Comforting Lunchtime Bites in Parsippany

Longhorn Steakhouse is a national chain known for its thick, juicy steaks and burgers. Most think of it as a place to take family and friends for a special dinner or fancy occasion, but it's a great place to grab a budget-friendly lunch on occasion.

One of the coolest things we discovered on a recent lunch outing at the Longhorn: Not only is the lunch reasonably priced, it's also fast. We were in and out in less than 45 minutes. No wonder the steakhouse has become a popular luncheon spot for 9-to-5ers in the area of Route 46.

Each week, Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice:

Longhorn Steakhouse -  Walking in, one is surrounded by wood and more wood. Yesiree, pardner, the Wild West is the motif here, and it's felt in the heavy wood tables, the wagon wheel chandeliers, the cowboy-friendly decorations around the large dining room. And it gives the impression of langorous dining. But lunchtime can be a speedy affair at the Longhorn—again, they had us fed and out with time for coffee and dessert in less than an hour.

Lunch at the Longhorn can consist of appetizers, a wide array of salads and pricey steaks and chops from the restaurant's traditional lunch menu. Go for it, if you have the time. But we really enjoyed the special lunch offerings menu that presents meals right around the $10 mark.

During our recent visit, the special menu featured intriguing selections including a seven-pepper sirloin salad (sliced steak served on mixed greens with diced tomatoes and crumbled blue cheese, $11.79), a parmesan crusted chicken sandwich with seasoned fries ($9.49), a mushroom and Swiss burger ($8.99, again, with seasoned fries) and the limited-time-only crunchy campfire burger (a half-pound of beef topped with barbecue sauce, onions, two cheeses, bacon and housemade chips served with fries; $8.99).

We opted for the grilled rainbow trout, which was $10.99. (This may have been a quick lunch, but the idea of a full meal with linens and real flatware and plates sounded appealingly comforting.)

We were not disappointed, pardner. The fish was grilled to perfection in basil, parsley and extra virgin olive oil, and it was tender, flaky and delicious. The entree came with one side dish from an extensive list that included fries, mashed or baked potato, sweet potato with butter and cinnamon, steamed asparagus and a seasonal vegetable medley. We chose the sweet potato, which was fresh and buttery good. (If you're dieting, nix the butter.)

Soft drinks are not cheap here—they're $2.49. But they are bottomless a.k.a. refillable beverages, so drink your fill to get your 2 1/2 bucks' worth.

Dessert, of course, is available too. Selections such as Mountain Top Cheesecake (topped with strawberries and whipped cream), Chocolate Stampede (chocolate cake filled with six types of chocolate and served with vanilla bean ice cream) and Caramel Apple Goldrush (apple pastry with caramel sauce and ice cream) range in price from $4.99 to $7.29, and you can get a sampler featuring the three desserts we mentioned for $7.99. 

Stick with an entree and beverage and you're out of there in a flash and for under $15. Not a bad investment of money or time.

is at 690 Route 46 in Parsippany. It opens for lunch at 11 a.m.