If you’re eating low-carb, a steakhouse is a gift. The entire concept is a perfectly cooked piece of meat with butter, and the best things on the menu are naturally low in carbs. You just need to know where the carbs hide.
Before you sit down
You can usually see the menu online. Decide on your order in advance, so you can relax at the table. Ask for the bread basket to be left off, or push it to the other side.
Starters
Good choices
- Shrimp cocktail (the shrimp are zero carb; the cocktail sauce has some sugar, so use a little or ask for lemon instead)
- Oysters on the half shell (a few grams of carbs per half dozen)
- Steak tartare, carpaccio, seared tuna
- Wedge salad with blue cheese or a Caesar salad with no croutons
- Crab cakes, if they are not heavily breaded (ask)
Watch out for
- Fried calamari, onion rings and anything breaded
- Soups thickened with flour, such as French onion with its crouton, or creamy bisques
- Candied-nut salads with sweet dressings
The main event
Every cut of steak is zero-carb. Ribeye and strip have more marbling and fat, filet is leaner and more tender, and a bone-in cut brings extra flavor. Order it the way you like it. Then:
- Ask for butter or a compound butter on top.
- Béarnaise is a great choice: butter, egg yolk and herbs.
- Be careful with peppercorn, red wine or demi-glace sauces. Some are thickened with flour or contain sugar; ask your server.
- Skip glazes and anything described as “honey,” “BBQ,” “teriyaki” or “balsamic reduction.”
Seafood also works well. Grilled salmon, seared scallops, broiled lobster and grilled fish are all good choices. Ask for them without breading and with the butter on the side.
Sides
| Order | Skip |
|---|---|
| Creamed spinach (some use flour; a few grams of carbs) | Baked, mashed or fried potatoes |
| Sautéed mushrooms | Onion rings |
| Grilled or roasted asparagus | Mac and cheese |
| Steamed or sautéed broccoli | Creamed corn |
| Green beans | Sweet potato |
| Side salad with oil and vinegar or blue cheese | Honey-glazed carrots |
If you want a bit more, ask for a double portion of vegetables in place of the potato. Most kitchens are happy to oblige.
Dessert and drinks
Skip the dessert menu and order an espresso or a coffee with cream. Some steakhouses will bring a cheese plate or fresh berries with cream if you ask. For drinks, stick with a dry red wine, a dry martini or spirits on the rocks. See our guide to carbs in champagne, wine and cocktails.
What to say
- “Could I get the steak with butter and double asparagus instead of the potato?”
- “Is the sauce thickened with flour or sugar?”
- “No bread for me, thanks.”
Servers hear dietary requests all day, so keep it simple and friendly.
Cook it at home
A steakhouse dinner is also very doable in your own kitchen. Try our reverse-sear ribeye with garlic-herb butter, a filet mignon with béarnaise and steakhouse creamed spinach.
Get the dining-out cheat sheet
The free Keto Dress Code covers ten cuisines, from steakhouse and Italian to sushi and Thai, with a clear order-this, skip-that list for each.
Get the free guideCarb counts vary by restaurant. This guide is general information, not medical advice; see our health disclaimer.
