9 Outback Steakhouse Dishes Floridians Should Avoid & 9 Truly Worth Ordering
Outback Steakhouse has been a Florida staple for decades, with the first location opening in Tampa back in 1988. Before you slide into that booth and unfold your napkin, it helps to know which dishes shine and which fall flat.
Whether you’re a local or just visiting the Sunshine State, this guide will help you navigate the menu like a pro.
1. AVOID: Baked Potato Soup That Disappoints
What should be creamy comfort food often arrives as a salty, watery letdown. Many Florida locations serve this soup lukewarm, with potato chunks that lack that homemade texture.
The garnishes – bacon bits and cheese – can’t rescue the thin base that’s more reminiscent of boxed broth than restaurant quality.
2. AVOID: Blooming Burger’s Messy Disappointment
Sounds amazing on paper – a burger topped with Bloomin’ Onion petals and sauce. Truth? A tragedy of structure that collapses with a single bite.
It is made worse by the tasteless pickles and mushy lettuce. Because of Florida’s high humidity, the already wet bun deteriorates much more quickly, leaving you with a mess of components instead of a sandwich.
3. AVOID: Sad, Overcooked Broccoli
Florida’s fresh produce scene makes Outback’s mushy broccoli even more disappointing. Often steamed past recognition, this side dish arrives with an unappealing olive color instead of vibrant green.
Even the lightest fork pressure breaks apart the florets. Your choice of side dish should be reserved for something that the kitchen handles more carefully.
4. AVOID: Chain Soups That Miss The Mark
Florida’s seafood heritage makes Outback’s lackluster soup offerings particularly disappointing. The French onion often arrives with barely-melted cheese and lukewarm broth.
Consistency varies wildly between locations, especially in tourist-heavy areas. When Florida offers so many local soup options with fresh ingredients, these generic offerings feel especially uninspired.
5. AVOID: Soon-To-Disappear Menu Items
Inside sources reveal nearly 20% of Outback’s menu faces elimination in 2025. Many Florida locations are already phasing out these items, resulting in inconsistent preparation as staff lose familiarity.
These endangered dishes often receive less attention in the kitchen. Why invest in a meal that might vanish from the menu during your next visit?
6. AVOID: Hastily Assembled Appetizer Combos
Those tempting appetizer samplers look fantastic in commercials but arrive disappointingly different at your table. During Florida’s busy tourist season, these platters suffer most from assembly-line preparation.
Wings arrive lukewarm, cheese congeals quickly in the humidity, and portion sizes shrink noticeably. You’re better off ordering a single, focused appetizer than these rushed combinations.
7. AVOID: Here-Today-Gone-Tomorrow Limited Offers
Those flashy limited-time entrées rarely live up to their promotional photos. Florida locations often receive these promotional ingredients in smaller quantities that quickly run out.
Staff typically have minimal training on these short-lived dishes. The outcome? Flavors that don’t match the description and inconsistent preparation. Remain with tried-and-true menu items that the chef is skilled at preparing.
8. AVOID: Value Bundles That Underwhelm
Those “2 for $25” deals sound like bargains until you see the tiny portions and quality compromises. Florida locations during tourist season are particularly notorious for shrinking these already modest servings.
The included desserts often taste mass-produced rather than fresh-made. For the same price, you could order one genuinely satisfying regular entrée instead of two mediocre plates.
9. AVOID: Uninspired Basic Side Dishes
Florida’s rich culinary landscape makes Outback’s plain mashed potatoes and bland rice pilaf especially disappointing.
Frequently arriving lukewarm, as though they have been sitting under heat lights, these sides are devoid of flavor.
The sweet potato kind often comes charred on the outside but undercooked in the middle. Flavorful fruit abounds in Florida, so these phoned-in sides seem especially sloppy.
10. WORTH IT: The Iconic Bloomin’ Onion
Across all Florida sites, this hallmark appetizer continues to be dependably superb. With gratifying ease, the golden-brown, crispy petals separate, exposing a soft onion behind the seasoning.
Perfectly balancing the mild sweetness of the Florida-grown onions is that tart dipping sauce. No other business has been able to properly replicate this popular appetizer in all these years.
11. WORTH IT: Perfectly Prepared Steaks
Outback’s ribeye and sirloin consistently earn praise from Florida meat lovers. The kitchen staff takes particular care with temperature requests, delivering true medium-rare when ordered.
The seasoning blend enhances rather than masks the beef’s natural flavor. Even during busy tourist season rushes, steak quality rarely wavers – proving these are the true foundation of the Outback experience.
12. WORTH IT: That Irresistible Brown Bread
You know you’ve made the correct decision when the warm bread basket arrives at your table and its delicious, yeasty scent greets you. This free beginning is always delivered fresh at Florida locations.
The sweetness and saltiness of the honey-wheat bread are well balanced. In contrast to many restaurant breads that soon dry out, Florida’s humidity actually works to its advantage, keeping it moist throughout your meal.
13. WORTH IT: Value-Packed 3-Course Meals
Florida’s tourist-area Outbacks offer particularly generous portions with these multi-course deals. Starting with soup or salad, moving to a substantial entrée, and finishing with dessert creates a satisfying experience.
The value becomes apparent when you calculate individual prices. Even with a few less exciting components, the overall package delivers both variety and savings worth celebrating.
14. WORTH IT: Melt-In-Your-Mouth Prime Rib
Florida locations take special pride in their prime rib preparation. Amazingly delicate meat with a seasoned exterior crust that creates a beautiful taste contrast is the result of the slow-roasting procedure.
Unlike the salty brown water provided at less upscale places, the accompanying au jus has true depth. To add even more flavor to the fatty meat, ask for horseradish sauce on the side.
15. WORTH IT: Addictive Kookaburra Wings
These wings maintain a cult following among Florida Outback regulars for good reason. The hot style delivers genuine spice rather than just empty heat, while the meat stays juicy inside the crispy coating.
Unlike many chain restaurants, these wings arrive freshly prepared rather than reheated. The accompanying blue cheese dressing tastes house-made, with actual cheese chunks and a tangy finish.
16. WORTH IT: Fresh Florida-Inspired Shrimp
Outback’s coconut shrimp, which are plump, well cooked crustaceans, pay homage to Florida’s seafood heritage.
While the shrimp inside remain soft and juicy, the delicious coconut covering keeps its crunch.
Simple seasoning on the grilled shrimp skewers highlights the inherent taste of the fish. These shrimp meals are exceptional since Florida seems to receive very fresh seafood supplies.
17. WORTH IT: Hearty Aussie Ribs & Steak Combo
Two protein powerhouses prepared correctly are served on this big dish. The taste of the smoke-infused, fall-off-the-bone ribs enhances rather than overpowers the meat.
Even at hectic times, the accompanying steak is delivered cooked to perfection. Many restaurant surf-and-turf selections end out overdone, but Florida locales excel in maintaining temperature perfection on these combo platters.
18. WORTH IT: Refreshing Aussie JAWSsie Cocktail
This playful, shark-themed cocktail has become a Florida favorite during summer months. The bright blue drink delivers a surprisingly balanced flavor – fruity without being cloyingly sweet.
The non-alcoholic Sharkey Temple version delights younger guests with the same fun presentation. Both drinks feature clever garnishes that make them Instagram-worthy without sacrificing taste – a rare combination in theme cocktails.
