If you’ve ever gone out to a restaurant and been hungry af, you know the pain of waiting longingly for your food to be prepared, cooked, and finally come out to your growling belly. However, all is well when you’re table is graced with a basket of free bread, rolls, biscuits, or another form of freshly baked carbs. Restaurants that don’t offer free bread often result in impatient, hangry waiting for the food you ordered. Instead, head to these restaurants that offer free bread before your meal, because it’s without a doubt one of the best parts of going out to eat.
1. Outback Steakhouse
Aside from the bloomin’ onion, Outback Steakhouse’s free bread is one of the best reasons to visit this chain for dinner. The dark-colored bread is rumored to be pumpernickel, which is always served warm and soft on the inside and firm on the outside, with a side of whipped butter. The bread is a perfect warmup to Outback’s juicy steak, hot of the barbie.
2. Olive Garden
The words “unlimited breadsticks” may or may not seriously turn you on, but they will provide a great reason for visiting Olive Garden. These golden breadsticks are always warm, smothered in butter, and best of all, free with your meal. For a serious night of carb-loading head to Olive Garden and enjoy the basket of breadsticks before indulging in one of their many seriously tasty pasta dishes.
3. Ruby Tuesday
Before you head on over to the salad bar, get a taste of one (or two) of Ruby Tuesday’s complimentary biscuits. They’re served warm and a little crispy, with a hint of cheese and garlic that makes them perfect as a pre-meal appetizer. And for all you broke college students out there (me included), don’t pass up on their 3-course meal for only $12.99. #BallinOnABudget.
4. Romano’s Macaroni Grill
The bread at Romano’s is unlike any other complimentary bread basket you’ll find at any other fast casual restaurant. Their’s is a fresh loaf of rosemary bread, served with a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette and a sprinkling of Italian spices. It’s highly addictive, so try hard to limit yourself so you don’t fill up before your main entree comes out. Though bread and olive oil for dinner doesn’t sound like the worst idea.
5. The Cheesecake Factory
Even if you’re just going to The Cheesecake Factory for the cheesecake, their free bread shouldn’t be passed up (it’s free after all). You actually get two choices of complimentary bread, an oat demi baguette and a traditional French baguette. While it may be seriously difficult, try to practice self control and make sure to save room for the cheesecake.
6. O’Charley’s
The rolls at O’Charley’s are like glistening gems, as they come out warm, soft, and covered in butter, making them incredibly irresistible to eat before your actual meal arrives. And the goodness doesn’t stop there. For all you serious Southern food lovers out there, O’Charley’s is a great place to get some classic fried chicken, shrimp, BBQ, and more when you’re in the need for comfort food.
7. Fazoli’s
Free breadsticks and cheap Italian food? What more do you need in life honestly. Fazoli’s is a dope Italian fast food chain that offers tons of classic Italian dishes, like lasagna, chicken parmesan, and more, to-go or for dining in. Who knew Italian fast food existed?? Best. Invention. Ever.
8. Texas Roadhouse
The rolls at Texas Roadhouse may be average, but they come with an unbelievably delicious side of cinnamon butter that adds the perfect sweetness to your pre-dinner appetizer. They’re a great set-up to the luxurious, savory steak dinner that you’ll probably want to consume next. Because everyone deserves a good juicy steak once in awhile. #treatyoself.
9. Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel is home to the best hangover breakfast foods, hands down. From eggs to french toast to country fried steak, they have anything and everything you need to bring you back to life after a night out of hefty drinking. This includes complimentary buttery, soft biscuits, which come out before your meal, just in time to save you from a dire headache and/or your stomach eating itself. So load up on the carbs, you need ’em.
10. Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Along with their delicious, traditional Italian entrees, Carrabba’s is home to a beautiful basket full of free, crusty Italian bread. The bread is served with an olive oil and spice mix that’s perfect for dipping. But save some bread for after your meal too, because there’s no better vessel for sopping up all your leftover pasta sauce.
11. Red Lobster
We’ve saved the best for last on this list. The Cheddar Bay biscuits from Red Lobster are out of this world and definitely worth a long wait or an out-of-your-way drive. As a non-lover of seafood, I go to Red Lobster just for these biscuits, that must have been a gift from heaven. If you don’t want to make a trip just for these beauties, you’re in luck. You can actually buy the mix for Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay biscuits at the grocery store, though let’s be honest, they’re not the same as the real thing.