5 Seafood Chains Serving Steaks That Rival The Seafood
Someone suggested dining at a seafood restaurant, and now you're quaking in your boots. You don't want to reject the idea outright, but you're simply not in the mood for fish or shrimp or any seafood in general. Never fear, because you can still go to a seafood chain and find excellent non-seafood items. We did some heavy lifting to identify seafood chains that have incredible steak options worth ordering.
To make the list, we looked at qualities such as plating and presentation, the dish's taste and quality, and whether the chain offered multiple incredible steak options. We also wanted to see what actual customers had to say, so we located various comments and insights from social media and review platforms to back up our findings. For this article, we identified various cuts of steak, from filet mignon to New York strip, so you may very well find your favorite option at a seafood eatery. Let's dive in!
1. Chart House
Chart House has 21 locations in the United States, spanning from Annapolis, Maryland to Savannah, Georgia, all the way to Cardiff, California. It's well-known for its seafood options and incredible waterfront views, but it has a slew of meat options if you prefer to go in a different direction meal-wise. The prime rib is a particular standout because of the herb crust, and it's slow-roasted to perfection. Customers think that it's phenomenal, sharing that it was the best prime rib that they've eaten in a long time, and even the best they've had, well, ever. It's cooked spectacularly and makes for an elevated dinner.
The filet mignon and New York strip are also fantastic options, and those who order them say they are top-notch. The strip is cooked nicely with beautiful grill marks that make it look like something from a magazine. People especially enjoy the seasoning. "The [New York strip] was huge, juicy, was easy to cut and melted in your mouth," said one Facebook reviewer. The plating and flavor of Chart House's steak dishes set the food apart as must-order options.
2. Bonefish Grill
You can find Bonefish Grill restaurants across 27 U.S. states, from Washington to Wisconsin. As its name and fish bone logo imply, you can reasonably expect an array of seafood dishes from the highly-ranked seafood chain. Its fish and chips are one of the best chain restaurant fried fish. However, its filet mignon and Chimichurri Bistro Filet dishes are knockout options when you prefer beef. The filet mignon is a standout because it's wood-grilled, which results in a drool-worthy depth of flavor. Even when it's delivered via food apps (which means it's probably not as hot and fresh as dining in the restaurant), customers say it's fantastic. "Best steak I've had in a while," a Redditor shared in a post about the filet. "Cuts quick and smooth like butter."
But if you want something a little more colorful and interesting that you can't get everywhere, might we suggest the Chimichurri Bistro Filet? It's a unique offering with a sliced filet that is impeccably and intentionally presented. It's also convenient since you don't have to cut the steak yourself. The tender wood-grilled meat comes with the "chef-crafted" chimichurri that's fragrant and herby. Plenty of people think it's delicious. It's "heaven on a plate," as one Instagram commenter said.
3. Eddie V's Prime Seafood
When you want a truly fancy experience, you might head to Eddie V's Prime Seafood. The seafood chain pops up in 15 states across the country, including Michigan and Colorado. While you may frequent the chain for its excellent crab cakes, we suggest branching out next time you're planning an elevated night out. Consider venturing there for the highly-beloved hand-cut steaks. There's center cut filet mignon, USDA prime New York strip, or the massive 22-ounce prime bone-in ribeye — but there are other options and sizes, as well.
People love the filet mignon, saying it's their favorite dish. The meat is hand-carved in the restaurant and cooked exactly to order, which customers praise; the phrase "cooked to perfection" is used multiple times on TripAdvisor to describe the steak. The New York strip is so loved that one reviewer said they had to come back the very next night to order it a second time. It's tender, incredibly buttery, and easy to cut. People compliment the presentation and really enjoy the ambiance and service (Eddie V's is known for its decor and live music), which further enhances the dining experience of the meat you order. No matter which steak you get, you'll leave feeling full and impressed. You won't even think about the seafood.
4. Ocean Prime
Nothing says steak like a chain named after the ocean, but Ocean Prime really does it all (including a stellar shrimp cocktail). The eatery has 21 locations spanning from Beverly Hills to Boston, with some more to come. Its steaks are a force to be reckoned with and could easily outshine the seafood options. The restaurant chain stands out for its chef-driven menu and hospitality, which contribute to the steak and overall experience being truly unparalleled. There are multiple steak cuts to pick from, whether you want 7-ounce Wagyu or a hefty 22-ounce bone-in ribeye.
The 8-ounce filet mignon is regarded as wonderfully tender, with a reasonable not-too-thick crust. The crust is also appreciated in the New York strip, which some even say is superior to the Wagyu. It may very well be the best strip you'll ever have; even other chefs agree, so you know it's a fantastic option. The ribeye is also highly recommended and is utter perfection, with a superior sear that locks in the moisture. Many see this ribeye as a perfect 10 they can always rely on. The quality, taste, and presentation ensure that any of Ocean Prime's steaks will never disappoint.
5. Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab
It may be harder to find a Truluck's location, as it is the smallest chain on this list. It has 12, soon to be 13, restaurants that are mainly concentrated in Texas, but there are a couple in Florida, Illinois, and Washington. D.C. Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab is its long name, but most people just call it Truluck's. The eatery is named one of the most expensive seafood chains, along with others on this list, including Ocean Prime, Eddie V's, and Chart House. Luckily, the quality of what you get truly reflects the price. The steak options are just as impeccable as its seafood. It uses USDA Prime hand-cut meats aged for at least 30 days. After that, it gets fully seasoned with kosher sea salt and popped in the broiler at a high temperature of 1,200 F.
People love visiting the chain for special occasions and say that the New York strip was incredible. Customers talk about how the steaks are tender and come in large portions. "They were perfectly seasoned, seared, and cooked the way we requested," said one TripAdvisor reviewer. Others say that the prime ribeye is a worthy purchase with a buttery texture that makes it so enticing to eat. It is important that the steaks could hold a candle to this chain's well-known seafood options, and clearly, any steak dish you order at Truluck's is bound to be flawlessly made and flavorful.
Methodology
To be considered a seafood chain, we sought out eateries with at least 10 locations. Some seafood chains are more popular but simply didn't have steak dishes good enough to make the list. We started by looking at various chains' menu items and then began researching to see if anything was equal to or superior to its seafood dishes. We wanted to find options that are truly the best and could easily rival or outshine the seafood dishes, so that's why this compilation is so short. Let's just say nothing on this list is among the most overpriced seafood chains that customers don't think are worth it.
We made our determinations based on overall presentation, flavor, the quality of the meat or preparation, and variety of steak-based dishes. We also sought out customer reviews and comments sourced from Reddit, TripAdvisor, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms to see what actual restaurant patrons had to say. Not every quality applies to each dish, but it helped us identify the best from the blasé. These chains are well known for their seafood, but you might want to order a steak cut next time, instead.