A few nights ago at the Outback, I enjoyed an ample 6 ounce slab of sirloin, Caesar salad and baked potato (with the usual trimmings) for $9.95. A lotta' meal for not alotta' money, backed by the Outback's invariably excellent service. (They must have one of the sharpest training programs of any of the chains.) Another tasty choice was the $15.95 steak and bake combo at the Mt. Washington Tavern, featuring a 16 ounce Black Angus T-bone. Only caveat -- when the Tavern is busy, it's been known to run out of its advertised specials.

Whoops! I should have noted that the Mt. Washington Tavern's steak and bake combo is available only on Tuesday nights.

Maisey's On North Charles St. offers a $11.95 Black Angus NY Strip Sun-Weds. It is quite amazing. Went last week and going again this Weds.

MAG has actually ht on the two-for-one combo of inexpensive good quality steak/prime rib and excellent bread. Prior to the Outback opening in Canton, we found that the Claddaugh pub on the square had a very similar dinner and price point. Maybe someone who has been there more recently can say if its still that good.

On Thursdays, you can get a 12 oz. NY Strip steak, salad, baked potato & dessert for $12.95 at the Hudson Street Stackhouse in Canton. That's probably more red meat than one is supposed to eat in a week (but if you don't go every week ...)

Bare Bones on Route 40 in Ellicott City. It ain't a fancy joint, but you get a prime rib dinner for under $20. Plus, good select of their home-made brews.

Outback. It's the only place I get steak other than Fogo de Chao or Ruth's Chris.

Shannon's Saloon in the strip center at Chatham Road and Route 40 West in Ellicott City has a $14.95 Prime Rib special on Tuesdays.

Outback. You just can't beat the value, esp. if you get the sirloin. Can be a bit on the dry side, but drop another $2 for mushrooms and you've got a very nice meal.

2nd choice would be the flatiron at Friday's.

Little Havana on tues nights (i think...) is their prime rib night. 1buck an ounce.

Red Brick Station on Wednesdays, I think. Their website doesn't say and my memory's not too good.

9 oz steak, salad, baked potato and one imperial pint for $14.

Great deal, great food.

I didn't intend on having good food that night, just a pint.
Unlike most of my bar adventures that result in over-drinking, this one delved into over-eating.

And I'm more than fine with that.

To FLIRV's question, Claddagh in Canton does indeed still earn good quality-to-price points for its steaks. That's especially true on the two week nights when, alternately, prime rib and NY strip are on special--both under $16, I'm pretty sure. Outback isn't bad, but I think the quality of the meat at Claddagh is clearly (ahem) a cut above.

Michael's Steak & Lobster House on Eastern Ave near Dundalk Ave. Every Thursday night there is something like a 20-oz steak (choice of New York Strip, Porterhouse, or Prime Rib) for something like $17.95. This is an old-school, comfortable family restaurant where you can get a glass of wine, and be served by some genuine classic waitresses who have worked there for years. I have always gotten a great steak there and plenty of leftovers to take home.

Tuesday nights at Corks. Excellent.

Hamilton Tavern has a good inexpensive steak special weekly, though I have forgotten which night.

Todd Conner's--$11.95, I think, on Wednesday nights.

The Carne Asada at Mari Luna Mexican Grille. $13.00. Take your own bottle of Cahors and be in beef heaven.

It's been a while since I've been to SoBo Cafe, but I remember they used to have a decent NY Strip on their menu.

The Original Steakhouse and Sports Theatre on Joppa Road in the Carney area has pretty good and some times great steaks starting at about $15.00. This includes 2 sides, soups or salads. Also reduced price drinks between 4 and 7 monday thru friday. The bar area is a bit noisy but the dining area is OK.

Michael's Steak & Lobster House on Eastern Ave near Dundalk Ave. Every Thursday night there is something like a 20-oz steak (choice of New York Strip, Porterhouse, or Prime Rib) for something like $17.95.

Actually, the Thursday special is 40 oz. steaks, choice of prime rib, T-bone, or porterhouse, for $16.95.

Get thee to Severna Park. The Woodfire Restuarant gives Ruth's Chris a run for the money. Not the cheapest but the steaks are amazing. The house salad used to be top notch but they dumbed it down for the burbs, taking out the pine nuts and replacing them with sunflower seeds (too many people thought pine nuts were nuts and didn't want them due to allergies).

