I’m sorry, Outback is no longer America’s best value steakhouse.
That’s not to say it isn’t great. It is.
It’s where I learned to love coconut shrimp. And also fried onions.
And it’s a place of many beautiful memories, for sure.
But it’s just no longer the best – and here’s why:
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It comes down to a combination of price, quality, and vibe. You want a good vibe – not too stuffy, not so casual that nobody seems to care. And you want the best quality for the lowest price.
Right?
Well, after dining at eight separate steakhouses over the last couple of months…I’ve realized that Outback just isn’t at the top anymore.
So here follows my definitive ranking of America’s popular steakhouses. And at the bottom is a perennial source of frustration…
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Food quality: Excellent
Cost: $$$$$
Vibe: Fancy
Value for the money: Not great. Ruth’s Chris is extremely expensive, and while the quality is excellent, you’re not really getting anything all that imaginative
Other notes: Ruth’s Chris is synonymous with “expensive steakhouse that’s good but not quite worth how much you have to pay to go.”
Put differently – it’s a great place to go! If someone else is paying.
The steaks are great, the desserts are excellent (get the creme brulee), everything is very good…it’s just that, for what you’re paying, it’s not all that amazing.
At least, that was my experience dining there!
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Food quality: Just ok
Cost: $$
Vibe: Casual
Value for the money: Not great. Logan’s is a lot cheaper than Ruth’s Chris, but that’s for a reason…
Other notes: The food is fine, the price points are good, but in general I’d just never choose to go to Logan’s unless I absolutely had to.
The steaks are pretty typical and a little over-salted in my experience…the sides aren’t really imaginative…there’s really no “wow” factor if that makes sense.
My two cents, for what it’s worth.
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Food quality: Pretty good
Cost: $$$$
Vibe: Fancy
Value for the money: Pretty good! Hard to beat “all you can eat.”
Other notes: Texas de Brazil is a Brazilian steakhouse, where staff carry around hunks of meat on skewers and slice them off tableside at your request.
I’d argue that the meat quality is just “pretty good” – definitely not on the same level as some of your really nice steakhouses – but the salad bar is excellent, and obviously unlimited is a good amount of food.
Your meal will cost a bunch (mine was about $70 including drink, tax, and tip), but it’s a lot of food!
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Food quality: Solid
Cost: $$$
Vibe: Fun and laid-back
Value for the money: Pretty good!
Other notes: Whenever I go to Outback I order pretty much the same thing:
For an appetizer, either the Bloomin’ Onion (if I’m extra hungry) or the Gold Coast shrimp…just both such iconic flavors.
For the main meal, either grilled chicken on the barbie (if I’m feeling like eating healthy – the bbq sauce is awesome) or the 13 oz ribeye, asparagus and baked potato on the side.
(And I usually skip dessert because I can get better stuff elsewhere for less money.)
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Food quality: Quite good
Cost: $$$$
Vibe: Fancy
Value for the money: Just a hair better than Texas de Brazil, which is its closest competitor.
Other notes: Fogo de Chao is, I think, pretty widely viewed as the “better” Brazilian steakhouse, and you can see why.
The meat selection is just that little bit better. Things taste just a little bit better. I found the service when I went this time just that little bit more attentive. But otherwise, it’s very similar to Texas de Brazil – tableside skewers and all.
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Food quality: Best of the best
Cost: $$$$$
Vibe: Fancy
Value for the money: Good, but expensive.
Other notes: Morton’s is, in my view, what Ruth’s Chris is trying to be – a fancy steakhouse that’s unquestionably worth every penny you spend.
A special occasion kind of place where you feel like a million bucks.
I enjoyed Nueske’s bacon steak as an appetizer, then tried to be good with an 8 oz filet mignon (which I ended up boxing up because I was so filled up from the appetizer, then enjoyed later), plus some onion rings (which were excellent).
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Food quality: Excellent
Cost: $$$
Vibe: Serious but not fancy, if that makes sense.
Value for the money: Great.
Other notes: LongHorn is funny because it’s kind of the goldilocks of all the steakhouse chains.
It’s not super expensive like a Morton’s…there’s lots of good food, but it’s not all-you-can-eat like a Fogo or Texas de Brazil…and it takes itself seriously but not, like Ruth’s Chris level or anything like that.
I got the Texas Tonion and the Outlaw ribeye with fries for a sort of Outback-like experience. Everything (aside from the fries) exceeded by expectations.
(That’s not a knock on the fries – fries are fries, you know?)
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Food quality: Quite good
Cost: $$
Vibe: Loud and fun
Value for the money: Great.
Other notes: I almost waited tables at a Texas Roadhouse years ago (I ended up at Chili’s instead), and I occasionally wonder “what if.”
Especially because, every time I go, everyone just seems to be having a lot of fun. And the food is good too!
I got the cheese fries – which were excellent – and almost got the Cactus Blossom too (which is their Bloomin’ Onion knockoff).
For the steak, hard to go wrong with an 8 oz New York strip and Texas red chili (which has no beans – so, steak with a side of meat).
It was one of the best dining experiences I had of the bunch, and certainly the best value for the money.
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So there you have it – Texas Roadhouse is officially the best steakhouse for the money in America, according to my admittedly-not-that-scientific review.
Outback is officially dethroned. It just felt a little tired compared to some newer entrants, you know?
Fact of the matter is, we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to great steakhouses in America.
Which is something we can and should all feel grateful for!
But really, I’m curious…
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What do YOU think?
Have I been fair in covering these steakhouses?
Are there others I should try and add to the list?
Let me know in the comments!
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