These days, it’s hard to find anything that is genuinely free. Except, of course, for the free bread many chain restaurants give customers before their meals.
While some of these free bread baskets are just okay, others include amazing fresh bread, flavored butter, and even dips that keep customers coming back for more. So, let’s find out the top 10 free bread offerings at chain restaurants!
Rating the Best Complimentary Restaurant Bread
In today’s economy, you may wonder why many restaurants offer their customers free bread. But the truth is that it’s one of the simplest and most affordable ways to keep customers happy and loyal.
Some people even choose their date night or family meal spot based on the complimentary bread! So, to make your next night out even better, we compiled the best reviews and our personal experiences to create a rated list of the best free bread in the industry.
10. Red Lobster
Number ten may already be a little controversial; according to our data, Red Lobster offers the 10th best complimentary bread, but only because customers say the quality has significantly decreased in recent years.
Red Lobster’s cheddar biscuits have always been considered one of the restaurant’s best offerings. However, more recently, reviewers have said they are less “biscuit-like” than before. Now, they’re more like a flavored bread roll, and it’s a little disappointing.
9. Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel is also known for its delectable complimentary Southern-style biscuits made from scratch. The only problem with Cracker Barrel’s homemade biscuits is that they lack consistency, sometimes disappointing customers.
While these biscuits are often warm, buttery, and fresh, other times, they are too small, lukewarm, and even a bit stale, which is why we had to place Cracker Barrel in ninth place.
8. Longhorn Steakhouse
Longhorn Steakhouse is an American favorite with substantial portions and, of course, delicious steaks. In addition to the impressive meals, Longhorn also provides each table with a fresh loaf of bread with butter.
Some customers rave about Longhorn’s loaves, but others argue that, like Cracker Barrel, the consistency simply isn’t there. Often, the loaves are tough, as if they’ve been sitting under the bread warmer all day, and sometimes, they’re even a bit burnt.
7. California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen offers customers fairly standard baguette-like pieces of bread before their meals. The exciting aspect of this restaurant’s free bread is really the dip that goes with it.
A homemade blend of herbs and spices is mixed with high-quality olive oil that customers absolutely love. If California Pizza Kitchen could improve the actual bread, even just a little, it would likely be far higher on our list.
6. Olive Garden
Olive Garden may have the most famous bread on this list, second only to the restaurant that stole the top spot. Customers absolutely love Olive Garden’s endless breadstick baskets, not just because they can have as many as they want; it’s also because they’re absolutely delicious.
Of course, there will always be some naysayers, but in general, most people agree that the breadsticks are warm, buttery, and soft and the perfect starter for an affordable Italian meal.
5. Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory has made a name for itself with its extensive menu and enormous portions, but we certainly can’t forget the famous brown bread that starts every meal.
In fact, the Cheesecake Factory’s complimentary bread is so famous that the restaurant has begun selling it in grocery stores. One reviewer explained the flavor, calling it a “warm, chewy loaf [with] a sweet molasses flavor and coated with nutty roller oats on the outside.”
4. Outback Steakhouse
The signature loaf at Outback Steakhouse has been compared to that of its competitor, Longhorn Steakhouse. However, the reviews are in, and they say Outback’s is significantly better.
The wheat style brown bread is a classic flavor, perfect for a big slab of butter which is served soft alongside the loaf. Of course, a few people were disappointed by cold or stale loaves, but these criticisms were few and far between.
3. Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Customers cannot get enough of the complimentary bread at Carrabba’s Italian Grill. One reviewer described the bread and herb-filled oil as “exactly what you want with Italian food.”
In theory, the offering is quite simple, but the bread is consistently warm, chewy, and moist, making it one of the best complimentary breads in business.
2. Fazoli’s
Although slightly lesser known than some of the other chain’s on our list, we simply couldn’t leave off Fazoli’s because their complimentary breadsticks are truly out of this world.
The breadsticks are salty, garlicky, and served with fresh warm butter and even marinara sauce for dipping. Most reviewers agree that Fazoli’s breadsticks are even better than Olive Garden’s.
1. Texas Roadhouse
Number one on this list should come as no surprise to anyone who has eaten a Texas Roadhouse restaurant before. Their complimentary bread rolls are undoubtedly the best of the best.
The rolls are unimaginably soft, fresh, and delicious, plus they’re served with a homemade honey cinnamon butter which is like nothing else you’ve ever tasted. Texas Roadhouse claims they bake fresh rolls every five minutes, and once you taste them, you’ll believe it!
