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We tried Texas Roadhouse's $55 'family pack' deal. Between the steak and sides, it was a great value for the 4 of us.

30 de Abril de 2026, 11:34
Author Terri Peters smiling holding bag from Texas Roadhouse
My family was impressed by the food we ordered at Texas Roadhouse.

Terri Peters

  • My family of four tried the "family pack" meal deal at Texas Roadhouse.
  • For $55, we got four steaks, two sides, a dozen rolls, and a salad. It was all tasty.
  • It felt like a great value, and I loved not having to eat inside a Texas Roadhouse to enjoy it.

As much as I love a good steakhouse chain like Outback and LongHorn, Texas Roadhouse has never really impressed me much.

I've always associated the chain with shell-your-own peanuts, loud music, and mediocre steak — and the few sit-down meals I've had there were just OK.

Recently, though, Texas Roadhouse's "family pack" menu caught my eye after I saw several Instagram reels from moms swearing by it. Several described the packs as a great dinnertime hack for feeding your family affordably and fast at home.

So, on a rare weekend night when my husband and two teenagers were all at home together, we picked up Texas Roadhouse's $55 sirloin-steak family pack.

Texas Roadhouse offers several different family packs for pickup or curbside orders.
Exterior of a Texas Roadhouse

Terri Peters

There are several family packs on offer at the chain restaurant, from chicken-tender dinners to pulled-pork meals, all of which come with a salad, two shareable side dishes, and rolls with cinnamon butter.

Each is priced between $40 and $55, which seemed like a deal to me, considering the last time my party of four visited a Texas Roadhouse, a similar meal cost three times as much.

To place our order, I visited the Texas Roadhouse website on my phone, selected the meal I wanted, chose a pickup time, and paid.

Immediately after ordering, I started receiving text-message updates about the status of my order, including how to pick it up.

Later that evening, my husband got our food from Texas Roadhouse's curbside pickup. He texted his parking-space number to the restaurant and waited for our order to be brought out to his car.

The whole process was incredibly easy.

Our $55 meal came with four steaks, two sides, a salad, and rolls.
Four steaks, large salad, bag of rolls, and other sides from Texas Roadhouse on table

Terri Peters

We chose the sirloin family pack for $55, which came with two 8-ounce and two 6-ounce steaks.

When I placed the order, the default cooking temperature was medium, with no option to change it. Luckily, that's how we prefer our steaks cooked anyway.

We also had to choose between a house or Caesar salad, then pick two sides from a list of mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, green beans, and seasoned rice.

Additionally, we could've paid extra to add drinks like a gallon of sweet tea or lemonade to our meal, but we stuck with the basics.

The sirloin steaks were moist and perfectly cooked.
Four steaks in container

Terri Peters

Our four steaks were cooked perfectly with light-pink centers in line with a medium cook.

Out of curiosity, my husband checked each steak's temperature with an internal thermometer and found that each fell between the range that's considered medium, about 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

The steaks had beautiful grill marks and a perfect char-grilled flavor on the outside, while remaining moist and tender on the inside.

We all agreed these were the best steaks we've had from Texas Roadhouse.

There were plenty of side dishes to choose from.
Mashed potatoes, gravy, corn in containers

Terri Peters

As the mom of one picky eater and one kid who will try anything, I appreciated the number of side dishes there were to choose from, from green beans to seasoned rice.

I gladly let my kids pick since everything sounded good to me. Their choices were mashed potatoes with brown gravy and buttered corn, each was served in a huge 16-ounce portion.

Both sides were really delicious and simple. They made perfect accompaniments to our tasty steak, and we had plenty of leftovers afterward that my kids snacked on throughout the week.

My teens were thrilled by the rolls and cinnamon butter.
Texas Roadhouse rolls with container of cinnamon butter

Terri Peters

My kids fondly remember visits to Texas Roadhouse because of the chain's iconic cinnamon butter and golden-brown rolls.

With our family meal, we received a dozen warm rolls and a tub of cinnamon butter so large that we eventually threw half away.

My kids downed most of the rolls during our meal and loved having a few left over to warm in the microwave and slather with cinnamon butter later in the week.

The meal came with so much food that we saved the salad for the next night.
Salad with croutons, container of dressing on side

Terri Peters

For our order, we chose the Caesar instead of the house salad since it's among my daughter's favorite foods.

It came in a 9-by-11-inch aluminum pan along with several containers of Caesar dressing. As I unpacked the meal, I suggested we use the salad for dinner the next day, since we had so much food to eat — my family agreed.

The following night, we paired it with grilled chicken I quickly whipped up to make it into a full dinner. It was a delicious meal, and I'm glad the salad kept well in the lidded aluminum tray.

The lettuce was still nice and crunchy, and the croutons were, too.

