When we think of restaurant chains, the first ones we think of are probably fast food operations – known in the trade as QSRs (Quick Service Restaurants) – like Subway, McDonald’s, Starbucks, or Taco Bell, or maybe slightly more formal establishments, like Appleby’s or TGI Friday’s.
But there are plenty of upscale chain operations around the country, too – sit-down restaurants, many of them steakhouses or seafood specialists, often accoutred with white tablecloths and fancy glassware, and sometimes seriously pricey.
Big-name chefs are rarely involved (an exception being the ubiquitous Nobu restaurants, spawned by the highly influential Nobu Matsuhisa, and the expansive Wolfgang Puck empire), but the cooking can be top-notch. Imaginative cocktail programs and good wine lists are frequently involved, too.
Some of these chains are more highly regarded by patrons than others, though, for their food, service, and other attributes. To assemble a list of the upscale restaurant chains customers like the most, 24/7 Tempo reviewed “Which Fine-Dining Restaurant Brands Score Highest for Customer Satisfaction,” a report published by the leading food service trade publication Nation’s Restaurant News.
NRN drew on data compiled by Merchant Centric, a data collection and analysis company. Merchant Centric pulled data from millions of ratings, reviews, and comments on Google, TripAdvisor, and other sites relating specifically to food quality, staff demeanor, order of accuracy, and other factors pertinent to the dining experience, assigning a Theme Performance Score out of a possible 5 points to each chain. The score indicates the number of times a factor was mentioned positively compared to how often it was mentioned negatively.
Three categories of upscale chains are identified by NRN: Leaders (Nos. 1-8 on our list), Straddlers (Nos. 9-16), and Chasers (the balance of the list). The highest scorer of all is a small Arizona-based operation called Steak 48, with eight locations (and two more in the works). Featuring a raw bar and an in-house butcher, it comes with a pedigree: It was founded by the Mastro family, who sold off their Mastro’s Restaurants (No. 12) in 2013 and have come back strong. (These are the most expensive steakhouses in America.)
Scroll below to see upscale restaurant chains customers like the most.
25. Benihana
- Locations: 90
- Food: 2.7
- Staff demeanor: 2.2
- Order accuracy: 1.2
- Overall score: 3.66/5
24. Shogun Restaurant
- Locations: 8
- Food: 2.8
- Staff demeanor: 2.3
- Order accuracy: 1.5
- Overall score: 3.92/5
23. Fig & Olive
- Locations: 6
- Food: 3.5
- Staff demeanor: 7.2
- Order accuracy: 1.6
- Overall score: 4.03/5
22. McCormick & Schmick’s
- Locations: 25
- Food: 2.8
- Staff demeanor: 5.8
- Order accuracy: 1.9
- Overall score: 4.06/5
21. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
- Locations: 17
- Food: 2.9
- Staff demeanor: 4.5
- Order accuracy: 2.3
- Overall score: 4.13/5
20. Palm Restaurant
- Locations: 18
- Food: 3.5
- Staff demeanor: 10.9
- Order accuracy: 3.8
- Overall score: 4.13/5
19. Morton’s The Steakhouse
- Locations: 56
- Food: 3.6
- Staff demeanor: 5.6
- Order accuracy: 3.2
- Overall score: 4.14/5
18. Chart House
- Locations: 24
- Food: 3.3
- Staff demeanor: 5.8
- Order accuracy: 2.3
- Overall score: 4.16/5
17. Texas de Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse
- Locations: 51
- Food: 3.6
- Staff demeanor: 3.7
- Order accuracy: 2.4
- Overall score: 4.17/5
16. Nobu
- Locations: 20 (U.S. only)
- Food: 3.9
- Staff demeanor: 2.8
- Order accuracy: 2.3
- Overall score: 4.22/5
15. Stoney River Steakhouse & Grill
- Locations: 13
- Food: 3.6
- Staff demeanor: 5.2
- Order accuracy: 2.5
- Overall score: 4.23/5
14. STK Steakhouse
- Locations: 18
- Food: 3.1
- Staff demeanor: 6.3
- Order accuracy: 2.2
- Overall score: 4.26/5
13. Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
- Locations: 11
- Food: 4.2
- Staff demeanor: 6.5
- Order accuracy: 2.3
- Overall score: 4.29/5
12. Mastro’s Restaurants
- Locations: 20
- Food: 3.5
- Staff demeanor: 4.2
- Order accuracy: 2.4
- Overall score: 4.31/5
11. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- Locations: 133
- Food: 3.8
- Staff demeanor: 7.5
- Order accuracy: 2.9
- Overall score: 4.33/5
10. Eddie Merlot’s Prime Aged Beef & Seafood
- Locations: 12
- Food: 3.9
- Staff demeanor: 7.9
- Order accuracy: 2.8
- Overall score: 4.34/5
9. Bob’s Steak & Chop House
- Locations: 15
- Food: 4.9
- Staff demeanor: 8.8
- Order accuracy: 5.6
- Overall score: 4.45/5
8. The Melting Pot
- Locations: 106
- Food: 5.6
- Staff demeanor: 12.2
- Order accuracy: 3.3
- Overall score: 4.46/5
7. Fogo de Chão
- Locations: 59
- Food: 6.5
- Staff demeanor: 10.3
- Order accuracy: 1.3
- Overall score: 4.48/5
6. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
- Locations: 65
- Food: 4.7
- Staff demeanor: 11.4
- Order accuracy: 5.2
- Overall score: 4.52/5
5. Ocean Prime
- Locations: 18
- Food: 6.4
- Staff demeanor: 12.0
- Order accuracy: 5.6
- Overall score: 4.60/5
4. Capital Grille
- Locations: 65
- Food: 6.2
- Staff demeanor: 12.2
- Order accuracy: 7.1
- Overall score: 4.65/5
3. Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood & Crab
- Locations: 11
- Food: 6.3
- Staff demeanor: 14.1
- Order accuracy: 6.2
- Overall score: 4.66/5
2. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
- Locations: 31
- Food: 7.5
- Staff demeanor: 11.8
- Order accuracy: 7.4
- Overall score: 4.69/5
1. Steak 48
- Locations: 8
- Food: 8.0
- Staff demeanor: 10.8
- Order accuracy: 8.6
- Overall score: 4.72/5