We had lunch today at the Outback in Waco. It was vary expensive and very disappointing. Won’t go there again. Which ones, or one, do you guys like? I know you’d rather cook it yourself, but that isn’t what I need.

Texas Roadhouse or Salt grass for me

Usually Saltgrass a couple times a year. Was thinking about revisiting our local Outback.

Longhorn

Ruth Chris or Bob's.

Capital Grille seems to be the most consistent around the country.

Texas roadhouse has a decent salad.

Salt Grass for their prime rib special….

Otherwise we try to avoid chains of any kind

Longhorn & Texas Roadhouse are the only ones close by. Of the Outback's I've visited, they are very inconsistent between them, some decent, some below par.

The Outback in Waco has always been good, till today. Waitress took our order, and later came back with my salad. Well, the wife ordered a salad, but didn’t get it, but there wasn’t anyone in the area to ask, so I went and stood by the door to the kitchen. A bit later our waitress came out and was surprised to see me. I asked where the wife’s salad was, and she looked as if I was speaking Greek. I repeated the question firmly, which I think shocked her tender sensibilities. Later, the salad showed up and the food was delivered. The wife had ordered Chicken on the Barbie, and it looked awful. A big plate with a small chunk of chicken sitting in the middle, with dab of BBQ sauce sitting next to it. And nothing else. Sad looking. I gave her some of my food. A bit later our waitress showed up and I asked for the ticket and gave her my card. Off she went, came back with the ticket, and asked if I was paying cash or card. I said I’d pay with the card, if I had it, but you have it. She did a pat down of her upper body and found the card.

Just was not the pleasant dining experience I had expected. And, a glass of tea was $4. I think the wife’s hockey puck chunk of chicken was around $12.

That’s why I asked where you guys like to eat. There’s a Saltgrass and a Longhorn Steakhouse as options. And some non-chain places like Heitmiller’s and George’s, which are pretty good.

George's, every time, for the win.

'Sounds like drugs were flowing freely through that place.

Medium priced….I’m going to Sweetie Pies (a chain of 2, but…) Hoffbrau was my favorite.

Upper end…Capital Grille or Trulucks.

Depends , any given weekend - Texas Roadhouse or Saltgrass . Anniversary , Three Forks, Ruth’s Chris , Capital Grille

I was in Waco, with somewhat limited options. In Houston there are scads of good steakhouses to choose from. I ate at all of them, on expense account. It was great.

I think the Waco Saltgrass is next up…

Saltgrass ribeye is a joke. Get a sirloin and range rattlers. To be fair, I don't go out for steak. No one is better than mine. I go out for things I cant/won't make at home.

Waco is 40 miles from us. We go there for whatever we need that can’t be had around here, and we time it to have lunch. Kind of a treat for making the drive. We rotate among the various restaurants, and I usually let the wife pick where to eat. She picked wrong today.

She can cook an outstanding steak here at the house, so it’s rare to get a store bought steak better than hers.

George’s is sounding good, cause I can get fried jalapeño slices there. I need that.

Saltgrass for a chain but honestly you can go to Del Frisco’s or Trulucks for just a little more money. If I’m driving anywhere I’m going to one of these two places,

Easily.

Does La Hacienda count as a chain? 2 locations, not close to Waco. I'm sure that's not help to you, but, if you find yourself up this way, I suggest the ribeye mexican style. One of the few places I'll order a steak outside of my own.

Eddie V's seafood has excellent steak too if you want to drop some coin....again...probably not in Waco.

Believe it or not. Carrabbas has a good streak.

I don't usually eat steak in restaurants preferring to make it cheaper (and usually pretty tasty) at home. Texas Roadhouse is consistently good in my experience. My wife likes Longhorn -but we've only eaten there a couple times.

I miss Texas Land & Cattle's sourdough bread.

Sweetie Pies is owned by the same guy as Bubbas near SMU and the Babes Chicken restaurants. So, we'll call it a chain.

I rarely eat steak out, so I can't say.

Got a $100 gift card to Perry's I'll use for my birthday dinner. But, I always get the pork chop

Their smoked sirloin was tolerable.

Is The Keg still around? It was pretty good.

135 Prime in Waco (actually in Hewitt) is probably the best steaks, but I don't think they're open for lunch. And get ready to pay for it. Two people you'll be lucky to get out under $150. My favorite there is the Steak Gorgonzola. The GF likes the New Zealand Lamb or the Medallions. They also have a huge wine selection if you're into that.

Texas Roadhouse has always been a good experience. I’ve never been to a top tier steakhouse but my daughter got us a gift card at Christmas for The Ranch in Las Colinas.

I miss Bonanza and Ponderosa……think they are still around someplace, but not here. We went a lot in the 60’s and 70’s.

Lets not forget Sizzler

There were Nighthawk Steak Houses down here and in Austin. At least one had a cool neon sign where the hawk's wings moved. I smarted off to my grandfather in the one on San Pedro and got my butt whipped by my dad in the parking lot.

High end chain for special occasions, give me Perry's or Del Frisco's.

For a more affordable chain, give me Saltgrass.

I’d go to Perry’s or Del Frisco’s for sure, if Waco had one. And a good seafood place would be great. The good stuff isn’t in Waco. The 135 Steakhose was pretty good, but after eating in all those top drawer places in Houston, by comparison, the 135 was expensive but not impressive.

If Waco just had a Trulucks and a Pappadeaux, I’d be happy. But, Waco is growing fast, if traffic is an indication, so maybe the next level of civilization will show up.

Have you tried Opal’s Oysters? Supposed to be really good……connected to the Black family.

We hit Longhorn at least once a month. My wife and I like the Flo's filet. Consistently very good. Tasty sides. Love their bread as well. Shiner Bock on draft. What's not to like?

We have these in Midland:
Outback-awful, everything and anything is bad from here. You have to not like food to eat at this place and pay money for it.

Texas Roadhouse- steaks are like shoe leather every time. I ask for medium rare at all steak houses. I always get a medium well to well done from this place. They can never get a steak right. The other food items are ok. Part of TR problem is the steaks are so thin imo. I have made them aware of this and was advised to let them know when I come in and the manager will cook the steak to my liking. Pass. If you have to know I'm coming in to get my steak right that one time means little to me as getting it right all the time.

Saltgrass-been through several management teams in the last few yrs. They were awful for a while. We had them within the last yr and they were OK. Not enough to wooo me in needing to go back soon.

Longhorn-consistent, good service, good drinks, steaks seasoned and COOKED TO ORDER. If we are going out to chain steak house this is it for us in Midland. The rest of the menu is pretty good as well.

The most watered-down drinks I have ever had, on more than one occasion, were at Saltgrass.

The best steak in Midland is the one you buy at HEB or Midland Meat Company and cook yourself 😬. A distant 2nd would be one from Opals Table, Cowboy Prime or Wall Street …… though non are chains. Cork and Pig is the only chain restaurant I would order a steak at in Midland.

Trulucks is really good. I like the steaks I’ve ate at Texas Roadhouse. Bought a new pickup two weekends ago and they gave us $100 gift card for Texas Roadhouse. Medium rare prime rib was on point!

Capital Grill and Del Frisco's have been mentioned. They are solid. I'll add Joe's Seafood and Steak. Unfortunately there are only a few around the country and there is not one in Texas.

Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn, Outback, Saltgrass, etc - those are simply a Chili's or Friday's type place that has a steak option beyond the standard sirloin or even a ribeye.

I generally don't go to chains.