SIOUX CITY - Texas Roadhouse in Lakeport Commons has had customers kicking up their heels since it opened in Sioux City last August.
The restaurant, part of a Louisville, Ky.-based steakhouse chain, prides itself on hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs and fresh bread which is baked fresh daily and served with cinnamon butter. Salads and other sides are also made from scratch.
"We cut our own steaks which are fresh, never frozen," said Carie Berning, marketing manager at Texas Roadhouse in Sioux City. "We have a meat cutter who comes in to cut the steaks. Our mashed potatoes are real and our dressings are made from scratch. We also simmer vegetables for au jus, which is just delicious.
"People rave about our steaks and fall-off-the-bone ribs," Berning continued. "We also have country-fried dinners; both the chicken and steak are very popular. They're both hand breaded and never frozen."
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With so many made-from-scratch foods, it reduces the need for a lot of freezer space.
"People are amazed by how small our freezer is. We mostly use it to chill plates and keep our ice cream and french fries. Everything else is homemade," she said.
It's all about providing customers with a legendary experience: legendary food, service and fun.
The Texas Roadhouse chain, which was founded by Kent Taylor in Clarksville, Ind., in 1993, prides itself on combining large portions and great value to give customers legendary food at a reasonable price.
Texas Roadhouse is not just about steaks and ribs. With chicken dishes, fish, salads, kids' meals and lots more, it can satisfy about any appetite. The restaurant chain was voted No. 1 in both menu variety and value in the 2004 Restaurant & Institution Magazine's Choice in Chains Guest Survey.
In addition to tantalizing food, Texas Roadhouse features a fun atmosphere and country music decor, with some Sioux City flavor blended in for good measure.
Line dance every hour
"It's pretty laid back here," said Berning, who moved to Sioux City from Cedar Falls, Iowa. "We have a line dance every hour and the servers, hosts and managers participate. People have fun even in the back. Everyone is always laughing and cheering."
The servers wear jeans and T-shirts, further emphasizing the casual and legendary fun at Texas Roadhouse.
"We have great people," she said. "They have really great attitudes and they're proud to work here."
The decor, with its brick and cedar backdrop, gives the feel of a country western bar. Buckets of peanuts on the tables, shells on the floor and cactuses all over are all a part of the restaurant's culture. The centrally located bar area features sports murals and a show of support from area beer vendors.
Upon entering the Sioux City Texas Roadhouse, guests see caricatures of country music greats lining the walls, among them Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, George Strait, the Judds and Alan Jackson.
Texas Roadhouse has ties to legendary country singer Willie Nelson who stops by the chain's restaurants while he is in town for concerts. Each restaurant, including the one in Sioux City, features a "Willie's Corner," where customers can view Willie Nelson-themed memorabilia.
Sioux City ties
The local restaurant has ties to Sioux City, featuring items from local teams including the Explorers, the Bandits and the Musketeers, and murals of city landmarks.
"Brian Oakleaf, a partner since building began on the restaurant in May, designed the murals, except the Indian. When designing a Texas Roadhouse, we like to make each restaurant friendly to the city it's in," Berning said. She added, "When Brian and I went house hunting here, we saw the Missouri River bridge so we made sure we had that. We also show a lot of monuments."
Oakleaf said the Sioux City restaurant, which seats 200 or so guests, showcases "Texas Roadhouse decor with a local flavor."
He said Texas Roadhouse, which had about 310 locations in 2008 and plans to build more in 2009, entered the Sioux City market because they thought the restaurant would do well here. They haven't been disappointed.
"Business is great, even in this economy. We're always busy. The support and interest from the community has been wonderful," said Oakleaf, who owned his own restaurant and worked for another corporation before joining the Texas Roadhouse team.
Market starting to boom
Texas Roadhouse chose to place its Sioux City restaurant in Lakeport Commons because the market is starting to boom. It joins other restaurants there, including Golden Corral, Red Robin and Olive Garden.
"This area is definitely up and coming," Berning said. "We usually have our restaurants in the shopping district. Tom (Sheel), our marketing partner, liked the appeal from the highway."
People may notice that the parking lot is usually full when they drive by, but that shouldn't stop them from giving it a try, she said.
"If we look busy, it's because we have a small parking lot. You can still give us a call and walk in. We have call ahead seating, so people can wait at home instead of standing in line in the lobby."
