A good steak dinner is one of life’s real pleasures, whether it is a birthday, an anniversary or simply a Friday night. But steakhouse chains vary a great deal, and no one wants to pay for a tough or overcooked cut. To help, we looked at Tasting Table, which ranked 13 chains using customer feedback, plus Eat This, Not That, which studied what diners said on Reddit, and customer satisfaction news from Restaurant Dive. Here are seven well known chains, listed from the top of the Tasting Table ranking to the bottom. Every opinion is attributed, and if a source did not recommend a particular cut, we do not invent one. Pull up a chair.
1. The Capital Grille
Tasting Table ranked The Capital Grille first among 13 steakhouse chains, citing nearly five star customer ratings and praise for both the food and the atmosphere. Complaints were isolated, covering service, a tough steak and spicy calamari. The recommended order is the bone in ribeye, which the article highly endorses, along with a porcini rubbed bone in ribeye. Eat This, Not That agrees on quality, putting it at the very top of its list of seven and calling it the best chain if price is no object. Price is the main drawback in that article, so this is a special occasion pick. If you are celebrating something and want a dependable, polished dinner, the sources say this is the one to book, and the bone in ribeye is the cut they point you toward.
2. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Fleming’s came in third in the Tasting Table ranking, which notes that it serves prime beef. Customer feedback was mixed, with some diners underwhelmed by the truffle fries and the hamburgers, so you may want to save those for another night. The recommended orders are the dry aged prime ribeye, the burrata, the Brussels sprouts with bacon and the Fleming’s potatoes. The article also mentions a weekly tomahawk special. Eat This, Not That also covered Fleming’s, praising high quality steaks and excellent service at a lower price than Ruth’s Chris, though still expensive. It also noted some diners think LongHorn and Texas Roadhouse offer more value. For a celebration dinner, the dry aged prime ribeye is the cut these sources steer you toward.
3. Morton’s The Steakhouse
Tasting Table placed Morton’s fourth. The chain uses only USDA Prime beef and has a dress code. A few customers reported overcooked or burnt steak, so it is worth asking for your steak cooked just how you like it and speaking up if it arrives wrong. That is one customer report and not a verdict on every location. The recommended items include the New York strip, the prime ribeye, the Cajun ribeye and the filet mignon, plus the onion bread, the chopped salad and the onion soup. If you enjoy a seafood starter, the seafood tower is also on the recommended list. With a reputation for fine dining, Morton’s looks like a good pick for a dressier evening out, with a little vigilance at the table.
4. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Ruth’s Chris landed sixth in the Tasting Table ranking. The article was positive overall, noting aged, butter finished beef and some USDA Prime cuts. Some locations, including Atlantic City, drew complaints, and the writer mentioned a business casual dress code and valet only parking at some sites. The recommended orders are the cowboy and tomahawk ribeyes and the stuffed chicken breast, a nice option if someone at your table does not want steak. Eat This, Not That also covered Ruth’s Chris, describing it as a consistently high quality, top tier steakhouse where the steaks are cooked in ovens heated to 1,200 degrees. Price is the main drawback in that article. If you are planning a splurge, the sources say the ribeyes are where to put your money.
5. Outback Steakhouse
Tasting Table ranked Outback ninth, saying the food and service are solid but inconsistent from one location to another. The recommended orders are the seared pepper ahi, the Aussie cheese fries and the Sydney shrooms, along with a steak. The writer says to skip the chili and the mac and cheese. Eat This, Not That had a more mixed view, listing Outback among the less favored chains in its customer ranking and noting that some diners say quality has declined, while others still enjoy the Bloomin’ Onion. Restaurant Dive reported that Outback’s ACSI satisfaction score was flat in the latest study. Overall, Outback looks like a comfortable, familiar choice, but the sources say to expect some ups and downs.
6. LongHorn Steakhouse
Tasting Table ranked LongHorn eleventh, noting that some locations drew complaints about cold, undercooked or overcooked food and poor service, while others received positive feedback. The article did not recommend a specific dish. Eat This, Not That saw it differently, ranking it near the top of its list and calling LongHorn the best balance of quality, consistency and price, though it noted some locations serve overcooked or bland steaks. One diner in that article cited a 20 ounce Outlaw ribeye with a baked potato and a Caesar salad for about 32 dollars. And Restaurant Dive reported that LongHorn tied for the top spot in the latest ACSI customer satisfaction results with a score of 82. When the sources disagree like this, it often comes down to your local restaurant, so ask friends in your area what they think.
7. Texas Roadhouse
Tasting Table ranked Texas Roadhouse twelfth of 13, saying customer feedback was split on cold food, smaller than advertised portions and service. The article did praise the hot rolls with cinnamon butter and noted that its steaks are USDA Choice, but it did not recommend a specific cut. Eat This, Not That was friendlier, placing it second from the top of its list and praising its value, large portions and fun atmosphere, though some diners found it too loud or chaotic. And Restaurant Dive reported that Texas Roadhouse tied for the top spot in the latest ACSI customer satisfaction results with a score of 82. So the chain earns high marks from the people who fill out satisfaction surveys, even though one food site ranked it low. If you like a lively room and a basket of warm rolls, it may still suit you well.
