MMMMMM Outback...(Insert Homer Simpson Drool Noise Here)
Written: Sep 24 '03
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Pros: good food, good portions, good prices, call ahead seating
Cons: long waits (even with call ahead seating)
The Bottom Line: The Outback is an excellent restaurant chain with good food at good prices. Just make sure you call ahead. 4 stars.
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| MattA75's Full Review: Outback Steakhouse |
My brother had been raving about the Outback Steakhouse for quite a while before I actually tried the chain last year with my girlfriend. It didn't take long to see what he was raving about.
For those living in a cave, the Outback Steakhouse is an Australian themed restaurant chain that has scored huge in the American food service industry. The atmosphere, from stuffed kangaroos to pictures of wallabies and koalas, to the service staff welcoming you with "g'day," is meant to enhance the whole Australian theme, although depending on your mood, it could come off as a bit over the top or a bit stupid.
It seems some people on this site have complained about the long wait times that have come to be associated with this place. Perhaps in order to meet the popularity of their restaurants, the Outback now offers call-ahead seating, which is extremely convenient. For those unfamiliar with the idea, you basically call the restaurant, tell them how many of you are there, they tell you how long the wait is, and you just show up whenever they say. This means that if they tell you it's an hour wait, you can relax for a bit on the couch and then take off. While their estimates are usually pretty good, there have been a couple of nights where my wait was a bit longer than what I was quoted on the phone. If you are planning on hitting this place, I suggest you use this option, ESPECIALLY on a Friday or Saturday night. The good news is is that you can head to the bar for a drink while you wait if you are stuck with a bit of a longer wait than expected.
The service staff (at least at the one I regularly attend in Randolph, MA) are trained to be extremely friendly and helpful. They ask if you've ever been to the Outback before, and if you haven't, they let you know some things you should know before ordering (more on that later!). They're always pretty quick with refills on drinks, and most other concerns you may run into in your dining out experience. I've only really had one major problem with a server, and after a quick letter to management, I never saw that server again!
But let's get to the point. The food. Most of the food is seasoned with a delicious selection of spices (only the prime rib is not, but they can cook to order). As a New Englander, I like clam chowder, and there is no better clam chowder than the Outback's. Chunky, thick, and spicy, a bowl of chowder is an excellent start to your night. Too hot for chowder? Try their garden salad, with a generous helping of shredded cheese on top. There is nothing that beats cheese on a salad, absolutely nothing. If there's one disappointing thing about the salad dressing selection, it's the lack of a true Italian dressing. Instead they offer a "mustard vinagrette," which they describe as a "light, tangy Italian." It's not bad, but it's not anything great either.
If you're looking for something a bit more filling for your appetizers, you could try the boneless kookaburrra (buffalo) wings. They are not listed as boneless on the menu, but your server will probably inform you of the boneless availability on your first trip there. While they are not as hot as some other places, these wings taste great, it's probably the best tasting buffalo wing on the national market. And then there is the Outback's specialty, the "blooming onion." I'm not a big onion fan, but my brother is obsessed with the thing, he swears it's one of the best things ever created. The only time I was really disappointed with an appetizer is when I decided to try the cheese fries. They were heavily salted, and while you got a gigantic amount for the price, they just weren't very good, so an awful lot of food went to waste.
In terms of entrees, you cannot go wrong with the "Walhalla Pasta and chicken," a plump, juicy, seasoned chicken breast on top of a bed of fettucini alfredo and some vegetables (zuccini, broccoli, and carrots). The portion of pasta is pretty big, and the chicken breast is no slouch either. For those who would like this dish without the veggies, there's the "Queensland Chicken and Shrimp," which is the same thing as Walhalla Pasta, just with shrimp instead of the veggies. And the shrimp are good sized too, no need to fear about there being given tiny shrimp. And if you don't like alfredo, I suggest you get one of the grillers, which combines the seasoned chicken breast, shrimp or steak tips with a bed of deliciously seasoned rice and some veggies.
They offer three sizes of prime rib, I usually go with the 14 ounce size. As mentioned above, the prime rib is the only thing on the menu that is not seasoned, but I've never been disappointed in the quality of the piece of meat I received. The porterhouse, at 22 ounces, is a gigantic slab of meat, and I've always been too intimidated to really try it. They also offer a variety of other steaks, although normally, I'll end up with the prime rib.
I'm not exactly enamored with their dessert selection either (not that I ever have room anyways). They only offer 4-5 things, and none of them sound very good to me, but then again, that's just me. The prices on most of the menu are affordable, and on some (such as the chicken and shrimp dish), you can feel like you're getting a steal and a half for your money.
I highly recommend the Outback, but you should definitely know about the waits. I strongly recommend using the call ahead seating feature, and if you just can't wait, they do offer "curbside takeaway," where they bring the food right out to your car for you. All in all, I consider the Outback to be a good value with a fun atmosphere to match. 4 stars.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Clam Chowder,
Walhalla Pasta,
Chicken and Veggie Griller,
14 oz Prime Rib,
Boneless Kookaburra Wings
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
MattA75
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 - Top 50 |
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Member: Matt Aucoin
Location: South Berwick, ME
Reviews written: 1162
Trusted by: 465 members
About Me:
Gonna be a daddy, April 2010!
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