LongHorn Steakhouse — Restaurant in Norwood Park Township

I understand that this isn't Gibson's or Capital Grille, but if you're going to put the word "steakhouse" in your name, that really should be the best thing that you do, and it just wasn't. Really, the entire operation at this location just seemed to be a hot mess.

The service was fine. Our server Latoya and the bartender whom we sat with while we waited for a table were great and really made an effort to do a good job which is why this is a 3 star review as opposed to a 2 because the ball was dropped on every other aspect of the restaurant.

Here's what went wrong: when I first sat down after being at the bar, I told our server that I'd have another beer of the same size. I was given the larger glass but informed that that was the bartender's mistake. That's understandable and not a problem at all, except that when the bill came, I was charged for the large one. I alerted our server of the problem and she apologized and fixed it. Not a huge deal there, just a minor annoyance.

The real problems were with the food. I ordered a steak medium rare, and the person I was with ordered one medium and had a side of fries. Our steaks were brought out, minus the fries which we were told would be coming out shortly. My steak was pretty well cooked with a slight pink on the inside, but the medium steak was more red than mine! I asked our server if what I was served was what the kitchen calls medium rare, and she said no. She then took it and said she'd have another one made right away. The new steak came ten minutes later, however it seemed to be medium rare on one end but rare and chewy on the other. I don't really know how that happened. Not looking to send it back again, I just ate it.

The fries that had been ordered never came, and we informed our server of that when we had finished with our food. She apologized and offered us something to take home, but we just weren't interested in that. She came back with the check and said that there was a discount added. I looked at the bill and saw that the "discount" was 10% off of the one meal that had fries as the side, which was a total of about $3.50; it's essentially the cost of the fries. So, for the inconvenience of a side not being brought out and a steak cooked improperly (technically two steaks), we're rewarded with simply not being charged for the fries they forgot? Sorry, guys. You need to do better.

As I said, I understand that this isn't Gibson's, but there are still certain standards that need to be met as a restaurant, and this place definitely falls short.

EDIT I stopped in again on a weeknight because I was in the area. The steak was much better this time. It was a bit overly seared in some parts, but it was overall very good, especially for the money. I guess the trick is to go there at a less busy time. The service could be a little friendlier, though. It kind of felt that I was being a slight inconvenience by sitting there. Maybe I'm overthinking, but that's the...

I went to have lunch with my mom today. We had ordered 2 steak dinners. Hers contained a baked potato, a salad and she ordered another side of corn. I ordered a potato a salad and broccoli. When our steaks were brought out, our steaks were not cooked to our liking. We had ordered medium and had gotten well done steaks. Our server, Kelly whom was the light of the whole experience took our plates back and had them remade. Well towards the end of our meal we had noticed that the corn was never brought out to us. Also, finishing my strawberry margarita, I went to eat the strawberry and noticed mold on my strawberry! I drank the whole margarita with a moldy strawberry in it. Once I noticed the mold I instantly became sick and just stopped eating. I had called the manager over to the table and explained how our steak was not made correctly, how we never received the corn, and the worst part, the mold on the strawberry in the drink. She had no response to the steak nor the corn. Her response to my moldy strawberry though was pathetic. She elaborated that the bartender probably didn’t look at the strawberry and just threw it in the drink. I told her that that is unacceptable and that they need to check their food. She just continued to explain how they supposedly get the strawberries fresh “daily.” The manager never offered to take drink nor the corn off the bill. In fact she just turned around and walked away after stating that the strawberries are fresh which clearly aren’t. Anyways, our server Kelly kept apologizing. Clearly all of these issues were not in the power of our waitress. Kelly our waitress took the margarita and corn off the bill. The manager should be doing more apologetic then the waitress. It’s her store she’s running and honestly it’s pretty crappy. People need to do their jobs and cook peoples orders and do peoples drinks right. The manager needs to take her job way more seriously because I’m sure she wouldn’t like receiving a moldy strawberry at a restaurant either. Let’s hope I don’t end up with...

Once again, forgot to take a photo. We love this place. My order has become pretty standard: flat iron steak, med. rare, usually the sweet potato with the cinnamon and sugar, the strawberry salad upgrade without the oranges. The only thing that really changes could be the side because sometimes the asparagus is just calling my name.

We go to the one on Harlem and Forest Preserve Drive and believe it or not, it makes a difference. We tried the one on touhy and manheim and another some other place I can't remember.

Some people think a chain is a chain but people make the difference when the menus are the same. We've always had good, reliable service at this location and that wasn't the case at the other ones. That's one of the things you watch for at chain restaurants along with how well they keep up the place, like the restrooms and how the place is laid out for comfort or packed and jammed. Last night, we walked in and it was birthday party central. There were three renditions of happy birthday during the first few minutes. Thank goodness the meal was good and hopefully none of the staff are aspiring singers.

We were greeted quickly by Chris and he brought us our drinks, took our orders and it wasn't long before the salad and that sinful bread arrived. The entrees came out in a timely fsshion, cooked perfectly and I have enough left for a sandwich today. Mr. ordered a chicken dish and it came with two huge pieces of chicken and he couldn't finish it. We filled up on that salad and bread. That salad filled the plate and the only place they fall short is they hide the dressing on the bottom and we always need more.

It is a good, solid reliable dinner choice with great service and tasty food served in great portions and we don't spend $50. It's one of...