What are the most over rated restaurants in Texas?

My picks are (all in Ft. Worth):

Hamburger Joint - Kincaids

Mexican - Joe T's

Seafood - Red Lobster

BBQ - Angelo's or The Railhead

Steaks - Outback

Asian - Pei Wei

Italian - Olive Garden

+1,000,000 on Joe T's. It was the worst "mexican" food I've eaten.

So what's the rap on Outback steaks?

Mi Tierra in San Antone. bakery is good, food is awful.
McCormick & Shmicks in Houston. Not bad really, but you are paying for the atmosphere, food is okay.
Any of Tillman Fertitta's restaurants.

+1 on Mi Tierra, was excited to go there and was completely underwhelmed.

Coopers BBQ "Llano Location".... Angelos BBQ.... Kincaids

Subway, Olive garden, Cracker barrel and The Big Texan.

any Outback Steakhouse

I assume it is still open, but after all the hype, I was very disappointed in the Ponder, TX steakhouse. I think it was called the Ranchman. Also have to put in a vote for Cracker Barrel.

Outback, Olive Garden, just about all fast food chains see any connection?

I like mom and pop type eating places! I support the local people 9 out of 10 times.

I don't think you guys can count "Chain Restaurants" like Outback and Olive Garden as "over-rated."

They're Chain Restaurants...they shouldn't be rated very well to begin with hehehe.

yep.

Good topic Chuck.
Its easy to over rate chains, but which ones arent?

Texas Roadhouse
On the Border
Pappadeaux
Carraba's
Round Table Pizza

I like SaltGrass Steakhouse. What does that say? Agree with holeinmyhook; Pappadeaux and Pappa's restuarnts are off the chain. Kincaid's is definitley over-rated as is Bracken Store in SA.

And I thought the Bracken Store Cafe wasn't "rated" at all. I'll give the burger 4 stars.

Top notch burger Over over over rated. Mighty fine burgers way over rated will rather have culvers now those are great burgers

Culver's butter burger is maybe my favorite fast food burger. But you gotta follow it up with a vanilla concrete with reese's peanut butter cup mixed in. I'm glad the closest Culver's is in McKinney or I'd be in trouble

This thread reminded me that I hadn't been to the Bracken Store Cafe for a while, so I dropped by there today for lunch. I had, as usual, the burger. This is a half pound burger, served on a griddle toasted bun. It is priced at $4.95. I will nominate it for the most "underrated" burger in Central Texas.

Rosas

Love and War in Texas, Joe T's, and Salt Lick BBQ

I hate rudys

Glorias in Arlington.

Very dissapointed.

Glorias in Rockwall.

Very dissapointed there as well.

Gloria's at Montgomery Plaza on 7th st. I was totally disappointed by their generic tasting food.

Angelo's is living on it's past rep. I went there recently and was amazed at how far downhill they've gone.

Joe T's - The fajitas are just shy of inedible - always overcooked and you can't taste any difference between the chicken and the beef. Don't know how they've gotten away with selling that [censored] all these years... The family dinner is not bad, just not up to par with what you would expect from a restaurant with such a gaudy reputation... All that aside, during warm weather Joe T's patio is one of the best places in Texas to drink strong margaritas and people watch.

The OLIVE GARDEN gets my vote for the most NOTHING you get for the greatest output of $$$$$$

I could live forever without hearing their name....seeing their logo....listening to some "female" extolling their virtue....

I don't just dislike that place ........ I HATE IT'S FREEEEEEKIN' GUTS!!

Don't get me started....don't get me started!!

I'm done.

+20 Chuckwagon!

Dang you for even mentioning the Olive Garden name. I have scorned that place for years. My wife doesn't even ask on an anniversary

Glorias in Frisco

Fuzzy's Taco - over priced

I think most of the steak house places are over rated for the price I'll buy my own and can cook it medium rare ( not frooze in the middle or dry as a bone ). I still can't understand how a steak house can hire cooks that can't cook a steak & as far as Olive Garden I ain't paying that much for boiled bread unless my wife tells me to. End of Rant !

Rudys is terrible BBQ and way over priced

Hard 8-over priced and terrible service

Randy's Steakhouse-over priced

Freebirds-WAY over priced

quiznos-Subway is better


I actually like TX roadhouse

Gaido's in Galveston is the most overrated restaurant I have been to.

I have to say The Big Fisherman in Rockport may be one of the most over rated restaurants in all of Texas. After reading the hype, I was shocked at how bad it was.

I just don't get Gaido's either. Very mediocre and very over priced.

