Smother Your Steak: Is the $2.29 Add-On Worth It?
For $2.29 you can add sautéed mushrooms, sautéed onions, jack cheese or brown gravy to any steak, at a cost of 180 to 300 calories depending which you choose.
It is one of the better-value add-ons on the menu, but which one to pick depends more on your steak than on your preference.
Lean cuts benefit most
A sirloin at roughly 42 calories per ounce and a filet at 45 are both lean, which means they have little internal fat to keep them moist. A topping adds moisture and richness precisely where those cuts are thinnest.
A ribeye at 80 calories per ounce already has that richness built in. Adding jack cheese and gravy to a ribeye is not wrong, but it is adding to the thing the steak already does well rather than filling a gap.
So the honest rule: the leaner the cut, the more the $2.29 buys you.
Which topping for which steak
Sautéed mushrooms at around 120 calories are the lightest option and the classic pairing. They add savoury depth without competing with the beef, and they suit every cut.
Sautéed onions at around 150 are sweeter and work particularly well on sirloin, where the sweetness offsets the leanness.
Jack cheese is the richest and pairs best with the filet, which is mild enough not to be overwhelmed.
Brown gravy is the most substantial and effectively converts the plate into something closer to a country dinner. It is also the most useful rescue for a steak that arrived slightly more cooked than you asked for.
- Sautéed mushrooms — lightest, suits everything
- Sautéed onions — sweet, good on sirloin
- Jack cheese — richest, good on filet
- Brown gravy — most substantial, rescues an overcooked steak
- All four — $2.29, 180–300 calories
The cheaper alternative
Sautéed mushrooms and sautéed onions both appear on the sides list at $2.99 each. That is 70c more than the smother add-on, but it arrives as a side portion rather than a topping — generally more of it.
If you want a meaningful quantity of mushrooms, the side is better value. If you want them integrated into the steak, the add-on does that and costs slightly less.
Frequently asked
How many calories does smothering add?
Between 180 and 300 depending which topping you choose. Mushrooms are at the low end and cheese and gravy at the high end.
Can I have more than one topping?
Generally yes, charged per topping. Ask when ordering.
Is it worth it on a ribeye?
Less than on a sirloin. Ribeye already carries the richness that a topping supplies, so you get less for your $2.29.
Keep reading
Sirloin vs Ribeye: Which to Order and Why
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All 12 Sides Ranked by Calories
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