Outback Steakhouse: "No rules, just right" place provides a wonderful dining experience!
Written: Jan 04 '05 (Updated Jan 04 '05)
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Pros: Great food, wonderful service, clean and comfortable surroundings.
Cons: You gotta be kidding! I love this place!
The Bottom Line: Casual, kid-n-family friendly, great food...it's definitely worth visiting at least once a year!
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| alexdg1's Full Review: Outback Steakhouse |
I first ate at Outback Steakhouse in March of 2000; my friends Betsy Matteis and Richard De La Pena -- whom I've known since grade school -- had asked me where I wanted to celebrate my 37th birthday and told me I could choose any restaurant I wanted. We'd gotten into a Pizza Hut-or-Chinese food rut over the years, so I decided to try something a bit different. But what? I didn't feel like going to Denny's for a Grand Slam Breakfast or a Dennyburger -- we had done that several times already, and I didn't think celebrating my last 20th Century birthday at Wendy's or the "BK Lounge" would be fun.
"How about that Australian steakhouse where they have that onion thing?" I finally said, hoping Betsy and Richard knew what I was talking about.
"Oh, the Outback Steakhouse?" Betsy asked.
"Yes," I said. "I think there's one not far from my house on West Flagler Street and 84th Avenue."
"Okay," Betsy and Richard both said, and off we went in Betsy's car to the strip mall that's just 13 avenues away from where I live.
Before I looked at the menu I thought I'd be ordering a plate such as the Outback Special® or the Prime Minister's Prime Rib; although I don't eat as much red meat as I used to, I'm still a carnivore, so those looked pretty good. However, when I looked at the prices ($17.00 and $18.00) I balked. True, it was my birthday celebration and my friends could have afforded it, but I had lots of things on my mind at the time and thinking about my birthday wasn't high on my list, so I opted for the Alice Springs Chicken® instead. We also ordered the famous Bloomin' Onion®, which is a Vidalia onion craftily cut, breaded, and deep fried in such a way that it looks like a golden flower when it is served at the table.
Memories of what my friends ate that day elude me; I was still recovering from the after-effects of being separated from my first online sweetie and I really wasn't focusing on my birthday or all the other things going on in my life, but I did leave the Outback Steakhouse not only with what was left of the Bloomin' Onion in a "doggie bag" (actually a nice styrofoam box) but with a favorable impression of the restaurant. After all, the service was good -- friendly hostess, a cute and perky waitress, and a friendly "thanks, please come again" send-off -- and the food, namely the Alice Springs Chicken, had been exquisite.
So favorable was my impression of the Outback that when my sister suggested we take our mother out for her birthday last October, I chimed in with my vote for the Outback Steakhouse. Mom, who had tasted my Bloomin' Onion when I brought it home the first time I went in March of 2000, quickly agreed. The restaurant, after all, was not far from home, and she wanted to break away from my sister's Italian-or-Latin food routine.
Once again, we were greeted in a very friendly manner, and even though it was pretty crowded (it was 5:00 PM on a Saturday), we were seated within three or four minutes in a corner booth.
Of course, we ordered a Bloomin' Onion for our appetizer; my mom had tried it before and I knew it was delicious, so we didn't even bother considering any other Aussie-Tizers®. My sister normally avoids deep-fried foods; she's a bit of a diet freak and tends to over-do the calorie counting thing. But the aroma and the wonderful presentation of the Bloomin' Onion were just too tempting and she ate quite a few of the golden-brown "petals."
Because my mom and sister have smaller appetites than I do, they decided to split a plate of Ribs On The Barbie between the two. Once again I looked at the Land Rovers section of the menu and thought about ordering a meat dish, but because my sister had just shelled out nearly $200 on a pair of Transitions lensed prescription glasses for me, I once again ate the Alice Springs Chicken, which is a wonderful blend of chicken, bacon, two cheeses, mushrooms, and honey mustard sauce. With "Aussie Chips" on the side (Aussie chips being, of course, French-fries with potato skins), it is definitely a delightful alternative to the more pricey beef and lamb plates.
For some reason, nobody wanted dessert; we did have soft drinks with dinner, but we were so full after finishing our entree that the idea of cheesecake or ice cream was rather superfluous.
Although more than four years had elapsed between visits, I didn't see any decline in the quality of the service or the food. My mom and sister enjoyed their Ribs on the Barbie; amazingly, there were no leftovers from the main course, although Mom and I lucked out and got to take about half the Bloomin' Onion home with us. Once again, the hostess and our server were very polite and helpful, even though the place was packed and things were fairly hectic.
So good was the impression that my mom and sister got from this first visit that when time came to choose where to eat on Christmas Eve (Mom didn't feel like cooking), we chose the Outback Steakhouse. We went early in the evening, but being December 24 it was almost empty, so we were seated a bit faster this time.
This time, my mom and sister were splitting the bill, and since they knew I'd opted for the Alice Springs Chicken for financial considerations six weeks earlier, my mom said, "Alex, order whatever you want this time."