In the late 80's-90's the Big Fisherman was pretty good from what I remember. The place burned down since I was there last and I have heard that its not near as good as it was...

I second The Big Fisherman, all the hype for nothing. The name is appropriate though, eat there a few times and you too can be a BIG Fisherman. Just about everything was fried, and what wasn't was barely edible.

At the risk of inciting a riot, To me, Sonny Bryan's is overrated now that it is owned by a conglomerate! Back in the Day, when Sonny Bryan(the late great Red Bryan's son)was standing back there slicing that succulent to die for brisket himself, he had no equal.

Today, for my money, at least here in Dallas, give me Hickory House on Riverfront, nee-Industrial,under the Houston Street Viaduct! That, gentlemen, is a barbecue sandwich!

I found the Kruze Market in Welder to be truly lacking, highly overrated! After all the hype i had heard from friends, and read about in such illustrious publications as Texas Monthly, man, what a letdown! The joint is as authentic a texas bbq joint as it gets but the cuisine--no thank you!

Give me the Southside Market in Elgin any day!

Rudy

Really don't think you will get much flak here about Sonny Bryan's. Just another restaurant that thinks past performance will assure current success. I seems to me the best Texas bar-b-cue is found where you least expect it.

Whataburger - blah

BUT.........they have good ketchup.

+1 on the Hickory House Rudy!

+1 Gives me the squirts when I eat there!

Buh..buh...buh...buhh..but they got good KETCHUP there!!!

Green Frog- Jacksboro
Herd's- Jacksboro
Carrabba's

Shouldn't even be in this thread.

It's f'n fast food! Of COURSE it's overrated. Fast Food by it's very nature, can't be very good.

most places I can think of are over-rated. When you think about it, it's hard to find a good place. I'm happy usually with a decent place at a fair price.

Wow! $1.99 for a good fish or shrimp taco!Better stick with taco bell.

Ditto to the Sonny Bryans And the Hickory House,actually surprised that Hickory House is still open has been a long time since I have eaten there.Used to like the Red Bryans on Lombardy Ln ..I believe that was the name of the joint.

you nailed it.

Fuzzy's overpriced? You can get a meal there for under $7-$8?

Unless you go to Taco Casa, McDonalds, etc... you can't find a meal for under that.

Any "mexican" food place that's in a big/new building and looks clean is just not gonna work. The best Mexican food places are the dirty little hole-in-the-wall neighborhood joints that are owned/operated by a local family... that's where the good Mexican food is!!!

I would agree on Geidos in Galveston. I stopped on the way back to Houston after eating there and threw a line while my wife was puking out of the car door. She threw up for about an hour after we ate there. In defense of the restaurant we did eat the Gulf Oysters and this was right after the big hurricane that struck G town. The oysters were the biggest I had ever seen. HUGE. Bigger is not always better. I compared the rest of the food to Long John Silvers.

Montes Breakfast Burrito 'restaurants'...Most are around the Lake Whitney area. I had heard how 'great' their food was and I tried it. I lost a lot of respect for the people who told me that was 'great' food. They had expanded as far as Joshua, but thankfully, the people of Joshua knew it was **** and it closed down shortly after.

I was also told that Papa Doc's in Meridian was 'excellent', especially their burgers with the homemade buns...They were nasty.

Agreed, how is Fuzzy's overpriced? $10 for a huge, grilled shrimp burrito AND a 22oz draft Shiner. Hard to beat that.

Heitmillers

Jerry Mikeska's BBQ in Columbus, TX. And they advertise as "proudly serving the best BBq in Texas". Say what? Absolutley the worst, most overrated BBQ Restaurant anywhere. It MIGHT pass for BBQ in Maine, but I doubt it.

1+

Got to be one of the worst, yet is seems to stay busy. I guess a lot of one-timers in there.

Tour buses.

Just a big tourist trap!! I live here and actually eat here pretty often. The food is good if you order the right thing. But come on, its San Antonio, there are 10,000 other mesican restaurants that are better than Mi Tierra!!

+2, think i might head there new years day if they are open and try to rid my hangover with a fat burger!!

3 Forks! what a joke! thank God it was a company Christmas party and i didn't have to pay for it!

Or Kincaids, Not even a top three burger in Ft. Worth and only ranks # 5 within a 60 mile radius. #1 Herds in Jacksboro #2 Freds #3 Woody's in Mineral Wells #4 tie Five Guys or Fuddruckers
#5 Kincaids

Underwoods BBQ - NOT!!!!!

