Longhorn Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Utrecht

We went to the Longhorn Bar & Grill for date night and I have to say, I was very impressed for a Dutch restaurant!

I am a native Houstonian (Texas, USA) and have been part of a competition BBQ team for 7 years makes me pretty picky, but still open minded.

Appetizer: Loaded Mexican nachos w/ Brisket 9/10; I was very suspicious of this when I saw on the menu (I'm Mexican LOL) but I have to say these are the best nachos I've had on this side of the world. Definitely more TexMex but the chopped brisket was delicious, the cheese "sauce" was interesting but still tasty. The pico de gallo and guacamole were both very good. It came with a nice dollop of sour cream and plenty of jalapeños. There was a nice Dutch surprise of random corn and black beans under the chips...but it was still good.

Mains: Brisket 8/10; super tender, slightly salty, very tasty bark and I liked the cut a lot. Smoked chicken 4/5; not bad per se, but nothing to write home about. Pulled pork 4/10; good flavor, but it was pretty dry. Didn't finish it. Ribs 7/10; good flavor, tender but not as tender as I like my ribs. My Dutch husband pointed out that they are very "Dutch style" ribs and I agree, just more flavorful.

Sides: Coleslaw 0/10; very mayo-y without too much flavor. Potato salad 1/10; I'm super picky about my potato salad in general, but this was potato chunks with mayo and a little garnish (presentation was good, ha!) Pickles -000000/10; y'all - I grew up eating corner store pickles In a bag and really miss good pickles...I was so excited to try them and was really let down. It was cucumber slices doused in vinegar. 😢 Steak fries 8/10; better than the "better" Dutch fries I've had. Solid side. BBQ sauce 8/10; I was fully prepared to be be disappointed with the BBQ sauce and it was actually good, with a little spice on the backend. Ranch "sauce" 0/10; I had zero expectations here, but I asked for a side because I'm a glutton for punishment apparently...it was not ranch. Don't ask for it. 😵‍💫

Overall, it was a great evening and the food was very tasty; we got FREE ICE WATER, y'all! The service was great and it had a Goode Co. BBQ Houston vibe (iykyk) and they had early 2000s country music mixed with a little country Christmas that made me feel very at home. 🤠

The guy who opened this place lived in Houston, I believe, and I think he did a great job of bringing the Texas BBQ culture and vibe with a little Dutch twist (corn in nachos) so it's appealing to the Dutchies and Americans.

I give this place & experience a 9.5/10 - definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for some Texas style BBQ in Utrecht!

Big plus - it’s around the corner from the main train station so it’s...

Came across this place on social media and just had to give it a try. And what should I say, my expectations were definitely more than met, exactly what I was looking for.

Took a seat downstairs and was served by a duo of a waiter and the barkeeper, who were both not only very attentive but also very helpful and friendly. I was not only asked how I wanted my drink served but also got suggested the best bang for my buck (though I opted for a different combination of foods anyway).

The food was all superb. The pickled onions and the pickles on the side were super fresh and tasty and complemented the meats very well. Super juicy brisket and fab ribs. Paired it with a Mac 'n Cheese which came in a single casserole piping hot out of the oven. The BBQ sauce on the side was also very yummy.

I appreciate the menu not being overloaded so that the kitchen can focus on these chosen items and keeping up a certain standard.

I personally chose to go during lunch-hour as it's less busy and more chill for a solo diner but I assume that a dinner requires a reservation.

The location is very convient closely to Utrecht Centraal, yet super hidden and might not attract as many walk-ins per se.

I'd wish for this to be a success. They have a huge area to be seated divided on two floors, and I'm sure it is a great fit for groups, families or a dinner date. There is a lot of eye for detail: such as fresh lemon and lime in the drinks, sleek and fresh design, and a vibe that gets accompanied by some nice chosen music which bring you the US-vibe.

Only criticism I would leave is, that I assume that the kitchen might need to find a proper routine when it comes to plating the dishes. The side might have taken the longest to be prepped and came out steaming hot, whereas the brisket which would have been cut to order, was only luke warm. But it didn't harm the taste at all.

I'll for...

The whole evening we were there, we had to argue with people to get what we needed/ordered. The food was decent, though undersalted for the most part (the BBQ sauce helped with that, but we had to separately ask for it) and overpriced (coming from a couple who lived in Texas for years). Right at the start we were asking to not be seated at a high table due to a pregnancy in the party and were told to mention to not wanting to be seated at these tables when we reserve - as if we had known in advance what tables they have?! We had issues with the drink order where the server argued with us over what we ordered and were told that we were incorrect (despite the items clearly written out on the menu and ordered as such), same with food orders we never got and were told we never ordered (although mentioning it twice during the evening). One of our forks fell on the floor at the beginning of our reservation and we had to wait a while and ask twice for a replacement from a server who kept coughing into his hands while handing out food with them right after. This was easily one of the worst services we have experienced in the country and will be the reason for us never visiting again, as well as recommending our...