I looked at the Land Rovers section again; the steaks seemed to be a bit too pricey for my taste, but the Prime Minister's Prime Rib looked pretty tasty. I ordered the smallest (8 oz.) cut with Aussie chips. I turned down the salad, but my sister re-ordered it and took it for herself.
My Prime Minister's Prime Rib was delicious. I'd ordered it medium done, and that's how I got it, and it tasted heavenly...even the thin-and-trimmed outer fatty layer was wonderful. Not too salty and with just a hint of Lea & Perrins Worcesteshire seasoning, the rib was tender, juicy, and went down easily.
My sister and mom couldn't decide on a shared entree, so they opted for Aussie-Tizers® instead. My mom ordered the
Kookaburra Wings® with mild sauce; my sister ordered the Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp. My mom raised an eyebrow, thinking my sister was eating too little, but since this was our Christmas celebration she didn't say a word. Besides, we did get bread and a Bloomin' Onion, from which my sister picked a few "petals," albeit more reluctantly than the first time.
In the end, my mom was proved right about my sister not having eaten enough, for she not only ate my salad -- I'm not a veggie-eater -- but also two of my mom's Kookaburra Wings. My sister's bad dieting habits did reassert themselves when dessert-time came; Mom and I split one slice of cheesecake with chocolate sauce, which we offered to share with my sister. Vicky said no, but she kept looking furtively at the dwindling cheesecake, a gesture which belied her wanting to taste it despite her stubborn desire to count calories.
Once again, there was some Bloomin' Onion and several Kookaburra Wings left over; I ended up eating them while watching When Harry Met Sally with Mom the next day.
Outback Steakhouse: Basic Menu:
Prices vary depending on the location, so consult your local Outback Steakhouse for details.
Aussie-Tizers®
Bloomin' Onion®
An Outback Ab-original from Russell's Marina Bay
Kookaburra Wings®
Known as Buffalo chicken wings here in the States. Mild, medium, or hot, they're too right!
Aussie Cheese Fries
Aussie chips topped with Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses and bacon, served with spicy ranch dressing
Grilled Shrimp On The Barbie
Seasoned and served with Outback's own Remoulade sauce
Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp
Awesome! Six colossal shrimp dipped in beer batter, rolled in coconut, deep fried to a golden brown and served with marmalade sauce
Bonzer Soups & Salads
Too Right French Onion Soup
A crock of our homemade soup. Topped with a layer of melted authentic Swiss Gruyere cheese
Walkabout Soup O' The Day
A unique presentation of one of our Australian favorites. Reckon!
Steakhouse Salad
Seasoned and seared sirloin atop a hearty portion of mixed greens, tomato, red onions, mushrooms, cinnamon pecans and Aussie chips tossed with a special Aussie crunch and
homemade crumbled bleu cheese vinaigrette
Brisbane Caesar Salad
A 'Hooley Dooley' portion of Caesar Salad with: Grilled shrimp on the barbie, or Grilled seasoned chicken breast, or Aussie-sized chicken breast
Queensland Salad
Seasoned chicken salad served on a bed of fresh greens, with Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, bacon, chopped egg, tomato and toasted almonds
Land Rovers
Our steaks are fair dinkum ... 'Genuine USDA Choice Cuts.' Land Rovers are served with a cup of Walkabout soup or salad and choice of potato, Aussie chips or fresh steamed veggies. Cheers, mates!
Rockhampton Rib-Eye
A 14-ounce rib-eye steak
Victoria's 'Center Cut' Filet®
No worries! A 9-ounce or a 7-ounce tenderloin is always 'Just Right'
Outback Style Prime Rib
A tempting, 12-ounce cut, oven roasted slowly then seasoned and seared to perfection
Prime Minister's Prime Rib
A tempting, 16-ounce cut, 12-ounce cut or 8-ounce cut oven roasted slowly
Outback Special
A 12-ounce or 9-ounce center cut sirloin, seasoned and seared to perfection.
Ayers Rock Strip
A 14-ounce New York Strip
The Melbourne
A 20-ounce porterhouse - it's bonzer!
Outback Lamb
New Zealand lamb served with a Cabernet sauce
Outback Grillers®
Tastebud thrillers! Served on a bed of seasoned rice with grilled vegetables, pineapple and choice of salad.