I dunno... I hear everyone rave about Underwoods and Im not very impressed. I have had way better bbq and CFS.

Maybe they were inpressed with the dinner rolls but, if they were talking about the non-bbq beef steak they serve as being good, my heart goes out to the inexperienced (probably not from Texas) who really need a proper taste education. Baked round steak with sauce poured on it just can't be bbq IMO.

AGREED - man that stuff is bad

Dickeys BBQ..any of them...YUK. what a joke.

+1

I 2nd that. That ain't BBQ

They are even WORSE if in "cahoots" with a Gas Station!

All restaurants in San Antonio that presume to offer good Mexican food.
I grew up on El Paso-style Mexican food (mostly my Mom's cooking).

The Hamburger Place in Jefferson, TX. If it is good as people say I must have hit it on a bad day.

Whataburger

Z Tap Bar and Grill in Flower Mound - awful food and pricey.

I keeeel you

I agree. The reputation was built by the previous owners. New management has not done anything to uphold the rep.

I like the BarBQue place on N. Polk. Eaten there seveal times and it is always good.

I gotta throw Buffalo Wild Wings under the bus. I keep hearing they are awesome. Tried 2 different locations. Wings were ok at best. Everything was way over priced. Good place to hang out and watch a game and drink overpriced beer......just dont get any food.....

BWW is pretty good IMO. Way overpriced though. Got to go on .50 wing night and 3.00 big beer night. Do the wing challenge and get you a free shirt. Almost makes the prices worth it to accomplish that.

Salt Lick (for real)? I was licking the ol' chops while doing my time at the gym last night watching a bit on them; thinking "I need to go there".

And yes the Big Fisherman just down right SUCKS OUT LOUD, and I'm pretty easy to please.

Yeah, I can't believe someone doesn't like Salt Lick..good stuff.

The Gristmill in Gruene is way way overrated. The food is terrible, but I'm guessing you're going for the atmosphere more than the food.

All in Dallas:

Sonny Bryan's on Inwood. Used to be REALLY good but sucks now.

Campisi's Egyptian Lounge. Everybody raves about the pizza but it's terrible.

Whataburger. I like their food but some people think it's the best fast food hamburger and it's not.

Mecca on Harry Hines. It's just another short order breakfast/lunch joint.

Kuby's in Snider Plaza. Pedestrian German food.

I have never found a decent place to eat in Jacksboro!

This was the first one to pop in my mind. But I have to agree with most that have be posted. I wont eat at them and like others have said, I prefer the mom and pop type places. When Im out of town that is what Im trying to find.

couldn't help not to notice but is there not any complaints listed about HOOTERS

Oh, man... I usually agree with most of your food recommendations, but not this one. I'm an SMU alum, and although I no longer live in Texas, I still spend a lot of time in Dallas. I like Kuby's and Campisi's - they're SMU staples. Kuby's has a great, reasonable breakfast. Eggs, potato pancakes and one of their smoked pork chops is a great way to start the day - probably one of the better breakfast places in Dallas. I will admit though, that I'm not a huge fan of the pizza at Campisi's. They do serve other things than pizza. You can usually get a cheap lunch pasta special there that's good. I got burnt out on the pizza when I worked in downtown, across from the Campisi's there. One of the partners must have been a big fan of Campisi's cause they seemed to bring it in at lunch or for late night meals about 3 days a week. I never really understood it, but it was free, so I ate it.

I'll put it on the list!

Wings suck, burgers suck. Sure there is eye candy but heck, I'll go to a "gentlemens club" if I wanna see some hooters (other than what I have at home).

Agreed, I don't get up to DFW much and someone told me I HAD to go to Fuzzy's, I thought it sucked. That burger joint right across from campus is amazing though, Dutch's?

Most overrated in Austin:
Salt Lick--I like it, but it is REALLY highly rated, gets a ton of press nationally and there are probably 5 better places within 50 miles of Austin.

Hut's Hamburgers--Just kinda OK IMO

Chuy's--Again, I will eat there, but its really just kinda ok

I'll add to the Austin list with

Steiner Ranch Steakhouse...way overpriced and I was way underwhelmed.

Salt Lick used to be much better than it is now. Too much attention and too many people have it more like a feed lot now. They just try to move the herds through like cattle. Quality has suffered as a result.

According to my knowledge following five are most over rated Restaurant in Taxas.


Italian - Olive Garden
Steaks - Outback
Hamburger Joint - Kincaids
BBQ - Angelo's or The Railhead
Mexican - Joe T's

+10,000

My wife is from close to there in Bellville and went on about it, LORD it is TERRIBLE

Also Bill Miller BBQ

Agree with you on Bill Miller too, coach!

