Texas Roadhouse

[Hawkeye11en1]

How do you **** up water?

By putting ****** vodka in it. Derrrrrr

[KnappShack]

If you ask an Iowan about a restaurant they will almost always talk first about the quantity of the food.

"The tenderloin was bigger than the plate!"

"You get a ton of food!"

Then maybe you'll hear if the food was worth a damn.

[Al_4_State]

I've never had bad food there, but I f'ing hate it because there is always an hour long wait.

I will never understand why someone would be willing to just sit on a damn bench for an hour for the privilege of paying for decent food. I won't wait an hour to eat ANYWHERE unless there's a game on and they have a cool bar or something.

I guess I hate the fact that people just parade up to it like cattle at a feeding trough. Its not bad food, but its not the greatest culinary experience in the history of mankind, which is basically what would have to be awaiting me before I threw away an hour of my time to sit on my *** for the privilege of buying food.

[Al_4_State]

I honestly don't get the Texas Roadhouse hate. Most of it with the snobbery of "it's a chain restaurant so by definition it automatically sucks" attached to it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not equating it to a premier steak house as discussed in an off topic thread previously, but putting it on the level of Applebee's and Olive Garden solely because it's a chain is flat out ridiculous. And I get the downside that people don't like the wait, but first that wait is a sign that they actually grill up a decent steak (Applebee's and Olive Garden, to which people are comparing it to, never have that kind of wait), and second, I've never had to wait more than half an hour there because of something called the foresight to call ahead.

I actually prefer to grill my own steaks, but considering the city I live in here in Michigan has all grills outlawed (except electric grills) and I hardly have the $$$ to spend in premier steak houses, TR is a decent option in my book.

Or its a sign that people are easily lead to believe hype.

Most men can probably grill themselves (I realize this isn't an option for you, but for most of us it is) a steak that more precisely meets their tastes than they can pay a restaurant, chain or not, to do it.

But hey, you can throw peanuts at the floor and wait in line. Who wouldn't want that?

[VTXCyRyD]

I've never had bad food there, but I f'ing hate it because there is always an hour long wait.I will never understand why someone would be willing to just sit on a damn bench for an hour for the privilege of paying for decent food. I won't wait an hour to eat ANYWHERE unless there's a game on and they have a cool bar or something.I guess I hate the fact that people just parade up to it like cattle at a feeding trough. Its not bad food, but its not the greatest culinary experience in the history of mankind, which is basically what would have to be awaiting me before I threw away an hour of my time to sit on my *** for the privilege of buying food.

Anytime I've been to the one in Johnston I just call ahead before I leave. I've never had to wait for more than 10 minutes to get seated

[3TrueFans]

Or its a sign that people are easily lead to believe hype.

Most men can probably grill themselves (I realize this isn't an option for you, but for most of us it is) a steak that more precisely meets their tastes than they can pay a restaurant, chain or not, to do it.

But hey, you can throw peanuts at the floor and wait in line. Who wouldn't want that?

Hype is probably the reason for the first several months, but after a few years if it's still busy I'd say it has to be something else.

[cyfan92]

It was soooo good! practice rub tonight bbefore the I opening 75 dollar meal for free!

[Bamacyclone]

Anytime I've been to the one in Johnston I just call ahead before I leave. I've never had to wait for more than 10 minutes to get seated

Wife and I went to one in Kingwood, Tx for 4 yrs. Was our favorite 'I don't fell like cooking anything' place to go grab a quick meal. Food was good and we liked the atmosphere. Wouldn't bother to go on Fri-Sat nights after 6 though due to crowds.

[klamath632]

It was soooo good! practice rub tonight bbefore the I opening 75 dollar meal for free!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soXMCkoWfQo]Waterboy "Don't smoke crack" - YouTube[/ame]

[kkise]

Agreed. But I'd rather the apartment complex not kick my family out and I'd rather save $$$ for a house (where I can own a grill) instead of paying fines.

Good point.

[Jambalaya]

I've never had bad food there, but I f'ing hate it because there is always an hour long wait.

I will never understand why someone would be willing to just sit on a damn bench for an hour for the privilege of paying for decent food. I won't wait an hour to eat ANYWHERE unless there's a game on and they have a cool bar or something.

I guess I hate the fact that people just parade up to it like cattle at a feeding trough. Its not bad food, but its not the greatest culinary experience in the history of mankind, which is basically what would have to be awaiting me before I threw away an hour of my time to sit on my *** for the privilege of buying food.

<<< THIS

[Jambalaya]

Hate it but a lot of people love it. The one in Johnston has been open for a couple of years and looks like it's always swamped

Becasue Iowans are fat and have zero culinary taste

[Jambalaya]

I honestly don't get the Texas Roadhouse hate. Most of it with the snobbery of "it's a chain restaurant so by definition it automatically sucks" attached to it.

Not snobbery..it's common sense. Many of us want to support the locally-owned restaurants in CR over the chains.
Maybe the chains employ better workers in a college town--more educated, dutiful. I.C. restaurants have very good service on average compared to the flunkee's in CR area.

I'll eat at only two 'chain' restaurants in CR--and they're regional. Biaggi's and Granite City. Both places have trained their staff well

[chuckd4735]

Outlawed in apartment complexes per fire codes.

A lot of communities have these laws, including Ames. I believe Ames law states you cant have a grill on a wood surface.

What are the rules about having open-flame cooking devices on a deck?
A:
The City of Ames has adopted the International Fire Code's ruling on this. Section 308.1.4 states - Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction. This requirement does not include one and two family dwellings, nor does it include buildings, balconies and decks that are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.

Liquefied-petroleum-gas-fueled cooking devices. LP-gas burners having an LP-gas container with a water capacity greater than 2.5 pounds (nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity) shall not be located on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction. EXCEPTION: One- and two-family dwellings

Electric Grills are OK!

[chuckd4735]

Im also in the TR is overrated crowd. Its by no means bad, but its no where near the top of my list.