New Steakhouse Opens in Oak Lawn

By Mary Kate Brogan

Texas Corral Grill & Saloon opened this afternoon at 6616 W. 95th St. The location was formerly occupied by Leona’s, an Italian restaurant. The Highland, Ind.-based chain has nine locations across Indiana and Michigan. Oak Lawn will be its first Illinois location.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It also has free wi-fi and includes a bar and a game room.

According to Tiffany Wenrich, the restaurant’s marketing director, the chain chose this venue because of its proximity to the mall and the expressway. She says Texas Corral is different than other chains like Applebee’s and Chili’s because of its unique menu.

“We’re all about a good-sized meal at a reasonable price,” Wenrich says.

The chain’s most popular items include the Texas Strip Steak, the Cowboy Chili, a chili with cheddar cheese, onions and jalapenos, and the Fajita Trio, a set of mesquite chicken, mesquite shrimp and marinated sirloin fajitas.

The chain also offers free peanuts, and while its slogan is “Just throw the shells on the floor,” officials from Oak Lawn’s Department of Health have informed the restaurant that this is against the village’s health code. The restaurant has placed empty buckets on tables to prevent patrons from throwing shells on the floor.

Wenrich says the restaurant sponsors adult softball teams at their other locations and plans to sponsor an Oak Lawn team as well.