Lone Star Texas Grill

What Lone Star Texas Grill does

Lone Star Texas Grill is a privately held Canadian restaurant chain founded in 1986 in Ottawa by two Texas football players seeking to bring authentic Tex-Mex cuisine to Canada. Operating under the legal entity Lone Star Group of Companies Limited with headquarters in Oakville, Ontario, the company runs 22 locations across Ontario spanning Ottawa, Southern Ontario, the Greater Toronto Area, and Eastern Ontario. The chain serves Texas-inspired cuisine including wood-fire grilled fajitas, steaks, ribs, burgers, Tex-Mex dishes, and an extensive margarita program (notably 22 varieties during the annual Margapalooza promotion), positioning itself as Ontario's original Texas-inspired restaurant with over 35 years of operating history. A specialty sub-brand, Lone Star Cantina, operates in Whitby with an expanded tequila selection and applewood-smoked meats.

The company's product offering is anchored by distinctive preparation methods: mesquite wood imported from the Southern US for grilling, custom San Antonio, TX-crafted ovens used to bake tortillas fresh to order, and over 25 house-made signature sauces and spices prepared daily. Supporting programs include The Sizzle loyalty program (Paytronix-powered, accessible via iOS and Android apps), the Lil Sizzlers kids' club for family engagement, halal certification (valid through October 2026), and The Loft entertainment venue above the St. Laurent Ottawa location. The digital ecosystem integrates SevenRooms for reservations, fajitastogo.com for online ordering, Givex for gift cards, and Google Analytics for web engagement.

Lone Star's business model is direct-to-consumer across multiple channels: dine-in restaurant service (primary), online takeout ordering, third-party delivery through Skip the Dishes and Uber Eats, Ottawa-area catering for events of 40 or more, gift card sales, and at-home meal and beverage kits (Fiesta Pack, Mar-Go-Rita Kits launched 2024). Pricing follows a unit-based, pay-as-you-go model with menu items ranging from approximately $9.99 (kids' quesadilla) to $79.99 (family Sunday bundles) and steak entrees up to $54.99. The Sizzle loyalty program operates on a freemium model (1 point per dine-in dollar, 300 points for a free appetizer). The company is described as "Proudly Canadian Owned and Operated" with no disclosed external investors, franchise operations, or public listing.

Name

Lone Star Texas Grill

Legal name

Lone Star Group of Companies Limited

Website

https://lonestartexasgrill.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Lone Star Texas Grill is a privately held Canadian restaurant chain operating 22 locations across Ontario, serving Texas-inspired Tex-Mex cuisine including wood-fire grilled fajitas, steaks, and margaritas to families and individual diners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Mexican & Tex-Mex Fast Casual (THAFABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family-Style Restaurants (THAFACAC)

Keywords

• Tex-Mex cuisine
• Casual dining
• Full-service restaurant
• Wood-fire grilling
• Family restaurant chain

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Restaurant Service: Full-service dine-in restaurant with table service across 22 Ontario locations. Revenue generated from food and beverage sales including fajitas, steaks, ribs, burgers, Tex-Mex dishes, and margaritas.
2. Takeout and Online Ordering: Online ordering through fajitastogo.com for takeout pickup. Customers can order ahead and pick up at their nearest location.
3. Third-party Delivery: Delivery services through Skip the Dishes and Uber Eats at select locations.
4. Catering Services: Catering for events with minimum 40 people, featuring fajita packages. Available in Ottawa area.
5. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold at restaurant locations and online through Givex platform

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lone Star Texas Grill operates a chain of 22 full-service casual dining restaurants across Ontario, Canada, serving Texas-inspired Tex-Mex cuisine such as wood-fire grilled fajitas, steaks, ribs, burgers, and Tex-Mex dishes with house-made sauces and fresh-baked tortillas. Revenue is generated primarily through dine-in service, supplemented by online takeout ordering, third-party delivery, catering (minimum 40 people), gift cards, and a free loyalty program (The Sizzle).

Product overview

Lone Star Texas Grill operates as Ontario's original Texas-inspired restaurant chain with 22 locations across the province. The company offers a unified dining experience centered on wood-fire grilled fajitas, with complementary menu categories including Tex-Mex dishes, steaks, ribs, burgers, and margaritas. Supporting the core restaurant product, Lone Star maintains The Sizzle loyalty program (powered by Paytronix) accessible via mobile apps, the Lil Sizzlers kids' club for family dining, and The Loft nightclub venue in Ottawa for evening entertainment. Digital services include online ordering through Fajitas To Go, third-party delivery integrations (Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats), reservation management via SevenRooms, and gift card functionality through Givex. The Whitby Cantina operates as a specialty sub-brand with an expanded tequila selection. Catering services support off-site events with minimum 40-person requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Loft: Entertainment venue and event space located above the Lone Star St. Laurent location in Ottawa. Features live DJ, drinks specials ($5 Coronas, Tequila Sodas, Casamigos Shots), and operates Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm till late. Offers private event bookings for groups.

Products and services

• Lone Star Texas Grill Restaurant Dining Full-service dine-in Tex-Mex restaurant experience across 22 Ontario locations, featuring wood-fire grilled fajitas, steaks, ribs, burgers, Tex-Mex dishes, and margaritas with table service, patio seating, and reservations via SevenRooms. Targeted at families, couples, and groups in Ontario.
• Lil Sizzlers Kids' Club Free children's loyalty club for kids ages 12 and under offering free birthday meals (up to $9.99 value, including drink and dessert) and club communications. Parents can sign up children online with parental consent.
• The Loft Entertainment Venue Second-floor nightclub venue above the St. Laurent Ottawa restaurant featuring live DJ entertainment, bottle service, drink specials ($5 Corona, tequila shots), and private event bookings, open Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm till late.
• Lone Star Cantina (Whitby Sub-brand) Specialty tequila-focused restaurant sub-brand operating in Whitby under separate branding at lonestarcantina.ca, offering 50+ 100% Blue Agave tequilas, fresh-pressed lime juice, local and Mexican lagers, applewood smoked meats, house-made salsas, and fresh-baked tortillas.
• Catering Services Off-site catering for events, corporate functions, parties, and office lunches in the Ottawa area. Minimum 40 people, featuring fajita packages with delivery, setup, customizable menu options, alcohol service, and dietary accommodations.
• Fiesta Pack (At-Home Meal Kit) At-home meal kit containing ingredients for recreating Lone Star fajitas at home, available for order through the Fajitas To Go online platform as part of the Texas Tastes: At Home initiative.
• Mar-Go-Rita Kits Ready-to-make margarita kit for at-home preparation, available for order through the Fajitas To Go online ordering platform.
• The Sizzle Loyalty Program Free-to-join loyalty program offering points for dine-in purchases (1 point per dollar), free appetizer rewards at 300 points, free tableside guacamole on signup, bottomless chips and salsa, anniversary appetizer, birthday dessert, and member-only promotions. Accessible via iOS/Android mobile app powered by Paytronix.
• Lone Star Gift Cards Physical and digital gift cards sold at all restaurant locations and online through the Givex platform; usable as a payment method for online takeout orders.
• Fajitas To Go Online Ordering Online ordering platform at fajitastogo.com enabling customers to place takeout pickup orders across all Lone Star locations, with support for scheduling orders for future dates and times.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22 restaurant locations across Ontario
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Starlight Children's FoundationminorOthersCharitable partnership dedicated to bringing joy to children facing serious illnesses. Lone Star supports the foundation through fundraising initiatives and community events.
• Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) FoundationminorOthersCharitable partnership with CHEO Foundation to reduce the impact of childhood illnesses and help bring joy to children and families. Every initiative and dollar raised goes toward making life brighter for children.
• Paytronix (Loyalty Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe Sizzle loyalty program is powered by Paytronix technology, enabling digital rewards cards, points tracking, mobile app integration for iOS and Android, and customer engagement features.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chili's Grill & Bar: US-based international casual dining chain with Canadian locations, offering Tex-Mex-inspired menu (fajitas as signature item). Larger brand competing in the same cuisine niche but not specialized in Tex-Mex authenticity.
• Recipe Unlimited (Cara Operations): Parent of multiple Canadian casual dining brands including Harvey's, Swiss Chalet, and Montana's. Industry incumbent and operating-model comparable for portfolio strategy in Canadian casual dining.
• Taco Bell Canada: QSR Tex-Mex chain with significant Canadian presence. Competes for Tex-Mex occasions at a lower price point and faster service model; broad incumbent in the same cuisine category.
• MTY Food Group: Canadian restaurant operator/franchisor with a portfolio of 90+ brands spanning casual dining, QSR, and specialty. Industry peer and potential acquirer/strategic comparable for casual dining chains in Canada.

Direct peers

• Moxie's Grill & Bar: Canadian casual dining and bar chain with full-service table dining, broad menu including steaks and Tex-Mex-inspired items, and multi-province Canadian footprint. Comparable in full-service casual dining occasion.
• Montana's BBQ & Bar: Canadian full-service casual dining chain offering BBQ, ribs, burgers, and Tex-Mex-inspired items. Most direct comparable in terms of menu overlap, family-friendly casual dining positioning, and Ontario-focused footprint.
• East Side Mario's: Canadian casual dining chain serving Italian-American comfort food with family-friendly positioning, kids' menu, and broad lunch/dinner value offerings. Closely comparable in occasion, price point, and family diner segment.
• Kelsey's Original Roadhouse: Canadian casual dining chain with menu focused on steaks, ribs, burgers, and Tex-Mex-inspired items. Direct comparable in cuisine overlap, full-service model, and Ontario footprint.
• Boston Pizza: Canada's largest casual dining chain with hundreds of locations across multiple provinces. Highly comparable full-service casual dining model with sports bar/family positioning, broad menu, and loyalty program.

Regional players

• The Burger's Priest: Canadian specialty burger chain primarily in Ontario and select other provinces. Comparable in Ontario-focused footprint, casual dining positioning, and brand-led authenticity story, though focused on burgers rather than Tex-Mex.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lonestartxgrill
• Facebookfacebook.com/LoneStarTexasGrill
• Instagraminstagram.com/lonestartexasgrill

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lone Star Texas Grill