Haywire — Restaurant in Plano

I've eaten my fair share of beef in the past and I was interested in Haywire because I had two separate individual accounts of people who told me that THIS is their favorite steakhouse in the Frisco area.

Let me tell you, Haywire did not disappoint.

I sat next to the kitchen and saw a team of staff executing on a busy meal service like maestros in a symphony. Everyone was working in well practiced harmony.

I was flying solo, so I skipped the appetizer and started the meal with a side of mac n cheese and a bee sting cocktail. The mac was well balanced and served with generous potions of ham, cheese and breadcrumbs. It was a perfect blend of sauce, savory and crunch. The bee sting had a nice variation with the addition of a sliced jalepeno garnish, which in my opinion, added a nice aromatic complexity and spicy bite in the end.

Next came the boneless ribeye steak and whipped potatoes. I usually order steak from an establishment like this "blue" or as rare as possible, because I want to experience the flavor and texture of meat, not the caramelization that occurs from cooking. The steak came out warm and rare, but not blue, which I suspect is because most of the steaks that I saw being prepared were coming out of a sous vede. This is understandable because of the volume they serve and did not diminish the flavor one bit.

This was, in fact, one of the best steaks I have ever had the pleasure of eating. The very first bite quite literally almost slid down my throat. It was so succulent and perfectly seasoned that when my teeth came down on the flesh, the juices released in an explosion of flavor that filled my entire mouth. Chewing was an exercise in bliss. Bite after bite, I was transported away from my seat at the table to a place of meaty tranquility. Halfway through, I ordered a Haywire old fashioned and was snapped back to reality when it was delivered by one of the 5 servers who regularly checked in on me. It paired perfectly with the steak, cleaning my palate and making way for another journey into bovine bliss. I experienced religion tonight. I caught myself biting and experiencing a strong urge to swallow like the air was taken out of my mouth and lungs. I had to fight that urge and continue to chew for fear of choking, each chew releasing more flavor and tenderness. Towards the end of the steak, I found my consciousness on another plane. I had reached meat nirvana. There was nothing that mattered but a perfect amalgamation of proteins, fats, salt, and pepper.

After the last bite, I drifted back down to reality, where the sounds of a busy steakhouse and a server asking me if i had room for dessert greeted me. I declined and finished my second liter of water in an afterglow state, watching the staff prepare meals and desserts without missing a beat.

If I could give this restaurant more than five stars, I would. Instead, they have increased my bar for excellence such that I will find it much harder to rate others at 5 because everything here was so delightful. Service, atmosphere, and food were all incredible.

Please note that I ate each bite of steak with a smear of...

We have been here probably 7-10 times in the last five years. That may not seem like a lot, but when you consider how many restaurants are in this shopping center, let alone the Dallas area, it’s quite a bit! We come here for my birthday every year, and for any really special occasion.

For a higher income couple, a really nice dinner would be going to Capital Grille or something like that. For us, this is our once/twice a year fancy outing.

The last time we came here was at the beginning of January for our anniversary, and it was just as good as all the other times we went.

However, tonight was kind of a disappointment. My husband’s steak was overcooked, which they promptly fixed, so no issue there. It was unusual that it wasn’t right the first time, though. The thing that I really noticed was the small stuff - the touches that make you feel like you’re getting a great experience. The new side dish containers are about 25% smaller, and for $10.95 a pop it’s just not a good value. I can’t say that there was anything else “wrong” with the food, but it was not nearly as good overall as the other times we’ve been here.

They usually bring a warm washcloth after you have ribs, but that was nowhere in sight.

They also used to box up your leftovers for you, which is probably something divisive for most people, but I was wishing that I didn’t have to attempt to box up my leftovers in a white dress.

At the end of the meal, my husband mentioned the dessert menu (dessert is complementary for special occasions, which is a really nice touch). Our server says, “oh, I’ve already got that started for you. I like to make it a surprise.”

Huh? So you’re just going to give me some random dessert?

I said, “I hope it’s pie, because that’s the only thing we want!”

Our server says, “uhh well I got you the chocolate cake, but I could change it?”

I’m like yeah we definitely want pie, not cake.

I get that at Chili’s or a similar place, they’d probably just give you a chocolate sundae and that’s what you get. But at Haywire, they always bring the menu and let us pick. Very weird to have a server bringing surprise desserts of his choosing.

Anyway, I probably sound like a Karen but I’m only pointing these things out because we love Haywire and don’t want to see it go downhill. This experience was just not it, and especially sad considering how high the bar is...

After passing this place for six years, my Mom and I finally decided to stop in and enjoy a meal here. This establishment is delightfully adorned to achieve a rustic, modern, and upscale vibe, and I immediately felt the positive energy flowing through the intimate setting. It is almost as if you are transported to a completely different realm. My Mom and I were in absolute awe - we both agreed that the ambiance here truly defines elegance.

We were greeted by Riley at the hostess desk for our 11AM OpenTable Reservation. She directed us to the 2nd floor where one of the hostesses (Cara?) showed us to our table. She handed us menus and even noted the food allergies of the affected person in our party. I thought that was exceptional of her to reconfirm.

Our server Mikayla was a rockstar and attended on us within a minute. She reconfirmed my food allergies (mushroom and eggplant) and offered to answer any questions about the menu. Courteous, knowledgeable, attentive, and personable with a professional work ethic. She anticipated our every need and checked in with us from time-to-time to see if everything was to our satisfaction. She also took a photo of us at the end of our meal upon my request.

For cocktails, we both ordered Texas Mules. They were perfectly crafted - a hint of jalapeño along with the intense, bold, refreshing and palate pleasing flavor of the ginger beer. Excellent!

We ordered the Fried Green Tomato Appetizer. The full-bodied flavor and the crunch/ratio of the breading made this the star of the show. 5 stars for sure

For the entrees, I ordered the Barbacoa Grilled Cheese, the Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup, and Seasoned Fries. All noteworthy. I did have to box up the other half of the sandwich since I was running out of steam and didn't want to miss out on Dessert. Mom ordered the Chicken Fajitas with Corn Tortillas. She said it was the best she had ever eaten.

We ordered the Route 66 Pecan Pie for Dessert (with a scoop of Henry's Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream on top). Enjoyed a few bites and boxed the remainder. Divine! No complaints.

It is clear that management is committed to high standards of and adherence to food quality. The service, ambiance, and food are all outstanding! We will definitely be back for future visits to try other menu items for...