We spent Valentine’s Day visiting both Hooters in Lexington and Twin Peaks in Ohio, and let’s just say the results were not even close.
The Most Fun Valentine’s Day Plan Ever (Well, For Us)
Let me set the scene for you. It was Valentine’s Day, and my husband and I decided to spend it the way most couples do: going to not one, but two breastaurants in the same day.
Romantic? Maybe not in the traditional sense. But honestly? It turned into one of the most memorable days we’ve had in years, and a tale of two restaurants that couldn’t be more different.
A Little Background on Both Restaurants
First, a little history on both Twin Peaks and Hooters
Hooters was born on April Fools’ Day in 1983, in Clearwater, Florida, started by six businessmen who had zero restaurant experience between them. They were, by their own admission, just a bunch of guys who wanted a place to hang out. Well – one random Hooters press release I found cites October 4, 1983 as the opening day, but most sources say it started on April 1…
Somehow, that scrappy little idea turned into a cultural institution with locations across the globe. For a long time, it worked. The wings were iconic, the atmosphere was fun and a little kitschy, and it had this charm that made it feel like a place you could actually kick back and enjoy yourself.
Twin Peaks came along much later, founded in 2005 by Randy DeWitt and Scott Gordon in Lewisville, Texas. DeWitt had serious restaurant industry experience under his belt, and it shows.
He saw a thriving sports bar market and set out to build something with a mountain lodge feel and a focus on quality. Twin Peaks started franchising in 2007 and has been growing ever since, with a made-from-scratch kitchen and their signature 29-degree beer served in frosted mugs as key selling points.
Our Hooters Experience: Nostalgia with a Side of Disappointment
Now, back to our Valentine’s Day adventure.
We started the day at Hooters for lunch, and I genuinely wanted to love it. My husband and I used to go to Hooters when we were first dating, and it held a special place in our hearts. But after being away for a few years (I’d say at least four or five), walking back in felt a little like running into someone you used to know and realizing they’ve changed in ways you can’t quite explain.
Our waitress was decent enough, but the energy just wasn’t there. The wings were underwhelming. The sauces lacked the punch we remembered. And my husband’s beloved buffalo shrimp? Flat. Not terrible, just not what we expected from a place that built its whole reputation on that kind of food.
To be fair, Hooters has been going through some serious struggles lately, including sales that have dropped significantly over the past 15 years and a bankruptcy restructuring, with the original founding group now working to reclaim the brand and get it back to its roots. So maybe we caught them mid-identity-crisis. We genuinely hope they figure it out because there is nostalgia there, and nostalgia is a powerful thing.
Our Twin Peaks Experience: Everything Hooters Used to Be (and Then Some)
After a fun day at Jungle Jim’s International Market (because apparently we just go all out on Valentine’s Day), we headed to Twin Peaks in Ohio for dinner. And wow.
From the moment we walked in, the difference was noticeable. The restaurant was clean and well-kept. The mountain lodge atmosphere felt intentional and warm rather than like a theme someone gave up on halfway through.
Our server was genuinely attentive and friendly, not just going through the motions. The wings were better. The sauces were bolder and more flavorful. The cocktails tasted like someone actually cared about making them well.
Everything just felt elevated, like a place that has its standards set and actually holds to them.
The Verdict: Which One Is Worth Your Time?
So here is where we landed: we will happily drive an hour and a half to get to a Twin Peaks the next time we’re craving that whole experience. The food quality, the vibe, the service, the drinks… Twin Peaks delivered on every front where Hooters left us a little sad about the past.
Hooters invented the category. Twin Peaks perfected it. And on Valentine’s Day of all days, that felt like a verdict worth sharing.