Rollo T
01-31-2005, 09:13 PM
Wow....I was a little surprised to see all the extreme positive feedback on RC from grilling afficionados.......
Now, I will not go as far as to say RC does not have its good points, but I personally believe RC is highly overrated. The main reason is because of the amount of butter they use when cooking their meats. Some like this, I do not personally subscribe to it however. The chains, in general, have disappointed me overall. Here is my ratings of the chains I have personally visited (5 stars being best):
- Outback - Very good for price paid. Consistent from restaurant to restaurant. Portions adequate. Beer is always cold and side dishes are decent to very good.- Overall rating: 3.5 stars.
- Lone Star - Inconsistent and priced similar to Outback. Not only inconsistent from restaurant to restaurant, but between cuts of meat and portion size as well. Side dishes are decent (cinnamon butter sweet potato very good). Do like the peanuts at the bar and throwing shells on floor.
Overall rating: 3.0 stars.
- Sullivan's (Charlotte, NC) - Highly anticipated, slightly disappointed. From their ads in Cigar Afficionado and feedback I had gotten from others, I was expecting a World-Beater steak. It was definitely good, but not seasoned real well and the atmosphere was more of a cafeteria than a high-end restaurant. Sides were "o.k."....nothing special. Personal expectations may have been too high. Steak was cooked perfect and portions were adequate, but taste did not "knock me off my feet" for amount spent. The one savior in this restaurant was the bar area where we were able to enjoy cigars, nice atmosphere and good drinks. Probably raised the overall rating by .5 stars.
Overall rating: 3.5 stars.
- Texas Roadhouse - not particularly pleasing. Chili is the bomb!!!! Steaks (and I have had a couple), are average at best and not all that thick as served. Prices are good and people are nice. Beer is cold and again, you can throw peanut shells in the floor. Side dishes are nothing to write home about and the restaurant is probably about what I expected walking in the door.
Overall rating - 2.5 stars
- Smith and Wollensky's (sp?) - I was lucky enough to eat at the one in Miami. We walked in and they gave us a table on the water. The hostess bought us a drink as we sat down and we got one of our sides complimentary. I will admit the atmosphere will raise my rating (it is subjective anyway) at the end. The sides, appetizers and steaks were all very good. The steaks were well-portioned and cooked to order. They could have used a bit more seasoning. I had a Cowboy Steak (Bone-In Rib). The bar area was a little crowded, but the atmosphere was incredible. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and would go back. Very pricey and probably worth it.
Overall rating 4.5 stars
- Morton's Steakhouse - Probably the best steak consistently I have had in a dining out experience at the "chain" restaurants. Perfectly seasoned and portions are huge. Side dishes (and desserts) are fantastic as are the salads. Atmosphere is fantastic (if you can get a booth) and I have never had a bad meal here. I go to the one in Pittsburgh and it is priced comparable to Ruth's Chris but price is ALL that is comparable. RC is not even in the same ballpark, at least in my town, with Morton's. Very pricey but absolutely worth it. My favorite chain. I would give it 6 stars if it was at the beach.
Overall rating - 5 stars.
- Longhorn Steakhouse - Had lunch here a few weeks ago and was greatly surprised. The steak was wonderful. I believe I had a lunch NY Strip and it was fantastic. Since it was a lunch, I did not have dinner portion side dishes but the mushrooms they served were wonderful. Potatoes were decent as well. Very impressed for not having expectations.
Overall rating - 3.75 stars.
Other fantastic steak restaurants (non-chains):
- Alley's Grill - Detroit Greektown Casino (Get the Kobe Beef)
- Brighton Steakhouse - Atlantic City
- Angelo's Italian Restaurant - Myrtle Beach, SC
- El Gaucho Steakhouse - Aruba
Now, I will not go as far as to say RC does not have its good points, but I personally believe RC is highly overrated. The main reason is because of the amount of butter they use when cooking their meats. Some like this, I do not personally subscribe to it however. The chains, in general, have disappointed me overall. Here is my ratings of the chains I have personally visited (5 stars being best):
- Outback - Very good for price paid. Consistent from restaurant to restaurant. Portions adequate. Beer is always cold and side dishes are decent to very good.- Overall rating: 3.5 stars.
- Lone Star - Inconsistent and priced similar to Outback. Not only inconsistent from restaurant to restaurant, but between cuts of meat and portion size as well. Side dishes are decent (cinnamon butter sweet potato very good). Do like the peanuts at the bar and throwing shells on floor.
Overall rating: 3.0 stars.
- Sullivan's (Charlotte, NC) - Highly anticipated, slightly disappointed. From their ads in Cigar Afficionado and feedback I had gotten from others, I was expecting a World-Beater steak. It was definitely good, but not seasoned real well and the atmosphere was more of a cafeteria than a high-end restaurant. Sides were "o.k."....nothing special. Personal expectations may have been too high. Steak was cooked perfect and portions were adequate, but taste did not "knock me off my feet" for amount spent. The one savior in this restaurant was the bar area where we were able to enjoy cigars, nice atmosphere and good drinks. Probably raised the overall rating by .5 stars.
Overall rating: 3.5 stars.
- Texas Roadhouse - not particularly pleasing. Chili is the bomb!!!! Steaks (and I have had a couple), are average at best and not all that thick as served. Prices are good and people are nice. Beer is cold and again, you can throw peanut shells in the floor. Side dishes are nothing to write home about and the restaurant is probably about what I expected walking in the door.
Overall rating - 2.5 stars
- Smith and Wollensky's (sp?) - I was lucky enough to eat at the one in Miami. We walked in and they gave us a table on the water. The hostess bought us a drink as we sat down and we got one of our sides complimentary. I will admit the atmosphere will raise my rating (it is subjective anyway) at the end. The sides, appetizers and steaks were all very good. The steaks were well-portioned and cooked to order. They could have used a bit more seasoning. I had a Cowboy Steak (Bone-In Rib). The bar area was a little crowded, but the atmosphere was incredible. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and would go back. Very pricey and probably worth it.
Overall rating 4.5 stars
- Morton's Steakhouse - Probably the best steak consistently I have had in a dining out experience at the "chain" restaurants. Perfectly seasoned and portions are huge. Side dishes (and desserts) are fantastic as are the salads. Atmosphere is fantastic (if you can get a booth) and I have never had a bad meal here. I go to the one in Pittsburgh and it is priced comparable to Ruth's Chris but price is ALL that is comparable. RC is not even in the same ballpark, at least in my town, with Morton's. Very pricey but absolutely worth it. My favorite chain. I would give it 6 stars if it was at the beach.
Overall rating - 5 stars.
- Longhorn Steakhouse - Had lunch here a few weeks ago and was greatly surprised. The steak was wonderful. I believe I had a lunch NY Strip and it was fantastic. Since it was a lunch, I did not have dinner portion side dishes but the mushrooms they served were wonderful. Potatoes were decent as well. Very impressed for not having expectations.
Overall rating - 3.75 stars.
Other fantastic steak restaurants (non-chains):
- Alley's Grill - Detroit Greektown Casino (Get the Kobe Beef)
- Brighton Steakhouse - Atlantic City
- Angelo's Italian Restaurant - Myrtle Beach, SC
- El Gaucho Steakhouse - Aruba