Cattleman's Roadhouse

Has anyone been to this independent steakhouse off of I-64 in Shelbyville? I pass it heading out of town and wonder if it is worth a visit. If I am heading out that way it is hard not to get sidetracked by Ken-Tex. Just from a visual perspective, it looks like a Texas Roadhouse clone.

Has anyone been to this independent steakhouse off of I-64 in Shelbyville? I pass it heading out of town and wonder if it is worth a visit. If I am heading out that way it is hard not to get sidetracked by Ken-Tex. Just from a visual perspective, it looks like a Texas Roadhouse clone.

Have not been, but expect it would be something like Texas Roadhouse. However is owned and operated by Bill Hisle and Stewart Merideth. Bill is an alumni of Casa Grisanti.

They also own Bistro 535 in downtown Shelbyville that has good and fairly inexpensive food. Also, a lot of catering, for example the S/ville Horse Show. Huge amount of food sold there and pretty good for the type of setting.

The Bistro has good food and prices, so I would expect that the steakhouse is similar. Doubt if it is worth a separate trip, but worth a try if you are close.

Ken-Tex is excellent.

Thanks, Steve. When the family heads out to Eastern Kentucky to visit the in-laws KEN-TEX is the usual stop. Magnificent brisket!

Perhaps a solitary visit to the Roadhouse for lunch during the week may be in order. Have heard favorable reviews of Bistro 535 but Science Hill seems to get the nod if we are in downtown Shelbyville.

Add another two to the master list of "must try soon."

Thanks, Steve. When the family heads out to Eastern Kentucky to visit the in-laws KEN-TEX is the usual stop. Magnificent brisket!

Perhaps a solitary visit to the Roadhouse for lunch during the week may be in order. Have heard favorable reviews of Bistro 535 but Science Hill seems to get the nod if we are in downtown Shelbyville.

Add another two to the master list of "must try soon."

The Science Hill is great. Bistro is a little different. Can't go wrong with either.

I've had Bistro as a caterer and they do a great job. Roadhouse is just off my radar screen.

I visited my parents in Shelbyville last night and asked them what they thought of Cattleman's, and they said they like it and that they have really good burgers. I'm not sure if they've tried anything else there or not, but it sounds like they eat there fairly regularly, so they must like it pretty well.

I will also put in a good word here for the Bistro. I've both eaten at the restaurant and had their catering and I've never been disappointed. I'm particularly fond of the Brown Avenue Chicken (in part because it's named after the street I grew up on, but mostly because it's yummy.)

(As an aside, I have to say that every time I go back to Shelbyville I'm saddened by how it's changed. I only moved away 3 years ago and I can't believe how much development of the west side of town has exploded. I understand they're going to put some kind of huge Summit-like shopping center in, too. Of course, I know all too well what a pain in the ass it was to have to go to Louisville to shop. I just hate to see Shelbyville becoming a bland suburban wasteland of chain stores and traffic.)

As usually happens, when a by-pass gets built it causes an explosion of development. I think we are just beginning to see what will happen in Shelby County. Thank good for people like Mary Gaylord who are active in trying to keep farmland "as is."

Cattleman's has it's similarities to Texas Roadhouse, but I would say it is worth a try. They have been very successful with this venture and live up to the reputation they have built with Bistro 535. Bill and Stuart are committed to the business, great service and great food. If they don't live up to that, they want to know it. They want to serve an excellent steak at a resonable price and I personally believe they are getting it done. It isn't Ruth Chris, Del Frisco's or Jeff Ruby's, but I don't think they fall into the Texas Roadhouse, Logan's or Lonestar category either. They have plans for a second location in the near futuresomewhere in central Kentucky.

Has anyone been to this independent steakhouse off of I-64 in Shelbyville? I pass it heading out of town and wonder if it is worth a visit. If I am heading out that way it is hard not to get sidetracked by Ken-Tex. Just from a visual perspective, it looks like a Texas Roadhouse clone.

By chance, I went there last night. Three people from Shelbyville and me celebrating a birthday. I have been in a Texas Roadhouse, although never eaten in one, so it is difficult to compare. They look a lot alike.

Service was very good except for a minor glitch (forgotten beer) that was quickly and cheerfully taken care of. One of the ladies told him that the soup was "not good". The server asked whether she wanted a replacement or to have it taken off the bill. Did this without quibble and without having to "consult a manager".

A very good salad bar.

Two steaks and one fish, all of which were pronounced good. Highest priced menu item 19.99.

Good value prices. Two beers, coffee, tea and food. Total 46.00 plus tip.

Menu was very similar to a Texas Roadhouse.

Bottom line. If you are in the area and want a nice steak dinner, this is a good place. Certainly not a "destination" place.

