| Food | * * |
| Service | * * |
| Ambience | * * |
| Value | 4.0 |
| Cost | $ $ $ |
Cattlemen's are know, at least in this area, for their large steaks. I had a 1-lb. Porterhouse, cooked just right. They also ply you with all-you-can-eat (mediocre) salad, bread, and beans. Cattlemen's tends to be a hangout for cowboy types (10 gallon hat, brass belt buckle, and boots). The interior decor is hardwood floors and walls, with monstrous bull skulls. There's one hell of a big bar, serving all kinds of hard drinks, and the din on an average night is so loud, you can hardly converse with your tablemates. The tables are the same type of wood as the walls, especially dark (to mask any big spills).
It's a quaint idea (like going to Medieval Times). There is that feeling that "Cookie" will emerge at some point and ring the dinner bell, and then afterwards you'll play your harmonica and fall asleep in front of the campfire. Unfortunately, this sort of atmosphere leaves something to be desired. Aside from gargantuan portions of meat, the flavor is a bit ordinary. The presentation of the food is odd, from the server bringing you the beans in a cast-iron pot, serving them to you, and then taking them away; to giving you a literal doggie "bag." The next morning, my leftover steak, beans, and vegetables sat in one congealed mass, which became an odd steak stew upon reheating. So, if you want a big meal, served in "on-the-trail" style, Cattlemen's is your restaurant. If you want a little more substance and style, avoid the steakhouse genre completely.