I Was a Texas Roadhouse Skeptic—Then I Went For the First Time | Bon Appétit
"A lively, sports-bar–meets–country-steakhouse in Springfield, Illinois, the dining room is anchored by a mural of Illinois and Missouri sports legends—including Mike Singletary, Ozzie Smith, Chicago Cubs Hall-of-Famer Ryne Sandberg and a cigar-chomping Mark McGuire—mingling with a cartoon armadillo in a cowboy hat. The atmosphere is convivial and family-reunion–like: peanut shells on the floor (peanuts are free), servers who occasionally break into line dances, a horseshoe-shaped bar lit by a neon star, TVs on every wall, blonde wood paneling and taxidermy. Service is friendly and hands-on (warm, buttery rolls with cinnamon-honey butter are brought from the pass; servers will offer laminated menus or a photo guide to steak doneness), and the food favors generous, comforting, country-tinged dishes—famous sweet rolls, Cactus Blossoms, bacon-and-onion–braised green beans, gravy-smothered beef tips and hearty sides. Steak quality is generally solid though inconsistent in doneness (a strip that arrived a touch darker versus a reliably medium-rare bone-in ribeye), boxed-style mashed potatoes contrast with a well-executed loaded baked potato, and the staff-led rituals (napkin-waving saddle rides and shouted “Yee-haw!”s) contribute to a relaxed, easygoing stop that feels especially suited to road trips and group gatherings." - ByMaggie Hennessy
