That’s actually pretty impressive. If you can’t see the very top of the award, it says “2011 National Chains Survey.“ So of all the chain restaurants/steakhouses, Outback has been declared the best three years running. We’ll see if this meal lives up to the hype.
Outback Steakhouse
1600 West Pinhook Road. Lafayette, LA. 70508.
http://www.outback.com/restaurant/locations/LA/Lafayette/Lafayette/index.aspx
Note: If you don’t already know, Outback is not open for lunch during the week(they open at 4 PM weekdays). But they open at 3 PM Saturday and 12 PM Sunday.
12 oz Prime Rib, medium rare.
1. Price. $18.99. Steak, side, salad, and complimentary bread. They do have steak toppers like bleu cheese, grilled mushrooms, etc. But since I ordered a prime rib, I decided to go with the natural flavor of the steak over add ons. But I always applaud a restaurant making the offering available.
2. Look
I don’t have much more to say than, that’s the biggest 12 oz steak I’ve ever seen. I’m glad I didn’t order the 16 oz, I don’t think I could have finished it all.
3. Cooked to Doneness
A perfectly acceptable medium rare. But I would expect no less from the reigning National Chains Survey champs. You ain’t gonna win no awards if you can’t cook a steak to order.
4. Taste
So this is the first prime rib I’m reviewing. Which is basically a whole rack of what would become ribeyes is slow roasted, then carved and served. You can also choose to have it finished on a wood-fire grill, which I did, for a good char-grilled flavor. It comes served with, quote the menu, “a traditional au jus” which is a beefy dipping sauce(technically not a gravy, because it‘s not thickened) made from the left-over juices from the roasting process. And the taste? Very fine indeed. The roasting process seems to impart a deeper, richer taste to the meat, while maintaining all the tenderness. The decision to finish it on the grill gives the steak an added woody-char flavor that enhances the depth of flavor. But you do have the option, you can have it right out the oven or finished on the grill. I’m all about options, so again I applaud that.
5. Seasoning
The menu says the prime rib is herb crusted then roasted, and you can definitely taste the earthy herbs seared into a crust all along the outside of the steak. It’s a refreshing change from the standard steak seasonings applied and grilled. Combine that with dipping a bite or two here and there in the accompanying au jus, and it’s a highly satisfying flavor attempt. Good meat, cooked well, with good seasoning. You’re hitting all the notes to a good steak.
6. Bang for the Buck
This is a definite contender for one of the best deals in steak for under 20 dollars. My expectations were exceeded in pretty much every aspect. When you have a steak like this and at this price, it will spoil you as to what to expect in future outings. This is one of the reasons I use Bang for the Buck as a rating category. A 20 dollar prime rib home run can be matched up against the fanciest fancy 50 dollar plus steak, maybe not in the strictest sense of stand alone quality, but aided by the added wallet-saving factor on top of being an excellent steak.
So if you’re looking for a steak dinner, but a slightly different steak experience, don’t hesitate to try it out.
--Aaron A. Aaronson
Teriyaki Filet Medalions, Medium-rare
1. Price. $13.99. Steak, side, salad, and complimentary bread.
2. Look
Not too shabby. You can see the teriyaki stain on the meat, which is pretty neat. The kabob minus the stick also makes for easy dining.
3. Cooked to Doneness
A-OK. The Aussies don't miss.
4. Taste
Not bad, but not great either. I would call it palatable if you're a teriyaki nut, but too much if you're not. I finished it without a real issue, but it could have been a hot dog or tofu and it wouldn't have mattered: The only thing I was tasting was teriyaki. Keep that in mind if you decide to give this thing a shot.
5. Seasoning
I guess teriyaki is more of a sauce than a seasoning...but its presence is more than felt in this dish. Outback absolutely soaks this thing in teriyaki. I applaud them for taking a big cut, even if it does miss the mark a bit.
6. Bang for the Buck
Gonna have to give this a C+. The number-one rated national chain according to Zagat shouldn't be pushing a giant teriyaki nugget. It was not remotely bad, but it was a bit disappointing. Go with the heartier, full cuts of meat if you're eager to see why Outback is so popular. I'll be back for more, just not more of this entree. (Ed. Note: Atleast with the low price, you're not suffering too badly if you're not a big fan of this steak. --AAA)
--Optimus Prime Rib
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