A Ranking Of The 10 Best Steakhouse French Fries
Steakhouses first gained popularity in New York City in the 1930s. Over the years, these restaurants have become a popular part of America's food culture, serving perfectly-cooked, juicy steaks. And what goes better with steak than delicious, golden french fries? Clearly nothing — as evidenced by the massive number of steakhouses with fries on the menu. But, how do these fries stack up against each other? We set to find out.
We evaluated the fries at more than 50 steakhouses that have multiple locations throughout the States. And yes, we have actually eaten at all of these restaurants and tried the french fries. What can we say? We're people who love meat and potatoes (and finding the best places to get them)!
10. Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse does not have good fries. There, we said it. The steak fries are thickly-cut and seasoned with a combo of garlic salt, onion powder, and regular salt. Every time we've eaten these fries, they seem sort of soggy and not fully fried. Additionally, we wish there was more variety of seasoning so it doesn't feel like you're absolutely oozing onion and garlic post-dinner. And yes, you can get an add-on of cheddar cheese and bacon to your fries, but you'll pay extra for that.
"Once again, those soggy french fries," a reviewer bemoaned. "My wife and I love the burger, but despite repeated pleas for hot french fries, (actually steak fries ... the big ones) the best I can get are fries zapped in a microwave! WHY can't a top notch restaurant serve fresh hot fries?"
These fries taste like the ones you'd get in your elementary school cafeteria — not something you want to pay money for at a pseudo-steakhouse.
9. Morton's The Steakhouse
We won't lie: Morton's The Steakhouse has a lot of really good food; we're partial to the delicious lobster mac and cheese and the au gratin potatoes. However, the Matchstick Parmesan and Truffle Fries fall a little flat for us — especially when compared to the other offerings.
For $11 — and almost 900 calories — you'd expect something with a bit more pizazz and flavor. These fries do not impress. They are extremely thin, and sometimes too crispy, with some potato skins on the end remaining. It's a careful balance to strike between fry thickness and frying time, and Morton's doesn't do it for us.
"The only item I wouldn't recommend was French fries," a reviewer explained. "They were just so-so." Unfortunately, we have to agree. Morton's normally has excellent food, so it does come as a bit of a letdown that their fries aren't top-tier — like everything else on the menu.
8. Oak Steakhouse
Oak Steakhouse is yet another upscale chain steakhouse that's latched on to the idea of truffle fries. It's not that these are bad by any means, but they don't stand out to us for the price.
"The steak in a salad was very tender and tasty but for the heavy price, we didn't expect what appeared to be frozen shoestring French fries," a reviewer complained. While we don't think these taste frozen (per se), they definitely are not impressive.
As the reviewer said, these are thin fries with the usual fixings truffles fries traditionally have: truffle oil, grated parmesan cheese, and salt. Oak Steakhouse doesn't do anything proprietary, which is why we aren't impressed. If we're paying a lot of dough for something, we want to make sure it's up to snuff. This is an area for improvement for Oak Steakhouse, which already boasts delicious cuts of meat and a beautiful atmosphere.
7. Firebirds
The Firebirds Seasoned Steak Fries are wildly hit or miss. We've had these fries more times than we can count, and it's a 50-50 split on if they're going to be fresh and well-seasoned — or soggy and bland. This points towards an issue with quality control, rather than the actual fries themselves being bad all the time.
"The sides were just ok but one in our party was very displeased at the small amount of fries that came with his steak," a reviewer explained.
These are steak fries, but aren't cut as wide and thick as most steak fries. Consider them a more medium-sized steak fry. Additionally, there is supposed to be seasoning on these fries — but they do not always have them. We aren't really sure why, but you may have to ask for additional seasoning ahead of time so you're not stuck with plain fries.
6. Longhorn Steakhouse
Longhorn Steakhouse is a classic steakhouse and its seasoned french fries are consistently decent to us. However, you could probably get the same quality of fry with a very similar seasoning for less money at a fast food joint.
Some reviewers complain that the fries at Longhorn Steakhouse are "just too well-seasoned to eat them all," however, you can ask for them plain. For an extra tasty option, order a side of Ranch for dipping.
The medium-cut fries are pretty consistently good and boy, do they fill you up fast! They are not, however, really special for the price, so it they aren't necessarily worth a special trip. But if you're already there, you might as well try them.
