The very best steakhouse style baked potato you will ever have! The skin of the baked potatoes are coated with olive oil and salt for a crispy and flavorful skin and baked in the oven until it is creamy and fluffy.
When I was 20 years old, I worked at the nicest steakhouse in town as a hostess. I would get dressed up in slacks and fancy Forever21 tops, and spend my days answering phones, taking reservations, mapping out the seating plan for the reservations that night, and hearing all the latest gossip from the waiters and cooks.
The best part? Shawn worked there too. As a food runner. Whenever he would drop off food at a table, he would purposefully take the long way back to the kitchen and walk past the hostess station and give me a wink.
To pass the time I would write down riddles on a scrap of paper and hand them to him when he would walk by. I would stealthily slip it to him during a handshake. Trying to keep our little game secret made it even more fun.
“What has an eye but cannot see?”
As he walked by the hostess station throughout the night he would quickly lean over and whisper his guess.
“Is it a certain type of deep ocean fish?”
No. But keep guessing.
“Is it a word that only has the letter i in it once?”
Nope. You’re stumped aren’t you?
“No! Don’t tell me. I’m going to guess it.”
Always so determined to solve it himself. This was before iPhones, so I knew he couldn’t cheat and Google the answer.
“A storm!”
Yes! You got it!
“Write me another riddle Nat. I like this game.”
When he would take the trash out he would leave a nice note for me to find on my windshield when I would leave at the end of the night. He would ask me if I wanted a refill on my water, he’s heading to the back anyway. He’d bring it back with a fresh lemon slice each time.
I would peak over the tall hostess station every now and then to see where he was, usually to find him carrying plates of delicious food. Whenever I would look at him, I swear he could feel my eyes on him and he would look my way within seconds and give me a wink.
It was flirting at its very best.
All of the food we served there was delicious. The restaurant didn’t give it’s employees free meals, and if we ordered food we only got a 15% discount. 1 meal would have cost more than I made that whole day working! But we did get free bread rolls. Many nights my dinner was just 3 rolls of bread with whipped butter and an iced tea.
On verrrry lucky nights, if I was one of the last employees there, and the mean manager had already gone home, and there were baked potatoes left over that hadn’t been served to customers, the chef would give me one. Nothing tasted better than that free, leftover, end of the night steakhouse baked potato. I would sit in the corner of the almost empty restaurant, resting my weary feet that I had been standing on for the past 6 hours straight, eating my baked potato and feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.
I was convinced this steakhouse style baked potato perfection could only be achieved at a steakhouse. One day I got brave and asked one of the chefs what the secret to it is. He shared the secret with me, and now I’m going to share the secret with you.
You coat the outside of the baked potato with olive oil and a very generous amount of salt. This gets the skin crispy and flavorful. When you roast it, roast it whole, don’t poke any holes in it. You want to trap the steam so it gets the inside of the potato nice and tender. Roast it at 425 degrees until it is soft when you squeeze it with your hand. And last, when you take it out of the oven, drop it onto a plate or cutting board from about 10″ up. When it drops, it will jostle the inside of the potato and break it up so it is very light and fluffy inside when you cut into it.
At the steakhouse they served the baked potato with just butter, sour cream and green onions. Simple and perfect. And now, that is exactly how I like it. And every time I eat it, I flash back to our young love that year we both worked at the steakhouse.
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Steakhouse Style Baked Potato
Prep Time: 5 mins- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
Yield: 2 baked potatoes 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
Baked Potato
- 2 russet potatoes, skin scrubbed clean under water and patted completely dry
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons salt
Toppings
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees with the oven rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Rub the potato with olive oil until it is well coated and sprinkle with salt and transfer to the parchment lined baking sheet. Roast the potato whole (don’t poke any holes in it) until it is soft when you squeeze it with your hand. The baking time will depend on the size of your potato, but usually 45 minutes – 1 hour.
- When you take the baked potato out of the oven, drop it onto a plate or cutting board from 10″ up. By dropping it, you loosen the inside of the potato so it is light and fluffy inside when you cut into it.
- Cut a slit down the length of the baked potato, pinch the edges together to make the opening bigger, and fill the baked potato with desired amount of the fillings.
