I ordered the same meal at Texas Roadhouse and Outback Steakhouse. The winning chain had lower prices and better bread.

I, like many others, spent many years assuming Texas Roadhouse and Outback Steakhouse were basically the same thing: a mid-grade American steakhouse commonly located off a freeway exit.In actuality, the chains are more different than I realized.

For one, Texas Roadhouse has been leading the casual-dining industry by sales in recent years, beating out steakhouses like Outback and even popular chains like Chili’s and Olive Garden.Big-picture numbers and broad scale popularity aside, I was curious which chain truly offered the best bites and overall value.To find out, I went to each chain in one Friday evening, visiting locations in a small Chicago suburb near my parents’ house.

Conveniently, they were right across the street from each other.I ordered the most comparable menu items: mozzarella sticks as an appetizer; 6-ounce sirloin steak as a main dish; mac and cheese and mashed potatoes as sides; and a brownie for dessert.Here’s how the chains measured up across taste, price, value, and experience.