Wade Anderson | Special to The Roanoke Times

T-BONE JACKS STEAK & SEAFOOD

• Where: 1650 Braeburn Drive, Salem
• Prices: Lunch: $7 to $14; Dinner: $8.50 to $26
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
• Soda products: Coca-Cola
• Alcohol? Full bar
• Plastic? MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diner’s Club
• Smoking? In the bar area
• Wireless Internet? No
• Handicapped accessibility: The Blue Ridge Independent Living Center has determined that this restaurant is accessible.
• Takeout? Yes
• Delivery? No
• Patio seating? No
• Reservations? No
• Live music? No
• Kid friendly? Yes, children’s menu and high-chairs available
• Call: (540) 387-9061
• Fax: (540) 387-9064

Correction: The phone number for T-Bone Jacks Steak and Seafood in Salem is 387-9061. The number was incorrect in a restaurant review in Thursday’s Inside Out.

A new steakhouse has opened in the former Western Sizzlin location on Electric Road in Salem, across from Lewis-Gale Medical Center. T-Bone Jacks Steak & Seafood offers a wide menu of steaks, ribs, seafood and pasta, along with an oyster bar and saloon.

T-Bone Jacks is owned by Line Management in Salem, the company that also operates Jersey Lily's Roadhouse Grill in Roanoke and another T-Bone Jacks location in Waynesboro.

THE VIBE

T-Bone Jacks' huge seating area features conservative grayish decor along with pictures of sports figures, the World Trade Center, the Sopranos, Charlie Chaplin and Dale Earnhardt. More interestingly, there is a large collection of caricatures by local artist Kyle Edgell. There are tables and large booths, the latter giving my party of four adults and one infant plenty of room to stretch out.

THE FOOD

We expected a significant wait since T-Bone Jacks had only been open for two weeks at the time of our visit, but we were pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately. We quickly discovered that the extensive menu offers much more than steaks and seafood, including salads, pasta, burgers and brick-oven pizzas.

Famished, we started with the spinach artichoke dip ($7) and mushrooms stuffed with prosciutto and crab meat ($8) slathered with a white cheddar bechamel sauce. Everyone raved about the mushrooms, which were succulent and plump with crab meat. The spinach dip was also tasty when scooped with the garlic flat bread.

For dinner I chose a combination that included a half-rack of baby back ribs and a 7-ounce New York strip ($21). All combos come with one standard side -- I chose creamed spinach, which was thick and delicious. The mouthwatering baby back ribs were delectable, among the best in town. I wish I had "doubled down" on the ribs because my strip steak was not very good; it was thin, excessively fatty and had been cooked far past the "medium" I requested.

My wife's steak, however, was an entirely different story. The 12-ounce marbled rib eye ($18) was so buttery-tasting and flavorful, it was as if it had been cooked with a stick of butter on top. The meat was perfectly cooked to medium (except for a small corner that was underdone), and it practically melted in my mouth. My wife commented that it was the best rib eye she had eaten in Roanoke, and I would have to agree.

My friends ordered the chicken Marsala ($14) and the crab cakes ($18) with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. The chicken dish was competently cooked, although the flavor was a bit sedate for my tastes. The pan-sauteed crab cakes contained very little breading and had a very appealing creamy, sweet taste. However, I found the garlic mashed potatoes lacking in garlic flavor.

THE SERVICE

During our meal we received capable service from a pleasant-mannered waitress. It was not until our appetizers came that we realized the hostess had forgotten to give us silverware -- a minor inconvenience that our server quickly remedied. Although the attentive service slacked off a bit once the entrees came, the service overall was quite good, particularly considering how busy the restaurant was. When we finished, the waitress did not ask whether we wanted to see a dessert menu and did not clear our plates until after bringing the bill. But these minor infractions can be overlooked since my glass never wanted for a refill of tea.

THE BOTTOM LINE

While the crowd and noise level wouldn't be ideal for a romantic dinner for two, T-Bone Jacks is a good option for families since the wide menu offers something for everyone. The prices were a bit higher than I expected (judging by the decor), but overall the food is enjoyable.