A LongHorn Steakhouse kitchen in central Ohio recently paused service for a moment that rarely happens in casual dining: to celebrate a cook who has officially crossed the one-million mark.
According to 614Now, Roberto “Birdie” Hernandez, a longtime grill cook at LongHorn Steakhouse, was honored by the company after reaching the rare milestone of grilling more than 1 million steaks in his career. According to the restaurant chain, the achievement places Hernandez among a tiny group of employees nationwide.
Hernandez, who has spent roughly 20 years with LongHorn Steakhouse, was named a Grill Master Legend, a title reserved for chefs who have reached the million-steak benchmark. Only 35 employees across the United States currently hold the distinction.
In a statement, Longhorn Steakhouse praised Hernandez’s consistency and influence behind the scenes.
“Grill Master Legend Roberto Hernandez has served as an integral part of both the Pickerington and Columbus restaurant teams and is known for his uplifting attitude and sense of humor,” the release read. The company also credited him as “the backbone of the restaurant’s kitchen.”
To mark the occasion, the company surprised Hernandez with an in-restaurant celebration at a Columbus-area location. During the ceremony, he received a custom chef’s coat recognizing his Grill Master Legend status, a $5,000 cash award, and a $1,000 annual bonus, which he will continue to receive each year he remains with the company.
Hernandez now joins a growing but still highly selective list of Grill Master Legends nationwide. Another LongHorn Steakhouse employee earned the same recognition in 2022.
The recognition comes during a notable moment for the chain as a whole. Longhorn Steakhouse recently announced it will close all locations nationwide for 24 hours on Christmas Day. All restaurants will reopen on December 26.
Founded in 1981 with its first location on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, LongHorn Steakhouse has built its reputation around grilled steaks and classic steakhouse sides.