Outback Steakhouse

Our resident "food expert" has touted the virtues of the Outback Steakhouse. Since the dogs next door (yes real dogs) had recently given us an Outback Steakhouse Gift Card, we decided to have an early dinner at one of the Las Vegas locations while sitting a 5.5 hour connection between flights. After clearing Immigration/Customs, we checked in for our Southwest flight to Albuquerque. Ditched our carry on luggage in a locker and headed off for the Outback. While the prices appeared out of line (high), we both decided on Prime Rib (8oz & 12oz). Both satisfied a craving that we both had for some NOB food!

We were both struck by the apparent new prices at the Outback Steakhouse -
Las Vegas 14oz. Ribeye: $25.99
Albuquerque 14 oz Ribeye: $19.99

I guess it depends where you are whether or not Outback is a reasonable option?

And you didn't find a casino $5 steak special?

CheenaGringo wrote:Our resident "food expert" has touted the virtues of the Outback Steakhouse. Since the dogs next door (yes real dogs) had recently given us an Outback Steakhouse Gift Card, we decided to have an early dinner at one of the Las Vegas locations while sitting a 5.5 hour connection between flights. After clearing Immigration/Customs, we checked in for our Southwest flight to Albuquerque. Ditched our carry on luggage in a locker and headed off for the Outback. While the prices appeared out of line (high), we both decided on Prime Rib (8oz & 12oz). Both satisfied a craving that we both had for some NOB food!

We were both struck by the apparent new prices at the Outback Steakhouse -
Las Vegas 14oz. Ribeye: $25.99
Albuquerque 14 oz Ribeye: $19.99

I guess it depends where you are whether or not Outback is a reasonable option?

If you were eating at an airport location, they all screw you on food. The Outback in GDL we like, but I usually get Coconut Shrimp or one of the giant 8 oz Burgers. The Burger is too much to eat. I think their steaks are a bit pricey for me.

Last year we stayed in Vegas for 3 days and ate at Outback Steakhouse almost across from New York New York Hotel.

If you check out different locations for Outback in the States you'll find their prices vary.

Outback prices are always too high. Ridiculously high in Canada. But they have been advertising much cheaper main courses the last year or so on the telly.

HelperGuy wrote:Outback prices are always too high. Ridiculously high in Canada. But they have been advertising much cheaper main courses the last year or so on the telly.

Not true. You can get a giant high quality Hamburger with fixings and FF for about the same price as McD's, Burger King, etc. The Coconut Shrimp is approx $ 13.95, not too high for the size and amount of shrimp. I think their steaks are a bit pricey. It depends on what you get Their places are spotlessly clean with good service.

Canadian restaurants are waaaay overpriced. Example: Breakfast at Denny's in Mississauga - $ 32.00, same breakfast in Las Vegas at Denny's $ 18.00.

John, how could you possible know the prices in Canada?

David wrote:John, how could you possible know the prices in Canada?

You can answer your own question. Because I visit my friends in Canada every two or three years. So what do you know about prices in Canada. EVERYTHING in Canada costs more than in the US. Must be that greedy government collecting taxes.

....and I'm sure you go to Outback everytime you visit Canada and check the prices.

18 bucks for a breakfast at Denny's?

viajero wrote:18 bucks for a breakfast at Denny's?

Isn't that cheap for 2 compared to Canada? I'm sure Las Vegas because it's a resort is a tad higher than other parts of the country.

Since Outback only offers Coconut Shrimp as an appetizer, it is hardly a fair comparison to an entree! Since the price of $13.99 was raised - a correction may be in order. Albuquerque has this appetizer for $8.79 and Vegas for $10.99.

Higher prices in Canada are not "just higher"; they are attributable to a number of socio-economic factors, not the least of which is the minimum hourly wage at around $10, whereas the min. wage in the U.S. is around $7.25 for most states. This contributes to a higher cost-of-living, but in no way is it the only factor. (It also means a min-wage employee is making, right off the bat, $24 a day more than his American counterpart.) The U.S. buying power is 10 times that of Canada. Provincial and Federal taxes are, yes, higher, which helps to cover our single-payer health care system. Canada has a single cross-country highway and lots of spread out communities, in an area roughly the same size as the U.S., connecting 1/10 the number of people, so transportation costs are much higher.

