Columbus is big. In fact, it’s sprawling. And there are literally dozens of steakhouses to choose from. So where should you go for that perfect cut? Well, we’ve got some thoughts. This is an impossible city to navigate all at once. But we can help you have a pretty good go—all while avoiding the tourist traps and overhyped chains. These steakhouses aren’t all the newest or most classic. They just make sense for a memorable meal. And yes, all are easily accessible from anywhere in the city.
Eddie Merlot’s
$$$$ | (614) 433-7307 | WEBSITE
This elegant steakhouse destination in Columbus is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates impeccable dining, plus the service is outstanding. It’s perfection via the medium of a Wagyu ribeye, lobster tail, and expertly prepared sides. Eddie Merlot’s attentive staff elevates—nay, enhances—the experience and delivers it throughout one beautifully appointed dining room.
The Top Steak House
$$$$ | (614) 231-8238 | WEBSITE
Open for decades, The Top Steak House is a Columbus institution in waiting. A meal at this classic steakhouse is a must for anyone who appreciates old-school charm alongside perfectly cooked filet mignon. Given it’s the steakhouse that set the standard for every other meat-focused restaurant in Ohio, it doesn’t come cheap. Just know that a dinner at The Top Steak House (which must end with a generous cocktail) is a stunning piece of Columbus history.
Outback Steakhouse
$$ | (614) 310-5754 | WEBSITE
There’s a sense of cheerful energy radiating from every corner of this Aussie-themed steakhouse with its warm, inviting dining room in Columbus. It’s just one of the reasons Outback Steakhouse is a spot you can’t help but want to settle into, whether you’re sharing cheese fries at the bar or enjoying perfectly cooked steaks in the main dining area.
If you snag a table with your group on a busy evening, know you’ve chosen wisely and order the Aussie 3 course meal: a lot of food at a great price, complete with fresh chimichurri sauce.
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
$$$$ | (614) 224-2204 | WEBSITE
Some steakhouses chase accolades but Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse is so exceptional that recognition comes effortlessly. Head server Paul provides such attentive, professional service that regulars follow him from table to table, and this classic Columbus spot still serves some of the most tender, marbled Tomahawk steak around.
The staff still circulates through the pleasant, inviting restaurant, checking on guests, offering to bring more of that ‘off the hook’ lobster bisque to complement the perfectly cooked Ryan Day steak, and making you feel like you’re dining at a really refined, really popular club where every detail matters.
Texas de Brazil – Columbus
$$$ | (614) 470-5900 | WEBSITE
There is no dining experience more indulgent than the Brazilian steakhouse, so when somewhere like Texas de Brazil executes it so flawlessly, you should pay extra special attention. This vibrant and energetic restaurant in Columbus offers perfectly crafted drinks and outstandingly seasoned meats that come with an impressive salad bar and excellent wine selections.
The top-notch gaucho-carved cuts should be priority, but there’s an impressive array of salad bar options like the best scalloped potatoes as well.
Butcher & Rose
$$$$ | (614) 918-9819 | WEBSITE
There isn’t a city more serious about steak, celebration, and savoring every bite than Columbus. There are legendary steakhouses like The Top or Jeff Ruby’s within a drive of each other. But when you’re after something truly special, the answer is always Butcher & Rose. This elegant steakhouse is at its brilliant best when settling into its refined, reservation-encouraged, dining room.
Fire kisses Piedmontese filets and lamb chops to perfection, while couples and business diners savor over-the-top amazing steaks and ask for one more order of those whipped potatoes.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
$$$$ | (614) 927-5663 | WEBSITE
Open since 1965, Ruth’s Chris Steak House is a destination for both visitors seeking a classic, indulgent steakhouse experience of the finest American variety, and those who have been dining here for decades. If you’re looking for a more relaxed evening in terms of bustle, visit the Columbus location during the week. That said, the staff always make sure Ruth’s Chris is an elegant and welcoming place to be, with attentive service that goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable meal.
Texas Roadhouse
$$ | (614) 436-8300 | WEBSITE
Locating a reliable steakhouse in the midst of a bustling suburban strip mall can be challenging, but Texas Roadhouse delivers the goods even when it’s packed with families and weekend diners. The self-styled casual steak destination has lines out the door and, while a perfectly cooked ribeye might make a budget-conscious diner pause when they see the modest tab, the grilling is consistent here.
