Saltgrass Steak House

I am still surprised that the Nederland/​Port Arthur area got a Saltgrass but YEAH for the booming chemical plants i guess ;) Anyhoo, my family and I had good experience here and I’m glad because it was families first time trying this chain out. Our server, Logan, was great; very attentive and friendly. My dad decided to spurge and get the sampler appetizer and it was ok. Thoughts: Appartently the ribs were really good because my fam ate all of them (like 3 ribs) before I could try a sliver, the fried onions are a simple and tasty treat, the fried zucchini is on point (my fam’s fav), the spinach and artichoke dip was bland and not tasty at all and lastly the cheese stuffed jalapeño and shrimp thingys were good and super cheesy but 4 is waaay too many… my suggestion: put 2 or 3 MAX and add just 2 or 3 plan shrimp or just add 2 more ribs… just saying :)
On to the main course… my laredo lunch chk was delicious! Mom’s lunch fried shrimp were really tasty as well. (Note: she was a little nervous about the description saying «spicy fried shrimp». The actually fried shrimp are not spicy, they serve 2 YUMMY spicy dipping sauces on the side that can make them spicy, just an FYI for those not so spicy aficionados). Both my dad and Uncle ordered steaks and both were satisfied with their dishes.
An overall good experience and glad we went. I was pleased that they offered a lunch menu daily until 4pm which offers smaller portions for those with the not-​so hefty appetite. My fam was also digging the good music. The honey wheat bread they serve is also very light and yummy so try a piece but don’t fill up!
Last thought… even though Logan was a great server, I wish he wouldn’t have thrown my to-​go box away, so soon, that I so stupidly left on the table. I know, I know, I’m a dodo and totally take full responsibility for my forgetful actions but I ended up noticing right when I was getting out of the car (which was only about 15ish minutes after we left) I immediately called up there HOPING he noticed it and put it to the side but I was sadly informed that he had just threw it away.**sad face** (Who I think was the manager) so kindly offered to replace it but I repeatedly declined; I did appreciate the offer though :)

I enjoyed my visit to the saltgrass. The food was pretty good, I think the steak was a little undercooked but good. Mashed potatoes rocked! The bread and butter was good too. We tried the spinach and artichoke dip and it was good. The server was attentive and nice. The restaurant was clean and nice. However the reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because when we walked in there was no one that greeted us and seated us right away.

Started off a bit rocky at first. My wife, 3 younger children and myself wanted to enjoy a nice dinner. When we walked in, they were not that busy. The hostesses were very poor but we were told to wait for a table. That’s fine of course. But it had been about 10 minutes and other tables have come in and been sat no problem. A server ended up telling them to sit us in his section. He was amazing. Took great care of us. There were a few mistakes with our orders but he corrected them quickly. Everything, wrong or right tasted amazing and it was a nice evening none the less.

I had ordered BBQ AND BBQ SHRIMP TOGO. Don’t mind the steak… I had put it in there afterward. But the hell, THE RIBS LOOKS HORRIBLE. WHY IS it TWO PEICES. I can’t believe they have served and pack it Togo. Look at the pic I’ve posted. Doesn’t look anything from the menu.

Went eat supper there last night and must say the service and food was exquisite… We had younger guy who was so attentive and sweet… Everything came out in a timely manner. Appetizers we ordered were range rattlers, and the Queso dip both great! For our meals I got the chicken Austin which is chicken breast stuffed with spinach and artichoke dip your choice of a side I did bake potato and I got a salad. Yummy is all I can say the best chicken grilled I ever eaten. Hands down one of the best places I’ve been in a while!

