5 Illinois Chains Serving Forgettable Steaks & 5 That Get It Just Right

There’s nothing quite like cutting into a perfectly cooked steak, watching that warm pink center reveal itself as the juices flow onto your plate.

As a lifelong Illinois resident and self-proclaimed carnivore, I’ve had my fair share of hits and misses when dining at chain steakhouses across the Prairie State.

From overcooked disappointments to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, I’ve compiled this honest guide to help you navigate the steakhouse scene without wasting your hard-earned cash on subpar cuts.

1. Logan’s Roadhouse: Where Mediocrity Meets Meat

Last summer, I stopped at Logan’s after a long road trip, desperately craving a juicy ribeye. What arrived was a thin, overcooked slab that could have doubled as a leather coaster. The seasoning was one-dimensional—mostly salt with barely a hint of anything else.

The sides didn’t help matters either. Mushy vegetables and gummy mashed potatoes flanked this forgettable centerpiece like sad backup dancers who’d forgotten their routine.

While the prices won’t break the bank, the quality reflects the cost. You’ll leave with a full stomach but an empty heart, wondering if you should have just grilled at home. Their unlimited rolls might be the only saving grace, but bread alone can’t rescue a steakhouse from the land of mediocrity.

2. Outback Steakhouse: G’day Disappointment

Crikey! For an Aussie-themed restaurant, Outback’s steaks miss the mark by a continent. During my nephew’s graduation dinner last May, I ordered their signature Outback Special, medium-rare. It arrived well-done, with a texture reminiscent of beef jerky rather than a premium cut.

The famous Bloomin’ Onion might steal the show, but it can’t compensate for the inconsistent quality of their steaks. The meat often lacks marbling, resulting in dry, flavorless bites that no amount of their tangy steak sauce can salvage.

Service varies wildly between locations, but the Springfield branch particularly struggles with temperature control. When you’re paying $25+ for a steak, you deserve better than what feels like reheated cafeteria meat dressed up with fancy plating and Australian slang.

3. Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea: The Frozen Food Fiasco

Remember those frozen steaks from the grocery store that your dad would cook until they resembled hockey pucks? Hoss’s brings back those memories—and not in a good way. My first bite into their sirloin transported me straight back to 1992 family cookouts gone wrong.

The meat has that unmistakable previously-frozen quality—slightly grainy with an odd aftertaste that lingers longer than your server checking on your table. Their salad bar might be extensive, but it feels like a distraction from the main event’s shortcomings.

What really grinds my gears is their insistence on calling these cuts “premium.” Premium compared to what? The cardboard box they likely arrived in? Save your money and disappointment for something more deserving than these forgettable slabs masquerading as steakhouse quality.

4. Steak ‘n Shake: Fast Food Masquerading As Steakhouse

Let’s be honest—calling Steak ‘n Shake a steakhouse is like calling a kiddie pool the ocean. After a late-night concert in Chicago, my friends and I stopped in, and I foolishly ordered their “Steakburger.” The thin, gray patty that arrived barely qualified as meat, let alone steak.

Their signature “steakburgers” are essentially glorified fast-food patties with an identity crisis. The meat is ground so fine it loses any semblance of texture or juiciness that makes a proper steak worth eating.

While their shakes remain legendary and prices stay wallet-friendly, don’t be fooled by the word “steak” in their name. The Illinois-based chain delivers on nostalgia and late-night convenience but falls flatter than their patties when it comes to delivering anything remotely resembling a quality steak experience.

5. Chicago Chop House: Big City Name, Small Town Flavor

The Chicago Chop House sounds impressive on paper, but the reality left me clutching my wallet in regret. During an anniversary dinner that cost more than my first car payment, I was served a ribeye that couldn’t decide if it wanted to be rare or medium—achieving neither while somehow managing to be both tough and mushy.

The ambiance screams “expense account dinner” with its dark wood and vintage photographs, yet the meat quality whispers “we bought this on sale.” Their aging process seems theoretical rather than actual, with steaks lacking the depth and complexity you’d expect at their astronomical prices.

Even their signature house sauce couldn’t mask the mediocrity. When you’re charging $65+ for a steak in Illinois, it should be life-changing, not leaving diners checking their credit card statements with buyer’s remorse.

