Texas
Land and Cattle was born in 1993 in The Lone Star State and has opened many more
restaurants across the country since. The restaurant is meant to feel like you
are in “an authentic Texas ranch house with large
fireplaces and hand-peeled split logs” and it is just that (“Along the Texas
Trail”). Picture this: You walk up to the big, wooden double doors in the front
of the steakhouse and before you even open the door, you hear “Take A Little
Ride” by Jason Aldean blasting over the speakers. You go to grab the handle but
instead you are greeted by employees opening the doors for you. When you
finally get inside, you have entered that “ranch house.” There is a wall to
your left that is lined with stone and protruding from the wall is a fancy bar
with televisions playing football games, of course. In front of you there is a
light brown brick wall that has a cut out in the middle where a red slab is
lined with three large photographs of an oil rig, a bull, and a windmill.
Finally, the wall to your right is lined with wood and in the middle there is a
section of stone with a fire burning in a fireplace that is underneath a giant,
black bull’s head. There are also two areas that are slightly separated from
the main dining room. These rooms include a second fireplace, pairs of cowboy
boots sitting on a shelf, and metal stars hanging on the walls to represent The
Lone Star State. The smell of steak and wood burning in the fire fills the air.
People are sitting in numerous booths and tables and discussing the activities
of the day or the plans for the future. It can be your mini country experience.
Texas Land and Cattle is one of my favorite
restaurants so I had many expectations as I walked in to have dinner with my
family that Thursday night. Friendly service, steaks cooked to perfection,
drinks being refilled, clean rooms, hot, fresh-out-of-the-oven bread, crisp
lettuce with the salads, tasty appetizers, and sweet, delicious desserts were
on the top of my list. The service was awesome. After being complimented on the
cowboy boots I was wearing, we were seated almost immediately and three menus
were sat on the table in front of us. Our waitress was very polite and she had
various conversations with us, which made it feel like we were her only table
when we knew we were not. She told us about her being a hair stylist after my
sister commented on her nails, she asked my sister about her soccer team
because she was wearing her warm up jersey, and we laughed and joked with her
when we thought there was something floating in my mom’s drink when it was only
the light shining through the glass. She was very professional and personable
at the same time. The food was delicious for the most part. First, we were
served white bread with whipped butter. The bread was still hot from coming out
of the oven and crunchy on the outside but soft and moist on the inside. Yum.
Next, we had an appetizer called “Taste of Texas Sampler” that came with chips,
spinach-artichoke dip, chicken tenders, and fried jalapeños topped with bacon
and cheese. My favorite was by far the jalapeños. They were crunchy, not too
spicy, freshly made, and surprisingly tasty. The salads followed shortly after
and all three of us ordered the Signature Wedge Salad. The lettuce was crisp,
the tomatoes were juicy and firm, but there was a ton of dressing that was
swimming on my plate. Note for next time: Get the salad dressing on the side.
Next, we received our steaks and sides. My mom and sister order the signature
steak cooked medium rare and I ordered the signature sirloin cooked medium
well. The signature steaks were a little overcooked and were closer to being
medium and the signature sirloin was underdone and was very pink. There was
also a lot of fat lining my signature sirloin that was unappealing to see and
made me slightly question my order. The steaks were good regardless. I was also
served a side of shoestring French fries and they were great; they were crunchy
and had a little spicy bite due to the pepper seasoning that they were topped
with. Finally, it was time for dessert. I am a chocolate lover so we ordered
the Triple Chocolate Miracle Cake that was served with ice cream and raspberry
drizzle. Not only did the cake taste amazing, we were told that fifty percent
of the proceeds from this cake and one other dessert were going to Children’s
Miracle Network Hospitals across the country and that they had raised about
$90,000 last year. Overall, Texas Land and Cattle met all of my expectations
and I will definitely go back for more steak and country.
Texas Land and Cattle is a great place to dine with
family, go on a date, or just have a girls’ night out and enjoy a little taste
of Texas. The service was great, the food was good, and the atmosphere is cool.
I would definitely recommend this steakhouse to anyone who was looking for a
good meal and a fun time. Other people have also enjoyed Texas Land and Cattle
and one customer even quoted a Tim McGraw song, “I like it, I love it, I want
some more of it” on a popular review website (“Texas Land and Cattle”). It is
my mini country experience here in New Mexico. Go enjoy the little piece of the
west.
*****
Works
Cited
"Along the Texas Trail." About TXLC. Texas Land and
Cattle Steakhouse. Web. 15 Nov 2012. <http://www.texaslandandcattle.com/files/aboutus.asp&xgt;.
"Texas Land and Cattle." Yelp. Yelp, 21 2010. Web. 15
Nov 2012. <http://www.yelp.com/biz/texas-land and-cattle-steakhouse-albuquerque>.
