I spent $100 on dinner for 2 at LongHorn Steakhouse. I now understand why the chain is so successful.

LongHorn Steakhouse has quietly rotate into one of informal dining’s biggest achievement stories, and lately outpaced its sister brand, Olive Garden, in same-store revenue growth.

I’d never been before, so I brought a companion alongside to our nearest location in Queens, New York, to see whether the food, atmosphere, and value lived up to the hype.

I expected a fairly norm chain-restaurant experience, but the entryway felt inviting correct away.

The rock accents, dreary wood, and low lighting gave it a cozy, traditional steakhouse atmosphere. It was casual, but it did not awareness cheap. I could see why it would possibly activity for the two informal weeknight dinners and slightly additional particular celebrations.

Despite visiting on a Friday night during the meal rush, we were seated quickly in a booth at the occupied buying center location.

The eatery had plentifulness of tables, yet it did not awareness overly crowded or chaotic. The heated lighting made the ample dining area awareness additional intimate. It was certainly family-friendly, but couples and groups of allies were additionally dining there.

About midway through our meal, among the tables next to us bankrupt into a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for a guest.

I additionally idea the vibe was much additional polished than a representative informal chain. It was additional on par alongside chains akin Red Lobster than slightly additional informal ones akin Chili's or Applebee's.

LongHorn’s list is centered on steak, but there were plentifulness of chicken, seafood, salad, burger, and sandwich options, too.

Even although I went in wanting to comprehend the chain’s steakhouse appeal, there were adequate tempting appetizers and sides that narrowing downward our command was harder than I expected.

A steakhouse meal calls for a drink, and the traditional "Perfect" margarita ($11.49) was a refreshing — and amazingly cheap — way to commencement the meal.

It was ice-cold and citrusy, served in a generously sized pane alongside an additional shaker on the side. My companion ordered the Texas tea ($10.99), LongHorn's type of a Long Island iced tea, which she stated was saccharine and not too strong.

We were the two impressed by the cost and serving size of our drinks — they were on par alongside what we'd expend at a dive bar in Brooklyn, but alongside much improved assistance and flavor.

The bread arrived heated alongside a flank of margarine before our appetizers hit the table. It had a slightly sweet, honey-wheat sensation and a tender texture.

It was simple, and likely could have had a improved crust — but it was free.

The cheesy filling gave them a savory, indulgent sensation that made them awareness akin a true steakhouse starter.

It was the benevolent of appetizer that disappeared quickly, and one I'd certainly command again. I had to prompt myself to preserve area for the remainder of our food.

The lettuce was crisp, the generous assisting of croutons added fine crunch, and the dressing had plentifulness of flavor. It was a traditional steakhouse Caesar; it did exactly what it needed to do, but it wasn't item mind-blowing.

It was additionally additional than big adequate to portion alongside another individual as a way to add item caller before our richer entrées.

For my entrée, I ordered the ribeye steak ($30.79), which came alongside the aforementioned Caesar dish and one side. I chose the loaded baked potato, which came topped alongside cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon, and green onions.

The steak arrived alongside a flavorful sear and a flank that felt akin a meal in itself. Together, the dish felt hearty and indulgent without being unnecessarily over-the-top. It was uncomplicated to see how a diner could depart emotion akin they got their money’s worth.

The murphy was affluent and comforting, alongside a soft, fluffy center, during the potato's external casing was absolutely crispy.

I appreciated that LongHorn did not skimp on the toppings. It helped create the entrée awareness additional complete and substantial, without having to upgrade to a premium side.

The steak had a savory, well-seasoned crust that added a lot of peppery flavor, but the true magic lay within.

Inside the tender ribeye, the flesh was buttery and unbelievably juicy. It was not trying to be a high-end steakhouse steak, but it was extremely satisfying for the price. I ordered the steak medium-rare, and it came out at the correct temperature.

This was the dish that made LongHorn’s fame click for me.

If you weren't ordering it as a chief dish, the part was additionally plentifulness ample adequate to share, particularly alongside everything alternatively we ordered.

I preferred this chain-restaurant mac and dairy merchandise to others I've tried.

The food was additional polished than I expected, the portions were generous, and the cognition felt akin a genuine sit-down meal fairly than a quick chain-restaurant meal following a day at the mall.

We ordered two drinks, an appetizer, a salad, a steak, and multiple hearty sides, yet our invoice for two motionless came in under $100 before tip. With the tip, we paid $103.83.

By the period we left, I could see exactly why LongHorn has rotate into a go-to for diners who desire a steakhouse meal without steakhouse prices — and I'll certainly be rear for more.