Then, too, there are the greedy U.S. businesses that move into Canada and decide they can charge stupid prices. Arby's failed in most of Canada because of that, while WalMart chose to Canadianize their operations and succeed.

CheenaGringo wrote:Since Outback only offers Coconut Shrimp as an appetizer, it is hardly a fair comparison to an entree! Since the price of $13.99 was raised - a correction may be in order. Albuquerque has this appetizer for $8.79 and Vegas for $10.99.

It's been awhile since we went to Outback at Galerias, but I believe that it's still on the regular menu. Outbacks prices are all over the map depending on location. For instance, Massachusetts is cheaper than GDL.

HelperGuy wrote:Higher prices in Canada are not "just higher"; they are attributable to a number of socio-economic factors, not the least of which is the minimum hourly wage at around $10, whereas the min. wage in the U.S. is around $7.25 for most states. This contributes to a higher cost-of-living, but in no way is it the only factor. (It also means a min-wage employee is making, right off the bat, $24 a day more than his American counterpart.)

Well hopefully that makes up for the smaller tips they receive.
Imo Arbys should have failed everywhere due to the crappy product they sell.

Chris:

Back in the 60's while attending college in Denver, we lived in apartment just down the street from an Arby's and a friend was working there to earn spending money for college. One night he "borrowed" one of their cooked roasts and invited us over for a feast with beers. We found out very quickly that it was inedible unless sliced very very thinly!

CheenaGringo wrote:Chris:

Back in the 60's while attending college in Denver, we lived in apartment just down the street from an Arby's and a friend was working there to earn spending money for college. One night he "borrowed" one of their cooked roasts and invited us over for a feast with beers. We found out very quickly that it was inedible unless sliced very very thinly!

They make McDonalds look like haute cuisine.

We ate at the Outback in Galerìas last month. We won't be going back. The burgers at Chilis are far better.

Outback for me has only always been a place for steaks and Alice's chicken, and that addictive and disgusting Bloomin' Onion. Soups are usually excellent, too. The rest seems average.

They have Blooming Onions at Outback? Love them but I thought they quit serving them NOB. I'll have to try not to eat for a week to make up for the calories.

They did the last time I was there; granted, I don't go that often.

As of Saturday, they were serving them in Las Vegas:
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Granted the price of beef has been climbing steadily NOB but I was a bit shocked at the following steak prices:
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After all, the Outback Steakhouse is a formula chain restaurant!

Whoa.

CheenaGringo wrote:As of Saturday, they were serving them in Las Vegas:
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Granted the price of beef has been climbing steadily NOB but I was a bit shocked at the following steak prices:
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After all, the Outback Steakhouse is a formula chain restaurant!

WOW!!! I'm really shocked. Maybe they raised their prices due to the Zagat rating. Those prices are almost up to Morton's! When in Canada, I'll stick to the Keg Restaurant another excellent and very successful chain.

Outback (Las Vegas)14 oz NY Strip $24.99
Keg (Toronto) 12 oz NY Strip $31.95

Outback (Las Vegas) 16 oz Bone-in Ribeye $29.99
Keg (Toronto) 20 oz Bone-in Rib steak $35.95

Outback (Las Vegas) Prime Rib 12 oz $21.99 16 oz $24.99
Keg (Toronto) Prime Rib 12 oz $27.95 16 oz $30.95

CAD and USD are within a penny of each other, so currency is immaterial.

It was kind of funny since I avoided any kind of steak for our last couple of nights in Mexico with the expectation of having one of the Outback Steakhouse 16oz Prime Ribeye steaks. Since we had a Johnny Rocket Cheeseburger at GDL, I thought it would be a waste to order the Ribeye and probably not eat the whole thing. Besides not having had Prime Rib in some time, I felt a 12oz cut would work better and we had Costco Prime Ribeyes in our freezer at home that I could BBQ on Sunday night.

As it turned out, the Prime Rib satisfied the the beef craving, so I prepared Babybacks precooked with spices, sweet onion and Raspberry Ale and then finished off on the BBQ with Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce.