Business has been booming at North Suffolk’s newest steakhouse all week.

Ever since Mayor Linda Johnson and other Suffolk City Council members cut the ribbon at the Texas Roadhouse Monday, business has been “incredible,” said Ben Mayo, the restaurant’s managing partner.

Located at 6139 College Drive, the 7,193-square-foot restaurant is the latest business to open in the new Hampton Roads Crossing development.

“On opening day (Monday), we served 967 customers,” Mayo said. “We’re still working out a few kinks from training 160 employees in one week. But we are happy to be in this community and glad that folks seem excited to have us here.”

In the week leading up the grand opening, restaurant staff practiced cooking meals from the menu. The food was later donated to the Suffolk Department of Fire and Rescue, Mayo said.

Then, last Friday and Saturday, the eatery’s staff put its skills to work for Friends and Family Night, when free meals were served to more than 880 people with personal invitations. All proceeds from alcohol sales and tips from the evenings are being donated to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.

Thanks to the generosity of donors last weekend, Texas Roadhouse will be sending $6,869.24 to CHKD, Mayo said.

The highlights of Texas Roadhouse’s menu are hand-cut steaks, homemade side dishes and fresh yeast rolls. The restaurant also carries seafood, pork chops, ribs, burgers and salads.

Suffolk’s Texas Roadhouse, like most locations, has free tableside barrels of peanuts for snacking, Mayo said. Diners are welcome to toss their peanut shells on the floor.

Although Texas Roadhouse technically doesn’t take reservations, it does encourage parties to call ahead, get on a waiting list and get an anticipated seating time, Mayo said. That allows people the convenience of waiting at home rather than waiting at a restaurant with a pager.

Mayo and his staff welcome the opportunity to serve the Suffolk community.

“Texas Roadhouse offers a great meal, a family atmosphere and lots of jobs to the residents of Suffolk,” Johnson said.

Hours of operation are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.