The yellow and red neon of Logan’s Roadhouse cuts through the night and tempts travelers off Highway 99 to stop and refuel their stomachs.

The location seems easy enough to get to when viewed from 99, but it would be a bit of a hunt for non-natives of Chico. The restaurant is tucked away in the far northwest corner of the Chico mall’s parking lot. To get to it, patrons must go through a series of parking lots past Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr., and Marie Callender’s.

When we arrived at Logan’s there was an expansive parking lot that could easily accommodate RVs and trucks with fifth wheels, as well as the common car.

Getting out of the car, my dinner guest and I were treated to “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd being played over the outdoor speakers. Once we walked in, one of the first things I noticed were the peanut shells that were scattered on the floor throughout the restaurant. There is a large barrel of peanuts in the waiting area to keep appetites at bay when there is a wait to get a table.

The restaurant looked to be at about 70 percent capacity when we went Monday evening at about a quarter to seven. There was no wait for us and we were promptly seated.

Walking through the restaurant I noticed plenty of neon beer signs for Budweiser, Miller and Coors adorning the walls. I also saw the Budweiser-sponsored and the Miller-sponsored racecars’ hoods hanging on the walls. The red neon on the rafters gave the restaurant an informal and comfortable glow.

The table we were at was a four-person table so there was a lot room for the two of us. There was also plenty of room behind our chairs so our chair backs were not right up against those of others at the surrounding tables.

Our waitress was at our table within a couple of minutes for our drink orders. The restaurant offers a variety of beverages to choose from such as sodas, wines, beers, cocktails and their “Uncivilized Roadhouse Teas” which they describe as, “Logan’s feisty version of a Long Island Iced Tea.”

After debating whether to get a draft Bud, which is almost a necessity at a roadhouse, I settled on a Diet Coke since I had a hockey game to play later that evening. My companion ordered a fresh brewed iced tea.

Since we had both eaten at the restaurant a number of times we knew what we wanted and ordered our food along with our drinks. My guest ordered a Caesar salad with grilled chicken ($9.99). I ordered the six-ounce sirloin steak ($10.99). This may not sound like much, but all the entrees include a house or Caesar salad, homemade yeast rolls and your choice of side. Some of the side choices are a baked potato, mashed potatoes, a sweet potato, fries, onion rings, and steamed vegetables.

If you are in the mood to put away some food, they offer a 16-ounce. rib-eye or t-bone (both $19.99) or a 22-ounce porterhouse ($22.99). They also offer a 12-ounce cut of prime rib ($18.99) that is available only Friday through Sunday while it lasts. If you are craving something other than steak they also offer a variety of chicken, seafood, salads and sandwiches.

I received my house salad within five minutes of the waitress taking our order and before we received our drinks. The salad had iceberg lettuce, red onions, diced tomatoes, shredded carrots and shredded cheese along with thousand island dressing. All the ingredients tasted fresh.

We also received four yeast rolls, which were covered with melted butter and served with whipped butter. The rolls were very fluffy, sweet and unlimited.

We still had not received our drinks by the time I had finished with the salad. When the waitress came to pick up the plate, she noticed this and returned quickly with our drinks.

We waited for about 10 minutes snacking on peanuts and the rolls before our food came.

The presentation of my plate was lacking. It was a piece of steak with no sauce or garnishments on a plate with some fries. The meat was thin, but it was cooked medium-rare as I had ordered it. There was also little fat, which means less flavor, but more meat, which is good considering it was only six ounces. It had a smoky barbecue flavor that reminded me of beef jerky. The fries were soggy, but not dripping wet. I prefer more crispy fries, but when added with ketchup the fries tasted fine.

My companion’s chicken caesar salad was served in a very large, shallow bowl. The presentation was very good with the chicken arranged on top of the bed of salad and croutons. There were lots of croutons, dressing and mesquite grilled chicken. I am not a big fan of salads, but I had a bite and was surprised at how tasteful it was. The chicken was tender and the dressing complemented all the ingredients very well.

We had no room for dessert after finishing both of our meals. Our waitress was prompt with bringing the check and we were pleasantly surprised to find that she had not charged us for the drinks since she forgot about them. Without the drinks the total was $22.29.

Overall, I would recommend Logan’s Roadhouse if you are looking for a very full meal at a moderate price. The roadhouse atmosphere is comfortable and appealing. The waitress was very nice and quick. The music was perfect for a roadhouse, with a soundtrack that included a mix of country and country-rock with the likes of Garth Brooks, The Eagles, Neil Young and Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was a great dining experience and I would recommend it to all.

Logan's Roadhouse

Address: Chico Mall, 1900 East 20th Street
Phone Number: (530) 891- 1098
High Point: Getting my money’s worth in food.
Low Point: The waitress forgetting our drinks.
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Amenities: To-go option. Free peanuts and a free jukebox.
Wheelchair access: Yes.