FIRST REPORT: Demolished motel to be site of new Texas Roadhouse restaurant
1. The menu aims for freshness
Texas Roadhouse, which serves American fare with a Southwestern spin amid Texas-themed decor, offers ribs, hand-cut steaks, made-from-scratch sides and ice-cold beer.
“We have an on-site butcher and baker in each location and we make our food from scratch, down to the bacon bits, croutons and dressings,” said company spokesman Travis Doster.
That on-site meat butcher hand cuts the restaurant’s steaks each day, Doster said. “We do this so we can personally guarantee quality and exact specifications for every cut of meat,” he said.
Steaks are put on display so guests may choose which one they want prepared for them, Doster said.
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2. Almost half the menu consists of steak
Yes, there are chicken, fish and vegetarian options, but beef takes up a whopping 48 percent of the menu. Selections include a Ft. Worth Ribeye, Dallas Filet, New York Strip, Bone-In Ribeye, Porterhouse T-Bone, Steak Kabob, Filet Medallions and Prime Rib.
“Each steak is hand-cut that day by a meat cutter who works in a 34-degree cooler,” he said. “Our ribs are called ‘Fall-off-the-Bone’ ribs because you can literally just pull the meat from the bone.”
A playfully-named menu item called “Road Kill” features a 10-ounce chop steak smothered with sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms and jack cheese.
3. A main course isn’t just a main course
Each entrée at Texas Roadhouse features two sides at no extra charge. Options include buttered corn, seasoned rice, apple sauce, fresh vegetables, green beans, a cup of chili, sauteed onions, sauteed mushrooms, house salad and Caesar salad
Three potato options – steak fries, mashed potatoes and baked potato, can be modified to be loaded with cheddar cheese and bacon bits or enjoyed as is. A sweet potato option may be accompanied with mini-marshmallows and caramel sauce.
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4. Local effect and local ownership
The new restaurant means 175 new jobs for Butler County, Doster said. In addition, Texas Roadhouse estimates that each location has an annual economic impact of $1.2 million on the local community.
Each restaurant has local ownership, with the managing partner being a true owner/operator and receiving 10 percent of the profits of the restaurant, he said.
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5. Texas Roadhouse already is giving back
The restaurant held two pre-opening fundraiser nights to benefit the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty, raising more more than $3,000 for the organization, according to restaurant officials.
“At Texas Roadhouse, we really care about the community,” said managing partner Joe Palmer. “After all, we live and work here, too.”
Palmer said those two fundraising events are “just the beginning” of the restaurant’s charitable efforts.
“We’ll continue to support hometown causes and look forward to partnering with the other amazing community organizations here in West Chester,” he said.
Hours for the new 7,214-square-foot restaurant are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
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