The Starter Menu, Explained
The starter section has the least descriptive names on the menu. Several tell you nothing at all about what arrives.
Here is what each one is, what it costs, and what it does to the meal.
The ones with unhelpful names
Cactus Blossom, $7.99 — a whole onion cut into petals, battered and deep-fried, served with a Cajun dipping sauce. No cactus. At 2,250 calories for the whole thing it is the heaviest item on the entire menu, ahead of every steak, and it is built to be shared between four.
Rattlesnake Bites, $7.99 — diced jalapeños and jack cheese, lightly fried, with ranch or Cajun sauce. No snake. At 560 calories they are the lightest fried starter, and the heat arrives after the first bite rather than during it.
Tater Skins, $7.99 — eight baked potato skins under melted cheddar and bacon with sour cream. At 1,320 calories it is effectively a meal in its own right.
Killer Ribs, $11.99 — a basket of the same ribs from the main menu with steak fries. It is a main course listed under starters.
The straightforward ones
Fried Pickles $6.99 at 550 calories — pickle chips in batter with ranch or Cajun sauce. The acidity cuts the fry better than most battered starters manage.
Twisted Mozzarella $7.49 at 710 — mozzarella sticks with marinara, which at around 40 calories is the lightest dip on the page.
Cheese Fries $8.99 at 1,240 — steak fries under cheddar and bacon, with chili available as an addition.
Boneless Buffalo Wings $9.99 at 760–860 — breaded white meat in mild or hot sauce. The range depends on sauce and dip, and ordering sauce on the side is the easiest reduction here.
Texas Red Chili, cup $3.99 at 230 or bowl $4.99 at 460 — the cheapest hot item on the menu.
Combo Appetizer $12.99 at 920–1,380 — choose three from wings, pickles, rattlesnake bites, mozzarella or tater skins.
The only one that does not reshape the meal
Grilled Shrimp at $7.99 and 360 calories — seasoned shrimp with garlic lemon pepper butter over toasted bread.
It is a fifth of the Tater Skins and a sixth of the Cactus Blossom. If you want something before the main without changing what the meal amounts to, it is the only starter that genuinely qualifies.
- Cheapest — Texas Red Chili cup, $3.99
- Lightest — Grilled Shrimp, 360 cal
- Heaviest — Cactus Blossom, 2,250 cal
- Actually a main — Killer Ribs, $11.99
- Best for a table of four — Combo Appetizer, $12.99
Frequently asked
Is there cactus in the Cactus Blossom?
No. It is a whole onion cut into petals and deep-fried. The name describes the shape.
Are Rattlesnake Bites spicy?
Mild to medium. The jalapeño heat builds after the cheese rather than hitting immediately.
Which starter should we order for four people?
The Combo Appetizer at $12.99 lets you pick three items, or the Cactus Blossom at $7.99 which works out at $2 and 560 calories each.
Keep reading
Starter Prices: What Each One Costs Per Person
Priced per table they look reasonable. Priced per person and per calorie, they separate sharply.
Read →
The Highest-Calorie Items on the Menu
The heaviest thing on the menu is an appetiser, and it beats every steak on the board.
Read →
The Whole Menu in One Page: All 12 Sections
Twelve sections, 87 items, 99 priced variants. Here is the whole board at a glance.
Read →