bex77

Happy Harry Potter 6 Day! I played hooky from work and went to see the 10 am show across the river at the Fenway. No lines, only had to wait for the place to open at 9:30 am. Movie was good.

After the flick, we had a lovely lunch at the Longhorn Steakhouse in the Landmark Center. I've seen their commercials and wanted to try them.

First I need to whine about their web site. I wanted to know two things - when are they open, and what they serve (with prices). Guess what is not on their web site? No hours, no prices. Blech.

I am an Outback Steakhouse regular, so I spent the entire meal comparing everything to that.

Decor - I found the trophy longhorn cattle on the walls a bit disconcerting, but I supposed it's to be expected at a place called Longhorn Steakhouse. Advantage: Outback. Give me roos and boomerangs.

Service - very friendly, helpful, gave us enough time to look over the menu, offered discounted movie tickets and free appetizers on our next visit if we'd give them our emails, and validated parking! Slight advantage: Longhorn.

Prices - they haven't figured out yet that the economy is in the tank. Outback has started $9.99 deals and various other ways to eat for less. No sign of that today. All their dinner entrees are over $20. Advantage: Outback.

Parking - I had to park in the garage. It's only $2 with the movie validation (3 hrs free), but Outback has a big, free lot. Advantage: Outback

Starters
- free bread is wheat, sort of pre-sliced, with a tiny amount of butter, in a basket. Tasty, but I wished for the cutting board and more butter. Advantage: Outback

- the onion soup broth itself was rather tasteless, but the combo of the cheese and bread worked for a nice combination. The onion soup at Outback is an odd, thick thing, almost like beef gravy, so this is better. Advantage: Longhorn

- Texas Tonion - cutesy name for the Blooming Onion. It's a bunch of onion bits on a plate with a very spicy dipping sauce. It is less greasy, but the sauce was too spicy, which for me is saying a lot. And the presentation pales in comparison to the poetry of the circular bloomer. Advantage: Outback

Meat
N. tried the steak tips and rice and proclaimed them excellent - just the right marinade, cooked correctly medium rare, with the right ratio of mushrooms and onions mixed in. The rice side pilaf was less of a success - he said it tasted packaged. And you only get one side. Meat: Advantage: Longhorn, Sides: Advantage: Outback

I went for the "Flo's Filet," the 7 oz. equivalent of the Victoria's Center Cut at Outback. It was delicious! The marinade was very flavorable, it was cooked perfectly - well done without being charred and still juicy! The baked potato was fine. Advantage: Longhorn.

Note to vegetarians - don't bother. I didn't see anything you could eat except the Tonion, and a few of the sides. Of course, Outback isn't very good on that front either.

So to add it up, take me back to Outback (6 to 4). But the meat at Longhorn is top drawer and I wouldn't object to another visit sometime.