Which Steakhouse Has Cheaper Drinks, LongHorn Or Outback?

Chefs at chain restaurants ostensibly know the secrets to cooking the juiciest steak, but that doesn't mean you don't also need something to wash down your sirloin or ribeye. At casual steakhouses like Outback and LongHorn, guests have a variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to slake their thirst. We're going to cover the latter, where comparisons are easier and more direct. Both Outback Steakhouse, which has its origins in Florida, and LongHorn offer fountain-based Coke products. Is one steakhouse's soda cheaper than the other's? "Cheap" may be a relative term for overpriced restaurant beverages, but, surprisingly, one chain really does the other when it comes to cola affordability.

With the proviso that menu prices are subject to vary, one Florida branch of LongHorn is, as of this writing, offering its standard fountain drinks for $3.59, with certain options like flavored iced teas and lemonades costing a bit more at $3.99. Over at a nearby Outback location, however, all basic Coke products are $3.99. 

Forty cents may not seem like a huge deal when it comes to just one drink, but, if we're talking about a whole party's worth of quaffs — such is the case when you take the whole family out, for instance — that difference can really add up. While LongHorn has Outback beaten in terms of cheaper drinks, don't count Outback out just yet, as it still has something extra going for it when it comes to drink choices.

First of all, Outback and LongHorn aren't 100% comparable when it comes to drink options. Both offer basic Coke products (ever wonder why Diet Coke has more caffeine than regular Coke?), but Outback additionally offers Dr Pepper. That's not the only difference. On one hand, LongHorn has a few juice choices you won't get at Outback, like cranberry, apple, and orange juice. LongHorn also has more lemonade flavors than Outback. Given that these juices are standard bar mixers, however, we can't help but wonder if they're available at Outback and simply not listed on the menu.

Where Outback really shines and sets itself apart, however, is when it comes to mocktails. It currently offers three different refreshers, sparkling water-based mocktails with juice and fruit inclusions that come in cucumber lime, strawberry peach, and blackberry. All are effervescent and look cool in a way that mimics alcoholic options without the booze, making them a treat for both teetotalers and the underaged. Best of all, these refreshers clock in at $3.99 apiece — the same price that Outback charges for its plain jane sodas.

Few people are making the choice between LongHorn and Outback based on non-alcoholic drink options, but it's definitely interesting to note the similarities and differences between the two menus. There are some distinct drink choices at each restaurant, but Outback sets itself apart with some mocktail options that LongHorn hasn't yet matched. If you're out to dinner with a bunch of soda drinkers, however, you may lean towards LongHorn based on that 40-cent savings per beverage.