Kincaid's Five Guys. I would rather have Whataburger any day over those two.

please explain the kincaids part. i have had better but they seem pretty hard to beat to me....

I think the original location still makes a delicious burger myself!

yep. some things you just can't copy.

WOW, somebody really hates Olive Garden.

its not a tommy's junk yard burger but still a pretty dang good burger

Agree BWW is horrible

Mediocre food at a high price with poor service. What's not to love.

[quote=jae011
its not a tommy's junk yard burger but still a pretty dang good burger [/quote]

that would be another good example. The one on lackland is good, but not on camp bowie. The junk yard dog does rule though!

How could you possibly talk bad on Freebirds, get a 2 pound burrito for $8.00 how is that overpriced?

Joe T and Spagetti Warehouse - both Tourist traps, Angelos,

Pappa's deaux, or citos (any of them)-

Landrys (except in Shreveport)

Fuzzy's is good and cheap. Not great food but cheap enough to keep me going.

Dutch's is my favorite burger joint in the metroplex. 5Guys is real good and so is Jonny B's(Southlake). I though Jakes in downtown Fort Worth was overrated. I havent been to Dallas to try any burger joints there.

I was surprised at 5 Guys. That was a good burger. It stung a little paying 9 bucks for a burger, which is actually a double double, and a drink -but the location in Mesquite was good. Especially good, I thought. Not every one likes the same kind of burger though.

I enjoyed five guys too. It's a little more expensive, but that's partly because of the price of the drink, and the price for a double serving of fries, as you can only order enough fries for two, or four.

The Burger itself is always a double meat double cheese, with a set price for burger, cheeseburger, or bacon cheeseburger. All toppings are fresh and totally free beyond that.

You can also order a single burger for cheaper.

Thats would not be Mexican food. Thats Tex-mex.

5 Guys is ok. However, they have seeds on the bun. That alone makes them not worthy of eating. Fudrucker's remains on top of the burger kingdom because they know not to put seeds on a bun. All the great burgers are seedless. Mimicking Burger King with seeded buns is not a good thing to do.

Any of those places would be #1 in Breckenridge, we got NOTHING. Have to go to Albany to get good food around here, usually go to Beehive. We cook our own burgers and steaks most of the time..

Any restaurant in the Stockyards... Haven't found one that was worth a hoot yet.

The Star Cafe on Exchange St. is a good place for chicken fried steak and burgers.(across from Leddy's) They've been in business at the same spot for about 25 yrs.

How about the entire river walk in San Antonio? Except for Durty Nelly's, they have good peanuts.

and whoever said Whataburger should be banned from this forum and exiled to Oklahoma!

I'll throw out a controversial one, Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls.

Don't get me wrong. I've been there a dozen times and I'm sure I'll stop by there many more times.

The question isn't about restaurants that suck, it's about restaurants that are overrated.

If you are going to Blue Bonnet for pies I'm sure it stands out. For breakfast, it's good, nothing to get teary eyed over.

We usually time it so that we're there early. I definitely wouldn't stand in line.

Other then that, I second Pappadeaux's and anything along the River Walk. And to add, anything along the waterfront in Port A.

Definitely agree on the Bluebonnet Cafe. I had heard about the place for several years before I got a chance to stop in - I was not particularly impressed. It was decent but definitely not worth going out of your way for.

Ninfas and Taste of Texas. Easily

we know a little something about burgers ourselves.

Rudy's Bar-B-QUE

I have to agree on Buffalo Wild Wings. They opened one near here a few months ago and they always have a good crowd so the wife and I decided checked it out. Was not impressed in any way. Average (at best) food - both beer and food were overpriced, and it was also loud as hell.

As for Hooters - I know a lot of folks think it's overrated, but I actually like their hot wings, fried pickles, and sliders. Even their beer is reasonable at happy hour - 3.25 for a 25 oz. draft beer and 4 dollars for a shot of Grand Marnier ain't bad at all. And with many places going to up to about a buck a wing, $7.95 for 10 wings seems pretty reasonable, as well. Your mileage may vary.

Casstevens in Lillian
PA PA Doc's Place in Meridian
Cotton Patch Waxahachie
THE ones below we enjoy
DT'S IN Midlothian
BBQ Junction Midlothian

Ditto!!!My wife and I won't be there again till they get their 'old' service back. Benno's is better seafood.

