spend waiting at Texas Roadhouse, they could spend driving to the Open Flame in Gilbert, and back. Twice.

 

[ISUAlum05]

I find TR to be a good value with 2 sides and the fan-freakin-tastic rolls and butter included with dinners. Our steaks are always cooked properly. It is always crowded and loud, but we know it's going to be that way and don't go if we don't feel that kind of atmosphere. There's a wait on weekend nights everywhere, so I'd rather be able to call ahead, which most places don't offer. ETA - I'm in CR, not Ames, and have not been to the Ames TR.

 

[cyclone87]

speaking of restaurants, there is a new (I'm guessing more upscale due to its location) Italian restaurant coming to Ames.

Guess Who's Coming to Somerset? - Ames, IA Patch

Looks like they already have a facebook page, can see a mock-ups of what it will look like inside and out and other info. Looks nice!

http://www.facebook.com/Plus39Italian

 

[benjay]

comparing TR to applebees is just too troll for me

 

[Jambalaya]

The way you guys talk about this place, you thought it would be the best thing since sliced bread.

The bread/butter was delicious. Those infamous peanuts tasted old. Th steak was just ok, nothing to write home about. The peach lemonade was pretty good.

You guys say you wait 1 hour+ for that place, why? I wouldn't go out of my way to go back there.

If we're talking chain steak places:

Longhorn>Outback>Lone Star>Texas Roadhouse

+1000

Tried to get into that dump 2-3 times since it opened in CR--and was full of families, grandparents, Benton & Iowa county farm folk....driving into the big city for some FINE DINING.

Packed in like sardines. no thanks

eff- that place. and their hour wait. Support good privately-owned restaurants in your city. Live a little. good gawd.

The only chains I dine at are regional---Granite City and Biaggi's...the rest suck