04/01/09

Good Experience from a non chain

by feedme321

I am a little biased because I despise big chain restaurants, so I am always looking for good local restaurants. They usually have more character and Texas Red's doesn't disappoint.

The steaks were good, but I really enjoyed the grilled salmon, although the option for cedar plank salmon would have been nice. Staff was ok, but the owners were pretty nice so that made up for it.

I read some of the other reviews and they seem split, but one thing that surprised me was people complaining about the price. If they want a cheap steak go to Montana Mikes, if they want 5 star dining then go to Austin and pay for it.

I think this is the best restaurant in San Marcos, true there is not much competition, but all in all it was good food and a good experience.

• Pros: not a chain restaurant, steaks good, fish surprisingly good
• Cons: hard to find

02/28/08

Not Recommended

by amandamcg

If you like frozen foods heated and served up for $$$$, this place is for you. Terrible quality. Steaks are way undercooked. Ice tea is old.

02/11/08

Chinzy & Cheap

by mcguckin

I live in Austin, but went down to San Marcos to take my brother out for a really nice meal. We happened on Texas Red's steakhouse, one of San Marcos' most expensive restaurants, and here's what happened. . .

Upon walking in, I was struck with the smell of cigarette smoke. I know the laws are different in San Marcos, but maybe Texas Red's should consider investing in a higher powered air filter unit, but I doubt they will because they seem so, well, cheap.

What I found most disturbing about this place was the audacity they have to charge the prices they do, and then to perform so penny pinching. There was the disposable ramekins that they served the butter for the bread in. Then our salads - one half a cherry tomato and one half a slice of cucumber, with 2 red onion slices served on a flat bed of lettuce - no exaggeration. Out came the entrees - a small baked potato served with 6-10 grated cheese slivers again served in the disposable ramekins on the side. Now for the famous Texas Red's Steaks, a story built up by the menu. This was a pre-packaged filet, complete with bacon wrap and pin - certainly NOT a fresh cut of meat, nor some fancy aged meat - for $30.

After dinner, I handed the waitress my card explaining that she'd have to manually enter the numbers as the stripe was broken. A few minutes later the OWNER comes over asking me if I have another card - because the credit card companies charge her an extra fee to manually enter my number. Flustered because I didn't have another card, I asked her what that "extra fee" was. Ready for this? 5% instead of 3%.

So, let me get this straight. I just paid $75 for stingy portions and pre-packaged meat, and you're going to bust my chops over an additional $1.50 that you have to pay for my patronage?

These people must be on hard times to be so desperate. Not recommended.

• Pros: historic building, nice bar, honest and professional wait staff
• Cons: bad cost-benefit value, poor quality steak, inappropriate management