After a long day of shopping and scouring the mall for deals, my family and I knew two things: we had too many bags for our arms to hold, and all of us were starving. As we got into the car we started spitballing ideas: Applebee’s, Wendy’s, Panera Bread. All great ideas, but when my sister yelled Texas Roadhouse, the car went silent. During that silence we all realized we had the same thought: Texas Roadhouse was the place to be.

As we entered through the double barn doors, we were in awe. It felt as if we had been transported to Texas and were about to eat in the middle of a barn doubling as a restaurant. Pictures of country stars covered the walls, as well as pictures of horses and saddles. As we were led to our table we passed cacti and many tables of people who appeared highly satisfied.

Our server greeted us in minutes and, even better, she was both friendly and understanding towards a group of people who were cranky, tired, hungry, and restless. As we looked over the menu, we were all in agreement that it was accommodating and easy to read. They even had everything named with a name that someway somehow related to Texas (or the country) too.

After we ordered, our server brought us a basket of bread and honey-cinnamon butter. The rolls, in my opinion, are to die for. We waited about twenty minutes for our food, but it was well worth the wait. After the wait, which seemed like forever, “Ft. Worth Ribeye,” along with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli, was put in front of me. That was when I realized that my eyes were bigger than my stomach. The steak took up half of the plate with the sides in small bowls taking up the other half.

As I took my first bite the flavors exploded in my mouth. The steak was juicy, easy to cut and chew, and all around amazing. Although the broccoli was a tad bit lemony, the mashed potatoes made up for it in excess. If you are not a fan of what I ordered, they also offer vegetarian and gluten-free options, close to a dozen sides, and even burgers.

Overall, Texas Roadhouse met all of my barbecue expectations. It showed great customer service and, most of all, great food. With the atmosphere, the decor, and the good vibes, this place is in my top five favorite restaurants and will stay there for a long time.