Threadgills in Austin ate there 3 times and disliked it 4 times....lol don't understand what they taste
Try Kerby Lane GREAT!!!!food the very best pancakes

greasy spoon

Pauls in Dallas for steaks or prime rib
Ifertelli's pizza in flower mound
Ye Old Butcher Shop in plano since they moved not the same

Just get a single order of fries. Enough for two to three people.

ooo, diagree. Like Ifratelli's pizza.

Love Dirty Nellys but Casa Rio is one of my favorite mexican food places of all time. Good food, Great scenery, and very good prices.

+1 The most overrated BBQ of all time

you have allsups!

+1 on casa rio. been eating there for 30 years.

Coopers in Llano is horrible.

Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls is awesome during the week but the weekend breakfast is pretty bad.

Blue Bonnet is OK but it used to be a lot better. Cooper's in Llano is average quality but way over priced, same for Rudy's Bar-B-Que. The Burnet Feed Store must not use any seasoning what's so ever but a lot of these older people must like it that way.

I think that Rudy Mikeska in Taylor was his brother and they had some of the worst Bar-B-Que I've ever eaten!!!!

The big fisherman had a "Steak and Lobster" special for $5.95 once. True the lobster tail was like 2oz and the steak maybe 3oz and a terrible cut but still...how can they afford it? And the place was completely encircled with a looooonnnngggg line of old folks. Never seen so many high waisted pants and big rimmed glasses in one place.

red lobster

Hate to do it but... Charlotte Plummers in Rockport. Used to be good but the last couple times not so much.

Also any burger place people are falling over themselves to get into. A good burger is good but you can really only take a burger so far.

I actually used to work at Durty Nellys and sigh...Olive Garden as one of my first couple jobs. Some of the full time been there forever bartenders made easy 6 figures a year at Nellys. That place is always busy.

lol, and smells like cat pee. That being said, no one has ever told me it was good. Back in the day, it was cool, before their big fire.

Whoa!
I guess you have not been to Budro's..... The blackend prime rib is AMAZING!

Nope, That would be Cooper's in Llano.

Taste is taste but I don't think we're going to damage Joe T's much. They've been going since about 1935, have about 120 employees, four kitchens and there are zero freezers on property because the food is made fresh. Oh well..there's always Taco Bell.

Now that they are open, In N Out Burgers

rudy's breakfast tacos will kill you. full of bacon grease. very nasty.

Rudys bar b q. I hate that place. And by the way, the sa river walk is awesome.

Lake View Marina on Eagle Mountain lake. Couldn't even eat our breakfast. Gross and super expensive.

I dont know if anybody has ever rated it, but Logan's Roadhouse in Rockwall is awefull. I have had 4 bad meals in a row there. Why have I gone back??? My wife likes their chopped steak....meh... I even tried the most expensive steak on the menu. Literally, I have had better cuts of meat at Golden Corral on steak night. I sent their porterhouse back. They asked if they could bring me something else and I asked if it could come from the Taco Cabana next door

Rudy's BBQ is just horrible. And, Red Lobster is just as bad. My 2 cents worth

try the bacon cheeseburger at harbor 1. it's outstanding.

Uncle Julios, Dallas.

We went there last week and the waiter asked, have you been here before? I said yes, about 3 years ago. It hasn't improved any.

What I can't understand, the place is packed. The salsa is terrible, the service is average, and they use the same shredded chicken in every thing. When you pay for a meal, it should at least be better then what you can make at home. I would never use shredded chicken. And I absolutely hate heated nonhot salsa. Hot sauce should be hot, not thermally hot. Mild [censored] heated up.

I don't plan on seeing if it has improved another three years down the road.

I don't think enough time has been spent on just how over rated Joe T's is. First, the food is below par. Not just for Ft. Worth, but it's sub par even if you just limmit the competition to the North side of town. Second, the menu is limited. If you're only cooking a few things they better be the best few things around. And how about those "nachos." A big chip with some greasy shredded cheese melted on top. Total give up. Finally, after all that, they think its all so great that they're cash only. People around town say its worth it cause the margaritas are really good, but you'll spend all your cash trying to drink enough to make the food taste better. If you're coming to Ft. Worth don't buy into the hype.

Mamacitas in Kerrville, Home of the Green Pea guacamole.

In fact all the restaurants in Kerrville are terrible.

x1,000,,0000,00000000000 on In n Out. A double double with extra onion and tomato is fine and the price is great. Nothing ever frozen (except milkshakes) at an In n Out.

Salt Lick BBQ is WAAAAAAY overrated. Not even the best BBQ in the county.