I hate to give this place such a low rating, but I have to base it off of evidence from visiting and not just sentiment for other locations. I came out to get a few drinks and some food on a Wednesday evening. I normally would sit at the bar, but in this case the normal bar seating was full. I say normal seating because there was seating in the «bar» area, but it was a strange set of stools facing away from the bar and staring into some family’s table. It didn’t make sense to me. I sat at a booth.
The server was prompt and attentive. I ordered up a margarita, and it came out faster than I expected. That was a plus, however… the drink was very strong. Normally, I love a strong drink, but this was to the point of being not made well enough to be easily drinkable. Being a sound drinker, I downed it anyway. Note: I did ask if they had Tres Generations tequila instead of Patron, unfortunately, they did not have it.
I then ordered a salad, steak, baked potato with extra cheese and bacon, and a different drink. I asked if they had Makers 46. They did not. Again, disappointed, but I decided to get Makers on the rocks instead. When it came out, I was even further disappointed. The server had let the drink sit too long before bringing it to me, and the ice had all but melted away and diluted the drink. I drank it anyway, but things were adding up. I then ordered some water to drink with my meal.
I sat with my watered down drink, and waited. Then my steak and potato arrived. Did you catch that? Yep, they had forgotten my salad. I was looking forward to that salad. The potato came with very little (as opposed to extra) bacon and cheese. Additionally, the server forgot my water so I was without anything to drink. I beckoned the waiter and told him to cancel the water and get coke instead. I also let him know about the missing salad. He was polite and wanted to know how he could make it right. I said, how about another Makers on the house after dinner. He agreed to that.
Cutting the steak and chewing it up, though, was the biggest disappointment of all! It was BAD. It was tough. It was tasteless. It was definitely, definitely NOT worth the money. It cost $ 22, but was not worth even $ 5. Seriously, the steak was tough, had lots of fat, and I was not pleased, but I looked forward to my next drink.
The server returned to tell me that he could not give a free drink, but he could give dessert. I didn’t want to dessert, but I compromised. I said I’d accept free dessert and I’d purchase another drink-​Frangelico on the rocks.
The drink again sat a very long time and melted ALL of the ice! All of it. Then the cheesecake came out. How do you ruin cheesecake? Well, I guess this place has figured it out. The cake had a bad, dirty dish smell. They probably didn’t wash the dish too well and that transferred to the cheesecake.
Man, seriously, I like Saltgrass. I like drinking. I like steak. I like cheesecake. This place, though, based on my experience, just had very poor execution.
The server was nice, but it just didn’t cut it. Not even close. Disappointed.

By Port Arthur standards, hands down, 5 stars. For lunch or dinner, I know I can consistently get a perfectly satisfying, flavorful meal here. I’ve never been to a Saltgrass anywhere else, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I’m officially sold, even coming from NYC.
For lunch, the chicken Laredo– a thick, tender, grilled chicken cutlet topped with feta, cilantro and avocado, is a real winner. Start off with the spinach salad (served with fresh blue cheese crumbles, pecans, chopped hard boiled egg, and a perfect honey balsamic vinaigrette), and try a baked potato (I love loaded with everything on the side so I can do it myself) or steamed broccoli for an awesome meal. The grilled chicken sandwich is also a great choice– same perfectly grilled chicken with cheese and bacon on a fluffy brioche bun.
Went in tonight to try it out for dinner and had the bbq ribs and grilled shrimp dinner. Ribs were perfectly tender, fall off the bone, nicely sauced, and the shrimp were very good as well (smallish, grilled nicely, tasted healthy… would even use as my whole protein for a healthy meal in the future).
Coworkers and I have tried the burgers, salads, chicken fingers, cheese steaks, and Mac n cheese and everything has been to everyone’s liking.
Needless to say, the service is exceedingly attentive, drink refills are abundant, and even pickup service is available and super convenient (important for team lunch time). As a business traveler, I’m eager to report that this is an essential Port Arthur staple! I’ve just not yet tried the booze. Maybe next week.

Stopped for dinner the other day when was in port Arthur for business. It was a nice place and the steak was very good but a little pricey. Overall not a bad restaurant. Similar to the other steak chains like longhorn or outback.
Staff was friendly. Food was good. Prices were on the high side, but ok for business travel.
I’d go here again.

Salt Grass really does stake it’s reputation on its staff. and the training shows. The service was busy, but always willing to please the customer.
Normally in Southeast Texas you have to deal with mediocre service at best in «chain» places to eat, but NOT at Salt Grass. I am from this area and visit back often and I am pleased that the detailed training stays with the employees for proper service and a pleasant dining experience.
Most recently we came in on a Memorial Monday and the crowds were large and many staff called in «sick» on the holiday. Our waiter acknowledged this right at the beginning and apologized that he would hustle for all of as he could (we were a party of 7). He did.
Overall, once the rush got under control and the food was being sent out. everyone had what they expected; great food and attentive staff. All orders were correct and I saw no one in our seating area complain. They kept the dining room clean, no matter how busy it was, and simply made it a good time to eat here.
Our orders:
— 5 lunchtime steaks w/​salads and sides
— 2 kids burgers
— lots of tea
— wine
— sodas
— spinach/​artichoke dip
— lots of bread
I spoke with the manager and learned that he is from the Round Rock area (North of Austin)… and that explained the great staff he has working.
I have eaten numerous times at that Round Rock location and here, he brought those great skills with him to Southeast Texas.
I hope he gets a good set of employees to stay with him and I hope that Salt Grass continues their training for their staff like they do (food service has a high rotation rate and I know they really test them to be a great wait staff/​host for the company)
Overall, I do not eat Salt Grass that often, since it’s a splurge for me, but I will put it on the short list when I am down in Southeast Texas again.