Buzz and I went to a new restaurant in our town last night for dinner. It's the Texas Roadhouse. The place opens at 4:00 and we got there at 4:30. It was already crowded. Good sign? Or just a sign that it's a new restaurant and people are too pooped to cook during the shopping season?
We walked up to the door and there was a sign that gave us a warning that there was peanut dust absolutely everywhere. Huh? I know nothing of this restaurant so that actually intrigued me. I was amused.
They were right - there are buckets of peanuts all over this restaurant and apparently it's OK to just toss your hulls overboard wherever you happen to be standing. Interesting!
Another feature of this place is that you can pick out your steak if you are of a mind to reject the "small" portions on the menu. I opted for the babiest of steaks on the menu, thanks very much. I mean, I don't pick out my lobster at a seafood restaurant and I'm not about to pick out my cow at this one.
They bake fresh rolls every 5 minutes. These are tiny nuggets of goodness, served with a sweetened cinnamon butter. Again - intriguing! And quite yummy! We both started with one of their legendary 1800 margaritas (on the rocks, of course!) and were not disappointed. They are served in bucket-sized glasses and worth the $6.25. One lasted me all the way through dinner. Then we both had the house salad with blue cheese dressing and we both chose the 6 oz. filet, cooked rare as god intended. Buzz also had a side order of their famous fall-off-the-bone ribs. He had the baked potato with everything they could find to put on top of it, like he does, and I ordered the mashed potatoes. To my enormous surprise, the waitress asked if I wanted sour cream, cheddar cheese and bacon on my potatoes. I asked, "On mashed potatoes?" and she said, "You will not believe these!" Bring it on, sister!! It was a heavenly, sinful delight!
The steak was delicious in its simplicity, not too much seasoning, and I scarfed down the potatoes like I'd never had a carbohydrate before in my life! I had a couple bites of the ribs and I even loved them! (And I don't like barbecue!)
Two enthusiastic thumbs up for the Texas Roadhouse! And by the time we left, there were a good 30 people waiting to be seated. Sheesh!
P.S. We ordered Rattlesnake Bites to split for an appetizer. Trust me when I tell you that this was NOT a good decision for someone with chapped lips. My face still hurts!
P.P.S. At one point, the wait staff lined up and danced. A line dance. In the aisle of the restaurant. Hmm.
Lonestar and Outback used to do the peanut thing until someone fell and sued one of the chains quite a few years back. I wonder how long the roadhouse will continue to do this.
I'm betting the place was crowded because of the newness. Remember when Cheesecake factory opened in the KoP mall? People just about camped out in the mall corridor for 3 hours at a clip.
Texas Roadhouse opened here in Charlotte a couple of years ago. Their food was good, but their service was seriously lacking (at that time.) We gave them three chances over the first few months, because the food was good. Maybe they've gotten better with their service since then. Rare filets, potatoes, and BBQ ribs -- excellent selections! 
Mmmm. I like Texas Roadhouse.
Mainly because they have sweet potatoes on their menu. Outback has them on their menu, at least in Florida. But in Arizona they don't. Texas Roadhouse does, so now I prefer to eat there. I also like that they have a teeny-tiny steak to choose, and the price is right, too!