Overall, the tasty dinner fed us twice and seemed like a really great value.
Texas Roadhouse bag on table

Terri Peters

When it comes to this Texas Roadhouse meal deal, I truly have no notes.

For the price, we received 32 ounces of well-cooked, sirloin steak, two pounds of side dishes, a dozen rolls, and a gigantic pan-full of salad.

The $55 price tag ($58 after tax) seemed well worth it to me. Plus, some of the other meals available, like pulled pork or pork chops, only cost $45.

I honestly enjoyed Texas Roadhouse's food way more in the privacy of my own home, away from its loud music and bustling bar scene.

I'd absolutely order this deal again to feed my family, and I'll also keep it in mind the next time I get a meal train sign-up email for someone in need.

It would be perfect for dropping off at a friend's or neighbor's house, especially since everything was packaged up so well with coordinating, air-tight lids.

The pack contained so much food that a small family could easily stretch it for a few days.

This story was originally published on September 1, 2025, and most recently updated on April 29, 2026.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I ate at Red Lobster for the first time since its revamp. I miss Endless Shrimp, but I can't wait to go back.

15 de Março de 2026, 08:34
red lobster shrimp your way times square
I tried Red Lobster after not eating there for two years. I can't wait to go back.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

  • I tried Red Lobster's "Shrimp Your Way" special and compared it to the chain's $30 endless shrimp.
  • Both featured the same shrimp-powered menu items.
  • I thought the portion sizes and quality of the food were better the second time around.

Red Lobster is clawing its way to the top with a new CEO, a new menu, and no bottomless shrimp in sight.

Red Lobster's Endless Shrimp deal was once so popular that it helped sink the company into bankruptcy — and when I tried it for myself two years ago, I could see why.

After expanding the promo to run every day in 2023, the chain racked up millions in losses as seafood costs soared, and the too-good-to-be-true special backfired, contributing to the chain's May 2024 bankruptcy filing.

Under new CEO Damola Adamolekun, Red Lobster is in comeback mode. The chain has scrapped Endless Shrimp in favor of value-driven promotions like "Shrimp Your Way" and the seasonal Lobster Fest, and is betting on a leaner, fresher menu to power its 2026 turnaround.

The company officially exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 16, 2024.

I went back to Red Lobster nearly two years after my last visit to see for myself how the chain has changed, if at all, and compare the same meal I had two years ago to what it's serving up now.

While my plates looked nearly identical, one was clearly the better value, with higher quality taste and larger portion sizes.

I ate both meals at Red Lobster's Times Square location.
red lobster times square

Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images

To keep things consistent, I ordered both meals at the chain's Times Square restaurant.

I wanted to see how the revamped menu stacked up against what I remembered, from portion sizes to presentation and overall value.

The first time I went was in June 2024, shortly after the chain had filed for bankruptcy protection.

Red Lobster's menu underwent a revamp in 2026.
new menu red lobster

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

As part of its turnaround plan, Red Lobster closed over 100 underperforming locations during bankruptcy proceedings.

The chain also streamlined its menu to focus on core seafood favorites and value-driven combos.

It cut back on underperforming items and has been leaning into customizable samplers like "Shrimp Your Way" and the weekday-only shrimp trio. There are also a few new menu items, including a lobster roll, lobster pappardelle, and brand-new seafood boils.

The changes are proving successful for the chain. The Wall Street Journal reported in February that sales had increased by around 10% compared with the same period last year, and customer visits jumped 18% in July after seafood boils were introduced.

I ordered three kinds of shrimp and the same side dish both times I went. Here's the plate I received during my visit two years ago.
red lobster times square

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

In 2024, I ordered the Endless Shrimp, while in 2026, I chose its closest equivalent, Shrimp Your Way, a former promotion that returned in January.

For both meals, I ordered the grilled shrimp, Walt's favorite shrimp, and the Parrot Isle coconut shrimp.

At first glance, the meals looked nearly identical. However, once I started digging in, the differences became much more noticeable.

When I ordered it in June 2024, it was priced at $25. At the Times Square location, however, it cost $30 for unlimited refills of any of the three types of shrimp I ordered, in addition to other dishes like garlic shrimp scampi and shrimp linguini Alfredo.

Two years later, I noticed a few changes.
red lobster shrimp your way times square

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The most obvious difference between the two meals was the price — Shrimp Your Way lets guests choose from two, three, or four kinds of shrimp, plus one side, for a set price.

I chose to order three kinds of shrimp — the grilled shrimp, Walt's favorite shrimp, and the Parrot Isle coconut shrimp — for $25.99, excluding tax and tip.

Another major difference: Shrimp Your Way isn't an all-you-can-eat option.

The shrimp skewer from the old Endless Shrimp promotion came with a small serving of wild rice.
red lobster times square

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The shrimp I ordered in 2024 was grilled and had a buttery garlic glaze. I thought the shrimp were on the smaller side, but since there were six of them on the skewer, I didn't mind.