We like to eat ours with a big helping of ketchup and an entree of Flo's Filet. Although it won't be anything fancy, it's a solid meal you'll feel satisfied with after finishing.
5. The Palm
Want something a little different? Consider checking out The Palm for its Italian Herb Hand-Cut Fries. These medium. hand-cut fries are served with grated parmesan and are tossed with Italian seasonings like rosemary, oregano, basil, and thyme. We've even had them with sprigs of fresh herbs on top, which really adds to the overall presentation.
"The Italian Herb fries are so good," one reviewer explained. "I ordered a steak with a side of the fries after attending the Wells Fargo golf tournament. We will be back!"
Pair these fries with The Palm's center-cut filet and béarnaise sauce. The butter and egg of the béarnaise go perfectly with the earthy flavor of the potatoes. Pro tip? Ask for them extra crispy when ordering. You can thank us later.
4. Outback Steakhouse
Outback is an Australian-themed chain steakhouse that is known for a lot of delicious but not-so-healthy eats, like the Bloomin' Onion and the Aussie Cheese Fries. The Aussie Cheese Fries are meant to be an appetizer, so either get your eating pants on or grab a friend to help you finish them. These medium-cut fries are piled high and topped with warm, melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. To add to the over-the-top delight, Outback puts chunks of bacon and a drizzle of ranch on the top.
"I love the bread, the Aussie cheese fries, the bloomin onion, and the Alice Springs quesadilla," said a reviewer. "These are the items I get when I want a good but not too high-priced meal."
We love these fries — but be warned. They're extremely high in calories at a whopping 2,620 and have tons of carbs. If you're trying to eat healthy, you'll want to stay away from these cheese fries.
3. The Capital Grille
You know it's going to be a good meal when you see the basket of parmesan truffle fries placed on the table at The Capital Grille. These steakhouse fries are medium cut and loaded — and we do mean loaded — with grated parmesan and white truffle oil. They're then topped off with a smattering of chopped parsley. Pair yours with the bone-in dry-aged NY strip steak and sauteed spinach. We think the parmesan on the fries works well with the rich, flavorful meat and the fragrant garlic from the spinach.
"The Parmesan Truffle Fries were really a hit," a reviewer explained. "If you are into truffles, this is a must-order. I think they use truffle oil, and the taste is heavenly."
The reviewer is correct: The Capital Grille does indeed use real truffle oil. This is probably why a side of the golden-delicious fries costs a whopping $11. Although this isn't the end of the world, we do wish they were slightly more affordable.
2. Steak 48
If you want slightly upgraded french fries with your steak, you need to try the Kennebec fries at Steak 48. These potatoes are seasoned with a hefty amount of salt, parmesan, and truffle oil. They're medium-cut and made with the Kennebec potato, a type of potato grown in Maine known to be more earthy in flavor with a hint of sweetness. In fact, this is the type of potato a lot of companies use to make potato chips.
Now, back to the fires. The Kennebec potatoes from Steak 48 are perfectly salty, pairing well with the restaurant's tender filet mignon or the 45-day dry-aged bone-in ribeye.
"We ordered the 22 oz [sic] ribeye and it was amazing," a reviewer gushed. "It literally felt like cutting soft butter with how tender this steak was. They serve it on a 500-degree plate so that it stays warm during dinner. The sides were also amazing, but make sure to get the french fries and Mac and cheese; these are a must."
1. Ruth's Chris
Sometimes you don't want fancy fries with your steak — just a good old-fashioned classic rendition. Ruth's Chris delivers big time when you're looking for the Goldilocks of fries: The steakhouse's version is not too thin and not too thick. If you've eaten at Ruth's Chris for many years, you may remember the original shoestring fries the steakhouse used to serve. Although we're also fans of those crispy buggers, these slightly thicker fries are more appealing and pair better with large cuts of meat.
The fries are lightly salted and served in a heaping pile of golden deliciousness. Eat yours with a side of bearnaise sauce — or ask for ranch or ketchup. These potatoes pair well with any of Ruth Chris' steaks, including the ribeye, tomahawk, and New York strip. You can also enjoy yours with a crisp glass of Pinot Grigio at happy hour, because who doesn't love happy hour and fries? We're drooling just thinking about it.