Outback Steakhouse - Naperville, IL Review

Outback Steakhouse has sentimental value to my wife and I; it is where I took her on our first date.  In fact I can still remember shat we had: Alice Springs Chicken ($12.79), Jackeroo Chops ($15.49), and for desert Chocolate Thunder From Down Under ($4.99).  By the end of the date, I was more impressed with the restaurant than my future wife, so we compromised; she would take me to Outback once a year on my birthday.              

About The Restaurant

Despite the name and Australian themed menu and interior, Outback Steakhouse is all American.  The restaurant was established in 1988 as: "An Australian steakhouse concept open for dinner only. Although beef and steak items make up a good portion of the menu, the concept offers a variety of chicken, ribs, seafood, and pasta dishes. The Company's strategy is to differentiate its restaurants by emphasizing consistently high-quality food and service, generous portions at moderate prices and a casual atmosphere suggestive of the Australian Outback." The chain is owned by OSI Restaurant Partners Inc., headquartered in Tampa, Florida

Atmosphere & Service

The wait for seating was predictably long.  But when our time cam, we were seated with all due dispatch and at a both very close to the door.  Once seated we noted that there was no silverware or napkins on the table, but our waitress, who should up rather quickly, soon took care of that.

Warm brown bread and garlic butter was brought swiftly to the table, and more was to be had for the asking.  We ordered Aussie Cheese Fries (6.79) from the Aussie-Tizers menu; when they arrived we (me, my wife, and our 12-year old daughter) were surprised by the size of the order.  Needless to say most of the fries went home with us.  The main-course took some time to arrive, but it was well worth the wait; every morsel was delicious!           

Menu Choices & Food

One of the reasons-other than the fact that my wife doesn't particularly care for the restaurant-we do not visit Outback Steakhouse more often is the menu prices; they tend to be on the high side of the casual dinning experience.  For instance, our meal for three-we dined last night-came to just under $73.00!  And that was without alcoholic beverages and desert.  But the portions are not anymore generous than any other restaurant in this category, so name cache alone must account for the high menu prices. 

I decided to forgo my usual order-Jackeroo Chops ($15.49)-and instead go for the Outback Style Prime Rib ($17.79). My wife ordered the Boomerang Shrimp ($14.79), and my daughter ordered the Queensland Chicken ‘N Shrimp ($13.49).  Again the meal proved quite pricy even for dinner; the restaurant does not serve lunch.

My Viewpoint:

Love the food and the service, hate the high prices!  So, Outback Steakhouse will remain a once a year guilty, expensive pleasure for me and mine.