New York Strip for 22 dollars comes exactly as you like it (med/rare here) with a wonderful woodfired grill crust and juicy juicy juicy innerds.

Not at all pretentious with a friendly staff and a decent bar.

I second Michael's on Eastern Ave. A 40 oz bone-in Prime Rib for $17 (that's the special) is just ridiculous, AND you get 2 sides!!! It's really enough for 3 people to eat comfortably.... or just me.

They would/could also double as the best crab cake value in Baltimore- one night of the week you can get two fist-sized jumbo lump cakes for around 20 bucks with two sides.

As a restaurant operator myself, I just don't see how they are making any money but God bless them for all they do.

I didn't care for the crabcakes at Michael's. They ddn't taste like they were made from proper blue crab.

I haven't gotten up the nerve to try the 40 ounce steaks, part because I find it hard to believe that the quality will be good for that price, and part because it's way too much food.

The flatiron at TGIF IS tasty, but honestly, the noise and crowds aren't worth it!

BTW, The Prime Rib is STILL advertising "Restaurant Weeks continue into the Fall" (not Saturdays). I made a reservation for 10/8 for our anniversary and will let y'all know how the RW menu is...they won't show it on-line.

The flip side of this post: On our first visit to Ryan's Daughter, my husband tried the NY Strip. It was NASTY--an uneven end cut that was 1-1/2" at the top and 1/2" at the bottom, about half fat, and gray all the way through. UGH! Sure hope they do better nowadays.

I'm uncomfortable with it, but I have to add myself to the gang who have had a great cheap steak dinner at Outback. I'm not comfortable about it because there's something about Outback that I really don't like, but can't really put my finger on it.

I will say eat in one of the bar booths if you can, it totally minimizes the sensation of eating in a "family" restaurant and that did indeed make my enjoyment level rise.

"Actually, the Thursday special is 40 oz. steaks, choice of prime rib, T-bone, or porterhouse, for $16.95."

Thanks for clarifying that, Mr. Ed. All I know is, the steak is BIG; I always feel like I'm one of the Flintstones when the waitress arrives with the tray.

Not picking on you Joyce, (really), but:

It feels like almost every day on any given thread there's a "regular" making some kind of comment, implicit or explicit, about how unpleasant it is to be around families and/or children. If they're not talking about minimizing the unpleasant sensation of dining in a family restaurant, they're stereotyping children as misbehavers, or rolling their eyes at the audacity of some horrible parent having their child in proximity to the non-parent's happy hour.

You were all children once, and probably a member of a family, and I don't believe for a minute that you were all the quiet seen-but-not-heard types you seem to expect. Say what you want about your parents being strict disciplinarians; anybody that has kids knows that the most disciplined, even cowed, child will indeed disturb an adult stranger at some point, if only for a minute or two, and everybody lives through it just fine.

I know it's gone around and around and everybody is sick of the discussion. But it's bizarre to me that it's unacceptable to voice stereotypes of people because of gender or color or sexual preference, but people are perfectly okay voicing stereotypes about "screaming brats" or "children running all over a restaurant".

I'm getting to where I should probably save myself the irritation and stop reading the comments, because the intolerance seems pretty widespread. This is the only blog or discussion group I read that has such a culture of negativity towards children acting childish.

Joyce, I'm with you on Outback and if I ever figure out what's "off" about the ambience, I'll get back to you.....

Joyce and Eve, I'm so glad I'm not alone. Is it the lighting?

Pokey, you obviously don't realize that I have a 17 y.o. who's eaten in restaurants with me since he was an infant. I sought out "family restaurants" for him when he was at the age where he might not be on his best behavior, as that is what they are there for.

I was only pointing out that Outback is indeed a family restaurant but that eating in the bar area is less so.

And, the family part isn't what annoys me about the place. It could be that I'm paying for a meal that I could make just as easily at home, but I'm not sure that's it either. I don't feel the same way about Carrabas or Bonefish and they are all part of the same chain.

Stacy, it could be the lighting...

Joyce, maybe it's the faux-Australian thing.

Prime rib at Bare Bones is actually all-you-can-eat on Thursdays after 4.