Craving a perfectly seared steak but don’t want to waste your hard-earned cash?
National steakhouse chains offer wildly different experiences, from mouthwatering prime cuts to disappointing shoe leather. I’ve eaten my way through America’s most popular steakhouses to separate the sizzle from the fizzle.
Here’s my brutally honest guide to where you should book a table—and where you should run for the hills.
1. Worth Your Time: Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Butter-sizzling perfection hits your table with a warning: “Careful, the plate’s 500 degrees!” Ruth’s Chris doesn’t mess around.
Their USDA Prime beef arrives with a caramelized crust that’s borderline scandalous. The upscale atmosphere strikes that rare balance between fancy and comfortable.
2. Skip It: Outback Steakhouse
Bloomin’ Onions might be legendary, but Outback’s steaks tell a sadder tale. The Australian theme feels about as authentic as a kangaroo with a Brooklyn accent.
Expect overcooked meat swimming in salty seasoning that masks the beef’s natural flavor. Your wallet might thank you for the lower prices, but your taste buds will file a formal complaint.
3. Worth Your Time: Capital Grille
Dry-aged beef heaven! Capital Grille treats meat with religious reverence. Their 24-day aged porterhouse might make you tear up with joy.
The wine list deserves its own Instagram account, with over 350 selections perfectly paired with your protein. Dark wood paneling and attentive service create that “special occasion” vibe.
4. Skip It: Ponderosa Steakhouse
Nothing says “lowered expectations” quite like Ponderosa’s buffet-and-steak combo. The meat arrives looking defeated, as if it’s already apologizing for what you’re about to experience.
The unlimited buffet tempts with quantity over quality—a dangerous proposition.
5. Worth Your Time: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
Fleming’s nails the trifecta: exceptional meat, impressive wine selection, and atmosphere that makes you want to linger. Their bone-in ribeye arrives with a perfect char that should be in a museum.
The sides aren’t afterthoughts—their chipotle mac and cheese deserves its own fan club. Bonus points for bartenders who know their craft cocktails.
6. Skip It: Sizzler
Nostalgia is Sizzler’s strongest selling point. Unfortunately, memories of grandpa taking you here in 1992 don’t improve today’s meat quality.
The signature “sizzle” often means overcooked steaks with suspiciously uniform grill marks. Their endless salad bar might be the wiser choice—a statement no one should ever make at a steakhouse.
7. Worth Your Time: Morton’s The Steakhouse
Morton’s theatrical table-side meat cart presentation never gets old. Servers proudly display raw cuts like precious jewels before they’re transformed into carnivore nirvana.
Their Chicago-style bone-in ribeye achieves that mythical balance of charred exterior and buttery-tender interior. Waiters here know their business and make every visit memorable.
8. Skip It: Logan’s Roadhouse
Free peanuts can’t compensate for Logan’s middling meat quality. Their “fall-off-the-bone ribs” somehow manage to be both tough and mushy simultaneously—a culinary paradox.
The aggressively casual atmosphere—complete with peanut shells crunching underfoot—might charm some. You deserve better than roadhouse mediocrity.
9. Worth Your Time: Smith & Wollensky
Dry-aging is an art form at Smith & Wollensky. Their 28-day aged USDA Prime cuts develop flavor complexities that’ll make you question every other steak you’ve eaten.
The signature green-and-white building houses butchers who break down whole sides of beef daily. This old-school commitment to craft translates to steaks with unmatched depth and character.
10. Skip It: Western Sizzlin
Western Sizzlin exists in that strange twilight zone between fast food and actual restaurant. Their “Gold Card” special sounds impressive until your steak arrives looking suspiciously uniform.
Budget-friendly? Yes. Memorable for the right reasons? Not exactly.
11. Worth Your Time: The Palm
Celebrity caricatures line The Palm’s walls, but the real stars are the massive steaks. Their 36-ounce N.Y. Strip for two arrives with glorious simplicity.
Family-owned since 1926, The Palm’s Italian-American heritage shines through in their legendary lobster and outstanding sides. Celebrities choose The Palm for good reason.
12. Skip It: Golden Corral
Golden Corral’s “Endless Sirloin” sounds like a carnivore’s dream until reality hits. These thin, gray slabs barely qualify as steak—more like beef-adjacent protein discs.
The all-you-can-eat format encourages quantity over quality. When a steakhouse’s chocolate fountain gets more praise than their actual steaks, something’s seriously wrong.
13. Worth Your Time: Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
Del Frisco’s 32-ounce “Double Eagle” bone-in ribeye is the Rolls Royce of steakhouse indulgence. The impressive wine cellar—often visible through glass walls—houses over 1,200 labels.
Their lump crab cake contains virtually no filler—just sweet, jumbo lump meat. The sleek, modern setting creates dramatic dining.
14. Skip It: Texas Roadhouse
Line dancing servers and free peanuts create undeniable energy at Texas Roadhouse. Unfortunately, their steaks rarely match the enthusiasm.
Pre-cut and mechanically tenderized beef loses character in the process. Their famous cinnamon butter rolls might be the highlight—which tells you everything about their steak quality.
15. Worth Your Time: Mastro’s Steakhouse
Mastro’s combines steakhouse tradition with modern luxury. Their bone marrow butter-topped filets arrive on 400-degree plates with a sizzle you can hear across the room.
The warm butter cake dessert justifies saving stomach space. Live piano music and sophisticated cocktails create a scene that’s both see-and-be-seen.
16. Skip It: LongHorn Steakhouse
LongHorn’s “Flo’s Filet” sounds promising until it arrives looking suspiciously uniform. Their aggressive seasoning blend often masks middling beef quality.
The Western-themed decor feels like a movie set designed by someone who’s never actually been west of New Jersey. Not terrible, but when better options exist at similar price points, why settle?
17. Worth Your Time: Peter Luger Steakhouse
A 100+ year Brooklyn institution serves steak so good it doesn’t need fancy presentation. Their porterhouse arrives pre-sliced on a tilted plate, allowing the meat to bathe in its own juices.
Cash-only policy and gruff waiters add to the authentic experience. The bacon appetizer might change your life.
18. Skip It: Bonanza Steakhouse
A time capsule from 1982—and not in a charming way. Their steaks often have that distinctive freezer-to-grill taste.
The all-you-can-eat food bar features items that should never share space with steakhouse cuisine. When your meal’s highlight is unlimited soft-serve ice cream, you’re at the wrong steakhouse.