First of all, I ADORE this place, but for a few quick pointers, I will throw this out there.
Reasons NOT to go here: If you like pretentious settings, If you don't like smoking, if you are claustrophobic, if you don't have cash (they don't do credit/debit cards) and if you don't like steak. Otherwise, make a point to head out here when you can!
I was taken here by my stepdad. I have been in town taking care of my sick mother and we'd gone to a few nice steak places in Dallas (The Saltgrass Steakhouse & The Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse), but he assured me this would top them both, but that we had to go on a specific day and arrive super early or there would be a long wait. He wasn't wrong!
We arrived around 4pm and within an hour, there were people -filling- their lobby and the parking lot was PACKED. By the time we left, there were people parked along the side of the highway. That is how busy this place is on "Steak Nights". That alone should speak for itself!
This is a SMALL restaurant. And yes, there's usually a lot of smoke drifting about. I don't smoke, but I've been around them enough that it doesn't bother me. If I had an issue at all, it was that when we sat down, they had a bowl full of sour creams and butters on the table. Upon looking at the label on the sour cream, it said in small red letters "KEEP REFRIDGERATED" so I only used the sour cream that came with my potato, not the ones on the table.
We had the fried pickles and jalapeno poppers for appetizers and both were very good, especially the pickles, which were served as spears rather than slices and had dill in the breading, which was a nice touch. The salad was alright. The fact that the dressing was slapped down in a plastic packet left a little to be desired, but none of that was what I came for anyways. Again, if you're expecting the Ritz, this isn't the place for you. It's very unassuming, but charming in its own way.
It took a while for the entree to make it out, but I swear, good things are worth waiting for. I kid you not. My steak finally came to the table and I am not joking... it FILLED the plate! There was barely any room for my potato and texas toast and it was THICK. I ordered medium-rare and it was cooked just-so! The flavor was amazing. Throw the A-One out the window, as you won't need it here!!
I liked it so much that I took my boyfriend there when he came in on school break from Michigan. He's had a fair number of good steaks, himself and even he agreed that it was some of the best steak for its price that he'd ever eaten and AGAIN we had huge steaks on our plates. Sure, they had some fat and gristle, but even after you trimmed that away, you still easily had a ton of delicious meat on the plate. He said as soon as he graduates and moves here, we will be making the Borderline our regular spot.
I have yet to try the pies, though I have seen them there and they look scrumptious. I'm just always so full after eating! I may take a slice home one of these days. Ever since discovering this place, I BRAG to my friends that if they come to visit, I'm taking them to enjoy the best steak they'll ever eat in the most unlikely spot they'll ever go.
Keep up the good work, Borderline! read more