Amarillo Restaurants

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It was shortly after I left Albuquerque that I began to encounter billboards for the Big Texan Steakhouse ("Free limo! 72 ounce steaks! 3 hours ahead!") which was on my "to do" list. Approaching Amarillo, I saw what were probably feed lots, with hundreds of cattle penned. It was in the low 90's and many of the animals were lying on the dirt. I had to wonder whether they were going to become the vaunted steaks.

The Big Texan is just off Interstate 40, but you need to travel on the service road to get there. It includes a motel composed of Western storefront buildings, a massive steer and the sort of cut-out photo backdrops that everyone encounters at least once in their lives, a gift shop, bakery and candy store, full bar, and a vast room filled with servers in cowboy attire who provide prompt and attentive service.

Incidentally, if you decide to try their challenge, you are seated at an elevated table with minute and second counters posted high on the wall to monitor your activity, and you not only have to down the entire steak, but also rolls, salad, shrimp cocktail and maybe even dessert. Definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Open 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM

Favorite Dish: I had a delicious filet with the usual trimmings, but surprised myself by drinking about a quart of sweet tea to go with it. I'm dehydrating in this dry heat!

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There are a lot of steakhouses in Amarillo, so this certainly isn't the last word in what can be found. We chose this because it was recommended by the hotel desk. As it turns out, Texas Roadhouse is part of a chain, but it's a good operation that combines a bar and restaurant. Just inside the door is a refrigerator which shows the raw steaks available. Customers can choose their own steak if they like. Aprons, baseball caps, and other souvenirs from the restaurant are also sold. The hostess led us over a hardwood floor littered with sawdust and peanut shells; peanuts are served in a bucket along with the drinks. I ordered a 22oz draft Zeinzenbach dark beer, a good medium dark beer for mixing with beef. The menu has a wide selection of beef cuts, chicken, pork, and even catfish. Rare, medium rare, medium, well done, etc. are all explained in detail within the menu, so there's little cause for confusion about how the customer wants their meat cooked. In a place like this, I recommend eating beef rare. The quality of the meat was excellent, so there's little reason to believe one will get sick from bad meat here. The servers are pretty young though, so don't expect them to be terribly knowledgeable about the types of meat offered. The bread is baked at the restaurant, and is a reasonable warm French bread. Reservations are recommended to reduce the wait time, but we wouldn't have had to wait anyway on a Wednesday night.

Favorite Dish: Actually, I made a mistake and ordered the 16oz Prime Rib when the Dallas Filet would have been the better choice. The Prime Rib was good though, and I couldn't complain about how it was cooked. I like good beef cooked rare, but my wife is more sane and prefers her steaks medium. I believe though that what this restaurant refers to as Dallas Filet, is actually called Filet Mignon most places. My wife had the Ft. Worth Ribeye steak which was also prepared well. We both chose the green salad and mashed potatoes for the side dishes. The price was right for all this food.

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So, I have been very successful lately, sticking to a low-carb diet, with the purpose of dropping a few pounds. Unfortunately for me, my sweet tooth hit hard last night, and I was forced to enjoy some ice cream and hot fudge on a nice big banana split. That craving was brought on by Malcolm's, which was located directly outside my hotel window in Amarillo.

This thing was absolutely delightful, with a vanilla scoop covered with pineapple topping, a strawberry scoop with strawberries, and a chocolate scoop with hot fudge on it. Whipped cream and almonds covered this jem.

I ate the entire thing, and did not care one bit how many carbs were in it! Ha!

For those of you that are not calorically challenged, jump right on in here and get your fill!

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I am sure anyone who has actively researched Amarillo knows all about the Big Texan, famous for its "free" 72 oz. steak*. *If you can finish it, and boy is it big.

We went in with the thought of me looking to win the challenge, and I was mentally prepared. As we looked at the steaks, they looked absolutely delicious, and Sarah convinced me away from finishing, mainly because we were concerned that it would not bode well for 6 hours of driving the next day.

I ended up skipping the challenge and enjoying a 20 oz. "Dallas" cut ribeye, which was very flavorful. I order my steaks black and blue or Pittsburgh style, which warranted a couple questions from management. I guess they are not used to people eating steak that is not medium rare or hotter, as this tends to be a tourist spot. The steak was delicious and was topped with a little jalapeno steak au jus. I also had a side salad with it which was definitely Texas sized.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this place, not only from the kitsch of Texas steakhouses, but also from the quality of the beef. I would definitely recommend it.

If you want a good Texas style steak then Logan's is the place to go. They even have a barrel full of peanuts for you to snack on while you wait! The music can be too loud at times but there usually is such a crowd of people you can't even hear the music.

Favorite Dish: You can get a 6 oz. Sirloin with 2 side dishes for only $8.99 so its a pretty good deal. I've eaten there a couple dozen times and I have yet to have a fatty Sirloin and they do a great job about preparing it just like you ordered it.

This place is awesome! It's located right on Historic route 66 and looks like it was built in the wild west days. The place is owed by one of the Food Network Stars! The inside looks like one of the old west movie sets, with the swinging saloon doors and servers dressed in dance hall girl costumes. I'm not kidding the steak there was unreal best I ever had in my life. My husband had the ribeye and I had the Campfire. oh and def try the green chili wontons! You have to try this place, plus what was cool was that we were traveling Route 66 from one end to the other and its smack dab in the middle . Only place to get a beer and drink right in the middle of route 66. Good luck to them the place deserved to make it.
I also saw a real cowboys!!!!!

Favorite Dish: Try the steaks!

I was taken here while interviewing for my present job. Who knew an old drive-thru bank could be dressed into such a classy place?!

BL Bistro is tucked rather modestly inside an area of Amarillo known as Wolflin Village, which is a cluster of shopping centers, hotels, homes and apartment complexes off Interstate 40 and Georgia Street in the middle of town. (People tell me it recently moved to this location.)

Wolflin Village is quite hectic during the middle of the day, and BL Bistro is quite an elegant, quiet gem in the middle of it all. The interior has a great feel to it -- dim lighting and cozy tables, with meals cooked by an excellent chef. They do serve barbecue, but why come to a place like this for that when you can have wine, tapas, and seafood cooked in an array of international dishes?

Some of those dishes are on the pricey side, but could be a LOT more expensive given their quality and the bistro's atmosphere. It is recommended that you call ahead for reservations, mid-afternoons are less busy.

Favorite Dish: I don't remember the name of it, but it was a shrimp dish, similar to an etouffee.

This is a small, unassuming, non-impressive little building nestled next to the aircraft maintenance barns and runways at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.

But don't be fooled! If you go when its crowded you may have to wait for a seat, but it's worth it! The interior walls are lined with patches donated by pilots of places they've been and ranks they've attained. The pillars inside have currencies from all over the world stapled to them. It's a diner-like, café setting in full view of the private and commercial airplanes taking off and landing at AMA.

If you're lucky, nearby Bell Helicopters may be testing out their V-22 Osprey, a plane that can turn its propellers upward and take off and land like a helicopter.

Favorite Dish: The grilled chicken and avocado sandwich, with potato salad. Pecan pie is also excellent.