I hosted a 70th birthday for my wife and some of her friends recently. We reserved one of their…read moreprivate rooms and they took great care of the girls. Brandon was a terrific server. MJ's is a great place for special occasions or Tuesday night dinner. In the next few months they are moving to a new location on Paramount Ave. - across from Pizza Planet.

Everything the waitress, the ambience, the food, all excellent!…read moreThis is our third time coming here. We absolutely love this place.

We had to stop at the Big Texan while traveling Route 66 through Amarillo!…read more Our original plan was to come for dinner. I tried getting a reservation just a few hours before we arrived, but there was nothing available, and I wasn't able to get anyone on the phone. Once we drove past that evening, we understood why, the place was absolutely PACKED! I had seen that waits can sometimes reach 1-1.5 hours. That said, if you do have to wait, this is probably one of the better places to do it because there is SO much randomness to explore. Between the gift shop, Western décor, photo ops, and everything else going on, you could easily entertain yourself for an hour. We changed plans and made a reservation for 9 AM the next morning instead, and I'm actually really glad we did! On a Thursday morning it was quiet and relaxed, and we basically had our pick of all the goofy photo opportunities without fighting the dinner crowds. We shared the steak and eggs, and it was a perfect breakfast for two. The steak was seasoned perfectly and cooked really well. The entire place is exactly what you hope for from an over-the-top Texas Route 66 roadside stop: rustic, quirky, cow prints everywhere, a big gift shop, and lots to look at. We also discovered a whole crew of cats hanging around outside near the patio in the morning, which was an unexpected and entertaining bonus. One disappointment for us as Route 66 souvenir collectors: they have TWO penny press machines, but unfortunately BOTH were out of order when we visited. We were so sad! Overall, going at 9 AM turned out to be a great move. You still get the full Big Texan experience, but with way fewer people and plenty of time for pictures. Definitely one of those classic, quirky Route 66 stops you have to experience at least once!

It's a cool restaurant, and has its western charm. However, I was just completely disappointed in…read morethe service. We did get seated quickly, but the service was just slow. We did arrive for during the early lunch service so it was still fairly empty, however the food took quite a bit to come out. When it did come out, it had me questioning how long it was actually out for. The food just came out cold/lukewarm. We also shared our meal with our 2 adopted flies who wouldn't stop pestering us. The server was not great as well, they would help us and then disappear for a period of time before coming to check. Overall, it would be a really amazing place if the food and service were A1, but unfortunately the only good thing about this place is the cool appearance.

What does Amarillo have to offer in terms of upscale dining? I was visiting Amarillo for about a…read moreweek to spend time with my girlfriend and her family in her hometown, and I wanted to treat her to a nice dinner. She suggested a few places, but she heavily emphasized Public House as the restaurant to take her to. We had a reservation at 7:15 pm on a Friday and arrived just a few minutes early. They were very busy and we had to wait an additional 15 minutes to get seated. The waitstaff was super apologetic, but it was also college graduation night for some, so it was simply very busy. We were seated in their main dining room, though the reservation had options for their lounge and their bar as well. Our waitress came by with a carafe of water and gave us their drink menu. For starters, I ordered a Blue Bumble Bee and my girlfriend ordered the Harvest Martini. It was very fruity and herbal. Their cocktails ranged between $11 and $15. They also had an extensive draft list available on Untappd and plenty of wine options. As an appetizer, my girlfriend really wanted their Fried Cheese Curds, which she described as amazing. They were served with ranch and a raspberry habanero jelly that was very good. The fruity sweetness hits first, with the habanero flavor coming in on the back end and sneaking up on you. The curds themselves were excellent. They were perfect to share for two, but I think they would be unsatisfying for more than three. We both ordered a side Caesar salad made with their house Caesar dressing, parmesan chips, croutons, and parmesan cheese. You can always taste a fresh salad and this was proof of that. I liked it a lot and ate the entire thing. For our main entrees, my girlfriend ordered the Lamb Lollipop Chops. They are listed as an appetizer, but the four lamb chops were filling enough for her. I ordered the special of the day, a Beef Wellington served with seasonal vegetables of chopped sweet potatoes and asparagus. The Wellington also came with mashed potatoes. It was recommended medium rare, which is how I ordered it. I thought it was really delicious. I am still thinking about how doughy and flavorful it was, especially with the prosciutto. Our waitress mentioned they had sold out of it every night for the past few nights. Both the Lamb Chops and the Beef Wellington were market price. Everyone acts gangster until those MKT prices turn into $45 for an entrée. I am usually the one ordering something cheaper than my girlfriend so I can jokingly say she is expensive, but when her entrée was $29 and mine was $45, I could only clown myself. All of this still came in under $180 before tip, and there were plenty of more affordable options on the menu. Two standard entrees, two salads, an appetizer, and two drinks could easily keep your bill under $100 before tip, which makes Public House approachable for a nice night out. If you thought we were done, you would be surprised. For dessert, we debated between their crème brûlée special with strawberries and their Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. When we asked our waitress, she immediately recommended the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake with no hesitation, so that is what we ordered. I had never had one before and was impressed by its flavor. It was served with plenty of whipped cream and reminded me of fried cheesecake in terms of texture. Side note, my girlfriend told me the ooey gooey part of its name refers to the type of butter cake and is not just a silly name, so I will continue to refer to it by its full name out of respect. We also ordered dessert cocktails, with both of us choosing the Kevin McAllister, which was described as an adult apple juice. It was made with a house made caramel infused vodka that was excellent. It truly lived up to the description and paired well with the dessert. I would definitely return to Public House the next time I am back in Amarillo. It was a fantastic dinner to share with someone I love. The staff were attentive and on point, and once we were seated everything moved efficiently despite the short wait. As we walked out of the restaurant, I took a picture of my beautiful girlfriend in front of the Public House sign. A couple asked if we wanted our picture taken. I said, "No, I just wanted to admire her for a moment." After a good meal with the one you love, that is sometimes all you need. RIYL: treating that someone special to a good meal in Amarillo, Texas