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Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
April 23, 2015 at 5:01 amSounds like you and Shawn had a great time working together! And what did we do before IPhones were a thing?! These baked potatoes sound amazing, Natalie! Definitely way better than how I prepare mine. I’m totally trying this out the next time I make these for dinner, sounds delicious!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
April 23, 2015 at 5:25 amOh Natalie, I love your stories! Oh the days of flirting…. hahaha. I also used to work as a hostess! I got my “fancy tops” at Le Chateau though ;) I am all about potatoes! These look perfect :) Pinned!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
April 23, 2015 at 7:20 amWhat a sweet story! Ah, young love… Thanks for sharing the secret to perfect baked potatoes! I’ve been doing it all wrong, but now my potatoes will be amazing!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
April 23, 2015 at 7:48 amWhat a cute story! I love thinking back on the early days of Darryl and my relationship. These potatoes look great!
[email protected] says
April 23, 2015 at 10:34 amI love that story about you and Shawn, I found myself smiling while reading it! :)
My husband and I worked at a fast food restaurant together before we dated but we were only 16 and my flirtations were way more awkward and mainly consisted of the two of us making fun of each other a lot.
I love that you shared this baked potato recipe, I’ve been craving carbs like mad recently and now I think I’m going to have to have one of these with dinner tonight :)
Annie @Maebells says
April 23, 2015 at 11:21 amWhat a great story!! I love things like that! Such great memories!
And these baked potatoes, YUM! I do rub olive oil and salt on the outside but I didn’t know the trick about dropping them! So clever!
★★★★★
Manali @ CookWithManali says
April 23, 2015 at 12:38 pmaww so sweet, loved reading the little story :) the baked potato looks awesome, I have never seen this version before!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
April 23, 2015 at 1:20 pmAaaw, what a sweet story!! I loved hearing about your younger dating days :) And these baked potatoes look perfect! Love the secret tips!
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says
April 23, 2015 at 1:41 pmWhat fun memories :)
Keri @ Fashionable Foods says
April 23, 2015 at 2:43 pmSuch a sweet story Natalie! :) And, I’m so glad you got brave and asked the chef for the secret – I’m a sucker for a good baked potato. I can’t wait to try these! I’ve always rubbed them with olive oil and salt, but didn’t know not to poke holes in them or to drop them – so cool! My dad got russet potatoes to plant in the garden this year, so you can bet I’ll be making lots of baked potatoes with my share!
Jen says
February 22, 2016 at 11:04 pmMy mother always told me to poke the holes in them so they didn’t explode in the oven. I always did. Recently my son baked potatoes for our dinner and didn’t poke them. Lo and behold…one exploded. I will never bake potatoes without poking them. The oven clean up was not worth it. If I want “steakhouse” potatoes, I will buy them at a restaurant. I suspect their convection ovens cook differently.
Natalie says
February 24, 2016 at 8:46 pmI’ve made these at least 50 times, and never had one explode. Sorry for your bad luck!
Rachel @the dessert chronicles says
April 23, 2015 at 4:39 pmThese look amazinggggg!!! That is the sweetest story about you and Shawn. That must have made your job so much fun! Have a great weekend!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
April 23, 2015 at 7:09 pmAww you guys are so cute!! Isn’t it funny to think of pre-iPhone times…life was so much simpler then, in my mind! No distractions and no cheating on riddles ;) Love these baked potatoes, thank-you for sharing your secrets! I will definitely have to give this one a try!
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
April 23, 2015 at 10:54 pmNatalie, I LOVE your stories. And your blog. Andddd all the delicious recipes you share.
That story of you and Shawn was the cutest ever. Nick and I met at a restaurant too. Except I was the server and he was the host. We worked together for almost 2 years before I even talked to him because I thought he was WAY younger than me. Turned out we were the same age…and I haven’t stopped talking to him since. ;-)
This baked potato is perfection!! Pinned girlfriend!
katie says
April 24, 2015 at 4:17 amYou are the best at telling stories Natalie! What a cute love story, you guys are so sweet together! I worked at many a restaurant in my day and I totally can relate to the restaurant life. I was a horrible waitress but an okay hostess. I bet you were a great hostess :) Awesome baked potato too, I love all the tips! Especially dropping it on the plate, that totally makes sense!
★★★★★
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic says
April 24, 2015 at 6:32 amOh that is such a nice story. It’s sad that the restaurant wouldn’t give its employees a bigger discount. Your baked potato looks amazingly good, love how fluffy the inside is. I adore steakhouse baked potatoes since I am such a potato eating gal. Going to make this for Kurt tonight with a piece of steak. He’ll love it.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
April 24, 2015 at 7:44 amyou and Shawn are the cutest!!!! loved reading that . . so sweet!!! and love this baked potato!! It’s an art, you know. . the perfect steakhouse style baked potato!!! :) delicious!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
April 24, 2015 at 8:12 amAwwww! What an awesome memory! You and Shawn are just the cutest. And um, these potatoes look fan-freakin-tastic! I love how huge they are and how you filled ’em with all the classic steakouse fixins! So adding this to the menu for next week. Gorgeous photos too, Nat!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
April 25, 2015 at 11:24 amYou guys and your games are too adorable ;) These potatoes look bomb!! I always eat the skin, so THIS skin is calling out to me… yums!
