Longhorn Steakhouse, Pittsburgh, PA
Longhorn Steakhouse
Longhorn Steakhouse
I’m not usually a fan of chain restaurants. I tend to prefer small, independently owned spots that show personality and creativity in their food. Still, we decided to try Longhorn Steakhouse because we had a gift card and the opportunity was too good to pass up.
Weekends at the Waterfront are busy, so arriving early is important regardless of where you plan to dine. We aimed for 5:00 PM to beat the dinner rush and get seated quickly. That plan didn’t work out.
The restaurant was packed. “Your wait time is between 60 to 80 minutes,” the hostess told us.
We considered the bar as an alternative, and within a few minutes we found seats and returned the pager to the hostess.
Longhorn Bar
Shortly after sitting, we were served warm, salty peanuts and given dinner menus. The peanuts were enjoyable and, in classic steakhouse fashion, shelling them and discarding the shells on the floor is part of the experience.
Bar Peanuts
Peanuts and Salad
I don’t eat steak often, so when I do I like to go all out. I ordered the 18-ounce bone-in Delmonico with extra vegetables (no starch) and a dinner salad with bleu cheese. My companion chose a 7-ounce filet with a loaded baked potato.
Our salads arrived within minutes: a classic steakhouse mix of clean, fresh lettuce, sliced onions, and chopped cucumbers. The dressing was creamy and flavorful, and there was nothing to complain about.
The steaks followed soon after and looked appetizing. One advantage of this Longhorn location is that they use a real grill—the steaks arrived nicely seared with grill marks and a pleasant aroma. My Delmonico was cooked to medium as requested and showed good seasoning. The vegetables were cooked properly and not mushy. The filet, though ordered well-done, was surprisingly juicy, tender, and flavorful.
Although our bartender served as our server, he was attentive and personable, which improved the overall experience.
Bone-In Ribeye
Filet Mignon
Longhorn Steakhouse offers a reliable, straightforward steakhouse experience with reasonable prices and consistent execution. If you want solid steakhouse food without frills, this is a fine choice—just arrive before 5:00 PM on weekends if you want to avoid long waits.
Chef Chuck Kerber
Cooksandeats.com