UPDATE: March 28, 2017 at 4:35 p.m.
If you thought you were alone in your over-the-top excitement for this mecca for ranch dressing, think again. Since Twisted Ranch — a restaurant devoted to the condiment — opened, it's been a hot spot, but "hot" took on a whole new meaning after a video about the eatery went viral. According to the restaurant's website, they've had to turn away customers due to ridiculously long wait times. The main page features an apology for the general chaos:
"Thank you so much for the overwhelming support as a result of the Buzzfeed video release early this week. We have had people from all over the world contact us and come through the restaurant these past few days, and we are truly humbled," the message reads. "We apologize for those that have not been able to get in yet due to long wait-times, but appreciate your patience as we work towards our expansion plans."
Despite being open for nearly two years, the popularity of this spot rages on. That could be, at least in part, due to a video of its most insane menu items which went viral on Facebook this week. But whatever the cause, all of this fanfare proves that you and everyone you know has to get their butts to St. Louis.
ORIGINAL STORY: June 24, 2015 at 3:43 p.m.
Ranch dressing fanatics, rejoice: A restaurant dedicated to ranch is opening in St. Louis. Slated to open this month, Twisted Ranch will serve appetizers, entrees, and even drinks that have been amped up with the flair that is ranch flavor. Owner Jim Hayden wanted the restaurant to put the "fast-growing condiment and best-selling salad dressing" and considering our first look at the menu, we'd say he's succeeded.
While we are confessed lovers of ranch as a condiment on many foods, the menu at Twisted Ranch might be taking things too far by putting the creamy stuff into unconventional dishes like brisket, tortillas and even cocktails. According to St. Louis Magazine, there's mushroom soup with ranch-basted crostini, guacamole folded with ranch, horseradish-ranch brisket, ranch-laced meatloaf, chicken lasagna slathered in Parmesan-ranch sauce, toasted ravioli stuffed with ranch-seasoned beef, ranch-ed up macaroni and cheese, and the list goes on. But we're the most skeptical about the crazy concoctions coming from the bar, including ranch-infused vodkas—presumably for ranch martinis and Bloody marys.
And as if that wasn't enough, there will be 18 different house-made iterations of the dressing on offer—including spicy mustard, durkee, and Thai varieties—for dipping, dunking, and slathering on any dish. So if you're a brand loyalist, you'll have to suck it up, which is probably a good thing since Wish Bone recently filled ranch bottles with blue cheese.
We wish we could say we're surprised by this one-off joint, however St. Louis is a city that's home to oddly specific restaurants revolving around dishes like grilled cheese and tomato soup, toast, and even Alaskan fare. Maybe this Missouri destination is trying to rival Austin, Texas by keeping things weird. Really weird.
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