The Cattleman’s Steakhouse At Indian Cliffs Ranch is a legend of Texas. It is a tourist destination located about 35 minutes from downtown El Paso off Interstate 10. I grew up in El Paso and have many fond memories of visiting Cattleman’s. My first memory is being served the biggest T-bone steak I’ve ever consumed, followed by horseback riding across the desert plateaus. Cattleman’s is definitely a kid-friendly establishment with its’ Children’s Zoo, Movie Sets, Snake Pit, Indian Maze, Children’s Playground, Lake Walk, Fort Apache, and more! Their large, covered, out door, ranch-style catering area was also host to my high school ten-year reunion – but that is another whole story in itself.
Cattleman’s was twice voted one of the top ten restaurants in Texas by Texas Highways magazine. Every year, El Paso Times readers vote Cattlemen’s “Best Steak in El Paso.” In 1983, Michael Stern from People magazine said Cattleman’s was the “Best Steak in the Country.” The cornerstone of the first building was laid in 1969, followed by construction of the restaurant in 1972. Cattleman’s opened in May of 1973. Its’ popularity, in the desert, out in the middle of nowhere, grew so fast, that in 1978, owners added the Garden Room and Greenhouse, that alone seats 180 guests. The owner’s promise to his patrons is: “Good Food! At a profit if we can, at a loss if we must. But always Good Food!” Thousands of visitors each year agree that Dieter Gerzymisch is keeping his promise.
The menu at Cattleman’s offers a branded selection of steaks like The Cowboy, The Cowgirl, and The Wagon Master. Ranging in price from $12.99 – $24.99, I will guarantee you, there is no better steak in the region. All the dinners are served with family-style servings of baked potato, ranch beans, coleslaw, bread, butter, and sour cream. You can also get rice or corn-on-the-cob in place of the potato. They have an appetizer selection, but why waste your stomach capacity? If you are not a steak fan, they also offer B-B-Que, Seafood, Chicken, and Pork entrees, ranging in price from $9.99 to $29.99. If you can tear your kids away from all the recreational areas, they can enjoy The Little Wrangler, The Lady’s Filet, or The Ranch Burger from The Small Appetite menu.
My favorite meal is The Wagon Master topped with green chili strips, accompanied by mushrooms steamed in wine sauce, and grilled onions on the side. The Wagon Master is a one and a quarter pound T-Bone club steak. They cut off the tail of fat and gristle before weighing the meat – so it is all meat! If you are really a savage meat-eater, you will want The Cowboy – a 2-pound T-bone steak, the restaurant’s most popular selection.
The service is excellent; the ambiance is true ranch style and everyone eating there makes you feel like they are guests in your own home. There is a congenial atmosphere created by the sheer awe one feels when dining in any of the restaurant’s intimate rooms. If you are in the area, wear your jeans, your boots, and bring the kids for a full day of fun in the southwest sun!
To visit Cattleman’s: take Interstate 10 east from El Paso; make a left turn at Fabens Exit 49; go 5 miles north into the desert. After that – you will not miss it – it’s the ONLY thing out there. (915) 544-3200
