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The ‘Aussie’ Outback Steakhouse…
Posted by Derek on July 20th, 2007
On Friday night I continued my search for decent food. There’s a strip near by that has at least 8 steakhouses on it. So, this night it was time to try “Outback”.
I walked in to find an American style steakhouse with walls covered in Aboriginal paraphernalia and all sorts of Australian souvenirs that I didn’t recognise. I sat down and was handed a menu. I opened the menu and within 60 seconds must have had a large smile on my face. A waitress noticed as she walked by and asked:
“Is everything OK sir?”
I replied, “Every thing’s fine thanks.”
“Oh my! Are you a real Aussssssie?”
“Um. Last time I checked I was. Yes.”
“Wow, I suppose you want us to cook you some shrimp’s on the barbie?”
I laugh. “No, I’ll just see what else you have here. Thanks.”
“Ok love. You want me to get you something to drink? Fosters?”
I laugh again. “Umm. No thanks.” Fortunately they had a number of Australian beers on their menu, so I ordered my favourite. “I’ll have a James Boag’s thanks.”
“Ok sweetie. I’ll be right back.”
I continued reading the menu, thinking to myself… What is Australian food? I mean, apart from steak and three veg and maybe the odd serving of kangaroo meat, Australian food is basically Thai, Chinese, Italian, Greek, Lebanese etc. etc. There’s obviously the Aboriginal selection of witchetty grub, a variety of snakes and shrubs, but generally these are not eaten by the general populous. Anyway back to the menu. Below is the first item on the list, it’s highlighted as an “Aussie-Tizer”:
BLOOMIN’ ONION
An Outback original! When our special onions are delivered to our kitchens daily they’re hand carved by a dedicated bloomologist. Each bloom is cooked until golden and served with our spicy dipping sauce
$6.99
You have to hand it to them though, “Bloomin’ Onion” (it’s a registered trade mark as well) is kind of clever.
Some of the other items on the menu:
Kookaburra Wings
Fresh chicken drumettes coated in savory seasonings and served mild, medium or hot with celery and Danish Blue Cheese dressing
$7.99
Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie
Sprinkled with seasonings and delicately grilled. Served with homemade remoulade sauce
$8.99
Walkabout Soup
Drover’s Platter
Walhalla Pasta
Cyclone Pasta
Toowoomba Pasta
Alice Springs Chicken
Boomerang Shrimp
Mac-A-Roo ‘N Cheese
Joey Sirloin
Spotted Dog Sundae
You get the picture.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:41 am
Ahhhh… another disappointed customer. Or maybe it just gave you a giggle? All I know is that the last time I was in an Outback Steakhouse, I order wedges and I almost cried when normal french fries came coated in cheddar cheese and bacon bits.
Where, oh, where were my chunky, spice coated hunks of potato dripping in sweet chili sauce and sour cream?
Now THERE is a true Australian meal…LOL
(And just think.. I’m just a Canadian ex-pat in Oz…what it would have been like for a dinki-di… I can only imagine.)
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:20 pm
hey mate, good to see you sampling the many delights of the US…..when you get back you’ll have to try the outback steakhouse in Strathfield…a much better alternative than the american version….although i think you can still get the bloomin onion for that traditional australian meal!!!
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
They have an outback steakhouse in Australia? I had no idea.
I haven’t tried the Bloomin’ Onions yet. I might give them a try tomorrow night.
July 24th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Just steer clear of the shrimp derek. Nasty stuff!
July 24th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Yeah? I almost had that tonight but ended up going for the Alice Springs Chicken. Haven’t tried the Onions like i said i would.
What’s happening with your blog? Are you still in Europe?
July 25th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Hey Derek!
Pleased to see you’ve revived the blog, I do enjoy reading it. I can’t believe you’re in Seattle *envious*.
Yeah anyway, the Outback Steakhouse at North Strathfield is one of Cass and I’s favourtie restaurants; we eat there all the time. The bloomin onion is a little oily for our tastes but the Bushies and Alice Springs Chicken are both fantastic! The Red Centre Prawn Saute is also another great dish, it might be called something different over there though.
July 25th, 2007 at 3:06 am
Brad,
I must admit the food in this place is half decent. As far as The Red Centre Praw Saute goes, it’s definitely not on the menu.
July 27th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I’m just busy haven’t had a chance to update… well thats not exactly true, I just have had other things on my mind. But its not like I promised my readers I would post a photo a day and then never made good on the deal or anything. hahaha, I knew you’d never make it!
July 27th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Ha! Fair call
July 30th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
The outback steak house and in particular the ‘bloomin onion’ made a pretty big feature on Rove last night derek. I think his writers might have been reading your site.
July 30th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Really? What did they have to say about it?
July 30th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
I would much rather watch Luke play & drop books (but not on his head!) than big onions, eggs, etc, etc!
July 30th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
or undies talk, too for that matter!!
Not that I am against undies!