Outback Steakhouse: The New Lunch Specials Menu

Although I'm currently not as hardcore as a carnivore as I used to be, I still appreciate all the meaty things in life. So when I got a chance to visit Outback Steakhouse in Glorietta 4 to sample their new lunch menu, I didn't even have to think and just gave a big yes.
Outback Glorietta

To be honest, Outback's lunch menu has already been around since the start of the year. But although I'm a little (okay, a lot) late in bringing in the news, we're all in luck as the lunch menu will be offered until June. Now, before I share the dishes from the lunch menu itself, let me start off first with appetizers you might want to order on your visit.

Free bread

This isn't actually one from the menu, but I really like the free gluten-free loaf of honey wheat bushman bread they serve. It's a nice filler to munch on when waiting for your orders, or maybe a side to your steak or pasta dish. I think this is quite healthy too.

Typhoon Bloom P329

If you'll be visiting with a group of serious (I mean, really serious) onion ring lovers, then make sure to order a serving of the Typhoon Bloom (P329). I won't deny that I am in love with onion rings, but I don't think I'll ever be ready for a commitment. So when this platter of intricately stacked onion rings was brought to our table, I couldn't exclaim anything but just wows of awe. Taste-wise, they were quite flavorful and even crunchy. Make sure to eat them right away though or you'll risk them being soggy.

Kookaburra Wings Half P279 Full P469

We also got to try the Kookaburra Wings (Half P279; Full P469) -- a platter of juicy chicken wings tossed in a savory blend of Outback's secret spices. It's also served with celery and a blue cheese dressing, and can be ordered mild, medium or hot. While I'm more of a savory chicken wings kind of girl, I really liked the spiciness of this dish. It was really tasty and had the right amount of heat I wanted. It was hard to stop munching!

Crispy Shrimp Caesar Salad P499

Although the 2 previous appetizers were good, I have to say it's this seemingly-deconstructed serving of Crispy Shrimp Caesar Salad (P499) that captured my heart and my palate. Aside from the unique presentation (which you have to play with and mix, by the way), its beautiful blend of flavors is what easily skyrocketed it on top of my list. The perfectly-cooked baby rock shrimps tossed in Asian chili sauce, the Caesar dressing and balsamic vinegar reduction-drizzled romaine lettuce, the fresh tomato slices, and a squeeze from a lemon wedge -- they may look like simple ingredients, but they sure have made magical harmony in my mouth, and have made me a big fan.

Dishes from the Lunch Specials Menu

Outback Lunch Menu
Available from Mondays to Fridays, from 11AM to 3PM (Until June 2013); Click photo to enlarge.

After the appetite-whetting meal starters, let's get down to business. Here are some of the dishes included on the lunch menu that we had the pleasure to try.

BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza P299

First is this BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza (P299) which tasted really good. The flatbread itself has a nice crunch to it, while the chicken toppings gave every bite a savory and smoky flavor. I seriously couldn't stop myself from getting one slice after another. Oh, this flatbread pizza comes in Chicken Romaine and Margherita flavors too.

Chicken Parmesan P299

We also had the Chicken Parmesan (P299) which is a serving of breaded and deep-fried chicken breast fillet topped with marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese and melted Swiss cheese sitting atop a side of linguine marinara. Being a big tomato-based pasta lover, I actually liked the acidity of the sauce. But for those who are not big on tomato sauces, don't worry 'cause the cheeses really balanced off the tangy marinara. As for the chicken fillet, it was definitely tender. However, it was a little plain in my book.

Pan Seared Fish in Pesto Linguini P199

Next, we tried the Pan Seared Fish in Pesto Linguini (P199) which is undoubtedly my favorite between the 2 pasta-infused dishes on the lunch menu. Although I'm not so much of a pesto fan, the combination of flavors in this dish was just amazing. The lightly-breaded and pan-seared fish shared the limelight with the garlic-herb linguine, while the drizzling of pesto sauce and lemon butter tied the subtle yet beautiful flavors altogether.

BBQ Pork Ribs P549

We started the meat fest with the BBQ Pork Ribs (P549) which is my kind of ribs, fall-off-the-bone tender, smothered with a sweet, savory and tangy sauce, and served with a side of Aussie fries. Oh, the actual portion for the lunch menu wouldn't be a whole rack though, but an individual serving portion. They just served us the big thing since we were a big group that evening.

Teriyaki Beef Medallions P549

My favorite item from the lunch menu would be the Teriyaki Beef Medallions (P549) -- teriyaki-marinated steak, fire-grilled with onions, red and green peppers, and served atop a bed of rice pilaf. Normally, I don't dig sweet teriyaki sauce-smothered meat, but this is probably the only exception. The teriyaki beef steak was quite sweet, but for some reason, I just loved it! It was perfect with the super tender medium rare to medium-grilled medallions. After a few days, I went back and ordered this. That's how much I loved it!

