After a series of invitation-only soft openings, two new Columbus restaurants are open for business.
The LongHorn Steakhouse, a Orlando, Fla.-based franchise which also owns Red Lobster and Olive Garden, opened its doors to the public Monday. The first LongHorn opened in the Buckhead district of Atlanta in 1981. The LongHorn Steakhouse is best known for its fresh steaks including a fillet and a rib-eye. It also serves fresh seafood and other menu items. Hundreds in the community were invited to try the new restaurant over the weekend in a soft opening “Family and Friends event.”
“The reaction from the local community has been outstanding and exceeded our expectations,” Director of Operations for LongHorn Steakhouse in Mississippi Tony Smith said. “We were pleased to open our doors this weekend at our pre-opening Friends and Family event. Many people told us our restaurant was just what the town needed. We’re thankful for all of the support we received and look forward to serving local residents in Columbus and the Golden Triangle communities for years to come.”
The LongHorn Steakhouse is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Thai Siam, the area’s newest Thai restaurant, will hold its grand opening today at 11 a.m. Located at 2212 Military Road in the old Bann Thai location, the Columbus restaurant is the second Golden Triangle location for owners Tum and Lekza Chanachai. The brother and sister team opened their first restaurant in Starkville in 2011.
“They moved here with their father who is a professor in the fine arts department at MUW,” said Karen Stanley of Neon Frog, the marketing group handling the grand opening. “We had a soft opening last night where about 200 people were invited out to try the menu. We selected three couples from a Facebook promotion to attend the soft opening. This was done at four different seatings.”
Stanley said the owners are also conscientious of alternative diets such as meatless, animal-free and wheat-free.
“They are incredibly concerned about giving people who are vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free different menu options for their specific types of diets.” Stanley said.
Restaurant hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Thai Siam is open Saturdays from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
For more information, please visit facebook.com/thaisiamcolumbus.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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