Don’t Waste Your Money on These 8 Mediocre Dishes at Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse is generally a solid place to grab a decent steak without taking out a second mortgage. But not every item on the menu is worthy of your hard-earned dollars.

While the chain has built a loyal following with steaks, oversized portions, and apps that contain your entire recommended daily calorie intake, some dishes simply aren’t worth the money — and may leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Sydney Shrooms

If you’re craving something battered and deep-fried, stick with the Bloomin’ Onion and skip the Sydney Shrooms, which might leave you wondering why you paid for a basket of oily mushrooms.

At around $9 to $12, the dish features battered and fried mushrooms served with house-made ranch. According to reviewers, what you actually get is mushrooms buried under a heavy coating of batter that kills the flavor.

“The only item I won’t touch [at Outback] is the Sydney Shrooms,” one Redditor said.

“The texture is absolutely off,” another added.

Tasmanian Chili

The steakhouse advertises its Tasmanian Chili as “all steak, no beans,” which sounds great if you’re the type of person who thinks beans are just filler. The problem is that reviewers say the dish often feels more like a watery stew than a hearty bowl of chili.

Customers have criticized it for being thin, overly spicy, and surprisingly light on the rich, meaty flavor you’d expect from a steakhouse. Some reviewers say the spice overwhelms everything else, while others complain that the chunks of beef can be fatty and inconsistent.

Twin Lobster Tails

Outback’s Twin Lobster Tails sound like a splurge-worthy treat, but many reviewers say the dish suffers from a classic case of overpromising and underdelivering. To be fair, the flavor of the lobster is fine, described as sweet, tender, and perfectly suited for a dunk in drawn butter. The problem is the size.

At roughly $30 or more depending on location, reviewers argue that the portion simply doesn’t justify the price tag.

Bone-in Ribeye

Bone-in Ribeye lands on so many “skip it” lists despite sounding like one of the safest orders on the menu.

At approximately $35 to $40 depending on location, you’d expect the rich marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture that made ribeye famous in the first place. Instead, some reviewers say the steak looks far better than it tastes, with the cut being surprisingly tough and chewy.

Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp

At around $16 for roughly eight shrimp, the Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp sounds like a tropical crowd-pleaser. Instead, customers frequently complain that the dish is so sweet it starts to taste more like dessert than an appetizer.

While coconut shrimp naturally carries a touch of sweetness, reviewers say Outback’s version cranks it up so far that the shrimp flavor gets completely lost in the process.

More From Cheapism

• 10 Outback Steakhouse Must-Orders on Your First Trip — Walking into Outback Steakhouse for the first time can feel like a bit of a sensory overload, so here are a couple of starter-pack menu picks that loyal fans recommend again and again.
• Outback Steakhouse Closes Multiple Locations Nationwide —Some Outback Steakhouse fans will have to find a new spot for their Bloomin’ Onion fix, as it will no longer be blooming in specific locations across the country. 
• 6 Steakhouse Chains in America That Aren’t Worth Visiting — Some steakhouse chains get it so wrong that you leave wishing you had just ordered a burger instead.