I guess I will actually respond to the question, now that my initial annoyance has worn off . Steakhouses are great for occasional dining. They have good cuts of beef and know how to cook them. The portions are big and the sides are delicious. The bar is usually a fun area in which to hang out.
Most importantly for me, steakhouses usually have some of the most expansive wine lists in town. That's changing a little bit with more restaurants focusing on wine, but as a general rule, if you are looking for an interesting bottle, your local steakhouse will have one, especially if you like bigger reds.

The reason I asked the question about chains is because I like hearing other's opinions on these places. There are only a couple of these chains in my city and I want to know which places to look for when travelling. The consistency of a good chain is valuable, especially when you a paying for a $50+ dollar steak at an unknown restaurant in an unknown city.

For instance, I will now be checking out Del Frisco's next time I am in a town with one of their locations based on the responses here. I also am looking forward to the Mastro's in Vegas.