I visited Longhorn Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and Texas Roadhouse with a $50 budget. The prices didn't vary much, but the value did.

• To find out which chain offered the best value, I ordered similar menu items at each one.
• I liked the meal from Outback best, and thought the bread, steak, and dessert were fantastic.

I was given a complimentary loaf of honey-wheat bread.

For dessert, I ordered a brownie sundae.

For dessert, I decided on the $8.99 Big Ol’ Brownie, topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

I liked it better than the lava cake from Longhorn. However, it couldn’t quite compete with the dessert I got at Outback. Overall, I thought the chocolate lacked richness.

In total, before tax and tip, I spent $40.48 at Texas Roadhouse, making it the least-expensive meal I had.

Overall, I thought the meal at Outback provided the best value.

In total, I spent $41.77 at Longhorn, $45.77 at Outback, and $40.48 at Texas Roadhouse.

And although Texas Roadhouse was the cheapest of the three meals, I think the other chains offered far more value.

This surprised me, since I’ve dined at Texas Roadhouse before and had a fantastic meal. Next time, I’ll stick to my go-to order: barbecue ribs, mashed potatoes, and seasoned corn.

Overall, I thought Outback Steakhouse provided the best-tasting food and the most value for my money. In my opinion, this meal was definitely worth spending a few extra dollars on.

I’ll definitely return for another delicious, perfectly cooked steak, but I’ll probably switch the mac and cheese for another side.