I love the Outback Steakhouse Restaurant in Hagerstown, MD. Over the course of this review, it will become blatently apparent that I just can’t get enough of this place. There have been times when I have gone months eating here at least once per week. The food is sensational and the steak is the highest quality I could ever imagine. There is more to the awesome menu selection than just steak- the fresh fish are just as high quality as are the shrimp. The desserts are close to being heavenly, and you can get almost any bar drink you can come up with. I also enjoy the pleasant atmosphere, which is a mixture of casual and elegant in one place, depending upon whethere you dine in the bar or restaurant section. Everyone is friendly at this restaurant- from the hostesses to the wait staff and management. I wouldn’t give up having this restaurant in Hagerstown for anything!
Food and Pricing
The food at the Outback speaks for itself. If you visit here even once, you will understand. Outback steaks are in a class by themself- when you look at your cut of filet mignon or prime rib, you will see the quality. The restaurant also uses 17 different spices on their steaks, which gives them a superb flavor. You will never in my opinion have to use A-1 on a steak from the Outback Steakhouse. I have also found that in general, the steaks are able to be cooked to my liking. I am incredibly picky, and like my prime rib or filet mignon served medium well, which to me means a hint of pink and the outside not burned. The Outback is one of the few places that can accomplish this feat (believe it or not!)
As for the steaks, there is quite a variety. You can get prime rib, for about $16 for an 8 oz cut and $18 for a 12 oz cut. The great thing about the Outback and prime rib is that you can get as large of a cut as you want, paying about $1.50 for each extra ounce. For instance, you could order a 20 oz cut for about $26. I don’t like end cuts of prime rib, so I always ask not to have an end cut. The other steaks include filet mignon and porterhouse, the most expensive, and then sirloin and ribeye. The range of price is from $13 for the sirloin to $22 for the porterhouse.
If you don’t like steak, no worries mate! The seafood selection is just as memorable. Every day there is a fresh catch, which generally is rockfish, salmon, tuna, swordfish or mahi. My favorite is the salmon- it is also the best I have had anywhere. You wouldn’t expect such high quality seafood from a steakhouse, which is why I would probably rename it to Steak and Seafood House. The fresh catch prices are about $16 to $18. Some locations also feature a tilapia on the menu, which I recommend. It tends to be a lighter fish, like for instance flounder, but it has a richer flavor. The other fish served seem to be more steak-like.
Other entrees include pasta, lobster tails, king crab legs, and chicken dishes. I recommend the Wallhalla pasta, which is not always on the menu but it is always available. This is pasta with an alfredo sauce, chicken and vegetables, and runs about $13. Another favorite is the Alice Springs Chicken, which is a grilled chicken breast with cheese, honey mustard sauce and bacon melted on top. It runs about $13. All entrees other than pasta come with a side order, and the steak dinners come with a salad as well.
What else is great about the food? It is prepared at the Outback fresh daily. The croutons on the salads are homemade, the dressings are homemade, etc. This means that even your thousand island dressing is made on the premises. Any of the salad dressings is a tasteful experience. I prefer the honey mustard or thousand island. As for the sides, I recommend the broccoli. It is prepared freshly and seasoned with flavorings and butter, and the taste is very refreshing. (I don’t normally like to order cooked broccoli at restaurants.) The cinnamon apples that come with the ribs are great too!
So now, what about the ribs? The ribs have always been a favorite of mine. I strongly advise them. On the slight downside, however, is the fact that the barbecue sauce’s recipe has changed. It used to be tangy, with a hint of vinegar. Now, it is sweeter. It is still good, but now it is only 4 star instead of the 5 star sauce that it was. The ribs still fall off the bones and are very tender, regardless of the sauce. The price is $17 for a full rack.
The Outback’s appetizers are nothing to ignore. The Bloomin’ Onion, a batter dipped fried onion, is a pasttime for many. I suggest the coconut shrimp, which come fried, and the grilled shrimp on the barbie. The flavor of these shrimp is unforgettable! The appetizers run from about $6 to $9. In addition to appetizers, you can add-on something to your dinner. For instance, for $7, you can add on a grilled shrimp on the barbie to your meal, or for $7 you can add on king crab legs, or for $9 you can add on a lobster tail. This means you can have steak and seafood!
Desserts take the cake! The chocolate sauce is homemade and again, is the best I have had anywhere! It is rich and buttery and incredibly flavorful. I would try the sundae, which comes with ice cream, hot chocolate sauce, and strawberries with fresh whipped cream. It is out of this world and costs about $5. Other desserts include the cinnamon apple oblivion, with ice cream and caramel sauce over cinnamon apples and cinnamon croutons, the chocolate tower, a layered chocolate cake with a raspberry sauce, and cheesecake. These are $5 to $7.
Setting and Location
I always am enthusiastic about the setting of this restaurant. The nonsmoking area is generally more secluded and quiet, and can be romantic for a Friday evening date. Otherwise, there are tables large enough to fit 8 people (or they’ll pull together tables to make room for more!) This means you can bring the whole family including children. The smoking or bar area is less quiet, and is usually busy and upbeat. The bartenders if you sit at the bar write down your name so they will remember you personally, and they tell you their name. It is very friendly. There is a secret about the Outback that makes it so welcoming- if you are going to dine and don’t have alot of time on a Saturday night, for instance, you can go to the bar section and wait for the next table to leave. The bar is seat yourself, and so you mostly will wait much less time to sit here. You will have to put up with some cigarette smoke though. Another option is the call-ahead seating, which is not a reservation, but means that if you call ahead for 7:00, you can get a table before those who arrive at 7 who did not call ahead. This can minimize your wait to about 15 minutes as compared to an hour. Many restaurants have stopped taking any sort of reservation all together, so this is an added feature. Also, a tip if you have a large party: call ahead and let them know so they can start planning for it and setting up the table/s. Otherwise, you could have a really long wait to be able to get 15 people sitting all together!
The location is great. The Outback is right off Interstate 81, and less than three miles from Interstate 70. The restaurant is also right by the Valley Mall, an indoor shopping mall with Hecht’s, BonTon, JCPenney, Macy’s and more. Other restaurants are nearby, but the Outback always seems to stay busy, even through the week. If you prefer less people, eat early, like before 6 pm, or eat late, such as after 9 pm. The Outback is open late on the weekends until 11:30 pm!
Service
The service at the Outback is always friendly. If you become a regular, everyone will start to know your name and maybe even what you order. The service is supposed to be better here than most places, and servers are given smaller sections so they can focus on their customers. I have found, however, sometimes it can take awhile to be greeted for drinks when you first sit down, and when it’s really busy, sometimes it can take some time for the server to get back to you to take your order. If the food takes too long, the management is really good about coming up with solutions, and stays on top of things. They may come out and offer you a bowl of soup or something, if your order is taking too long. The managers stay very involved and at least one manager is out in the restaurant at all times.
Overall
I love it, I love it, I love it! If Hagerstown could only have one restaurant, I would want this to be it. You can’t beat the quality of food, freshness of the food, nice atmosphere and friendly people. Go there, and go there often!
