Is Outback a good steakhouse?

I really don't get spending money at crappy places like that - the middle ground chain restaurants just don't make sense to me. I can easily cook better food at home for less money. Throwing some steaks on the grill or castiron isn't hard to do.

I'll happily spring for Ruth's Chris (or a comparable or better local place) for steaks since I can't cook anything that hot or easily get the quality of beef or even crazy expensive food like French Laundry because there's no way I can do that at home.

Same on the cheap end - couple slices of pizza or similar I can't touch the taste or price at home easily.

Just that weird middle ground of ~20 entrees at chain places seems like a waste of time and money to me.

Really hungry wrote:

I mean, I know it’s not a great steak house, but it’s kind of expensive. If I take a girl there, will she be impresssed?

Impressed? Yes, if the two of you are in middle school.

Ezekiel bread wrote:

Not sure about the stake since I don't eat meat, but they have excellent rye bread.

If you are a vampire, I would stay away from places that server stakes for dinner

The FDA changed its standards for grading meat when there was a big proliferation of steakhouses like Outback. And even at nice restaurants, a lot of what is claimed to be Kobe or Wagyu is not the real thing. Even the designation "grass fed" beef is often not the real deal as a lot of ranchers will grain feed and finish on grass. If you are really a red meat lover, you should look for a restaurant that serves beef from a local producer. You can often get a better cut of meat from a local producer than you get at a high end steakhouse like Mortons or Ruth Chris.

Outback is not expensive. I'd rate it as moderate price. It's food is moderate as well.

It really depends on the line cooks. Some of them seem to understand rare vs medium rare vs medium. Some do not.

The quality of the meat is so-so. The apps are decent. The desserts good. The sides. Not so good.

If I were a date, I would not be impressed. You don't need to spend a lot. Good food can be cheap. You are better off looking for a local place. Go to Yelp and find something in your area (but first find out what type of food your date likes).

1st: the food is what it is. Up to you to decide if your date is worth it.

2nd: the real issue is choosing a sit down restaurant as a date. That’s nice and all, but not a knockout or even something she’ll remember come Christmas. If you want to stand out, do something original and active that she will remember. You don’t have to and should not spend a bunch of money to impress her. Your job is to entertain her and show her your fun side. Sitting down to dinner is nice, but not amazing or original. Don’t forget, you then have to carry the convo with almost no change in scenery or activity to generate conversation. If this is a first date, that makes it harder to show your best qualities. The extra mile in thought and planning goes farther than spending $30 extra at a chain.

blort wrote:

Outback is not expensive. I'd rate it as moderate price. It's food is moderate as well.

It really depends on the line cooks. Some of them seem to understand rare vs medium rare vs medium. Some do not.

The quality of the meat is so-so. The apps are decent. The desserts good. The sides. Not so good.

If I were a date, I would not be impressed. You don't need to spend a lot. Good food can be cheap. You are better off looking for a local place. Go to Yelp and find something in your area (but first find out what type of food your date likes).

This. I've been to a lot of steakhouses from dives to five-star, and the steak is only as good as the person cooking it. It's really hard to get a truly rare steak - hot on the outside, cold in the middle - and the great restaurants get it wrong just as much as the bad ones.

The cuts at Outback are not the highest quality, but they're pretty damn good for the price. And that's good enough for me, especially when I'm footing the bill for my three college-age boys too.

A place to impress a date? Outback? WTF? Are you in high school?

Outback... Outhouse... Tough call.

TFLFTW wrote:

I really don't get spending money at crappy places like that - the middle ground chain restaurants just don't make sense to me. I can easily cook better food at home for less money. Throwing some steaks on the grill or castiron isn't hard to do.

I'll happily spring for Ruth's Chris (or a comparable or better local place) for steaks since I can't cook anything that hot or easily get the quality of beef or even crazy expensive food like French Laundry because there's no way I can do that at home.

Same on the cheap end - couple slices of pizza or similar I can't touch the taste or price at home easily.

Just that weird middle ground of ~20 entrees at chain places seems like a waste of time and money to me.

You can get the same quality of beef as any restaurant, may require going to a butcher shop but it is possible.

I have known a few chefs and they all say the same thing: never buy steak in a restaurant because it is something you can make at home where the incremental improvement is not worth the cost.

I do not always abide by that---sometimes I am traveling and want steak--but largely I do.

Re: Outback--I am a sucker for the Blooming Onion...

Really hungry wrote:

I mean, I know it’s not a great steak house, but it’s kind of expensive. If I take a girl there, will she be impresssed?

I think this depends a lot on how old you are. First, since you think it is expensive I am guessing you are fairly young.

Second, I think younger people tend to like chain restaurants more than older folks--although I think that is a U shaped curve where as we get older we like chains again.

The first dates are the toughest to decide on places to go.

It's hard to tell if she'll be impressed without knowing your PR's and seeing pics of her.

But if you really want to impress her then peruse the wine list. Order a bottle of whatever is the most expensive. Make sure that you insist on tasting it first. Make a big production about sniffing the cork (or cap if it's a screw on). Spin the wine around several times in the glass. Comment on the legs in the glass. Sniff it two or three times. Then, as soon as you sip it into your mouth, spit it out across the table and loudly exclaim in your snottiest voice, "Somellier, this wine has gone bad. Take it away immediately."

She will be very impressed by your knowledge of fine wines and your ability to take charge of the situation.

Demand to speak to the general manager and more than likely your entire meal will be on the house. Of course, there will be boogers in your food.

Let us know how it goes.

https://www.outback.com/bar/wines

Really hungry wrote:

I mean, I know it’s not a great steak house, but it’s kind of expensive. If I take a girl there, will she be impresssed?

Your post is very confusing to begin with.

1. You keep saying you are "taking her there". What does this even mean? Dies it mean you are paying for her gas money to get there?

2. Why in the hell are ppl responding to your post as if YOU are the one paying for her food? Why in the hell would you be paying for her food? Why are you not paying for your own food? Did your daddy or mommy tell you that it is your job to pay for women's food? That's definately not what mommy and daddy taught me, and that's definately not what I believe. I wouldn't be caught DEAD paying for a females food or movie ticket or anything else.

3. Does she have a mental disability and cannot drive? Why else would you be putting her in your vehicle? Why not have her meat you there to save gas money?

Hey 430, your magic wand is in the mail. Say hi to the wizards for me!

why would you not make her dinner at your place? works every time.

Maybe the quality is not the same at various outlets nationwide. I've actually found Outback to be pretty good. The prime rib is mighty tasty. It's been awhile since I've been there. Do they still have the Bloomin' Onion? Some "appetizer." It takes five days to eat one.

TFLFTW wrote:

I really don't get spending money at crappy places like that - the middle ground chain restaurants just don't make sense to me. I can easily cook better food at home for less money. Throwing some steaks on the grill or castiron isn't hard to do.

I'll happily spring for Ruth's Chris (or a comparable or better local place) for steaks since I can't cook anything that hot or easily get the quality of beef or even crazy expensive food like French Laundry because there's no way I can do that at home.

Same on the cheap end - couple slices of pizza or similar I can't touch the taste or price at home easily.

Just that weird middle ground of ~20 entrees at chain places seems like a waste of time and money to me.

Foff with your French laundry. Only a fool wastes that much money on a meal.

It is a car.

Yeah, Outback is known for its extensive wine list...

Also, how is she going to know it is the most expensive bottle unless you announce it?