Longhorn stakes itself to a near-perfect review

Half-chicken with avocado and caesar salad, foreground; and half-prime rib sandwich, garden salad. (Lebanon Voice photo)

BIDDEFORD, Maine - First off, Longhorn Steakhouse has to be one of the most progressive restaurants on the planet when it comes to food allergen sensitivity issues.

That said, our recent meal at the Longhorn's at Biddeford Crossing had to have been one of the most satisfyingly delicious meals ever.

The restaurant chain combines a relaxed and knowledgeable atmosphere when presenting gluten free options, then delivers the goods impeccably.

Sidebar: We wrote a recent review in which we took to task a certain other chain restaurant where the waitress, informed that I was gluten free, brought me a grilled chicken salad full of croutons.

So when I ordered a Caesar salad as part of my luncheon combo and the Longhorn waiter deadpanned in a nanosecond, "of course no croutons" my first reaction was, "Sounds like he read the review." Lol.

So many restaurants don't even serve bread and butter anymore, but check out Longhorn's. Yeah, I was a wee bit jealous. No gluten free bread for me. Maybe some day!

Moreover and on a more serious note, you can obtain a full spreadsheet of all their food items and allergen info at longhornsteakhouse.com, then stride in there and order from the menu confident you're safely within your food sensitivity comfort zone. I still announce it, though, before I order.

But enough about food allergens. Let's move to the food.

I ordered am $8 lunch combo that included a caesar salad and half-grilled chicken and avocado sandwich (without the bread of course) for $8. It came with what many restaurants would use as a full-sized breast meat portion and a very large caesar salad with a deliciously tangy dressing. The chicken meat was moist and flavorful, the avocado - served to the side - clearly fresh and the melted cheddar cheese on top was of a substantial nature. An unannounced bonus was a small but welcome cup of house cheesy fries.

Martha, meanwhile, ordered the mixed green salad and the half shaved-prime rib sandwich for $9.

Again, huge salad, with the shaved prime rib wonderfully flavorful and melt in your mouth.

The cheesy fries, by the way, are an interesting, complex concoction you have to taste to appreciate.

With Martha's bottomless glass of sweet tea for $3, the entire meal was $20 plus tax.

The portions were large enough we still took home a doggie bag.

The service by the way was among the best I've received.

Our star rating:

Me: Four and a half of five.

Martha: Four and a half of five.

P.S. If you're listening Rochester Crossing developers, Longhorn might be the one.