The food was really good here. The ambience was delightful and the service was spectacular…read more The meatloaf was the star of the table.

The food was absolutely fantastic. If you know anything about wine, which I don't, but I was…read moresitting at a table with people who do, this place has a crazy wine list with fine wines that are far cheaper than anywhere else that you might go. The decor is not bad, but it is definitely one of those restaurants that looks like they decided to keep the wood paneling from the 1980s up because, well, it's still fine, right? It's not a complaint, it's a look. But you didn't go there to ogle the wood paneling. You're there to eat, and the excellent service is there to help you do exactly that. The quality of the appetizers and steaks, I would put on the same level as Peter Luger: solid, consistent, well-executed. There's a reason that everybody in town tells you that if you want a great steak, you go here. Quality is something that's hard to fake, and these guys do a great job.

Typically there is at least one good thing on the menu here, but the menu changes often so you…read morenever know what that's going to be. This round I ordered what they advertised as a pistachio crusted chicken breast, I believe, and what was delivered was three chicken tenders. Awkward seating, decent service, food is a little hit and miss. Not completely off the list, yet.

Food was exceptionally delicious diner food. The service…read morewas excellent, not speedy but acceptable. The hostess was friendly and talkative. What can I say? It's a truck stop diner with cute touristy items to buy. We will stop her again.

When first opened I loved coming here. Had things like corn beef hash I really liked. Last 3 times…read morewe have gone the service has been worse and worse. Worst instance now making me leave this review...and not coming back. Started off just standing waiting to be seated, not even in the door because of a group of people. Said they were a big party made sense why it may be hard to get in. Should of just left then. Lackluster attention from staff for everyone that came in after that group. Saw one couple even immediately be seated though after waiting 20 min with 3 people ahead of us and another group behind. (Happened to know the waitress apparently) Saw one table just up and leave due to being ignored and waiting on ticket to the point they left some cash and up and left in a very bad mood. Got told multiple times a 10-15 min wait due to tables needing cleaned off. There were 4 open tops that were empty throughout restaurant, the whole time and then another 3 opened up while waiting. Then was told 20-30 min wait due to the kitchen being backed up. At that point we just up and left combined with the VIP treatment of people being able to skip ahead of not 1 or 2 but 4 other groups of only 2 to 4 people with at least 5 or 6 open tables. I don't leave reviews often and do for great experiences and bad experiences this was one of the worst. The waitresses were clueless high school or 20 somethings not wanting to actively work and instead argue over whose fault it was a table left or why people would have their name written down and instead would leave due to the treatment of even just being seated, but somehow it's the kitchens fualt. 10/10 do not recommend and don't bother.

This was our first trip to their new location. The place is super cool looking inside. The food was…read morethe same great quality you would expect from Yolos. The only issue was trying to eat my burger and the order of tater tots. They are the nicest people we will be back.

