We’ve been doing our reviews at the top steakhouses in Wisconsin. A couple can easily spend $300 having a drink, dinner and dessert. Upon occasion we go to the Texas Roadhouse and $100 gets a nice a dinner for two with drinks and dessert. When dinner guests remember the hot rolls, they quickly acquiesce to the choice. The only thing better than a hot freshly baked roll is a hot freshly baked roll dripping with butter. The server will bring the rolls with a honey butter, but I like natural taste of butter and rolls so I ask for a side of butter with the rolls. The ladies love the honey butter.
As you know, dining should not be done on the fly. If you don’t have time for a drink at the bar, you can save some money and go to subway. The beer at the Roadhouse is always cold and served in proper glassware. The typical pint glass is just too boring. They have oranges for Tina’s Blue moon and a nice lemon wedge for my 22oz Coors Light. Unfortunately, they got rid of the big barrel of peanuts, I guess Covid changed most everything. But they do have complimentary bags of peanuts, and one bag seems to be plenty these days. The entrees come with a choice of two sides, and I order the salad with the thousand Island dressing and the baked potato.
The potato comes rolled in salt, but I ask for an unsalted potato. The salad at the Roadhouse is my kind of salad. I like the different salads offered by the chefs at the 5-star venues but sometimes a nice bowl of fresh iceberg lettuce with cucumbers and tomatoes hits the spot. They have a nice salad dressing selection. Tina gets the Ceasar and it’s as good as anywhere. She also gets the sweet potato with brown sugar and melted marshmallows or the vegetable medley which does offer some “guilt relief” for us both since we most always share the sides if not the entrees themselves.
I’ve tried all the steaks, but I find myself going back to the porterhouse. The meat off the bone is the tastiest. Tina, who loves a filet, opts for the skewers of shrimp with rice. The shrimp are nice sized and spiced up perfectly. As far as the steaks go, yes, they are not Triple A Prime Angus cuts, but I like the grilled flavor. The value is tremendous, and you can bring the grandkids!!!
NOTE: For those on a stricter budget, be aware of the “upsell” at the Roadhouse. A loaded potato is an upcharge, as are mushrooms, and grilled onions. 
The desserts are Granny’s Apple Classic, Strawberry Cheesecake and the Big Ol’ Brownie. To be honest, after the peanuts, too many rolls and the meal, we don’t order any of them often, but they are as good as the menu description suggests. Try the Brownie.
NOTE: The Texas Roadhouse we visited to put together this review was in West Bend, Wisconsin. I must tell you that we have been to many different locations and have visited the West Bend location many times. I am extremely impressed with the consistency of the food, service and atmosphere every time we visit.
Meet the Critics – Tina Savage is the expert. She is currently the General Manager of the Wissota Chophouse. She has spent her entire career in restaurant management. Her management experience ranges from the Olive Garden to smaller venues. She is a stickler for cleanliness and demands that her staff offer impeccable service. Her dining mate will be, of course yours truly, Bill Savage. Tina and I owned William Patrick’s Steakhouse in Milwaukee (which the Journal-Sentinel compared to Corpers Steakhouse) along with a bar and grill in West Allis. We have traveled across the country, and we make it a point to dine in the finest local restaurants in America.
Each month we will feature a restaurant that we believe is worthy of our recognition. Although we will for the most part concentrate on finer dining establishments, we will from time to time include some great casual dining. Wisconsin not only has its traditional “Supper Clubs” and Steakhouses, but there is some fantastic Bar food that we will share with you.
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