There are places you discover purely by chance—and then remember for years. Prairie House Restaurant in Cross Roads, Texas, is exactly that kind of place.
Friends from Pilot Point told me about this restaurant, and honestly—if I had been driving along Highway 380 without their recommendation, I probably would have passed it by. Today, however, it is one of the first places I recommend whenever someone asks me about good food in North Texas.
How did Prairie House get started?
Prairie House was founded in 1989 by Jim Murray, a man who dedicated his entire life to restaurants. It is said that he discovered his love of cooking when, at the age of twelve, his father took him to the legendary Arnaud's restaurant in New Orleans. They sat together in the kitchen, watched the chefs at work—and his future was decided.
Murray's mother was a Texan cook through and through, while his father brought European culinary influences. This combination can still be tasted in the food at Prairie House today—it is honest, home-style Texas cooking, but with a little something extra that is difficult to describe. Murray himself puts it simply: if you can find it in a can, we don't serve it at Prairie House.
The original restaurant still operates in Cross Roads today, and since 2018 Prairie House has also had a second location in the historic Lewisville Feed Mill building from 1886, which Murray saved from demolition and spent two years renovating.
Where exactly can you find Prairie House?
The restaurant is located at 10001 US Highway 380, Cross Roads, TX 76227. Cross Roads is a small town in Denton County, just south of Pilot Point—about a 15–20-minute drive away. From Dallas, expect the drive north to take around an hour. If you are traveling east on Highway 380 from Denton or west from McKinney, you cannot miss it.
Around the restaurant, you will find plenty of typically Texan sights—old tractors, various roadside shops, and the like. The entire area has the authentic rural Texas atmosphere that simply belongs with Prairie House.
An atmosphere straight out of a Western
As soon as you step inside, you immediately understand why they call it “Frontier Cooking.” The entire restaurant is decorated in an Old West style—wood everywhere, from the floor and walls to the ceiling. Hunting trophies hang on the walls—deer, ibex, bison—and old signs and vintage advertisements for Dr Pepper, Gulf, Coca-Cola, Miller, and Lone Star Beer are everywhere. An old Dr Pepper vending machine stands by the entrance, and near the restrooms you feel as though you are at an old gas station from the 1950s.
The dining room has pleasantly dim lighting, wooden tables and chairs, ceiling fans overhead, and neon beer signs glowing on the walls. Sports play on the screens. It is exactly the kind of place where you sit down and immediately feel comfortable—no pretension, no snobbery, just an honest Texas restaurant.
What should you order? It's simple here—almost anything
And now for the most important part—the food. Because that is why you will want to come here.
Bandidos—an appetizer you will never forget
If you remember just one thing from this entire article, let it be the Bandidos. It is an award-winning appetizer, and in my opinion, it is the best appetizer I have ever had at any steakhouse. And I do not say that lightly.
They are rolls stuffed with pepper jack cheese, bacon, and chicken, wrapped and breaded, and served on a bed of onion rings. You can order either three pieces (for about $11) or six (for about $14). In my opinion, three are enough—if it is truly meant to be an appetizer. Six pieces are enough to make you overeat before the main course even arrives.
The first time, I ate about six Bandidos and then had a half-kilogram steak as well. What happened? I could not sleep all night because I was so full that I literally could not move. The next day, I looked like a zombie. But it was worth it. These days, of course, I order smaller portions.
Steaks—Rib Eye vs. Top Sirloin
Prairie House offers steaks grilled over mesquite wood, which gives them a distinctive, lightly smoky flavor typical of Texas.
You will find several options on the menu:
16oz Rib Eye (about $37)—this is the king of cuts. Rib eye comes from the rib section of the beef and is threaded with delicate marbling, making the meat incredibly juicy and full of flavor. It is a steak for those who want a rich, buttery taste and do not mind a little extra fat. Prairie House also offers a smaller 12oz version for about $29.
