First time at Texas Roadhouse - Disappointed
- Thread starter ISUCyclones2015
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CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Ah I see. Whoosh. I saw they had a similar thing at Roadhouse, so I thought he was referring to that one.
I really can't comprehend thinking Outback is better than Roadhouse. There's a reason Roadhouse is busier... Oh well, to each their own!
KidSilverhair
Well-Known Member
Wait, don't they still have Fiesta Cantina and Sirloin Stockade in Ottumwa?
confused:It's a sad commentary on your city when those two places are on the top of your dining list. Oh, and the Canteen.
There is nothing in Ottumwa. I keep getting my hopes up that something is going in, but it's been Sherwin Williams and now Orschelins. Crossing my fingers for the Menards/Kohls area.
I'm a fan of Texas Roadhouse. I think it's got good food and portion size for the price point. Of course it's not on par to the "great" steak houses, but then again, would you expect a Toyota Corolla to be the equivalent of a Mercedes Benz?
The one time I ate at Longhorn I ended up with a nasty case of food poisoning (bad evening all around - it was the evening ISU lost to Kentucky). Perhaps I just ended up with a tainted steak. The rest was okay, but even then I preferred the food at TRH. Outback is okay as well.
Like most, overall I'd much rather just grill my own steak at home.
The one time I ate at Longhorn I ended up with a nasty case of food poisoning (bad evening all around - it was the evening ISU lost to Kentucky). Perhaps I just ended up with a tainted steak. The rest was okay, but even then I preferred the food at TRH. Outback is okay as well.
Like most, overall I'd much rather just grill my own steak at home.
I agree 100% with this. Maybe I just haven't gotten the right things, but both Applebees and TR are both wildly mediocre - and you're spending too much for the food at both.
There are other places in Ames to get a steak - shoot, apparently the "Mongolian Buffet" even serves a ribeye.
Ding! Ding! Ding! This. I love how people go to chain places like Texas Roadhouse and expect the food quality to be something you'd find in a top shelf restaurant in New York or Chicago. People just always need something to ***** about I guess.
I was at the TR in Cedar Rapids last night, the wait was not horrible as we called ahead. Waitress was great but the ribeye was just not good. I have had better experience's there in the past. I usually just prefer cooking my own steaks when possible cheaper and tastes better. Sometimes I go for a special treat and pick up steaks at Nelson's meat market.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
We've been to the Johnston one twice and the Ames one once. I like it. It didn't change my life, but it was nice.
I'd eat there again. I won't kill to make it happen.
I'd eat there again. I won't kill to make it happen.
I agree 100% with this. Maybe I just haven't gotten the right things, but both Applebees and TR are both wildly mediocre - and you're spending too much for the food at both.
There are other places in Ames to get a steak - shoot, apparently the "Mongolian Buffet" even serves a ribeye.Why not drive up to the Open Flame?
Ewwwww. Long time Open Flame patron here. But this weekend might have been the straw that broke the camel's back. Has there been a change in management up there? Crazy-bad service on Friday night - and it's not like the place was overly busy. Order a drink 3 times before I finally received it. When our meal was *finally* delivered the Texas toast fell on the floor. I pointed it out (because I couldn't reach it) as I thought they might want to pick it up. Naw - just got walked on the rest of the night. I saw waitstaff look right at it as they stepped on, or over, it. They at least delivered steak to me like I ordered.
We tried TR in Ames over the Christmas break. We happened by it and it didn't look all that busy so we wandered in. There was a wait for a table, but we got seats at the bar. We watched two bartenders work their tails off serving all the drinks and waiting on the people eating at the bar. The manager - well, I assume he was the manager since his shirt was slightly different than the rest of the staff - chewed out one of the bartenders in front of everyone sitting there. Something about she didn't clean up the night before to his liking. She actually took it really well, even though I thought he handled the situation really poorly. She actually apologized to us for having to listen to it.
The food was bad. Burnt sweet potato. Over done prime rib (I ordered med-rare and received well done/shoe leather). Tasteless beef. Lack of sour cream/butter for potato. Dirty silverware.
We should know better than to go to these places. We buy a quarter of high-quility, aged beef from family on a regular basis. Eating at a discount steak place is as bad as buying ground beef from WalMart. Only did that once! Wow, I feel sorry for people who think this is how beef tastes.
With all that said, I've eaten at Outback and Timber Lodge when I'm traveling as that's what is near the hotel. Honestly, I can't complain about anything I've ever been served at either.
