Texas Roadhouse

42 East 1400 North, Logan

 There was a major buzz around town when reports started that Texas Roadhouse would be coming to Logan. All I heard was how great, amazing and fun it was going to be. Rumor had it that the steaks and ribs could not be beat. After going a couple of times, I have to whole-heartedly disagree.

The first time, my wife and I went with much anticipation. The wait in line is usually a substantial time, even if you call ahead. But the fact that, while waiting for a table, you can eat peanuts to your heart's content - while throwing your shells right on the floor - was an excellent start. I am a big fan of both peanuts and walking on crunchy shells.

Once we got a table, we we brought fresh, honey-buttered rolls straight out of the oven. This was easily the best part of our meal. I think I could live on those rolls and never complain.

We both got steaks and, while mine was cooked correctly and was fairly good, my wife's was very overcooked. The waiter never did ask how our food was or if our steaks were cooked okay. About halfway through our meal, one of the managers/owners came to our table to inquire about our meal. When my wife explained that her steak was overcooked, the manager took a look at it and agreed. He asked if we wanted a new steak cooked correctly, but my wife declined (as she was already halfway through with her meal). The manager instead gave her a card for a free meal next time we came in. We thought that was a good gesture, and was probably one of the only reasons we gave Texas Roadhouse a second try.

Unfortunately, our second visit was not much better than the first. The peanuts and rolls were great starts once again, but we were disappointed after that. This time, I tried the ribs, as I had heard great thing about them. But when i got them, they were hardly even warm. And I can't think of many things less appetizing than non-warm ribs. I didn't even think the flavor was good either. I ended up taking half of the ribs home, and I heated them up the next day. They were a little better hot than cold, but not enough to change my mind.

The side dishes (fries, salad, baked potato, sweet potato fries) were all okay, and the amount of food should definitely leave you leftovers. Perhaps we just had two bad experiences that are not par for the course, but I definitely do not recommend Texas Roadhouse. While the peanuts and rolls are awesome, something tells me that most people going to a steakhouse for dinner aren't going for the peanuts and rolls.

Smokin' Blues Barbeque

71 East 1200 South, Logan/Providence

After hearing rave reviews about Smokin' Blues Barbeque from my boss, and after experiencing less-than-stellar ribs at Texas Roadhouse (post on that potentially to follow), we decided to go check out this new southern barbeque restaurant in the south Logan/Providence area. Having previously lived in Washington, D.C., we were familiar with great barbeque, such as Red, Hot and Blue and Old Glory.

First off, I love the hours that Smokin' Blues operates, from 11am until they run out of meat! The atmosphere is great, with the meat being smoked right outside the front of the restaurant and a heavy selection of both beer and root beer (though we didn't try either). Smokin' Blues even has a large stage set apart for live music, and that music adds to the laid-back southern atmosphere.

We tried the pulled pork, the ribs and the brisket, along with sides of potato salad and baked beans. Everything was done well - certainly the best barbeque you will find anywhere in Cache Valley. The dry rub on the ribs has a great flavor, and the ribs themselves were tender and juicy. With three choices of barbeque sauce (KC - Kansas City, T - Texas, G - Georgia), you can sauce up your meat to your liking. I highly recommend the Texas sauce (with a spicy, tangy flavor), while my wife enjoyed the Georgia sauce (a sweeter flavor).

We both agreed that Red, Hot and Blue was still our favorite barbeque restaurant, but Smokin' Blues Barbeque is certainly a fitting substitute for the Logan area. If you enjoy southern-style barbeque, we highly recommend giving it a try.