Review of Texas Roadhouse Restaurant - A Great Place For Kids

This past weekend, my husband and I took the family to Texas Roadhouse. The following review is geared towards families who are looking for restaurants that are kid-friendly. Texas Roadhouse gets five stars from us and here's why:

It is a great combination of atmosphere, food, and friendly service. We left with a full bellies, money still in our pockets, and three happy children. The place is full of life and fun, making it a great spot for parents who don't want to have to worry about their children disrupting other customers.

Trust me, it's so loud and honky-tonk, no one will notice.

It's a Steakhouse, so don't expect fancy. As you walk through the joint, you'll hear the sound of cracking on the floor. That would be peanut shells, which brings me to the one sad part about this place: If you or your child has a peanut allergy, steer clear. Peanuts are everywhere. As you walk through the bar to your table you'll see enormous barrels full of peanuts. Each table has a stainless steel pail of peanuts. People are encouraged to simply shuck, toss, and eat.

For us, this was one of the most fun parts about the restaurant. The kids couldn't believe they could drop peanut shells on the floor! Our five-year-old kept herself quite busy as the "peanut sheller" for all of us. Towards the end, she started tossing peanut shells at her Daddy, but no none cared...because...peanuts are everywhere!

The inside of the restaurant is made up like a southwestern barn. It's all wood and exposed beams, giving it a warm and cozy feel. Most of the tables are booth-setup, which adds to the comfort. Our booth was very roomy and we fit five people comfortably.

There are lots of road signs, cacti, and even a saddle you might have the option of riding if it is your birthday. The waitstaff puts on a cheesy little line dance when they sing you a birthday song as well.

I did not worry for one bit if our kids were too loud or too rambunctious. The place can handle it.

The food is good. It's not gourmet, but it is better than any other food we can find for the price. Of course their specialty is steak, so when you come in, you can pick out your cut of meat from the counter. We're not huge steak people so we bypassed this step.

When you first sit down, you have peanuts to eat. But not long after, heaven in a basket comes to your table. They bring honey rolls with cinnamon butter. They are hot and fresh from the oven. You'll have to be careful not to eat the whole basket before your meal shows up.

The menu features steaks, but they have salads, chicken, fish, shrimp, and a diverse set of appetizers as well. The bloomin' onion is to die for.

One of my favorite parts about the restaurant is the kid's menu. Yes it has the standard hot dog, mac 'n cheese, etc. but it also has steak and ribs for little ones! My kids get tired of the same old thing, so we were happy to have some more "adult" choices. My five year old got the steak and it came already cut up! Another little detail that makes a big difference to parents.

My husband and I ordered steaks. You have the option of a 6oz, 12oz, 16oz, and even 24oz. I like the smaller option because steaks are usually too large for me. For a 6oz sirloin, it's $8.99 and comes with two sides. Not bad!

The only downside might be that the food is a bit on the salty side. I don't mind salt so for me, it wasn't an issue.

For a family of five, we made it out of there for $50.00! That's a steal in our book. Each child got a kid's meal with a drink, my husband and I ordered the small steaks, he had a beer, and I had a diet soda. That's approximately $10.00 a person.

Of course, you can get the large filet and spend a LOT more money, but if you are on a budget, Texas Roadhouse is a great pit stop.

It's difficult to review the service of the whole chain of restaurants, but I've found from place to place, the story is the same: Service is helpful, friendly, and fast. The rolls are on the table within minutes of sitting down.

We were asked twice if we wanted or needed refills of drinks, peanuts, and/or bread. When the steaks came to the table, he waited for us to cut into it to make sure it was cooked to our preferences. I have nothing but good things to say about the service at the restaurant we went to.

We're far from Texas (living in cold New England) but there are lots of them in the Northeast. The map below gives you a sampling of locations.