He just wanted a place to hang out with his friends. So, he opened a bar in 2006, and I know he’d be proud of how far it’s come.
Glenn Fuqua’s buddies all loved Western Swing music; after being around them so much, he started to enjoy it too. They all owned motor homes and started traveling to see the shows, and that’s how it went from a little bar to The Western Steakhouse and Dancehall; featuring live Western Swing concerts, a large dance floor, pool tables, a full-service restaurant and bar.
Glenn passed away in 2021. His son and his partner now own it, and the daily operations are run by his best friend’s daughter, Kelli, and one of the first bartenders he ever hired, Amy. Kelli, Amy, and I got to sit and reminisce about what the place was like when it started, how it’s grown, and where it’s going.
They’ve seen it evolve over the years, adding the kitchen, expanding the dance floor, and even adding an RV park in the back. There’s no plans for further expansion now; they’ve already got their hands full. The concerts sell out, the RV parking fills up, and the restaurant churns out massive amounts of delicious food. When they’re not booking bands, they’re looking into other events they want to host - like a Working Women’s Wednesday Game Night, where the ladies can relax, enjoy a cocktail, play a game, and share some laughs. They fill what time is left with supporting their community; raising money for organizations like Meals on Wheels and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree, among others.
I haven’t been to one of the dances yet, so I can’t tell you what it’s like during a packed house, but I do know that there’s a lot of seating. The front of the building is dedicated to restaurant dining, and the back portion has the dancefloor, bars, stage, pool tables, and more tables for seated dining. This space is not like others. You can enjoy your meal and watch the show, dance and mill around like it’s a party; or you can be separated from the action. PS It’s a non-smoking venue for anyone concerned.
The drinks are awesome, whether you're looking for an ice-cold beer or a craft cocktail, you can get it here. I got to try a strawberry daiquiri, spicy mango margarita, lemon drop martini, chocolate martini, and a Mexican candy shot.
Everything is made in-house at the Western, from mashed potatoes to mac and cheese. So when they run out of something, they’re out. And you’d better arrive hungry, the portions are as big as the flavors are; you’re getting the bang for your buck, that you might feel is lacking at other steakhouses.
For a lighter choice, order the Western Grilled Chicken. It’s two perfectly seasoned and grilled chicken breasts, topped with fresh, grilled veggies with a sprinkle of Monterey Jack cheese melted on top, served with two sides. I got the house-made mac and cheese, because well, y’all know me. It was a bowl of pasta, swimming in a creamy, dreamy cheese sauce. Amy raved about the green beans, and I knew I had to try them. Fresh green beans are sauteed on the grill with bacon until crisp-tender, and they’re unbelievably good.
I love the fun and creative spin that The Western Steakhouse puts on their dishes and the Western Hamburger Steak was no exception. A half-pound hamburger steak, topped with grilled onions and serrano peppers, and American cheese. Then another half-pound hamburger steak was stacked on top, and then all of it was covered in a smokey, slightly spicy ranchero sauce. Served with two sides, and you are not leaving here hungry.
The Western Chicken Fried Steak is hand-battered when you order it and fried to crispy
perfection. Crunchy Texas toothpicks (fried jalapeno strips) are piled on top, and then house-made queso is poured over the whole thing. If there was a way to make me love chicken fried steak more, it would be to cover it in queso. Mine came with a fresh side salad and a helping of real mashed potatoes.
The Western Steakbites entree is a 16oz
Prime Ribeye cut into bite-sized chunks, seasoned flawlessly, and grilled to excellence. All of it was tender and juicy with perfect marbling. I would have a hard time choosing, but I think this won the title of my favorite dish of the night. Steak bites are often underwhelming, but this was a quality steak, and even though it was grilled in pieces instead of a whole steak, it was still medium-rare throughout.
Not to mention, it came with an order of hand-battered, gigantic onion rings; crispy and golden on the outside, with a tender sweet onion on the inside, and a big ass side of the crunchiest house-made potato chips, with a side of ranch for dipping. All of this combined meant this plate was a show-stopper.
Whether you’re looking for a great meal, refreshing drinks, or live entertainment, you’ll love The Western Steakhouse and Dancehall. So take the backroads over to Navasota, Texas, stop for some bluebonnet pictures on your way, and then tell the crew you saw them featured here.
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9524 HWY 6 LOOP SOUTH, NAVASOTA, TX 77868
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