6. Texas Roadhouse: Where Hand-Cut Excellence Meets Honky-Tonk Fun

Holy cow! The first time I bit into Texas Roadhouse’s 16-ounce ribeye, I nearly fell off my peanut shell-covered chair. Each steak is hand-cut daily by in-house meat cutters—a detail that absolutely translates to the plate.

Their seasoning game hits all the right notes without overwhelming the natural flavor of the beef. I’ve never once had to send back an improperly cooked steak here, a miracle in the chain restaurant universe. The Springfield location particularly excels at achieving that perfect medium-rare pink center that photographs as beautifully as it tastes.

Don’t let the line-dancing servers and country atmosphere fool you—these folks take their meat seriously. For around $25, you’ll get a steak that rivals standalone steakhouses charging twice as much. Those warm, buttery rolls are just the cherry on top.

7. Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Sizzling Perfection Worth Every Penny

My first Ruth’s Chris experience came after landing a big promotion. The waiter warned me not to touch the 500-degree plate, but nothing prepared me for that first bite of filet mignon, still sizzling in a pool of butter. Pure. Heavenly. Bliss.

Their USDA Prime beef is aged to perfection and cooked under intense broilers that seal in juices while creating that signature caramelized crust. The Chicago location particularly excels with their bone-in cuts, which deliver a depth of flavor that haunts your taste buds for days afterward.

Yes, you’ll pay upwards of $60 for the privilege, but unlike other high-end disappointments, Ruth’s Chris consistently delivers. Their simple preparation—salt, pepper, butter, and an infernally hot oven—proves that when you start with exceptional ingredients, you don’t need to complicate things.

8. Morton’s The Steakhouse: Old-School Excellence That Never Falters

“Would you like to see the meat cart?” With those magical words, my Morton’s experience began last Father’s Day. The server wheeled over raw cuts for our inspection—a theatrical touch that showcases their confidence in their product.

Morton’s has perfected the art of wet-aging USDA Prime beef, resulting in steaks with a buttery tenderness that defies logic. Their Chicago location (the original!) serves a bone-in ribeye that’s marbled like fine Italian marble, with fat that melts into the meat during cooking, creating pockets of flavor that explode with each bite.

The classic tableside preparation and minimalist seasoning let the quality of the beef shine through. Sure, you’ll spend your kid’s weekly allowance on dinner, but the consistent excellence makes Morton’s a special occasion standby that never disappoints.

9. Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse: Chicago’s Hometown Hero

Frank Sinatra would have approved of Gibsons. Walking in feels like stepping into Chicago’s glory days, when deals were made over martinis and USDA Prime wasn’t just a label but a lifestyle. My uncle first brought me here after my college graduation, and I’ve been ruined for lesser steakhouses ever since.

Gibsons sources their Black Angus beef from sustainable Midwest farms and ages it for over 40 days. The result? A W.R. Chicago Cut that’s as much a cultural experience as it is a meal. The caramelized crust gives way to a meltingly tender interior with complex flavors that simply don’t exist in lesser establishments.

The Gold Coast location buzzes with energy from local celebrities, politicians, and regular Chicagoans celebrating life’s moments. Their signature ice-cold martinis and comically large desserts bookend what might be the perfect steakhouse experience in Illinois.

10. STK Steakhouse: Modern Flair Meets Classic Technique

“Is this a nightclub or a steakhouse?” I wondered when first entering STK’s Chicago location. The answer, gloriously, is both. Pulsing music and stylish decor create an atmosphere unlike any other steakhouse, but don’t let the vibe fool you—these folks know their meat.

Their dry-aged Delmonico made me actually close my eyes and ignore my dinner companions for a solid minute. The aggressive sear gives way to a perfectly medium-rare center with a nutty complexity that only proper aging can achieve. Their signature steak sauce, infused with blue cheese, should be bottled and sold as liquid gold.

While traditional steakhouse purists might scoff at the DJ booth in the corner, STK proves that excellent steak doesn’t require stuffy surroundings. The downtown Chicago location particularly excels at balancing scene and substance, delivering Instagram-worthy plates that actually taste as good as they look.