And I agree with you on Ken-Tex.

I have been there twice in the past year. If you live in Shelbyville it is a good place...although Tumble Weeds steaks are very good also and have a nice mesquite taste to them. I would put Texas Roadhouse and Longhorns a step above this place. But again for the people that live in that area it is a much needed addition to eating out in Shelbyville.....

I've been to Cattleman's with a big group of friends who live in Taylorsville. And since there's not anything in Taylorsville, we went to Shelbyville. If you're in the area, it's the best restaurant in town for a sit-down dinner (as opposed to Ken-Tex, which is yummy but very casual.)

Anyway, the steaks are great, my husband loved the pork chops he ordered and my friend wolfed down her chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes. It's a clean, neat restaurant, wasn't too busy, even on a saturday night, and the servers are polite and friendly.

The side dishes are very good too. Usual stuff like green beans, mashies, etc., but prepared well.

Nothing fancy, but you won't feel that you were ripped off when you leave. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. It's about $50 with tip for dinner for two without alcohol.

My wife, mother, and I had a wonderful lunch at Cattleman's today. First time we had been there, but I cut a lot of culinary teeth working my way up the ranks under Chef Meredith and Bill Hisle at Bistro 535, so I had some idea of what to expect.

The place is really nice with separate dining "wings" for smokers and non.(the menu even asks that you NOT smoke cigars in the dining room!) The dining room is clean, very clean, which is refreshing for a steakhouse of this ilk, when some chain establishments almost seem to relish their barn-esque "mystique." The decor is attractive, but pretty standard Americana Steakhouse; there is a giant bison head.

We were seated immediately upon entering and our server was attentive in getting our drink order. We didn't get our rolls right away, but this was quickly righted with an inquiry. Our order was taken promptly and without our server doing any writing; happily our orders came out 99% exact (mother didn't want mushrooms on her chopped steak, but that was promptly righted as well). Drinks were refilled almost immediately upon being emptied, but never once did the service feel rushed.

We started with a sampler appetizer. The starter plate consisted of potato skins, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers and tobacco onions. I have a strong suspicion that the mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers are bought in, but the skins and onions were quite good.

I ordered the NY Strip medium rare with seasoned fries, my wife the pork chops and mashed potatoes, and my mother the aforementioned chopped steak with mashed potatoes. My NY strip was grilled PERFECTLY to order and was exceptional. Bill has always demanded good cuts of beef and that tradition continues here. I am usually timid about ordering steaks at "steakhouses" (particularly chains) because they are rarely cooked as ordered and feel mass produced. Cattleman's NY strip was a sizeable slab of meat cooked exactly how I ordered and full of flavor. There was NO need for the AI at the end of the table to leave its comfortable spot. My seasoned fries, on the other hand, were a little soggy and perhaps hot when they hit my plate, but not by the time I got them. The steak made forgetting the fries a bit easier. My wife's pork chops were huge! You get two to a plate, but one would suffice as a meal on its own. They were plump and well grilled, if heading a little toward the dry side (pork chops are so tricky that way). My mother's chopped steak (called the "Chopper") was smothered in sauteed onions (and mushrooms, but we got that fixed) and full of flavor.

We were all well pleased with everything we ordered and left full for the sum of $55.47 + tip.

Overall, I would rather drive to Shelbyville and have a nice steak dinner at Cattleman's than patronize any of the chains that dominate Louisville right now. It's only about a 20 minute drive and supporting people I know and trust makes it worth the trip. The food is exactly what you want from a steakhouse, nothing spectacular, you won't ooo and aah, but you'll eat well and be treated nicely in a comfortable setting.

Next time, I'll be trying the salad bar...

My best friend lives less than 2 miles from Cattleman's. I believe the next time I visit, we'll have to venture down that way. I perused the menu and it sure seems inexpensive for what they are serving.

What with Ken-Tex, all the Mexican restaurants, Science Hill Inn and now this place, Shelbyville is becoming quite a nice foodie destination. I sure do miss the Ralph burger from Ralph's Market. Does anyone on the board go back that far to remember a Ralph burger?

http://www.cattlemansroadhouse.com/index.html

I miss the Ralph burger from Ralph's Market, too, Doogy. The only way I get a good burger these days is to grill one of the Fresh Market burgers on my backyard grill.

I miss the Ralph burger from Ralph's Market, too, Doogy. The only way I get a good burger these days is to grill one of the Fresh Market burgers on my backyard grill.

WOW, someone DOES remember. I lived in Shelbyville back in the late 70's and loved Ralph's Market and Todd's Point Market. What is your connection to Ralph's?

BTW, they make a mighty good bison burger at Proof. As a matter of fact, I also make mighty good bison burgers.