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Photo: Sarah De Heer, AOL
First it was the best Applebee's appetizers, now we head Down Under to the popular steak chain, Outback Steakhouse. With so many entrees on offer, we decided to start with the restaurant's tried-and-true classics: Outback Favorites.
Menu Overview: There are seven main courses in the "Favorites" section, including Baby Back Ribs, which had a great crust, but the meat was a little fatty. "Would have loved them with more sauce," one taster said. Next, we sampled the Grilled Chicken on the Barbie (the chicken was dry and lacked seasoning), the pleasantly spicy No Rules Parmesan Pasta (but where was the Parmesan?) and the Sweet Glazed Pork Tenderloin, a dish that prompted one taster to suggest it "could have been cardboard" underneath the heaping pile of overly-sweet sauce.
Find out our Outback Favorites Winner, Runner-up, and Loser after the jump.
It was a tough choice deciding between our winner and runner-up. Depending on your mood - beef or poultry, either of the below dishes are a safe bet.
Sarah De Heer, AOL
The Winner: Filet with Wild Mushroom Sauce
While we were a little scared at the sight of this dish (sloppy plating), our nerves were quickly put to rest with the first bite of the extremely tender filet. While we prefer our filets whole (this is sliced thinly), one tester said the beef "melted in my mouth." The mushroom sauce had us at hello, but this dish is definitely meant for a mushroom enthusiast, as there's no escaping the earthy flavor. The side of vegetables were cooked well, but lacked salt and pepper. This was an improvement over our soggy side of vegetables, which came with the Grilled Chicken on the Barbie. As for the mashed potatoes, may we have seconds?
Sarah De Heer, AOL
The Runner-up: Alice Springs Chicken
Bacon, mushrooms, melted Monterery Jack and Cheddar cheeses top this chicken dish, and one tasted said it was "cooked to perfection: juicy and tender." Anything with melted cheese and served with a side of fries is hard to mess up. However, Outback has nailed the ratio of cheese to chicken so you can still taste all the components of the dish. We can't lie, the side of honey mustard intended for the chicken turned into our new favorite french-fry dip -- it was out of this world.
Sarah De Heer, AOL
The Loser: New Zealand Rack of Lamb
We all looked at each other incredulously. Does Outback seriously consider this an "Outback Favorite?" The only thing that saved this dish were the "creamy mashed potatoes and crisp green beans" ... really, $20?
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1-31-2011 @9:14AM Pen said... What's wrong with people... anyone who goes out to eat and orders a steak, chop, or any cut of meat that they can easily cook at home and cook better, and in all likelyhood will be a better cut of meat, one you picked yourself, and then complains it's not worth the price is a pinhead. In the US one can buy several cuts of USDA Choice steaks on sale every day... for the price of one restaurant steak dinner I can feed a family of three, and better. Anyone with a stove and skillet can cook steak better than those eateries with all that smoke and flame signifying nothing, flambe is all for show. I was a ship's cook in the US Navy, I fed 400 every day, steak was the easiest meal to prepare. When eating out one should take the opportunity to order something they can't easily cook at home; oriental food, seafood, most ethnic foods... only a moron orders steak... and if you must at least make it tube steak (franks n' beans). I order those odiferous viands out, those that would schtink up my house; fish of all types, and my favorite, a huge slab of calves liver smothered in onions and bacon. I won't cook seafood on my outdoor grill, that schtink will contaminate any beef/pork/poultry that follows.
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1-31-2011 @9:22AM Red said... I have no idea what Outback the writer of this article went to but I have never ever been dissatisfied with any food at the Outback in about 6 different states that I have eaten there. They do have a cerain recipe to follow. This person has no idea what they are talking about. They must be an Applebee's lover which is no comparison to the quality of the food at Outback.
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1-31-2011 @1:42PM Ray said... True not all Outbacks are equal....the one on Laskin Road in Virginia Beach is the best and we have tried them in several states. The food lives up to the expectation of good steaks good service. Any locals reading this in Hampton Roads, should give this store a try.
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1-31-2011 @11:03AM Angiebaby said... When plating is so egregiously sloppy, doesn't it make you wonder what the kitchen floor looks like? Translation? What was their score in the last food & health inspection? Gag.
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1-31-2011 @9:39AM Chiaki said... So you think the reviewers don't like lamb because they knocked that disgusting plate they were served? I think the reveiwers were kind. I would have called for the manager and shown them what looked like a half eaten plate of bones. Also the other dishes were presented terribly, spilled sauces down the sides of the serving dishes, broken vegetables. I don't need to spend money there, when I can get better at home.
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1-31-2011 @1:16PM pst2868 said... The reviewer likes her food salty. Everyone is now talking about less salt and sugar.
If you want salt you can always add AS MUCH AS you want. It also appears that the reviewer likes any food COVERED with cheese.
As for the rack of lamb, as some posters said, the reviewer does not like lamb. I happen to like the lamb and the baby back rib. Have you seen the price of lamb chop in the store lately?
I don't go to Outback very often now. I agree the quality has gone down. It has to do with the skill level of the people working in each restaurant. They are not as well trained as they used to be.