The skewer felt like a somewhat healthier option compared to the decadent, intensely rich dishes I've had at Red Lobster before, like the shrimp linguini or the lobster dip.

The rice was also flavorful and well-seasoned — it was a nice addition to my plate.

At the time, I was impressed by the portion size. However, looking back, I now think the portion size of rice was pretty small.

Then again, the assumption is that people will keep refilling and refilling their plates.

The portion of rice in the Shrimp Your Way deal appeared much larger.
shrimp your way shrimp skewer red lobster

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Instead of a small scoop of wild rice, this rice covered half of the plate, which I wasn't expecting. Even though, under the revamped menu, I wasn't able to keep refilling my plate, I definitely think the extra rice made it feel like a great value for less than $30.

The shrimp were just as crispy and juicy years later, with the same rich, garlicky flavor I enjoyed the first time.

I ordered coleslaw as my side for both meals.
red lobster times square

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Both times, the coleslaw was fresh and tangy, and its dressing packed a lot of flavor while not overpowering the vegetables.

The coleslaw brought a light, citrus flavor that balanced my meal.

The serving, again, was bigger during my most recent visit.
red lobster coleslaw

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It was piled onto the plate, and I thought the coleslaw itself tasted even fresher and more flavorful than I remembered it being years ago.

During my first visit, I thought the classic fried shrimp had a nice crispy outer shell.
red lobster times square

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I was given five pieces of Walt's shrimp as part of the Endless Shrimp promotion. They came with a small tub of cocktail sauce, which I thought had a tart, tomato flavor that complemented the shrimp.

I enjoyed these shrimp and thought the breading was the ideal thickness. However, compared to the grilled shrimp and the coconut shrimp, they could have used a touch more flavor.

They really just tasted like breading and plain shrimp.

I got five pieces of Walt's shrimp again in 2026, but this time they were fried to a deeper golden brown.
walts shrimp red lobster

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I majorly preferred the shrimp now, which were more heavily fried and, I thought, more flavorful as well. Something about the seasoning was more pronounced, and I liked how they paired with the other varieties of shrimp.

I also received more dipping sauce this time around. In addition to the classic cocktail sauce and piña colada sauce served with the coconut shrimp, I also got a side of tartar sauce, which turned out to be my favorite of the three.

It was creamy and tangy, and it paired well with all three types of shrimp.

My favorite of the three varieties I tried was the Paradise Isle jumbo coconut shrimp.
red lobster times square

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

In both 2024 and 2026, the platter came with four pieces of coconut shrimp and a piña colada-flavored dipping sauce.

I thought that including it as part of the $30 endless shrimp deal was a great value.

The coconut shavings flaked off in my mouth with every bite, adding a level of sweetness to my otherwise savory platter of shrimp.

I enjoyed the coconut shrimp just as much the second time around.
coconut shrimp red lobster

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The creamy, pineapple-flavored sauce added tartness to the coconut shrimp, and I found the meat inside to be quite tender.

The benefit of the old Endless Shrimp promotion was that I could keep ordering more.
red lobster times square

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I definitely would have been satisfied with just the first platter of shrimp. However, for the sake of journalism and trying to get the biggest bang for my buck, I decided to order more.

When our server came back to check in, I was given the choice of two shrimp dishes. I chose to get the shrimp skewer and the coconut shrimp again.

My second shrimp skewer in the Endless Shrimp promotion didn't come with rice, but I didn't mind.
red lobster times square

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Again, the shrimp was buttery and tender. I didn't struggle too much to finish this second helping.

However, by the time I got to the second plate of coconut shrimp, I was shrimped out.
red lobster times square

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Despite the aroma of the coconut shrimp calling to me, I couldn't finish more than one of them.

My most recent Red Lobster experience had me wishing Endless Shrimp would make a comeback.
shrimp your way red lobster

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Here's the deal: I know Endless Shrimp is objectively a bad business idea.

It's not cost-effective for Red Lobster. Also, I could barely get through two servings of each type of shrimp, and the shrimp are noticeably better now, at least in my experience.

However, after my second visit, I wished — for just $5 more — that I could load up my plate with refills of all three shrimp dishes.

The chain's new CEO hasn't ruled out bringing back Endless Shrimp, though it won't return anytime soon or be exactly like it was.

"I don't want to say anything's forever forever, but the way it was done on an endless fashion without managing how much is being given away, and yeah, the way it was done, it's certainly the end," Adamolekun told the Wall Street Journal podcast in October 2024.

If Endless Shrimp ever does make its grand return, I'll be first in line. Until then, I can't wait to go back to Red Lobster and try more of its revamped menu.

Business Insider reached out to Red Lobster for comment, but did not receive a response.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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