Tips:
- If you are new to Texas Roadhouse, you get the…read moreultimate treatment. You get to sample any three sides for free!
- If you buy a gift card, it never expires.
- Service was stellar.
If I could give a million stars to an eatery on Yelp, it would be this one.
A couple of Fridays ago, I had a long travel day. Since airfare between Toronto and Minneapolis was still highway robbery during a seat sale, I chose the cheaper option of flying between Toronto and Winnipeg, and doing a road trip between Winnipeg and Minneapolis. Cheaper. I also like to drive.
My day started at 4:40 am Eastern. I got to Winnipeg just before 10 am. I was ready for food by the time I got to Grand Forks, which is almost the midpoint between Winnipeg and Minneapolis.
Friends have told me to go visit Texas Roadhouse. What did it for me was seeing my Yelp friend, Guy, take a photo of a beautifully cooked sirloin steak.
I wanted it. Badly.
I've done this route between Winnipeg and Rochester, MN countless times. However, I was a bit rusty with a rest stop just north of Grand Forks. I forgot that it's shared with northbound and southbound traffic, so I needed to turn left to access it instead of right. I didn't bother slamming on the brakes and going into a tailspin. It was cold and the ramp was icy.
My bladder needed attention by the time I got to his eatery. I backed into a snow-covered, frozen parking spot and walked in.
I got a woman at the front. She asked me if I was okay with bar seating. I said that I was if this eatery was full. It wasn't at roughly 2 pm on a Friday. I asked for a booth instead.
I got a man taking me to the booth. We passed by a display of raw steaks.
"Did you want to pick out your steak?" he asked me.
"I'd need to see a menu. It's my first time here," I replied.
I saw the washrooms after I asked him where they were. He asked me if I wanted peanuts. I said yes. I basically took off my jacket and attended to my bladder.
The women's washroom was clean. I used it again just before I hit the road.
The booth that I was in was comfy. I got a bag of peanuts with the shells on. I had one bag during my stay in Minneapolis. Delicious!
I got rolls to start. Each roll was fluffy and warm, slightly sweet, with butter brushed on top. They come with cinnamon honey butter, which was to-die-for delectable.
Savanna was my server.Communication between staffers was incredible. She found out that I was a newbie. She said that I could sample three sides for free. Wow!
I tried the following samplers:
- Texas red chili
- Green beans
- Mushrooms
Excellent! The chili was flavourful and had ground beef. The green beans were perfectly done with bacon. The mushrooms were hearty and yummy.
The sampler was brought out by the Mia, the marketing manager. I got an offer for a free side dish the next time. She was friendly.
I wasn't expecting such a warm welcome. They likely don't get too many travellers these days, especially from Canada.
I order the following for my meal:
- 8-ounce sirloin with garlic shrimp, garlic bread, corn, and apple sauce
- Diet Coke
I got my Diet Coke with my peanuts and rolls. It was fizzy and cold. I got refills often.
My meal came with two sides. I loved the corn and apple sauce. The former had butter. The latter was my dessert because my meal was exceptionally filling!
My main had arrived. I got the sirloin steak medium. It was flavourful and perfectly done. My mouth is watering as I long for another sirloin from this place.
Savanna got me sauteed onions on the side. They were excellent with the steak and were complimentary.
The garlic bread under everything was a surprise hit. They were garlicky and buttery. I still think about it.
There was a gift card promotion. If I bought a $30 gift card, I got $5 for free. Gift cards don't expire and can be used at any Texas Roadhouse. I said yes.
I settled the bill at the table. There was a payment system that worked efficiently. I tapped and was done.
My server took service to a whole new level. She asked me where I was coming from. I told her my story. She was so thrilled to have me. She asked if she could send me off with a fresh order of rolls. OMG!
I felt like I got the VIP treatment. It was so kind. I got four rolls with a side of cinnamon honey butter in a box, all packed up for me. She also threw in another bag of peanuts.
I had them for breakfast. They were so perfect warmed up. I slathered the cinnamon honey butter like the world was going to end. Fabulous!
For someone who just wanted to rest her eyes from staring at flat land for hours and get some grub, this place made me feel special. I don't know if they do that for tourists like this Canadian or it's the usual treatment. I loved it.
Thanks to everyone for making my first Texas Roadhouse experience a special and wonderful one. When I'm doing this run again, I'll definitely return for more good eats.
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