Undercover Diner Visits Texas Roadhouse

Sometimes all your craving is a good steak without waiting until dinnertime.

That's exactly what my dad and I were looking for when we recently stopped by Texas Roadhouse for a late lunch. Since the restaurant isn't typically open for lunch during the week, taking advantage of its Saturday hours made for the perfect opportunity to enjoy what ended up being our biggest meal of the day.

From the moment we walked in, the experience got off to a great start. We were greeted with smiles, quickly seated and welcomed with the restaurant's signature warm rolls. They arrived fresh from the oven and were served with the famous cinnamon butter. While cinnamon butter isn't my favorite, our server happily brought me whipped regular butter instead without hesitation.

Our waiter was friendly, attentive and checked on us throughout the meal.

I ordered the 10-ounce ribeye with a baked potato and a side salad. The baked potato was exactly what I wanted, but the real surprise was the salad. Side salads often feel like an afterthought, but this one stood out with crisp greens, chopped tomatoes, fresh egg and plenty of toppings. It was well above average and one I'd gladly order again.

My dad ordered the prime rib with green beans. The prime rib was tender and flavorful, especially paired with fresh horseradish. Even the green beans, which didn't look particularly exciting at first glance, ended up being packed with flavor.

My steak was a bit of a mixed experience. The first half was outstanding. It had a beautifully seared crust, was cooked to a perfect medium with just a touch of pink in the center and was full of flavor.

Unfortunately, the second half was another story. It was filled with gristle and large sections of fat that simply couldn't be eaten.

When our server noticed, he immediately brought over the manager, who handled the situation professionally. He acknowledged that the cut can sometimes be difficult and offered to replace the steak entirely. Since we were nearly finished eating, we declined another entrée, and instead he removed $15 from the bill.

It's exactly the kind of customer service that keeps people coming back. Mistakes happen in restaurants, but how they're handled often leaves the biggest impression.

One thing we didn't realize until we were leaving is that guests can select their own steak from the display case before it's cooked. We'll take advantage of that next time.

Would I order that same cut again? Probably not. But would I return to Texas Roadhouse? Absolutely.

Between the welcoming staff, generous portions, excellent rolls, surprisingly fresh salad and a management team willing to make things right, the positives easily outweighed one disappointing steak.