Via iStockphoto / @alonzomassey TikTok
One man who visited Texas Roadhouse was disappointed by the taste of the beloved rolls, claiming the restaurant's quality had decreased.
Texas Roadhouse is an All-American food chain known for its soft, fresh-baked, oversized rolls and signature cinnamon butter. A proclaimed “legendary steak restaurant,” it left one diner complaining that the quality of its beloved food had gone downhill.
TikToker Alonzo Massey (@alonzomassey) recently dined at a Texas Roadhouse in Gurnee, Illinois, for his son’s birthday. His review of the eating experience was a below-average dining disaster.
“You can’t raise your prices and lower your quality of food,” he said in the TikTok video. “At least keep it the same.”
The video has 20,000 views and a very opinionated comments section. In the three-minute video, Massey went in-depth about the issues with each ordered entree.
What Happened At This Texas Roadhouse?
“I am used to my rolls being a golden brown. When you open it up, the steam comes out,” he said.
Instead, he said the rolls were lukewarm, pliable, and overcooked. Through three baskets of rolls, the experience was exactly the same.
“As a roadhouse worker, the bread is made in trays of 16, and typically like 8 trays in an oven. So if they accidentally leave them in the oven too long, all of those trays gonna be a lil extra brown,” explained one commenter.
After the rolls, came the appetizer. He ordered the sampler. The boneless wings were, again, lukewarm. Massey said it was as if the wings were cooked a while back, but not placed under heat lamps. His and his son’s steaks were dry and unevenly cooked, some parts inedible.
For all the food Massey received—a burger, two steak orders, steak bites, and an appetizer—they all had the same issue. The food was cold, under-seasoned in some cases and overcooked in others. According to him, an overall underwhelming food experience.
The Price Proportional To Quality
Massey’s experience, while it may be relegated to just this particular Texas Roadhouse, does highlight a broad issue currently happening. Across the board, Americans are spending more and getting less—smaller portions, worse service, lower quality.
“Lol, welcome to 2026! It’s EVERY single restaurant at this point,” said another commenter.
The quality of the food and the amount paid should be proportionate. However, in Massey’s case, he argued that the opposite was true. He paid $25 for an 11-ounce steak that was dry, flavorless, unevenly cooked, and semi-warm. To note, the rolls were free, but they were still a part of the dining experience. For the six items ordered, only one had no issues.
All in all, Massey’s bill totaled $140 (an average of $28 per item), and it was spent on a subpar experience.
“I hope that places understand that just because you have a [brand] name attached to your food doesn’t mean you can lessen your quality. We are paying our hard-earned money,” said Massey.
To Massey’s point, if the corporate or economic demand of the consumer is to spend more, then there should also be a corporate strategy for value-add to the consumer with a commitment to at least keeping the standard the same or making it better—preferably the latter.
BroBible reached out to Massey and Texas Roadhouse for comment.