Fresh cinnamon roll - delicious!! Excellent coffee…read moreBreakfast burrito made to order Very clean restaurant

Fantastic! Tyler is a magician with his BBQ. I highly recommend this place…read more I had the brisket and the sausage. Legit. He said the short rib is available on Saturdays. I am going to have to drive back on a Saturday. Strong work.

I was really looking forward to trying some of the great barbecue I'd read about and hoped to add…read moreanother Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ spot to my list. Unfortunately, the experience was ruined at the counter. I stood there for several minutes while the young man directly in front of me failed to acknowledge me--not even a quick "I'll be with you in a moment." Instead, he and a coworker spent several minutes discussing a chopped beef sandwich while I waited. When a customer is standing right in front of you, that lack of acknowledgment and basic service is unacceptable. I seriously considered walking out, but decided to order some food to go. The brisket had a solid, flavorful bark, but the ribs were overcooked. I also tried the jalapeño-cheese sausage after being told they did not make their original sausage in-house. Overall, the disappointing service overshadowed the food. This was a terrible customer experience and unlike anything I've encountered at a barbecue restaurant in the Texas Panhandle.

Customer service was good, they gave samples and were patient with us as we tried to decide what to…read moreorder. Brisket and pork BBQ were really good.

After a drive from Santa Fe to Amarillo, we had arrived in town in the early evening. My parents…read morewere in the mood for some bbq. After some searching, in the end, we decided on a good old classic, Rudy's. It was a random weekday. There weren't many people so it was nice with plenty of seating as opposed to when Rudy's can get quite packed. We opted for the usual suspects - brisket, jalapeno sausage, pork ribs, and turkey - at about a 1/2 to 1 lb of each. Interestingly, I mentioned getting cutter's choice and the cashier had no idea what I was talking about. I feel like it's a nice option to get some variety between lean and moist. It usually works at Rudy's I go to back home in Webster area and other bbq places. In the end, we just went ahead with lean (to watch our figure of course) All of the bbq was good to above average. My favorite was still the brisket. Even though it wasn't "moist", I'd say it still was. Went well some sauce and bread. Before we left, we topped off our car with some gas which I remember was pretty reasonably priced at the time. Lowest in the area from what I recall. I usually do prefer going to non-chain places but if it had to be a chain for bbq, I'm glad we went to Rudy's!

Excellent food, excellent service and the food was out quickly and very homemade! I highly…read morerecommend this place

It's an older café, and the smell of stale coffee mixed with mentholated ointment hits you as soon…read moreas you walk in. The atmosphere feels like stepping into your local VFW without the smoke. The service was warm and friendly--like having your mom or grandma waiting on you. Nothing over the top, just genuinely pleasant. I asked my server for a recommendation, and she suggested the two-egg breakfast, which comes with a choice of sides, including their famous "World's Best Pancake." With a name like that, I had to give it a try. I ordered soft-scrambled eggs, hash browns, and the World Famous pancake. The eggs were decent but needed a little help from the salt and pepper. The hash browns were standard diner fare. The "World's Best Pancake," however, was a major disappointment. It was sticky, gooey, and lacked any real structure. Honestly, it reminded me more of undercooked cake batter than a pancake. The syrup didn't taste like maple either--it seemed more like a basic corn syrup, simple pancake syrup. Overall, the friendly service was the highlight of the meal, but the food, especially the signature pancake, didn't live up to the hype. Nothing wrong with this place and nothing phenomenal either.

Stopped at The BBQ Shop on my way back to Dallas, and let me tell you that this is a must try…read more The BBQ Shop is hands down one of the best BBQ spots around! The meat was incredibly tender and packed with smoky flavor, the sides were delicious, and the service was friendly from start to finish. Everything tasted fresh and homemade. I'll definitely be coming back--highly recommend it to anyone craving great barbecue!

Some say The BBQ Shop is the greatest barbecue in the state of Texas. Those are obviously bold…read morewords. The restaurant certainly represents the state well as the westernmost barbecue joint on Highway 70. You'll see it as soon as you leave New Mexico traveling eastbound on the highway, even before you encounter the Welcome to Texas sign! They make it clear that Texas is America's barbecue state! While I wouldn't rank it among the top 10 BBQ spots in Texas, and I've done the entire top 50 now, I'd say it's very solid and worth a visit if you're in the vicinity. The brisket is good, with beautiful fatty, salty edges. The sausage is just mediocre. But the side dishes are the real star of the show! The fried okra in my experience is among the best in the United States, likely only second to Dreamland in Birmingham, Alabama. And that's really high praise! The fried cheddar poppers are one of the best side dishes I've ever eaten, probably the best thing on the menu!