I ordered the same meal at The Capital Grille and LongHorn Steakhouse. The bigger chain definitely offered the better value.
I ordered the same meal, including French onion soup, steak, and cheesecake, from LongHorn and The Capital Grille to see which had the best food.
Amena Ahmed
- I ordered the same meal at The Capital Grille and LongHorn to see which chain offered the best food.
- The Capital Grille offered a top-notch dining experience with amazing French onion soup.
- LongHorn's French onion soup wasn't my favorite, but my steak was delicious and affordable.
Many popular chains are owned and operated by the same parent company, but that doesn't mean they're all created equally.
Darden Restaurants owns and operates over 1,900 restaurants, including popular chains like Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, and more.
I decided to try two of Darden's popular steak-house chains — LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille — to see which one offered the best value.
To keep things fair, I ordered the same meal from both restaurants — French onion soup, a medium-well filet, and cheesecake. Here's how my experiences at both restaurants compared.
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LongHorn is a casual chain restaurant that began serving steak in Atlanta in 1981. In 2007, the chain joined Darden Restaurants and now has over 500 locations in the United States, Puerto Rico, and El Salvador.
Amena Ahmed
With country-inspired wall hangings and chandeliers made of deer antlers, I felt immersed in an environment that created a well-curated dining experience.
Upon being seated, I was given complimentary whole-wheat bread and butter.
Amena Ahmed
I ordered a cup of French onion soup as an appetizer, and my server was nice enough to lower the price from $3 to $2 by inputting it as a side with my steak.
The cheese on top of the soup was crusted perfectly, but the broth's creamy texture threw me off. The flavor wasn't bad, but it was a little strong for my liking.
Amena Ahmed
For $31, I ordered a 9-ounce filet cooked medium-well.
Each steak at LongHorn comes with a choice of certain side dishes, but I decided to order the mac and cheese, which came with a small upcharge of $3.
LongHorn's mac and cheese had a layer of bacon and a creamy four-cheese blend. It was topped with Parmesan and breadcrumbs, which paired well with the smoky bacon.
Amena Ahmed
I was surprised at how delicious my filet was. Although it was cooked a bit more than medium-well, I still enjoyed it.
There were no fatty bits, and my knife slid through it easily. Overall, I had no complaints, which was nice, given how affordable the meal was.
Amena Ahmed
I ordered LongHorn's cheesecake, which is topped with a caramel drizzle, whipped cream, and pecans. I'm not usually a huge fan of caramel, but I thoroughly enjoyed the drizzle on this dessert.
The consistency was extremely soft and creamy, and it didn't taste overly sugary, which I loved.
For $10, this was the biggest piece of cheesecake I've ever had.
Amena Ahmed
From the speed of the service to the quality of each dish, I'd definitely return to LongHorn. I thought $46 for a hefty steak, side, appetizer, and dessert was an amazing deal. The only change I'd make next time is ordering a different soup.
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The Capital Grille is an upscale chain restaurant known for its steak that's dry-aged in-house for 18 to 24 days.
Founded in 1990 in Providence, Rhode Island, The Capital Grille was also acquired by Darden Restaurants in 2007. However, this chain is smaller than LongHorn, with only 72 locations in the US, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
I made sure to book a reservation in advance, which was recommended on its website.
Amena Ahmed
The Capital Grille felt extremely upscale — it was dimly lit with mosaic-like chandeliers, and every employee was dressed in matching uniforms, which differed based on their roles. There was also a dress code for guests.
Like LongHorn, I received a complimentary serving of bread, but this chain offered more variety, including pumpernickel with raisins (my favorite).
Amena Ahmed
For an appetizer, I ordered the $13 French onion soup. I was impressed with how massive the serving of soup was — and how well-balanced the flavor was.
The cheesy layer took up about half of the bowl, which I loved.
Amena Ahmed
As a main dish, I opted for the 10-ounce filet mignon cooked medium well for $56. Unlike the meal at LongHorn, this steak didn't come with a side. Instead, sides are encouraged as a shareable option between two to three people.
Amena Ahmed
Every steak at The Capital Grille is cooked with the chain's signature in-house butter. This was great for me since I don't like steak sauce. The butter had an umami flavor and complemented the meat very well.
The char was just OK, as the exterior was more cooked than I'd have liked. Other than that, the center was cooked amazingly and was very soft.
Amena Ahmed
Between the entrée and dessert, I was offered a warm towel to freshen up, which was a sweet touch.
The $13 cheesecake, prepared brûlée style, came with delicious berries and a compote-like sauce.
This was definitely my favorite part of the meal, as the sweetness was great and not overbearing. I just wish it was a bit bigger, as it was a lot smaller than LongHorn's version. In total, my meal cost $82 before tax and tip.
Amena Ahmed
I had a great experience at both chains, and the steaks and desserts were comparable. Although my French onion soup was way better at The Capital Grille, I got more bang for my buck at LongHorn.
I enjoyed my meal more at the cheaper chain because of its more relaxed atmosphere, lower price point, and bigger portions. In the future, I'd only return to The Capital Grille for a special occasion.