8 Once-Loved American Steakhouses That Are Gone Forever

It might be an overstatement, but steakhouses are the backbone of suburban America. They’re where prom kids, business bros, and families celebrating Dad’s birthday all end up under one roof. Every family has that mid-tier steakhouse — the go-to spot for “big night outs” when a regular dinner just wouldn’t cut it.

And that’s why, when a steakhouse shuts down — no matter how worn-out, kitschy, or outdated — it still stirs up a little nostalgia.

Here are eight beloved steakhouses that closed forever.

Valle’s Steak House was the kind of place where families went for a “fancy” night out without actually splurging. Founded in 1933, the Portland, Maine-born chain was one of the first to ride the steak-and-lobster wave, and it worked. It grew substantially and, by the 1960s, became a big deal in the Northeast.

It became famous for its massive dining rooms — some seating over 1,000 guests — and for serving high-quality steaks and seafood at prices that wouldn’t make you wince. But when the ‘70s recession hit and founder Donald Valle passed in 1977, the chain struggled to keep up.

Stores started closing, and Valle’s limped along for decades until 2000, when the last location in Portland finally shut down.

Only a few might remember Mr. Steak, now just a blurry memory of a mid-tier family steakhouse that served okay-ish steaks without breaking the bank. But Mr. Steak was big once, with nearly 300 locations across the country.

It started in 1962 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a simple concept: affordable, mid-tier steak dinners in a casual setting. It worked, and by the 1970s, Mr. Steak had become a nationwide chain. But, as it usually goes, instead of sticking to what worked, the chain got greedy, expanded the menu, added seafood, and lost its identity. By the late ‘80s, Mr. Steak was struggling.

The company eventually filed for bankruptcy, and corporate-owned locations began closing. Some franchisees held on a little longer, but the writing was on the wall, and the last location closed in 2009.

Steak and Ale was one of the first chains to bring affordable steakhouse dining to the masses. Founded by Norman Brinker (the same guy who later helped Chili’s explode in popularity) in 1966 in Dallas, Texas, it introduced a "fancy casual" steakhouse model. It had a simple concept: quality steaks, a salad bar, and unlimited honey wheat bread at affordable prices in a dimly lit setting. It pioneered the salad bar trend, and its “herb-roasted prime rib” became a signature dish.

By the 1970s and ‘80s, the chain had over 280 locations across the U.S. But as the market changed, newer chains with more modern menus took over, and Steak and Ale started slipping. By 2008, the chain had filed for bankruptcy, and all remaining locations shut down.

New Jerseyans don’t need any introduction to Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse. For decades, it was the place for prime rib, steaks, and that salad bar people wouldn’t stop talking about. It started in 1966, grew fast, and, at its peak, had nearly 50 locations across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

But by 2010, the chain started slipping, and 20 locations shut their doors. A few held on, and there was even an attempt at a comeback with new openings, but it never fully bounced back. Then came 2020, and the pandemic took care of what was left. With dining rooms closed for months, most remaining locations didn’t survive.

Today, twoCharlie Brown’s locationsare still standing — one in Scotch Plains, one in Woodbury — but for how much longer is anyone’s guess.

There is a towering neon cactus sign on Route 1 in Saugus, Massachusetts, one that, for decades, practically yelled at passing drivers to stop for a steak—and they did. Soon after it opened in 1961, Hilltop Steak House became one of the busiest restaurants in America.

It was nothing fancy, but it didn’t need to be. It offered oversized steaks at low prices, and it could seat over 1,200 diners at a time.

But then dining trends changed, competition grew, and Hilltop started losing steam. By the early 2000s, the once-booming restaurant struggled to stay relevant. In 2013,Hilltop Steak Houseclosed for good.

The only thing that remains of the restaurant is the neon cactus sign.

Kids of the 1980s might remember the grinning, mustachioed Charlie promising, "We won’t stop giving until you say uncle!" The ads invited diners — mostly around the New York metro area and Northeast — to come try the never-ending shrimp, bottomless beer, steak, and whatnot at Beefsteak Charlie’s.

Founded in the 1970s, the chain expanded fast, reaching nearly 60 locations. It wasn’t about premium steaks, but it made up for it with affordable meat, endless sides, and a free-flowing drink policy that felt almost too good to be true.

As it seems, nobody was saying uncle, and giving away unlimited booze and shrimp for cheap isn’t the best business model. Profits tanked, ownership changed hands a few times, and by the late ‘80s, locations started disappearing. By the early 2000s, Beefsteak Charlie’s was history.

Victoria Station was a steakhouse on a train. Well, sort of. Launched in 1969 in San Francisco, the chain turned boxcars and cabooses into dining rooms. It was a gimmick, but in the ‘70s, gimmicks sold. At its peak, Victoria Station had over 100 locations across the U.S. and beyond. It offered a simple menu of steak, prime rib, and baked potatoes. But once the train-car novelty wore off, cracks started to show. By the 1980s, the company’s profit went off the rails, and in 1986, it filed for bankruptcy.

A few stragglers hung on, but by 2017, the last known U.S. location had shut down. Now, all that’s left is a few old train cars —  of them repurposed into something that probably isn’t serving steak.

Roadhouse Grill had the honky-tonk concept like Texas Roadhouse — old west decor, peanut shells on the floor, and oversized steaks. The chain grew quickly, and by the late ‘90s, it had over 60 restaurants.

But growth didn’t translate to long-term success. By 2007, Roadhouse Grill was in deep financial trouble and filed for bankruptcy, shutting down most of its locations. Some franchisees tried to keep the name alive, but by the early 2010s, the brand was mostly gone from the U.S.