Quality Test Your Go-To Steakhouse By Ordering This Menu Item (Hint, It's Not Steak)

You know that your favorite steakhouse can transform standard beef into something heavenly, but have you ever wondered whether it's got what it takes to wow guests with entrees outside of the beef world? 87 Sussex executive chef Brian Walter spoke exclusively with Chowhound about what you can order to quality-check your favorite steakhouse beyond ordering your standard steak. His go-to way to find out whether the crew knows what they're doing in the kitchen? Ordering a roast chicken.

"A proper roast chicken reflects discipline, but it also starts with the product," says Walter, former corporate executive chef at Char Steakhouse and owner of Bayberry Culinary Consultants. "The quality of the bird tells you immediately whether a chef is sourcing with intention," he explains, adding that sourcing can help gauge whether the restaurant treats its ingredients with a certain level of respect. He went on to tell us that technique is just as important as sourcing. "Evenly rendered, crisp skin, well-seasoned flesh, and a jus that is built, not improvised. There is no excess, just execution." While steak may be the reason you make a reservation at your favorite restaurant, it by no means should be the only thing it does well. "Great cooking is consistent," says Walter. "Clean, precise plating, thoughtful composition, and proper technique should be evident in everything that leaves the pass."

Ordering roast chicken isn't the only way to get an idea of what's going on behind the scenes at your favorite steakhouse. According to chef Brian Walter, you can also take a look at the quality of a steak restaurant's sides and sauces to learn whether it has its stuff together in the back-of-house. "If the vegetables lack precision, the sauces lack depth, or the presentation feels careless, then the discipline is not there." Another way some chefs check out the quality of a restaurant before the steak arrives: the pre-dinner salad. A solid steakhouse should know how to make a great classic Caesar salad, and the croutons should be made in-house. In addition to great food (including a roast chicken that can hold its own alongside the steaks on the menu), service ambiance also play a role, according to Walter. He says that you should look for servers who take pride in their job and are clearly knowledgeable about the menu. 

Of course, there are also some red flags that you can look out for when you're trying to find a great steakhouse. A sloppy floor staff — for example, a waitstaff that's wearing dirty aprons or doesn't quickly acknowledge you when you walk through the door — can be a sign that you might be in for a not-so-great experience. The same cleanliness you'd expect from the restaurant should also translate to the food itself, according to Walter. No matter what you order, you should be impressed by what you see on the plate when it gets to your table, whether you ordered roast chicken or your go-to steak order. You're looking for something "clean, precise, nothing unnecessary," according to Walter.