Tourists usually don’t pick Amarillo, Texas, as their final destination. Instead, Amarillo is often considered a "first-class stopover for travelers," says Jutta Matalka of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. Located on Interstate 40 in the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo benefits from the agriculture and beef industry. Amarillo is "ranching and farming country. People know how to cook a steak,” Matalka adds.
With its kitschy cowboy décor and bold attitude, tourists and locals alike gravitate toward the Big Texan Steak Ranch. The restaurant offers a free meal to anyone who can finish its 72-ounce Steak Challenge, in which the diner is challenged to eat a top sirloin steak, baked potato, salad, dinner roll and shrimp cocktail, all in under an hour. The restaurant also offers a breakfast buffet, barbecue ribs and a full-service bar.
Customers celebrating a birthday receive a prime rib or chicken-fried steak dinner at no charge. The complex that houses the restaurant features a motel and horse stables.
Even with its working cowboy decor, The Country Barn Steakhouse also has an upscale quality, according to Matalka. The 18,000-square-foot building, formerly a barn, provides ample room for its eight dining areas and saloon. Restrooms have sinks shaped like the state of Texas. A vintage 1958 Cadillac El Dorado decorates the wall of the saloon.
The restaurant takes pride in serving Bonsmara beef, originally from South Africa, from local rancher G.R. Chapman. Food experts believe that Bonsmara cattle produce tender steaks. This eatery also serves hickory-smoked barbecue and Mexican food.
Saltgrass Steak House cultivates a rustic, historic charm. Named after the grass cattle grazed upon and the legendary trail the cattle used to go to market, this Western chain has spread quickly. The interior of its Amarillo location has a stone fireplace, tin ceilings and leatherette booths. The proprietors serve Certified Angus Beef steaks prepared with their own spice blend. Customers also have the option of ordering shrimp, fish or chicken.
Saltgrass Steak House serves wine and beer, and the Amarillo location has a happy hour during weekdays.
The interior of the locally owned Lone Star Bar & Grill suggests a comfortable, down-home charm, and customers can play pool or pinball while waiting for their food. This small restaurant emphasizes personalized service in a relaxed atmosphere. The menu features rib-eye steaks cooked over an outdoor mesquite fire and hand-cut french fries. They also serve pizza, chicken, wine and beer.
While visiting, customers can view the restaurant’s autograph collection. Despite its small size, the Lone Star Bar & Grill attracts a famous clientele, including The Bellamy Brothers and former Dallas Cowboy football star Randy White.
