Texas Roadhouse — Restaurant in Hamilton

I'm leaving this as a public warning to other guests - DO NOT try to go to this Roadhouse with people in separate cars in the evening, if its too cold to wait outside - you will have a hideous time getting sat. also, don't go if you have disabled family - you'll have to park 500 feet away in another lot (even with disabled parking tag) and they'll give your table away before your disabled family can get inside. their seating policies were created to minimize the responsibilities of a host stand and service staff that aren't equipped to handle guest-first services. these policies were not designed to benefit you. their enforcement of these anti-guest policies is draconian, and the attitude of management at the host stand is adversarial.

bottom line: today was my birthday. I called in the morning for advice on getting a party of 6 sat in the evening between 530 and 630, and was told I needed to come into the restaurant, in person, an hour before 530. I did this. I tried putting our name on the waitlist at 430 when I first arrived, at the time they told me to come in. they told me my party would be sat in 20 minutes. thats not between 530 and 630, so the advice I got in the morning was wrong. I waited in my car. I came back inside at 510, and was quoted 40-50 minutes by text, 45 minutes to an hour verbally in person by the host. I didn't notice the discrepancy until later, so I took her at her word that it would be 45 minutes to an hour. I told my family to be in the lot in 25 minutes just to be safe. TR sent me a text exactly 25 minutes later saying our table was ready. massive overquote - that's 20 to 35 minutes sooner than the verbal quote. they also didn't tell me that my table would be given away if everyone wasn't inside the restaurant within a couple minutes of getting the text (but youre not allowed to wait inside - hosts even told guests "you guys need to get out! youre not allowed to wait inside" - disgusting). I was there the whole time, and 3 out of 6 party members were there waiting in cars when they sent the text. my sister and her kids were pulling into the lot. everyone was inside within a very short time frame, but they still gave the table away. it took several minutes for my sister to get her infant and 7 year old out of the car and walking across several parking lots in the freezing cold to get inside, which was apparently too long.

here are their policies: you cannot wait inside the restaurant. they will yell at you if you do. your whole party has to be inside for anyone to be seated. it doesn't matter if you call ahead, or extensively communicate disabilities or children with them, and tell them they may need more time. you cant make a reservation, so its impossible to know when your party should arrive. you can only base your party's arrival time on their wildly inaccurate quotes, but if they misquote you and everyone isnt there, they'll give your table away. you have to go in person to get on the waitlist for parties. so no matter what, your WILL wait, and you cant wait inside. DO NOT go here with a party of 6 or more, or a special event - my advice.

here are the problems: you cant wait inside, but you also cant wait outside nearby because its 20 degrees, so you'll die of cold while waiting. you also cant wait in your car because their lot is too small and always filled, meaning you have to park so far away that you cant get your whole party inside fast enough for them to not give your table away, especially with small kids or disabled group members. management is rude and adversarial, and will mock you when you try to get help.

so you cant wait inside, you cant wait outside, and you cant wait in your cars because if you do you wont get your whole party inside fast enough for them to not give your table away because you had to park so far away, or cant find parking. what an absolute nightmare. have a little grace toward your guests, and think about being a bit more accomodating on someone's birthday. I bent over backwards as a guest to accomodate your ridiculous...

Entered front door and bad smell. The floors need a lot of attention. Told manager (nicely) how the smell assaulted us as we came in, and she stated they had passed inspection last week by board of health. I was a bit surprised that she took that stance. It could have been dirty mop water from last cleaning. My meal was good. Friends ribs delivered with bbq sauce when she specified none. 2nd attempt and the ribs had very obviously been put in the deep fryer....? They took care of her check and also sent her home with a new order. That was pretty classy. (2 STARS)

Another visit to Texas Roadhouse in Hamilton, OH.

Today, my friend and I wanted lunch, and we chose this location because we like the entree selections on the menu as well as their side salads. We ordered steaks, sweet potatoes and side salads. Our server appeared to be very busy, so when we needed clean silverware (what we received was really gross -- I think someone must have wrapped unwashed utensils!) we asked someone passing by. That person just happened to be the manager. Got a chance to talk with her again when she came around to ask how things were for us, and I told her that the replacement silverware wasn't clean, either. She apologized, but did not seem to remember she had already brought us silverware due to the same reason.

My steak was undercooked, and I asked her if they were considering a cooking system like another steak restaurant has employed -- an automated one. She said some locations are experimenting with them.

I did not point out some obvious issues with our plates. Ultimately, the flavor was there, and my friend and I were happy enough. But here are some notations: plates served messy and with grease surrounding entrees. Salads are skimpier and were not as fresh as usual. Tomatoes were teeny, tiny. Potato overcooked and WAY too much butter (drowning in it). Will order butter on the side in the future. Also, the server appeared to disappear. Never offered refills. Menus on table sticky and salt/pepper shakers needed to be cleaned.

We will likely return as we like this location, and sometimes a steak is just necessary. (3 STARS) Until they get a handle on cleanliness, can't rate them higher. Dirty silverware is...

Absolutely horrible service. Tried to place a simple to go order for two salads and some bread. Kept getting kicked off of online ordering so I called. Held for 15 minutes without anyone picking up. Called back and spoke to the same young lady and explained the situation. She said she’d run over to the “to go” area immediately and let someone know. Put me back on hold. Another 10 minutes go by, nobody picks up. I’m actually driving to the location this whole time. I walk in the doors, still on hold and see 5 young ladies at the hostess station all giggling and laughing, while nobody is stationed in the “to go” area. I asked the young ladies if “(I won’t use her name here publicly)” was available (the one who had put me on hold both times”. Sure enough, there she is. One of the ladies cutting up without a care in the world while two other frustrated customers are standing in the empty “to go” area needing help. I identified myself as the man she had put on hold and showed her I was still on hold. She had zero interest in helping me. She tells me “well, I told them” and went back to her playtime. I told her I needed help and she simply pointed to the empty “to go” area and said, “theyll take your order over there”. I honestly can’t believe how as busy the place was tonight, no supervisor or manager had any problem at all with 5 girls just having a blast at the hostess station doing absolutely NOTHING but flirting with the young male coworker as he joined in the conversation. Meanwhile I along with several others were getting aggrevated with the zero desire to help us out. Absolute worst service I’ve had anywhere in years. All I wanted was a couple salads and some bread to take home. Instead I drove from Fairfield to Hamilton while I’m hold the whole time and it took another 20 minutes just to find someone to help us in the “to go” area. He didn’t even acknowledge us either. I had to stop and ask him to help. Embarrassing what this once nice restaurant has turned...