I tried Outback Steakhouse's 3-course meal deal for $15. The value is so good that I'd get it again despite my disappointments.
Outback Steakhouse's three-course Aussie meal deal comes with an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $15. The chain's offer is worth it value-wise.
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Steven John
- I went to Outback Steakhouse to try its Aussie three-course meal deal in the $15 tier.
- I got a baked-potato soup, a Bloomin' burger with a side of broccoli, and a slice of cheesecake.
- With tax, my bill came to just $16.28, which I think is more than worth it for the food I got.
I have no illusions about what to expect when I walk into an Outback Steakhouse.
At the chain, I assume I'll get food that tastes good though probably not great. It's comfort dining: the menu is vast, the calorie count is often pretty high, and the flavors are familiar.
However, at Outback, like at many chain restaurants these days, the food isn't exactly cheap. An appetizer of those famous Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie, for example, will run you about $16, a steakhouse salad $18, and a 13-ounce ribeye nearly $30.
With that in mind, I was skeptical of its limited-time Aussie three-course meal deal, which comes in three tiers: $15, $19, or $22. It's only available for dine-in customers and can vary by location.
On a recent visit to Outback, I went with the $15 meal. Here's how it went.
Steven John
For my starter, I could choose baked-potato soup, a house salad, or a Caesar salad. (There were also two other soup and two other salad options available for a modest additional fee.)
I went with the baked-potato soup, as I adore potato soups.
Unfortunately, this one was just not that great. I found it to be too salty, too thin, and not quite hot enough when it was served to me.
I appreciated the cheese, green onions, and bacon toppings, but the soup itself let me down.
Steven John
For my entrée, I could choose the Bloomin' Burger or one of three shrimp dishes.
I went with the burger, which cost $15.50 on its own. The fact that my full three-course meal was just $15 illustrates the true savings at play here.
The burger was, as expected, good but not great. It came topped with Outback's signature Bloomin' Onion petals and Bloom sauce, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onion.
It was so messy to eat that I quickly reverted to a knife-and-fork approach. Unfortunately, the pickles seemed more like flavorless cucumber coins than anything else.
However, the meat was properly cooked, the lettuce and tomato seemed fresh, and the sauce was tangy and applied liberally without being gratuitous.
Had I paid $15.50 for the burger alone, I'd have been disappointed. For a three-course meal costing slightly less than that price, I was plenty satisfied with the entrée.
Steven John
Each entrée in this deal comes with a side. In an attempt to balance out the calories of the burger (and the soup and cake), I went with broccoli.
Other side options were fries, a baked potato, mixed veggies, or a small salad.
Unfortunately, I wasn't satisfied. The broccoli seemed so overcooked it was almost mush. I only ate a few pieces in the name of writing a thorough review, not because it was at all tasty.
Steven John
For the final course, diners get a slice of New York-style cheesecake with either raspberry or chocolate sauce. (Or I could've upgraded to the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under brownie with ice cream for an extra $3).
I went with the chocolate sauce. Overall, the cheesecake was fine, albeit nothing amazing.
It was sweet without being cloyingly so, and the overall flavor was lightly tangy and, of course, creamy. I didn't mind the texture.
Truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of cheesecake, so I called in my wife and kids to try it also, and they were all plenty happy with the dessert.
Steven John
All in all, I'd order the Aussie three-course meal deal again.
Next time, I'd probably try my luck with a salad and a different side dish. I'd also be open to trying the shrimp entrées that are also available at the $15 price tier.