8oz Top Sirloin (about $17)—sirloin is a leaner cut from the loin. It is firmer and has a more pronounced “beefy” flavor, but it is not as tender as rib eye. It is a great choice if you want a good steak without excessive fat and at a reasonable price. It is significantly cheaper than rib eye, making it an ideal choice for your first visit.
They also offer an 8oz Filet (about $30)—the most tender cut of all, a 5oz Petite Filet (about $20), and Prime Rib for $33 after 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
You can add sautéed mushrooms, grilled Texas shrimp, or grilled onions to any steak.
BBQ and other classics
Prairie House also smokes its own meats—house-smoked BBQ served with two sides:
Prime Smoked Brisket—half a pound of house-smoked brisket, sliced or chopped. Baby Back Ribs—slow-smoked, with meat that literally falls off the bone. A half rack costs about $19, while a full rack is about $26. Smoked Pepper Sausage and Smoked Cheddar Sausage—Texas sausages with black pepper or cheddar.
If you cannot decide, order the Texas 2 Step for about $21—you can choose two items from the menu (brisket, ribs, chicken, sausage, burnt ends, or pulled pork).
Other dishes worth mentioning include Fried Catfish—lightly breaded and fried catfish, a Texas classic. Our friends tried it with us, and it was excellent. There is also Chicken Fried Steak, Grilled Pork Chops, and Mesquite Grilled Salmon with a ginger-sesame glaze.
Sandwiches, salads, and a children's menu
For those who do not want a heavy entrée, Prairie House also offers sandwiches served with fries—chicken, a burger, a bison burger, or their special Prairie Pulled Pork on a brioche bun with jalapeño coleslaw and fried onion rings.
The salads are good too—Prairie Salad, spinach salad with strawberries and candied pecans, Cobb, or Caesar. You can add chicken, fried chicken, salmon, or burnt ends to any of them.
Children (and seniors over 70) can order from the Lil' Wranglers menu—a children's burger, grilled cheese, chicken strips, or a BBQ sandwich, all for about $5–7, including fries and a drink.
Desserts and sweet endings
If you have a little room left after your steak (which is a big “if”), definitely try something from the dessert menu. The daily cobbler changes with the season, and they also have Chocolate Cake made from Murray's mother's recipe (layered chocolate cake with pecans), Turtle Caramel Cheesecake with caramel and chocolate chips, or my favorite—Butter Toffee Bundt Cake served with Henry's vanilla ice cream and candied pecans.
Daily lunch specials and happy hour
Prairie House offers Lunch Specials every day until 4 p.m. for $12.99—8oz Top Sirloin on Monday, BBQ Combo on Tuesday, Prairie Chicken on Wednesday, Grilled Pork Chop on Thursday, and Fried Catfish or Meatloaf on Friday. On weekends, they offer Chicken Fried Chicken (Saturday) and Chicken Fried Steak (Sunday)—while supplies last.
Happy hour runs every day from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Practical information
Address: 10001 US Hwy 380, Cross Roads, TX 76227
Phone: 940-440-9760 Website: phtexas.com
Opening hours: Monday–Thursday: 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., Friday: 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Reservations: Not required, but recommended for groups of 8 or more.
Note: The restaurant does not accept personal checks. An 18% gratuity is automatically added for groups of 8 or more.
Final thoughts
Whenever I talk to someone about steakhouses in Dallas or Texas as a whole, I do not just think of the famous Cattleman's Steakhouse at the Fort Worth Stockyards, which I have already written about—I also think of Prairie House. It is a restaurant without any unnecessary pretension, but the food is absolutely fantastic, the setting is beautiful, and the prices are reasonable.
In my opinion, it is the very best restaurant around Pilot Point and one of the best places for steak and BBQ in all of North Texas. If you are in the area, definitely stop by—you will eat well, enjoy a first-class steak for a reasonable price, and leave feeling as though you have just visited a piece of old Texas.
I definitely recommend it.