Salmon Griller, Shrimp Griller, Chicken Griller, Steak Griller
Grilled On The Barbie
Drover's Platter®
Generous portion of ribs and chicken breast on the barbie with Aussie chips and cinnamon apples
Ribs On The Barbie
Mouth-watering baby back ribs, smoked and grilled, with Aussie chips and cinnamon apples
Chicken On The Barbie
Seasoned and grilled breast served with BBQ sauce and fresh veggies
Botany Bay Catches
North Atlantic Salmon
Lightly seasoned and grilled, with fresh steamed veggies
Botany Bay Fish O' The Day
Fish on! Fresh catch, lightly seasoned and grilled, with fresh steamed veggies
Royal Port Fresh Catch
Bronzed fresh catch fillet, topped with a tasty blend of crawfish, shrimp and mushrooms. Served with fresh steamed veggies
Boomerang Shrimp
Battered and breaded shrimp fried to a golden brown. Served with Aussie Chips, tartar and Aboriginal fire sauces
Down Under Favorites
Alice Springs Chicken®
Grilled chicken breast and bacon smothered in mushrooms, melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, with honey mustard sauce. Served with Aussie chips
Queensland Chicken 'N Shrimp®
Seasoned and grilled, over fettuccine Alfredo, topped with a light lemon sauce
Cyclone Chicken
Grilled chicken breast loaded with mushrooms, smoked ham, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and Alfredo sauce. Topped with a blend of three cheeses. Served with fresh veggies
Toowoomba Pasta
She’s a beaut! Flavorful fettuccine Alfredo mixed with seasoned shrimp, crawfish, mushrooms, and parmesan
Jackeroo Chops
Two 8-ounce center cut pork chops served with cinnamon apples and roasted garlic mashed potatoes
Sides
Aussie Chips
Jacket Idaho® Potato
Fresh Steamed Veggies
Fresh Steamed Broccoli
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Grilled Onions
Sauteed 'Shrooms
House or Caesar Salad as entree
Bleu Cheese Chopped Salad* as entree
* This salad served with delicious cinnamon pecans
Burgers & Sandwiches
Served with Aussie chips
No Rules Burger
Our burger served just right Choice of toppings: Bacon, Grilled Onions, Sauteed Mushrooms, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato, American Cheese, BBQ Sauce, Pickles and Onions, Bleu Cheese Dressing
The Mad Max
A seriously awesome burger! For warriors only, please. Served with bacon, American cheese, pickles, onions, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato
The Outbacker
It's always a g'day with our old reliable ' our burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and mustard. Add cheese, at no charge
Barbie Chook 'N Bacon
A tasty beaut! Temptingly barbecued chicken breast served with bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato
Sweet Chook O’ Mine
Tender grilled breast of chicken with Swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato with a honey mustard sauce
Bonzer Ritas & Specialty Drinks
The Grand Rita
Our finest margarita, made with Sauza Tres Generaciones Plata Tequila, Grand Marnier and mixed with all-natural juices. Enjoy it straight up or on the rocks!
Just Right 'Rita
A true tequila lover's margarita with Herradura's Reposado Tequila, Cointreau and our all-natural juice mix. Straight up or on the rocks!
Down Under 'Rita®
A Gold Coast 'Rita with an extra
shot of Cuervo Gold® and Cointreau® on top.
Margaritaville 'Rita
The legendary Margarita ... A blend of Margaritaville® Tequila, Triple Sec and an all-natural mix of lime and orange juices. Served up or on the rocks! The best margaritas come from Margaritaville!
The Gold Coast 'Rita®
Cuervo Gold® makes these 'Ritas bonzer, frozen or on the rocks. Also available with succulent strawberries. Choose your pleasure.
The Wallaby Darned®
Down Under frozen wonder with peaches, DeKuyper® Peachtree Schnapps, champagne, Smirnoff® Vodka and secret mixers.
Fair Dinkum Daiquiri
Succulent strawberries blended with our secret mixers to give you a bonzer daiquiri made with Bacardi Light Rum.
Desserts
Featuring Blue Bell ice cream
Cinnamon Apple Oblivion®
She'll be apples! Vanilla ice cream covered in cinnamon apples and pecans topped with caramel sauce
Chocolate Thunder From Down Under®
Fresh-baked pecan brownie, rich vanilla ice cream topped with hot homemade chocolate sauce and chocolate shavings
Sydney's Sinful Sundae®
'Ava go at it. Vanilla ice cream rolled in toasted coconut, covered in chocolate sauce and topped with whipped cream Cheesecake Olivia New York-style with a choice of raspberry, chocolate or caramel sauce
Cheesecake Olivia
New York-style with a choice of raspberry, chocolate or caramel sauce
Chocolate Chocolate Tower NEW!
Layers of moist chocolate cake and smooth chocolate filling towering high atop our raspberry sauce. Add a 'Hooley Dooley' scoop of vanilla ice cream
Joey Menu
Just for littlies, that's Aussie for kids, under 10.
Entrees, except Mac A Roo 'N Cheese, served with choice of steamed veggies, broccoli, jacket potato, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, or Aussie Chips. Includes a beverage too.
Joey Sirloin
Grilled Chicken On The Barbie
Junior Ribs
Mac A Roo 'N Cheese
Grilled Cheese-A-Roo
Boomerang Cheese Burger
Kookaburra Chicken Fingers
Spotted Dog Sundae with your choice of Oreo® cookie crumbles or chocolate sauce
Menu items and prices may vary. Please consult your server.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Order the Bloomin'' Onion...no matter what you order as your main dish, no visit to the Outback is complete without this Aussie-tizer!
Best Suited For: Kids and Families
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alexdg1
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Member: Alex Diaz-Granados
Location: Miami, FL USA
Reviews written: 1272
Trusted by: 270 members
About Me:
Rest in Peace, Mrs. Barbara Axler Fields. I will miss you lots!
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