Perini Ranch Steakhouse — Restaurant in Abilene

I love all kinds of STEAKS, Thick or thin, broiled or grilled, simple or sauced, each can be special. Perini Ranch got my attention when it was placed in Texas Bucket List (as in things to do before you kick the bucket). I I took the 20min detour from I-20 outside of Abilene Texas. The place is smaller than you would expect, yet has an outdoor pavilion to host large parties. I sat outside with lovely spring weather under a tent. Shiner and Lonestar were the only TX beers on the small beer list (there are over 15 breweries in TX) so I skipped the beer. I ordered the ribs as an appetizer, very nice pork ribs smokey flavor with a peppery exterior, a nice start. Next was the salad, a boring mix probably from a bag and plain bottle ranch dressing , no other choices. Then came the steak, served with side of cheese and bacon hominy. The hominy with cheese and bacon sounds better than it tastes, it was bland and not worth a 3rd bite. The 16oz ribeye was ordered med…and received rare. There is no way that steak was aged more than a day or two, tough and flavorless. They were stingy with the rub and required several sprinkles of salt and pepper to add any flavor. The fat content was ok, but I noticed it had no wood smoke taste at all. I ate all the ribs and half the steak. As I payed the check I asked the waitress…”are the steaks cooked outside on the giant grill?”. She informed me that the ribs and prime rib are smoked outside but steaks are cooked inside, sure enough as I was walking out I saw the indoor grill with minimal smoke, my guess mostly gas powered. There are plenty of great steaks in Texas…Perini ranch is mediocre at best, lousy for the price. Certainly NOT worthy of being on Texas Bucket List. If you are in Abilene, Lytle Land and Cattle steaks is better. If you are driving on I20 Bucks Steakhouse in Sweetwater is better. If you want a cowboy experience go to Cattleman’s Steakhouse on edge of El...

I'm not even sure where to start. This is my family's second trip to Perini (one 2015 trip for my husband and I, and this 2019 trip for my mom, husband, and I) and I am hard-pressed to explain why I didn't review right away the first time we visited.

Both experiences were extremely good. I want to say amazing, but this last visit, we were there during daylight hours and the outside of the restaurant looked a little run-down and dingy - see my comments below. Still, that doesn't keep me from giving Perini a five-star rating.

I'd told my mom that the filet I had in 2015 was the best steak I'd ever had, hands-down and that's the truth. I'm not a fan of rare meat by any stretch, so I always order my steak medium to medium well and this was the most fork-tender, juicy, flavorful steak I've ever had. The 2019 version was almost (but not quite) as good - second best steak I've ever had, hands-down.

Salads and sides are on point. The greens were fresh and dressing was a good ratio to the greens. Mom and hub shared the green chile hominy and both have asked me to try to recreate this at home (there are recipes online - yay!) Potatoes were good, garlicky, buttery, delish. I wanted the green beans like I'd had last time, but didn't want to be a pig (big mistake - I'll get them next time).

For dessert, we splurged and shared the chocolate cake with a shot of Courvoisier. Amazing. The cake is a little different - one layer, fairly dense, frosting is lighter with a strong taste of pecan, but my husband really enjoyed it and he's not a big fan of nuts.

Both times, service was really great, but we connected more with our server this time. Troy was friendly and extremely attentive.

As far as complaints go - the outside of the restaurant needs some TLC as mentioned above. Also, it would be great if there were more than two bathroom stalls.

Even so, definitely a must visit if you're...

Very cozy country themed atmosphere for dining. It’s kinda out in the middle of no where which feels a little sketchy. Once you get inside, it’s all good. The servers greet and seat you with a sense of urgency, courtesy, & politeness. They will make room for you and find a space for you if they can so that you’re not waiting around for so long. They promptly start your order. They make you feel comfortable and welcomed. I’ve been in the habit of wearing my cowgirl boots whenever I eat here all in the spirit of the cowgirl country lifestyle. I try to blend in and make it a true country cowgirl experience. I consider myself somewhat of a country girl at heart because both sides of my families originated from the US country south and I’m a proud American. So I do have country in me although I was born and raised in a big city. Yeehaw. lol!

I have gone there specifically for the lamb chops special. The lamb chops are delicious, but the serving size is too small for the high price. The special comes with a small serving of asparagus or Brussels sprouts. Also, a serving of their homemade jalapeño jelly. I’ve never had anything like that jelly. It’s very unique and tastes great.

I like the way they prop the lamb chops up on the plate when they present it to you. It’s an expensive dish, but it’s worth it to me because I really enjoy feasting on lamb chops.

I just wish they served them on the menu more often. Sometimes they advertise the lamp chop special and I’ve called in advance only to find out that they’re not on the menu for the weekend even though they’ve been advertised. I always call before going and I always will.

It would be great if you all had better lighting in the parking lots at night so that guests feel more secure coming & going at night.

Love, Light, Respect, Peace &...