(Hotel restaurants are not eligible in this category)
Steakhouse
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
Multiple locations
It may be difficult to clone a sheep, but this franchise found an easy formula for replicating itself all over the valley:
A casual Australian theme, good values on spicy beef or ribs and a wicked shrimp on the barbie as a red meat alternative. Dotty's, a comparative sleeper, was the second choice of carnivores.
Our Pick:
HUNGRY HUNTER
2380 S. Rainbow Blvd.
Maybe we're just surprised there's one franchise that hasn't cloned itself all over town. But we think it's worth the drive for this eatery that reflects its California ownership with understated hardwood decor, soup and salad for variety and value with meals, and dependable, reasonably priced cow.