I Went to Texas Roadhouse and Saw Why Its Sales Continue to Surge

I went to Texas Roadhouse on a Thursday evening, thinking I would be able to walk in and be seated quickly enough.

I knew the chain was popular, but I was still surprised to find a packed parking lot at the Rochester, New York, location on a weekday evening.

The window advised customers to call ahead to reserve a seat, which I regretted not doing.

Walking inside, I realized the restaurant was even more crowded than I'd anticipated from the parking lot.

I put our name in at the hostess stand and was told it would be about a 10-minute wait.

I didn't mind the wait. I used the time to take in the ambiance, which was unlike that of any restaurant I'd been to before.

The walls were decorated with jerseys and uniforms from the local high-school sports teams right above the hostess station.

A large moose head was mounted alongside the uniforms. I don't know what moose have to do with Texas, but it did add to a homey, country theme.

Other walls were adorned with neon beer-brand signs, including Budweiser and Blue Moon.

Nearly all the walls in the massive restaurant were decked out in decor, like these caricatures of some classic country artists.

I also got some time to check out the butcher station with hand-cut steaks, which is one of the signature features of the chain.

Above the steaks were the chain's iconic rolls, staying warm under a heating lamp.

Another neon sign got at the heart of Texas Roadhouse: beer and beef.

Under the sign, wait staff ran in and out of the kitchen, ferrying rolls to the full restaurant.

The restaurant posted frequent hiring advertisements, most likely a symptom of the trouble restaurants across the US are having to attract workers during the pandemic.

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