What does steakhouse mean?
A steakhouse is a restaurant whose main specialty is steak, usually prepared as grilled or broiled beef and served with side dishes such as potatoes, vegetables, salads, and sauces. The word can refer to anything from a modest neighborhood restaurant to an expensive establishment with an extensive wine list and formal service. In everyday conversation, steakhouse often suggests hearty portions, simple but substantial cooking, and a menu built around beef. It is also used more broadly for restaurants serving steak alongside seafood, chicken, and other entrées. The compound is transparent: a steakhouse is a house, or establishment, devoted to steak. It is especially common in British and American English and is often used when describing dinners, celebrations, business meals, and traditional dining experiences.
nounA restaurant that specializes in steaks, typically serving grilled or broiled cuts of beef and often other steakhouse accompaniments such as potatoes, vegetables, and house-made sauces.
- A restaurant specializing in steaks and related dishes.
"They celebrated their anniversary with dinner at an old-fashioned steakhouse."
"The steakhouse serves several cuts of beef, including ribeye and sirloin."
"After the performance, they went to a steakhouse for a late dinner."
The regular plural is steakhouses.
"Several steakhouses in the city are known for their dry-aged beef."
The word combines two everyday food-related terms: the meat itself and the place where it is served.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does steakhouse come from?
Steakhouse is an English compound formed from steak and house. Steak comes from Old Norse steik, meaning meat, especially a cut of meat, while house descends from Old English hūs, referring to a dwelling or building. The compound uses these elements literally to name an establishment specializing in steak.
How steakhouse is actually used
The term is common in British and American English and can sound traditional, upscale, or somewhat masculine, although modern steakhouses vary widely in price and style.
Easily confused with steakhouse
A steak is a cut of beef, whereas a steakhouse is a restaurant that specializes in serving steaks.