Michelle { A Latte Food } says
April 27, 2015 at 11:15 amI’m a little late to the party on this one, but oh my goodness, you and Shawn are seriously the cutest! I’m dying over that story! I’m also dying over these potatoes. I LOVE baked potatoes and these are right up my comfort food alley! They look amazing!
Annie @ The Garlic Diaries says
April 27, 2015 at 12:44 pmThat’s such a sweet story! That does sound like flirting at its best :). This baked potato looks AMAZING! I love all the tricks and tips about how to make it perfect and fluffy and crispy. Potatoes are Seth’s ALL TIME favorite food so I will definitely have to try this one out.
Betty says
November 11, 2015 at 12:47 pmI’ve always been taught that if you don’t poke at least one hole in the potatoes, there is a good chance it will burst all over your oven. Ever have that happen ?
Natalie says
November 12, 2015 at 12:08 pmI’ve never had it happen! And the steakhouse restaurant I worked at never poked holes and never had issue. They said it’s actually GOOD to catch the steam, so the inside potatoes get nice and cooked and fluffy. Maybe it’s an issue in the microwave though?
Kym says
May 6, 2019 at 1:25 pmPoking holes is only if they are done in the microwave. I’ve done this recipe often and they are always awesome!
Natalie says
May 7, 2019 at 10:40 amThat makes so much sense! Thanks for sharing!
Meaghan | Cook. Craft. Love. says
February 16, 2016 at 5:53 amAhhhhh! I’ve made these twice since coming across them last week and they are seriously the BEST oven baked potato recipe ever. Thank you!!
Natalie says
February 18, 2016 at 10:45 amI’m so happy you liked them Meaghan! They are so dang tasty. Now you have me craving them. I’m going to have to add them to the menu this week! Thank you for taking the time to let me know you liked my recipe. Means the world : )
David Martino says
May 22, 2016 at 2:08 pmHi Natalie,
Thanks for sharing the recipe. One thing that I’ve wondered about is how the steakhouse would keep the potatoes warm or reheat them quickly when the customer orders one? It seems unlikely that they cook them when the customer orders, or the customer would have to wait about an hour for their food. Thanks for any insight you have.
David
★★★★★
Natalie says
May 26, 2016 at 10:06 pmYou know, that’s actually a really good question! I’m not sure how they kept them warm. Forgot to ask that one. I’ll have to find out and let you know!
plasterers bristol says
January 18, 2017 at 9:25 amReally happy to have found this recipe. It’s great. Thanks for sharing. Simon
Evi1M4chine says
April 9, 2017 at 5:07 amThe same salt trick works with chicken/duck skin too!
The idea is to dry the skin out as much as possible.
For that you can blanch it in boiling water for 30 seconds and then cool it in ice water, and re-do that 2–3 times. Then let it dry out as much as you can by putting it in the fridge over night without covering the skin.
Now finally, salt it like that, and maybe put some butter under the skin too.
It will come out crispy as a dream.
(Yes, my dreams are crispy! :D)
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Natalie says
May 1, 2017 at 10:08 pmI have got to try this! I love super crispy chicken skin too. Thanks for sharing!
Michelle says
April 19, 2017 at 6:51 amI made these and they turned out terrific!
★★★★★
Natalie says
May 1, 2017 at 10:00 pmHurray! So glad you liked them Michelle!
Liz P. says
July 2, 2018 at 2:50 pmWonderful! Best recipe for Baked potato ever!! Thank you for sharing :)
★★★★★
Natalie says
July 3, 2018 at 12:12 pmI’m so glad you liked it Liz! Thanks for letting me know, you made my day!
Kevin says
October 3, 2018 at 2:23 pmWho cuts potatoes. How barbaric. Use a fork and pinch the corners
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Natalie says
October 5, 2018 at 3:46 pmForks work too!
Leah says
September 17, 2019 at 4:07 pmWe made these a couple years ago and they’re still memorable (as well as your story!) I always look for your recipe when I want to make baked potatoes. Thank you!
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