Steakhouse Chains Where The Sides Outshine The Steaks

Eating out at a steakhouse is a wonderful experience, whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just looking to have a high-quality and delicious meal. Of course, steak is usually the star of any steakhouse dinner, but there is something to be said about the fixings that go along with it. There are a few mainstays you'll find on nearly any steakhouse menu, including baked potatoes, side salads, mashed potatoes, and green vegetables like beans or Brussels sprouts.

However, many chains do their best to make the sides as much of an attraction as the steak itself. When paired with a properly cooked cut of meat, a really great side dish can set a meal off in a way that keeps you wanting more. Additionally, knowing a restaurant goes above and beyond to create unique and one-of-a-kind side dishes can help diners feel better about spending their money on a steak dinner. From unique offerings at Brazilian steakhouses to one-of-a-kind twists on traditional steakhouse sides, we've rounded up some of the best options available at chains across the country. 

Forget what you think you know about creamed corn. Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse has taken this average side dish and transformed it into something worthy of eating on its own or with a high-quality cut of steak. The restaurant chain's creamed corn is complete with the unctuous texture you'd expect as well as a tasty flavor profile that might surprise you. The addition of blistered shishito peppers transforms this dish into a completely unique take on creamed corn, adding spiciness and a smoky flavor. Topped with breadcrumbs for a nice textural contrast, you'll be coming back for this side dish again and again.

In addition to its signature creamed corn, Del Frisco's also offers fresh spins on classic steakhouse sides like lobster macaroni and cheese, black truffle twice-baked potatoes, and colossal lump crab fried rice. The chain even makes creamed spinach, which comes with smoked bacon, egg, mushroom, and aged sharp cheddar.

The Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão is a unique place to dine, featuring a wide array of traditional Brazilian starters, entrees, and sides that keep diners coming back for everything from special occasions to date nights. In addition to the showstopping churrasco cooking techniques that make the chain's steaks so appealing and delicious, the restaurant is known for its pão de queijo. This side dish is a traditional Brazilian cheese bread that is essentially a serving of warm and soft cheesy rolls. The rolls are served throughout the duration of your meal and are made with sweet and sour yuca flour and Parmesan cheese. Best of all, diners who can't eat wheat can still enjoy the rolls because they are naturally gluten-free.

Other sides you'll enjoy at Fogo de Chão include seasonal Brazilian soups, sweet and salty caramelized bananas, and polenta. Another popular option unique to Brazilian steakhouses is farofa, which is made with sauteed yuca flour and flavored with bacon, sausage, and seasonings. Additionally, the Brazilian steakhouse is known for its market table that consists of an array of fresh and seasonal items that diners can choose from to pair with their steak entrees. Included in the market bar are dips like hummus, sides like corn chowder, and seasonal salads. Favorites of the market bar are the charcuterie and antipasti, which include cured meats, aged cheeses, as well as roasted and marinated vegetables.

Corn is a popular go-to side dish for steak, and most steakhouses settle with just serving corn on the cob with the traditional seasonings of butter, salt, and pepper. Not LongHorn Steakhouse. This chain takes corn to another level with its fire-grilled corn on the cob that is as delicious on its own as it is along with a filling entree. Grilled on an open flame to give the corn a bit of charred flavor, the cob is then drizzled with LongHorn Steakhouse's housemade Mexican crema and sprinkled with seasoned Parmesan cheese. The result is the restaurant's take on Mexican street corn with a steakhouse flair that is the perfect pairing for any steak on the menu.

Other unique and standout side dish options at LongHorn Steakhouse include crispy Brussels sprouts with smoky honey butter, baked sweet potatoes topped with cinnamon sugar and butter, and fresh okra coated with Parmesan bread crumbs and fried to crisp perfection. No matter what side dish you choose at here, you're guaranteed a unique flavor combination that captures the essence of the South.

While it may be true that Outback Steakhouse's infamous Bloomin' Onion is not technically listed on the chain's menu as a side dish, it's widely known that the crispy and savory concoction is a must-have when visiting the restaurant. The chain might as well serve it as a side with every meal, given its popularity. The Bloomin' Onion consists of a whole onion that has been uniquely sliced and dipped in Outback Steakhouse's signature batter. The whole thing is then fried until the onion looks like a blooming lotus flower. The restaurant pops your dip of choice (we recommend the signature spicy bloom sauce) in the center and serves it up. Once it gets to your table, take your time plucking off each onion petal and dipping it like you would an onion ring.

If you've still got room after your Bloomin' Onion, Outback has some one-of-a-kind sides that you won't find at other steak spots. For instance, in lieu of the traditional order of steak and potatoes, you can order a cup of spicy Tasmanian chili, perfect for warming up on a cool day. Or try the restaurant's blue cheese and pecan chopped salad for a creamy and crunchy bite that is on the lighter side.

Ruth's Chris is known for the way its steaks are served — sizzling on a plate that's 500 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring your steak is not only cooked to perfection but also remains warm while you enjoy it. The restaurant is also reputed for its shareable sides that garner as much attention as the steak itself. One of the favorites is the premium lobster macaroni and cheese. The over-the-top side dish is made with perfectly cooked cavatappi pasta, large chunks of tender lobster, and a creamy white cheddar cheese sauce that binds it all together in one hearty and delicious bite. Although the portion of mac and cheese served here is large enough to share, we recommend getting your own because it's that good!

In addition, Ruth's Chris diners can enjoy a festive-flavored sweet potato casserole topped with a crunchy pecan crust or the restaurant's signature creamed spinach. For fans of meat and potatoes, there are multiple choices, including traditional baked potatoes, creamy garlic mashed potatoes, or cheesy potatoes au gratin.

If there's any steak restaurant more well-known for a signature side dish than Texas Roadhouse, we're not sure what it is. The love that fans have for the steakhouse chain's signature rolls is unmatched, with some people going to the restaurant strictly for the warm bread. It's not uncommon for diners at Texas Roadhouse to view the entrees as an afterthought. 

Piping hot and covered with butter, these warm, doughy rolls are served with Texas Roadhouse's traditional and iconic cinnamon butter, which adds a kick of sweetness and spice that can't be duplicated. However, that doesn't stop food bloggers and fans of the rolls and cinnamon butter from trying. There are plenty of copycat recipes circulating online, proving that there's nothing Texas Roadhouse fanatics won't do for the signature flavor of the chain's famous rolls.

The Texas Roadhouse rolls have been dubbed by fans as the "best rolls anywhere," "the bomb," and the "best rolls in the world." One fan even commented on the Texas Roadhouse Facebook page, "I could make a meal out of this bread and butter!!" For diners who go to Texas Roadhouse for more than just the rolls, there is also a menu filled with delicious sides like baked sweet potatoes with cinnamon and marshmallows, Texas red chili, and seasoned rice.