Reviewing "Outback Steakhouse"

"No rules. Just Right." That is the Outback Steakhouse tagline. My husband and I love this restaurant. We don't visit as often as we would like, but we manage to make it there two or three times a year. We tend to visit the Newport News, Virginia, Outback, which is located in front of Patrick Henry Mall, off Jefferson Avenue, near Interstate 64.

We arrived early (about 4.00 p.m.) on a Saturday evening. We've learned this is imperative if you want to get in during the weekend. Even then, the place was already beginning to "pop."

The hostess greeted us at the door. She seemed a bit disorganized, so someone that I believe was management stepped in to assist. He started to take us to a booth (our request) but had to go back to the hostess when the booth he planned to seat us at was already occupied.

Whether it was due to a combination of the distraction and a very wet floor, or just the fact that the floor was soaked, I nearly took a fall. I wouldn't have though much of it had I been in heels at the time, however, I was in non-skid tennis shoes. That's what called my attention to the floor, which appeared to have recently experienced a big spill.

While this may seem like a small issue to beleaguer, a fall on a tile floor for a woman nearing 60 could be disastrous and did somewhat color what would have otherwise been a totally positive dining experience. To be fair, I should mention that the gentleman who seated us took care of the matter in a pretty timely fashion, covering the floor with a skid proof mat.

We loved where we were seated. The booth was spacious and comfortable with oak stained pine that matched the tables as well as the planking on the walls and other woodwork throughout the establishment. Tables and chairs can be arranged to accommodate groups and parties. Lighting was subdued and the area was cozy and comfortable.

The Outback atmosphere is an unusual combination of kinetic energy and cozy ambiance. Walls are adorned with Australian memorabilia like boomerangs, surfboards, maps, and flags for something that is both unusual and fun.

Our waitress promptly arrived to take our drink orders while we overlooked the menus, which were already on our table. She was cheerful and courteous; volunteering to answer questions and taking very good care of us throughout the meal.

We ordered the Bloomin' Onion as an appetizer and munched on the establishment's delicious dark wheat bread while waiting for it to arrive. For dinner, we opted to split the Melbourne 20-ounce porterhouse steak with baked potato. We ordered it done "medium."

The appetizer was piping hot when it hit our table and absolutely scrumptious from first bit to last, even though we couldn't eat it all. The meal was equally well cooked. Our potatoes remained hot throughout the meal; a phenomenon we couldn't quite grasp but of which we were delighted. The steak was perfectly cooked - - medium, as ordered - - and was tender and wonderful.

Here is a cross-section of Outback's menu:

Aussie-Tizers, ranges in price from $5.99 to $8.99 and include:

Bloomin' Onion;
Seared Ahi Tuna;
Darling Point Crab Cakes;
Coral Reef Crab Dip;
Tassie's Buffalo Chicken;
Bushman 'Shrimps;
Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp;
Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie; and
Kookaburra Wings.

Bonsai Soup & Salads, range in price from $2.99 to $11.99 and include:

Too Right French Onion Soup;
Clam Chowder;
Walkabout Soup O' The Day;
Brisbane Caesuras Salad;
Steakhouse Salad; and
Queensland Salad.

USA Choice Steaks, range in price from $8.98 to $22.69 and include:

Victoria's Crowned Filet (7 oz or 9 oz tenderloin);
Victoria's Center Cut Filet (7 oz or 9 oz tenderloin);
Prime Minister's Prime Rib (8 oz or 12 oz);
Outback Style Prime Rib (12 oz);
The Melbourne (20 oz porterhouse);
Rockhampton Rib-Eye (14 oz rib-eye);
Ayers Rock Strip (14 oz New York strip);
Outback Rack (14 oz rock of New Zealand lamb);
Five Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie;
One Lobster Tail (steamed or grilled); and½ lb. Alaskan King Crab.

Grilled on the Barbie, range from $10.99 to $16.79 and include:

Drover's Platter (ribs and chicken breast);
Ribs on the Barbie (baby back ribs; smoked and grilled); and
Chicken on the Barbie.

Outback Grillers, range from $12.99 to $14.49 and include:

Filet Griller;
Shrimp Griller; and
Chicken Griller.
Botany Bay Catches, range from $8.99 to $26.99 and include:
Hearts of Gold Tilapia;
Atlantic Salmon;
Botany Bay Fish O' The Day;
Boomerang Shrimp;
Alaskan King Crab; and
Lobster Tails.

Down Under Favorites, range from $9.99 to $14.79 and include:

Alice Springs Chicken;
Bronzed Chicken with Corn Cakes;
Hearts of Gold Chicken;
Queensland Chicken 'N Shrimp;
Cyclone Pasta;
Toowoomba Pasta;
Jackeroo Chops; and
Mum's Chopped Steak.

Desserts, range from $3.79 to $5.99 and include:

Cinnamon Apple Oblivion;
Hot Apple Cobbler;
Chocolate Thunder From Down Under;
Chocolate Chocolate Tower;
Sydney's Sinful Sundae; and
Cheesecake Olivia.

Cut Lunches, range in price from $7.29 to $8.49 and include:

No Rules Burger;
The Mad Max Burger;
Hickory Burger;
The Outbacker Burger;
Barbie Chook 'N Bacon (chicken breast); and
Sweet Chook O' Mine (chicken breast).

Side choices include Aussie chips, jacket potato, fresh steamed veggies, fresh steamed broccoli, fresh steamed green beans, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, grilled onions, sweet potato, sautéed 'shrooms, Caesar of house salad, and bleu cheese chopped salad.

Outback also offers a children's menu which ranges in price from $1.99 to $6.99 and includes:

Grilled Cheese-A-Roo;
Kookaburra Chicken Fingers;
Boomerang Cheeseburger;
Mac A Roo 'N Cheese;
Joey Sirloin;
Grilled Chicken on the Barbie;
Junior Ribs; and
Spotted Dog Sundae.

We were not seated where we could pick up a lot of nearby conversation. However, the booth next to us appeared to be as equally pleased with their meal as were we. I heard them compliment the waitress on both the "delicious food and wonderful service."

The restaurant also offers a wide variety including a full liquor service featuring Australian beer and wine.Food is available for dine-in or take-out. Now you can call in your order and have delivered right to your car door.

The establishment is open for dinner only, seven nights a week. They accept most standard credit cards.

Chris Sullivan, Robert D. Basham, Tim Gannon and Trudy Cooper founded outback in 1988. Most restaurants are about 6,000 square feet of dining space with an island bar and will seat about 200 patrons.

Outback takes pride in both its nation and its community by supporting charities and organizations which include: Mission Outback: Feeding Our Troops and Tornado Relief in Florida as well as community groups like youth sports and parent teacher organizations. Contact your local Outback to get their particular policies.

Like I said in the beginning, my husband and I love Outback and we look forward to going again soon. Our restaurant definitely deserves four out of five stars.