Only a few patrons occupied Houlihan's restaurant Monday afternoon on its first day open to the public, but by evening the place hummed with activity.
Managers chose not to advertise the opening of the restaurant to allow employees to acclimate to the full 170-person capacity, general manager Shane Allen said.
The franchise, 1641 Anderson Ave., adjacent to the recently remodeled Holiday Inn, is part of a national chain with more than 80 restaurants across the nation, according to the Houlihan's Web site.
Customers feasted on such dishes as pot roast and best-seller stuffed chicken. Appetizers include tuna wontons and bruschetta with goat cheese and focaccia crisps.
Allen said the restaurant makes its food 90 percent from scratch and has a full prep kitchen.
Air Force ROTC instructor Nathan Kaiser and his wife, Lily, dined at the restaurant Monday night. He ordered the mustard-encrusted salmon and she had fish tacos. Both said their food was great.
"I've had fish tacos at The Cheesecake Factory before," Lily Kaiser said. "These were better."
They also said they enjoyed their $1.99 desserts, strawberry cheesecake and chocolate cappuccino cake.
"I was expecting the desserts to be $5 or $6," Nathan Kaiser said. "When I saw they were so inexpensive, I thought it was some kind of discount."
The couple said their food was delayed, but they expected it for the restaurant's first night.
"It's understandable," Nathan Kaiser said. "They were very nice about it, and the chef came out and apologized. I'm sure in a week or so they'll be going full-force."
Customers also commented favorably on the drink "flights," a choice of three small wines, martinis or margaritas so patrons can sample more than one drink.
"I think we have the best wine and liquor prices in town," Allen said.
As many as 170 employees have trained since Jan. 27, Allen said. He estimated 80 percent of them are K-State students.
Houlihan's replaced Gold Fork restaurant, and the building was completely renovated. Allen said they didn't want the new place to seem anything like Gold Fork.
"The only thing that stayed was the exterior walls and the bar," Allen said.

