Remember when going out for a steak dinner felt fancy but not financially terrifying? In the 1970s, steakhouses meant mood lighting, wood paneled walls, cozy booths, and giant baked potatoes with your T-bone. Let’s forget about today’s soaring beef prices and take a nostalgic look at old steakhouse menus and advertisements from the ‘70s to see what people paid for a steak dinner 50 years ago.
Steak & Ale – 1976
Price of prime rib: $6.45
This bill of fare “for Lords and Ladies” is printed on cardboard meant to look like a butcher’s cleaver — an interesting choice. The menu is brief and themed in a British nobility kind of way, including the “Beefeater” top sirloin ($5.95) and the steak and chicken combo called the Prince and Pauper ($5.75).
Old Homestead – 1970s
Price of “fresh chopped tenderloin steak”: $5.95
There’s a ton of hyperbole and a surprising lack of steak on this New York steakhouse’s menu, but we love the burnt orange design. Of the braised prime short ribs ($3.95), it says “words cannot express the delightful taste thrill that awaits you with every mouthwatering bite.”
George Lindsay’s Steakhouse – 1973
Price of a 12-ounce T-bone: $3.49
This is an ad for a steakhouse in Kentucky, and it’s got some great specials. On Wednesday nights, T-bones are only $3.49, and a New York strip is only $2.19 on Tuesdays. We’re curious about Thursdays “Steak-a-bob” and envy that they had a salad bar “every day and night.”
Gallagher’s Steakhouse – 1972
Price of a lunch portion of sirloin: $6.95
Though we only have the lunch menu of this fancy New York steakhouse, it’s a special one: It’s signed by Joe DiMaggio, who was a regular. If you wanted a chopped beefsteak with mustard sauce, it would have put you back $3.95. Add potatoes or creamed spinach to that for 95 cents.
Western Sizzlin’ Steak House – 1975
Price of a filet mignon: $3.99
Chain steakhouses like this Texas-themed one were popular for affordable special meals. This ad lists the dinner price and the 25% off lunch price, making that filet mignon only $2.99 at lunch. We love that the menu includes country fried steak ($1.49).
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Rustler Steak House – 1975
Price of a ribeye: $1.99
We love the name of this small chain of steakhouses around Detroit where you can “get a taste of the Old West.” The most expensive item in the ad is the T-bone for $3.45, and the least expensive is a ribeye. They even come with a baked potato, salad, and rolls.
Steak & Ale – 1978
Price of prime rib: $8.45
Here’s another menu for Steak & Ale, this one in 1978 in Charlotte, complete with the butcher’s knife theme. It’s interesting to see that the price of the prime rib (king’s cut) went up $2 in two years.
Colorado Mine Company – 1975
Price of a 16-ounce New York Strip: $11.95
This steakhouse in Denver is rather pricey, though the portions seem large, at least. A T-bone is $12.95, though it’s a 24-ounce beast, something you didn’t see as much on menus back then. There are cheaper options, like the $5.95 sirloin steak. Or go all out for the Fools Gold loaf, a legendary PBJ and bacon sandwich loved by Elvis that was created at this very restaurant.
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Woody’s Wharf – mid-70s
Price of a top sirloin: $5.50
We are just in love with this adorable whale-shaped menu from Woody’s Wharf in Newport Beach (it’s still there today!). You could get a plain top sirloin or a teriyaki-seasoned variation for the same price, or go all out for Land and Sea with top sirloin and king crab legs for $6.50.
Ponderosa – 1972
Price of a T-bone steak: $2.49
Oh, Ponderosa, the nostalgic, budget-friendly steakhouse with its eye-catching green roofs. This ad for its locations in Champaign-Urbana is geared to university students, so prices are cheap. You could get a steak sandwich, small ribeye, or a chopped steak for $1.39.
Tudor Inn – 1976
Price of a New York steak: $6.50
“Ye Steak Pub” is the tagline on the front of this steakhouse menu from Los Angeles. It’s got steakhouse classics like shrimp cocktail ($2.25) and London broil ($4.25) served on a sizzling plate. If you want a petite bacon-wrapped filet, it would have set you back $4.25, including salad bar.
Gallagher’s Old Irish Steak House – 1974
Price of a ribeye: $6.95
It’s a little unusual to see an Irish steakhouse, let alone in San Antonio like this one, but the menu sounds great. There’s only one starter — cheddar cheese soup (65 cents) — but we’re OK with that. Then there are lots of steak cuts to choose from, including prime rib for $8.50, or a “Wee One’s Beef Steak” kids meal for $1.95.
The Peddler Steak House – 1975
Price of prime rib: 85 cents per ounce
This steakhouse in Virginia has an interesting, tiny menu. The main draw is the prime rib, which is sold by the ounce. A 12-ounce portion will set you back $10.20, while a big 20-ounce cut will cost you $17. Thankfully, those prices included a salad bar, potato, bread, and coffee or tea.
The Hungry Turtle – 1976
Price of a 10-ounce top sirloin: $5.45
Yes, there is a very cute ‘70s cartoon of a turtle on the front of this Seattle steakhouse’s menu. You can get a 20-ounce T-bone (“A REAL WHOPPER”!) for $8.45 or a filet mignon for $5.45. They all come with a “turtle potato,” which is a baked potato stuffed with cheese.
Sizzler – 1972
Price of a T-bone: $3.49
We all have great memories of going to Sizzler, and you might be surprised to know that there are still locations left, mostly in California. This menu from 1972 lists steak and lobster as the most expensive item at $3.75, while the ground sirloin was only $1.75.
Bonanza – 1975
Price of a ribeye on Tuesdays: $1.49
Bonanza was the sister restaurant of Ponderosa, and they operated in pretty much the same way. This ad from the mid-’70s highlights the chain’s Tuesday night specials, with ribeye or chopped steak ($1.29). Weirdly, the caption under the photo of a server says “No tipping please. Just leave us with a smile.”
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