It
has been many years since I have been to an Outback restaurant and
since they were doing a summer special and it was only a block away,
not to mention I was hungry, we went there for a late lunch.

The
inside of the restaurant is like many other chain restaurants with
heavy wood furniture and an equal number of booths and free standing
tables.

We
were greeted, and seated, by the hostess almost immediately as the
place wasn't busy. We were approached just as fast by the waitress who
took our drink order--I had water, Allen a diet coke--which she brought
to us with a small loaf of hot bread with a side of butter. I had read
in a newspaper column that if you had a AAA card you get the blooming
onion free which turned out to be true.

The
onion was big, mybloggers and spiced too much as most of the food seemed to
be spiced wrong. We didn't finish it as we wanted to save room for the
main course after having eaten the loaf of bread.

We
both had the 6 ounce sirloin and shrimp (3), one of their $9.99
specials, with Allen getting the garlic mashed potatoes and I had the
'loaded' baked potato. The steak was good but though I am sure it is
considered a normal portion it was too small for me. LOL 
The shrimp, though having spice on it, were small and tasteless. Allen
said, even with the garlic, his mashed potatoes were bland while I
found my loaded potato with cheese, butter, scallions and sour cream
was too salty.

The service was
very good but the food was just average and if not for the bread and
onion we would have left hungry. There is nothing to set the Outback
apart from many other chains though it has been in business for many
years now and must be doing something right but what it is eludes me.

Our check was $23 and change plus tip.