2. Steak and Ale: The Original Salad Bar

Founded in Dallas in 1966 by legendary restaurateur Norman Brinker, Steak and Ale brought an upscale steakhouse experience to middle-class America. Walking into a Steak and Ale felt like entering a cozy English Tudor manor, complete with dim ambient lighting, dark wood paneling, and a relaxed atmosphere. The chain is widely credited with inventing the modern self-serve salad bar, changing the way Americans ate out.

Guests loved the signature herb-roasted prime rib, the Kensington Club marinated steak, and the limitless trips to the salad buffet. The parent company, Metromedia Restaurant Group, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2008, forcing all remaining U.S. locations to shut down abruptly.

However, your memories of their honey wheat bread might soon become a reality again. A new ownership group, Legendary Restaurant Brands, officially relaunched the concept in July 2024 by opening a brand-new Steak and Ale in Burnsville, Minnesota, with plans for further expansion.