Longhorn Steakhouse - Longhorn Gourmet Burger (4 stars)

5744 Buckeystown Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
Phone:  (301) 682-6751
Website: http://www.longhornsteakhouse.com/home

Many locations across the United States and a few international locations

Time of Visit:  August 31, 2015 at 12:20 pm

My Order:  Longhorn Gourmet Burger

                   French Fries
                   Blackberry Iced Tea
 

I decided to drop into Longhorn to try out their new Gourmet Burger.  Normally, the maxim is that you don’t go to a steakhouse to get a good burger, but this one was surprisingly tasty.  It certainly wasn’t a great burger, but was above average.

Burger Rating = 3.6 (****)

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

The meal came out on a white, rectangular plate with rounded corners.  The burger was balanced on one end of the plate by the fries placed on the other side.  The burger was skewered with a logo pick and a knife was placed across the plate, separating the burger from the fries.  The food came out hot and looked good, but there was a bit of messiness with splatters of grease and fry seasoning.  Overall I’m going to give this one a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 3

The patty was cooked all the way through, but needed some more browning to give it a better appearance.  It had a good texture and a good amount of juiciness, but lacked any discernable seasoning.  Because of the lackluster appearance and lack of seasoning, I have to give this one a 3.

Bun, Overall Rating 4

The bun had a nice, shiny, golden color to it, but was slightly oversized for the burger.  Still, it had a really good texture and they had given it a nice toast.  Plus, it held up really well all through my meal.  My only criticism is the diameter of the bun being larger than the diameter of the burger, so I’ll give it a 4.

Toppings, Overall Rating 4

White Cheddar Cheese:  I was initially hoping this would add a nice element to the burger, but was quickly disappointed.  Although the cheese was well melted and adhered to the patty well, there was just not enough cheese for the burger and the flavor was lost in the burger.  I can’t give this any more than a 3.

Crispy Onions:  These had a nice crunch and tasted really good.  There was just the right amount for the burger and were spread across it well.  I was surprised that, even though they were small pieces, they stayed in the burger quite well.  I’m going to give these a 5.
Garlic Spinach:  This was cooked well, with just the right amount placed on the bottom bun.  I didn’t notice much spinach flavor, but the garlic provided a really good note in the overall flavor of the burger.  Plus, when I bit into the burger, the spinach bit through cleanly and didn’t pull out.  I’ll give this a 5 too.
Bacon Mayo:  This was probably the most flavorful part of the burger, with a rich and tart taste.  It was spread evenly on the bun.  If anything, there was probably a little too much, as it tended to drip out of the burger, making it a bit too messy.  Overall, I’ll give it a 4.
Tomato Slice:  Although the tomato seemed fresh and had a good taste, it was just too small.  It only covered about two-thirds of the burger and was just too thin.  One good thing about the small size was that it did stay in the burger as I ate it, but that doesn’t override the size.  I can’t give this one more than a 3.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 3

This burger had a great flavor, with a good balance of condiments that matched the meat very well.  It held together well from the first bite to the last.  My big gripe is that the undersized tomato and oversized bun provided an uneven experience and the cheese was just completely lost.  If it had been something special, like grass-fed beef or organic ingredients, I might have bumped it up a point, but I can’t go any higher than a 3.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

This store is located in a small shopping center right off of Route 85.  It is easy to spot and easy to access, with plenty of parking.

Facilities

The store has a typical, chain steakhouse feel with plenty of tables, although there is no outside seating.  The bathrooms are easy to find.

Staff and Service

The staff was very professional.  I was seated and served very quickly.  The waitress was very responsive, but not overbearing with her attention.  My order was taken accurately and the food was served just as I requested.

Sides

French Fries:  These were pretty standard fries, although the seasoning was applied unevenly.  Overall, a bit more seasoning would have been good.  Like many times, they could have been crispier.  They also seemed to cool down pretty quickly.

Iced Tea:  A good iced tea with a pleasing, but not overwhelming, sweet blackberry syrup added.  It was quite nice.

Value

The meal cost me just under $15, including tax.  That’s not outrageous for a sit down meal, but it’s not the best value either, just pretty average.