Sit inside where it’s lively with regulars and you’ll be in good company puzzling over the addictive rolls and butter.
York Steak House
$ | (614) 272-6485 | WEBSITE
Visitors to Columbus should always do their best to embrace the nostalgia here, and stepping through those thick wooden doors into the cafeteria-style ordering line is a strong start. Where most other steakhouses are solely made for fine dining, York Steak House is built for quick service downstairs and savoring surprisingly good, affordable steaks in its warm, old hall atmosphere with instrumental music humming in the background.
This charming, timeless venue can fill as much or as little of an evening as you’d like.
Mitchell’s Steakhouse
$$$$ | (614) 888-2467 | WEBSITE
At Mitchell’s Steakhouse there’s a Price Fix weekday menu, prime ribeye on the plate, and low noise levels that will cradle your conversation through a second glass of wine. But that undersells it. This polished, memorable Columbus steakhouse serves quintessential American indulgence with the attentive precision and warmth of a seasoned maître d’.
With Bernese sauce drizzling over well-cooked steak and personal anniversary cards on the table, this is a dining room that’s truly fit for a special occasion.
Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, Columbus
$$$$ | (614) 686-7800 | WEBSITE
Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, a classic NYC-style establishment in Columbus, is celebrated for its expertly prepared steaks and attentive service for good reason. This is the go-to destination for special occasions, after all. The Caesar salad and Brussels sprouts are prepared with care and the mac and cheese remains a crowd-pleaser. The cozy, kitschy atmosphere with its classic steakhouse touches can make it feel a little formal here but the knowledgeable servers treat everyone like a valued guest.
The basement bar offers a relaxed environment for enjoying their fun drink list, including mocktails, and the reasonably priced wine selection adds to the appeal. From the moment you arrive, you’re well attended to, whether celebrating an event or winding down after a long day.
J. Gilbert’s Wood Fired Steaks & Seafood Columbus
$$$ | (614) 840-9090 | WEBSITE
J. Gilbert’s Wood Fired Steaks & Seafood Columbus is not your run-of-the-mill steakhouse. The spacious dining room is designed for comfort with warm wood accents and soft lighting, there’s a bustling open kitchen showcasing the wood-fired grills, and its crème brûlée is a rich and creamy revelation. There are plenty of tables in this welcoming space but we like the larger booths best for group celebrations and attentive service from staff like Christian who make every guest feel special.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
$$ | (614) 468-9180 | WEBSITE
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is Columbus’s temple of American steakhouse cookery. Its wood-fired cooking approach is known throughout the region. The prime rib is an experience that every person should have at least once in their life. In fact, the whole restaurant is. From the lively bar area, filled with the noise of glasses clinking and sizzling steaks cooking, to the bustling dining room where wine is poured and filet and shrimp is served alongside charred carrots.
LongHorn Steakhouse
$$ | (614) 855-0200 | WEBSITE
If you don’t enjoy a visit to LongHorn Steakhouse, you are either very serious about your diet or need more joy in your life. The Columbus stalwart perfectly straddles the space between a comforting neighborhood steakhouse, an Instagram-ready, fire-grilled destination for food lovers, and somewhere local families can celebrate special occasions.
Evenings are soundtracked by servers checking on tables with genuine warmth, the manager making rounds to ensure every guest feels special, and the sizzle of perfectly seasoned steaks hitting plates. The fire-grilled corn alone is worth the trip, and the salmon and filet keep regulars coming back for that complete dining experience where the food is always fresh, the service is amazing, and the atmosphere stays clean and welcoming.
The Avenue Steak Tavern
$$$ | (614) 485-9447 | WEBSITE
The Avenue Steak Tavern’s warm, inviting entrance is Columbus’s coziest and most welcoming portal. The upscale homage is all espresso martinis and perfectly cooked filets, and everyone who steps inside is made to feel like a VIP. Between the servers’ helpful suggestions—”the dessert? A nice surprise, just like this place”—to the perfectly paced food arriving at just the right moment, it’s impossible not to leave feeling just a bit more satisfied.