“Good evening. How many in your party?” Every person, couple, and group is greeted as such by the cheery hostess standing near the doorway of Longhorn’s. As soon as you step through the large doors and into the dimly lit building you feel as if you’ve traversed into a cowboy’s dream. Trophies of dead animals adorn the walls, along with landscape paintings of the “wild west.” Many other items having to deal with cowboys and the West lined the walls of the restaurant.
Upon stating that we had 4 people on our party, the hostess led us straight past the bar; deeming we were underage and not important enough to be seated there. Longhorn’s is lit by small lamps on every table and very dim lights on the ceiling. This creates a very quiet and romantic mood, especially if you are with a significant other.
Our waiter greeted us with a smile and asked if we would like anything to drink. Their array of iced teas is delicious: blackberry, raspberry, and mango. I would suggest any of them. If you happen to be a lemonade and tea person, however, the Arnold Palmer is quiet delicious. Not too sweet, but not bitter, the combination of tea and lemonade sit pleasantly on your tongue long after you take a sip. The prices are very reasonable. The steaks are definitely more expensive than the rest of the foods, but that is to be expected of a steakhouse. After looking through a menu, my boyfriend and I decided that we would order an appetizer while waiting for our chronically late friends.
The Firecracker Chicken Wraps
The Firecracker Chicken Wraps look exactly as they do in the picture on the menu and taste even better. The crispy tortillas shatter as your teeth sink in, followed by a surprisingly light, spicy taste which is somewhat muted by the avocado-lime dipping sauce. This dish is quite intoxicating, and once you begin eating you find you cannot stop. If you’re in the mood for some chips and dip, the Shrimp and Lobster Dip is a delicacy meant for the indulgent. Of course, if you’re in a particularly unhealthy mood, the Texas Tonion is what you’ll want. A whole onion, cut up in an artful arrangement made to look like a flower, is fried with batter and drizzled with tangy sauce and sour cream. Truthfully, any appetizer is delectable at Longhorns. The question is: what will you have after the wonderful appetizer?
This leads to the main course. Our waiter has yet to bring the bread that Longhorn’s is famous for. Their complimentary bread and butter have yet to make its way to our table, but finally, our friends arrive. My boyfriend orders the Flo’s Filet, medium rare, while both my other friends order the New York Strip, one medium well, one medium rare. I am the odd one out, ordering the Rocky Top Chicken. As our waiter leaves to bring our order to the kitchen, he asks us if we want bread. This question should not be asked; isn’t the bread complimentary? This takes a couple points off our waiter’s affableness.
When you are at Longhorn’s, you find that your conversation turns to serious things. Whether you choose it or not, the atmosphere of Longhorn’s directs it towards that route. When the food arrives though, any kind of speaking ceases to exist. The many plates slowly fill our table till there is no wood left to be seen. Along with the main courses, there are many side dishes that require smaller plates. Everything is scrumptious.
The steaks are made precisely to your specifications, and the meat is tender and juicy. Each steak has its own unique taste, rubbed with different spices and sauces, to bring out the individual flavor of the meat. My chicken was flavored with a sweet barbeque sauce and smothered with bacon, tomatoes, and cheese. My only complaint was that I could not see the chicken beneath the cheese. The chicken tasted, however, soft and succulent. Their sides slide perfectly into your stomach with the food: loaded mashed potatoes, sweet potato, baked potato, vegetables, coleslaw, asparagus, rice, and more. Each one compliments the main course to make you dinner a splendid experience.
Then it comes to the dessert portion. Though we are not sure whether we can stuff more food into our stomachs, the mouth-watering dessert menu calls to us. My boyfriend and I order the Ultimate Brownie Sundae and my two other friends order the Key Lime Pie. More waiting ensues, but the food is well worth the wait. Our waiter is smiling as he places the extra-thick, fudgey Ghirardelli chocolate brownie served warm over vanilla ice cream and topped with hot fudge sauce and real cream. The chocolaty smell permeates the air around us, and we are in heaven. As the spoon comes closer to my mouth, my tastes perk up in anticipation of sugary sweetness, but unexpectedly, it is not too sweet. The vanilla ice cream balances out the chocolate to blend the two tastes together, making an overloaded sugary dessert become a scrumptious mildly sweet dessert. Thusly, we were able to finish the entire brownie. The Key Lime Pie looks cold and uninviting, yet when you take a bite it brings you into cool reminiscence of a beach and long, glorious vacations. This refreshing dessert is easy to finish and leaves you wanting more.
The food was great, but the service was mediocre. The waiter took some time getting our checks to us and returning them after we had paid. He seemed amiable enough, but he would sometimes pass over our table without a glance. Perhaps it was the amount of people in Longhorn’s at dinnertime, or perhaps it was just his flippant nature. Either way, he wasn’t the best waiter in the world. The food made it better though; I have eaten at Longhorn’s before, and I will continue eating at Longhorn’s in the future. The taste of the food still lingers in my mind every day.
I would recommend that everyone, at least once in their lives, eats at Longhorn’s. You don’t go to Longhorn’s just for the food: you go for the experience. The Western style building and decorations make you feel as if you’ve stepped into an old Western film. The atmosphere makes dining pleasant but not uncomfortable. It is even better if you come with your significant other. The desserts are great to share, as is the food. If you are legal and can drink alcohol, Longhorn’s also has a list of great wines. Of course, if you’re looking for something cheap but still delicious, they have a selection of beers also. If you’re by yourself and just looking for a great time, the bar is a wonderful place to sit and watch TV while you are eating.
This was a wonderful dining experience, and it was even better because I got to enjoy it with my boyfriend and my friends. I will definitely come here again to dine. As they say at Longhorn’s, “When you come into Longhorn Steakhouse, you're paying a visit to the West. The authentic West. The West of loyalty, hospitality, and of course, real good food."
Rating: ★★★★☆
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