The best experience I had was the Outback in Toronto, Canada.
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1-31-2011 @9:41AM Steve said... I travel a lot and when I get the chance I will give the Outback a try. It depends a lot which Outback one visits because the quality varies greatly from one city to the next. One of my very favorite Outbacks is the one in Scottsdale, Az. near the center for the arts. They prepare the same food as the rest of the chain, but its as close to gourmet food as one can get in a chain restaurant. The rack of lamb is excellent as is the steak and shrimp combo.
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1-31-2011 @12:09PM D said... I used to work at Outback. The plating in these pictures is horrible. It looks like diner food! In the end, I do enjoy what Outback has to offer, but the three choices listed above are not even close to my favorites. You gotta roll with any of their steaks, get a loaded baked potatoe and try the veggies seasoned and seared. They have great seafood options as well and I am a huge fan of their hotwiings.
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1-31-2011 @12:07PM D said... I used to work at Outback. The plating in these pictures is horrible. It looks like diner food! In the end, I do enjoy what Outback has to offer, but the three choices listed above are not even close to my favorites. You gotta roll with any of their steaks, get a loaded baked potatoe and try the veggies seasoned and seared. They have great seafood options as well and I am a huge fan of their hotwiings.
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1-31-2011 @9:40AM Coe Case said... It may surprise many to know that there are sometimes great variations in a particular menu offering from one location to another. I'm sure each chain tries to train and monitor to keep all establishments on the same level, but I have noted differences. SO, take any evaluation with "a grain of salt!" . I think the comments here show the range of evaluations for a particular dish. Give your local establishment the benefit of doubt until you give it a try! You may be pleasently surprised!
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1-31-2011 @9:43AM WaryMode said... The lack of salt or pepper added to the food on my plate is, for me, better as I prefer to add my own seasoning. Many dishes have far too much salt in them.
Spelling? The ability to spell appears to be a gift; some of us kin spel gud, others can't spell well at all. It appears to be linked to how we process the words we see in print.
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1-31-2011 @9:44AM Dean said... I don't know what Outback you went to, but it's obviously run very poorly. Every Outback I've been to from California to Ohio has been rather good.
Outback is not a top tier restaurant and doesn't claim to be, but I've never been disappointed in my meal at any of them.
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1-31-2011 @9:55AM Dean said... I've been to that one many times. I used to go at least once a month until I moved to Prescott, AZ. I actually had a tiny problem there once with a steak I ordered, (all it needed was a few more minutes on the grill...no big deal) and the manager came out and not only paid for everyone's meal, but also gave me 2 gift certificates called a "Tuck Away" for $50 each just for the interruption of our meal.
Now that's customer service.
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1-31-2011 @9:57AM Dennis said... Perusing the comments, seems like each Outback Steakhouse is different, again, depending on locality in the United States. I must say after 4 occasions of dining at Outabck, I was satisified at a times. The Outback in Appleton, Wisconsin is top notch in service, presentation, and selection. Great decor, low music, and muted conversations draw wach of us back. When a server or waitress hugs you on the way out, and tells you "it was a pleasure serving you," this is a class place. If you expect more for your twenty dollars, then try KFC!
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1-31-2011 @9:58AM brian g said... Outback has horrible prresentations of their entree's. The french green beans however are a big winner as a side. Texas road house is awful and applebees , well thank's to the appetizers , tehy are ok. Out of the 3, I think Applebees wins though the competition in not strong
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1-31-2011 @10:02AM jad said... Plating looks disgusting in the pix
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1-31-2011 @10:11AM herb sedler said... I guess I am a lucky one in Florida,I have been to outback many many times, I have been in the business for twenty years and have seen of these things you bring up. The one my family goes to has gotten back on track and the product has always been good for us and we are a little pickey. The sirloin special they offer has always been very good and I have never been let down in many years. The pictures being shown here in this article are very scary, very sloppy and I am sure will be changing real soon. I am interested in helping them get it together and back on track, they are a good operation and you can have a good time at there place.
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1-31-2011 @1:34PM Miss Teacha said... We ate at Outback this weekend, and all three dinners looked divine and tasted even better. I thoroughly enjoyed my tenderloin with it's luscious sause and the garlic potatoes on the side. My husband and son devoured the new ribeye steaks and were totally satisfied. Outback is a nice change of pace.
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1-31-2011 @10:27AM FreeYourMind said... Our Outback in Montgomeryville, PA is very good. The service is always very good, the food is good - the only thing we haven't enjoyed was the prime rib - it had been undercooked, we sent it back and then it came back re-cooked and rubbery (probably in the microwave). I like very much the $10 sirloin meal with the baked potato, only I have to ask to NOT spice it in advance, they do some kind of a spice rub on the meat. Bloomin' Onion is too bloomin' greasy in my opinion. The vegs and potatoes are good. I haven't tried some of the above recommendations but I will next time. P.S. The platings look very good at the Outback I go to. I guess it depends on which one you go to.
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1-31-2011 @10:24AM Jack Holley said... Outback have taken the Snow Crab legs off the menu. What a loss these were the best thing on the menu! Hey dumbies bring back...pretty please.
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