Review: Outback Steakhouse
Author: WIBIA | Filed under: Food Reviews, Location: Indianapolis, IN
Outback Steakhouse
3454 W 86th St
Indianapolis, IN 46268
http://www.outbacksteakhouse.com
I usually stay away from places like Outback Steakhouse just because reviewing them is so boring. Everyone knows what the place is about, Bloomin’ Onion, etc. However, I got an e-mail from the manager from my closest Outback and said that he loves the blog and that he would like to be reviewed. He went on talking about how the vast majority of what they serve is made in house, etc. This is my first e-mail from a manager of a chain asking me to come in, so I was suspicious.
I actually had Outback twice in the last month and I will just push them together in one review.
What I Ate: First visit, Prime Rib, 12 0z $18.95. Second visit, Ribeye 12 oz $18.00. You get a choice of two sides so I decided to vary my salads.
House Salad with Ranch Dressing:
This was a pretty big starter salad. I liked the ranch dressing, the croutons were pretty good, tomatoes were ripe…nothing to complain about here.
Bleu Cheese Wedge:
Sorry about the bogus picture, it was really dark. Ripe tomatoes, red onion, bacon and bleu cheese crumbles. I liked this quite a bit as well. This would easily rival a $6.00 salad that you would get at the prime steakhouses in town. It was huge too. Hmm…
Ribeye Steak:
It was a little past medium rare, but not enough to send it back. The ribeye was a very lean for a ribeye and I liked the flavor quite a bit. Outback uses Choice grade (the same as Sullivan’s), so it is a good quality steak. The sweet potato is always a favorite of mine and this did not disappoint.
The prime rib (not pictured) was actually my favorite. It was a little bland as I like a salty crusty edge to it, but it was pretty good. There is not a lot that I can say here, it is a standard cut of meat done really well.
Would I Buy It Again? A very enthaustic YES! You really don’t know how bad I wanted to slam them after the manager e-mailed telling me how great it is. I say that only because my last five visits to other Outbacks were pretty bad. This particular location is worth trying though.
The service is exceptional, I mean really top notch (Mandy was particularly awesome. We were greeted quickly with well paced meals and very friendly service. Plus, I sent back the kid’s chicken and the manager was over in about thirty seconds making sure everything is okay and then we were comped a free app for that. Totally unnecessary, but a nice touch.
This location really has their ducks in a row. I figured out why the manager e-mailed me…because he gives a damn and is proud of his restaurant…and he should be.
-wibia
Tags: Food, Outback Steakhouse, prime rib, ribeye, salad, Steak
I went to college in Pittsburgh and there is an Outback inside PNC Park. It’s in left field so if you sit by the window your view is the field. Kinda cool. Anyway, we’d go there a few times a year and I’m not a big steak eater so I’d always get the bacon cheeseburger, and it was always sooo good.
I enjoy Outback once in a while. We don’t have many options where I live for steak and while they aren’t the best they are consistent enough in cooking a good steak.
As for the salad, my usual salad is a Caesar when I’m eating out but I absolutely LOVE Outback’s ranch dressing, it is delicious on both the salad and the Aussie cheese fries.
I second Rachel, so to speak, think the cheeseburger at Outback is pretty quality……
I’ve been to that Outback several times (one of the few chains I visit for dinner.) Quality and service is always good.
I’m curious – did they know you were reviewing them when they prepared these meals and served them to you? Did you have to pay?
-SH
@Shane
I think WIBIA keeps it totally anonymous. I could be wrong, but I would bet the people at the restaurant had no idea when he was coming or who he was.
I visit this specific Outback at least 3-4 times a year and have never had cause to complain. Very consistent food and good service. I always feel I got good “value” for my steak dollar here. One thing I like is that the kids meals are large enough to satisfy my big kids that are on the verge of ordering adult meals (and bankrupting me!).
cool.I live in western NC. chain stores it all depends on the management. and by that I mean, keeping employees happy. its like chain resturants all over. shoneys or waffle house, cracker barrel or red lobster. micky d’s or name any thing, be it bk, wendys, or more up scale, like py chang, applebees, fatz, etc.. but it is always the same… holey moseses… this is really good… then you go to a different place… and not quite as good. in fact pretty terrible… chain places are like motels… same decor, same signage, but the people make the difference.
I apoligigize. when you check into a motel, or pull into to xxxx brand resturant, there are certain standards you expect. and I know. and for fear of certain places coming down on me like a ton of brick, but you must remember.. those persons working there, most often with 0 benifits.., well.. people will do their best, but at 3.30 am, its my job to make sure we have adequte water pressure for all the persons getting up to catch an am flight,and lord, I just wanna go home. I am one night auditor, and they only pay me 8.75 an hour…High, how are you…
@ShaneH ha ha… I would thought the same thing when doing this post….people are going to think they paid me. They had no clue, I payed full price etc.. I am not above doing a paid review, but if I do it will be in the subject line, deal?
Wow, this reminds me. I haven’t been to an Outback in years. The one near me in Va. has never let me down, so I have no idea why I haven’t been back in so long. The food is always good, but I do, however, feel like it’s a bit overpriced for what you get.