Victoria's Filet P599

Good news to steak lovers 'cause Victoria's Filet (P599) is included in the lunch menu too. This tender and succulent 6oz. thick filet cut of meaty goodness served with mashed potatoes and vegetables will surely satisfy the carnivore in you as it did with me.

Chicken Fried Chicken P199

As redundant as it sounds, the Chicken Fried Chicken (P199) is actually good despite being one of the 2 cheapest items on the lunch menu. Hand-breaded then fried to a golden crisp and served with creamy white gravy and mashed potatoes, this dish is definitely one of the tastiest chicken fillets I've had.

Dessert and Drinks

Desserts and drinks aren't part of the lunch specials, but they're worth ordering especially if you're one with a serious sweet tooth like me.

Dessert Sampler Trio P475 Chocolate Thunder from Down Under P315

To end on a sweet note, we had the Dessert Sampler Trio (P475) which had sample portions of the Banana Nut Cake -- a combination of banana, toffee, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, nuts and cinnamon; New York-style Cheesecake with a choice of raspberry or chocolate sauce; and the famous Chocolate Thunder from Down Under.

And since we can't get enough of its chocolatey goodness, we had a separate a la carte serving of the full size Chocolate Thunder from Down Under (P315) -- freshly-baked pecan brownie topped with rich vanilla ice cream, warm chocolate sauce, whipped cream and chocolate shaving. This is definitely a chocoholic pleaser!

Cherry Limeade P165 Coco-Berry Smoothie P165

Since it was a long night filled with lots of food, it was just normal to have not just one, but 2 beverages. So for this gastronomic affair, I had a Cherry Limeade (P165) -- a refreshing concoction made from sweet cherries and tart limes mixed with lemon lime soda, as well as a Coco-Berry Smoothie (P165) -- a very tropical frosty blend of creamy coconut and strawberries. I liked both drinks, but I'm a little partial to the latter.

THE VERDICT

This visit to Outback Steakhouse really left me full to the brim, but I'm happy to have tried all these dishes. From the lunch specials menu, I can definitely say that everything we got to sample was good. However, I'll be bias and recommend my favorites, the Teriyaki Beef Medallion and the Pan Seared Fish in Pesto Linguini. And whether or not you visit during lunch (although it's advisable since it's more affordable), try the Crispy Shrimp Caesar Salad. It might be pricey, but it sure is one of the highlights of my evening.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Regular Price - 3/5
Promo Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5


Outback Steakhouse, Glorietta 4
G/F Glorietta 4, Ayala Ave. cor. Pasay Rd.,
Ayala Center, Makati
Metro Manila
(02) 729-8458 to 59
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

36 comments:

  1. I just went back the other day for dinner. Impressive service they have at Acropolis branch. Will be writing about it soon! :)

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  2. looks like the crispy shrimp will be my order next time I'm in Outback! :))

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  3. Wow I am feeling hungry already.I personally love Spicy food. Being a full time traveller


    Indian Food Mississauga

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  4. Hey that BBQ Pork looks appetixing to me cant wait to try it myself.

    Vegetarian Restaurant In London

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  5. Wow! Awesome dishes! Some are quite affordable while some aren't much. But all the dishes look so yummy, and I love the presentation.

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  6. The place is best for a special occasion, nice interior, good food and great service

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  7. I love the food at Outback and also the laid back setting of the place.

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  8. I literally craved when I saw the BBQ pork ribs picture. I hope I could get a chance to visit this resto one of these days.

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  9. I thought Outback Steakhouse only offers steak and meaty dishes. Now knowing that there are seafood and veggies as well, I can visit this restaurant soon. :)

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  10. Kookaburra, Pork ribs and flatbead pizza are one of my favorites on Outback! :)

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  11. I was immediately smitten with the Teriyaki Beef Medallions. Also, when I saw the Kookaburra Wings, I remembered the Buffalo wings from our dinner at Napa. Let's do a repeat soon! :)

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  12. Literally drooling over Victoria's Fillet. Right now, travelling 150kms doesn't sound like a bad ides if it means having a go at these bad boys...

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  13. Those food look great. I hope they taste great too. I'm not really into dining in to restaurants, esp if they are expensive but once alam ko they have great foods, I always ignore the price :D

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  14. My kind of place . The lunch menu is really sumptuous. solve na ako sa Kookaburra Wings,Chocolate Thunder from Down Under and Coco-Berry Smoothie. Ubos ang pera ko. LOL

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  15. yay,wanna try this place,Teriyaki Beef Medallions looks yummy!

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  16. Crispy Shrimp Ceasar Salad, our bet in their menu list. It's good for people whose on a diet.

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  17. If I will be invited for this kind of food adventure, i will definitely say no! The dessert is just amazing!

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  18. Ive heard of Outback before and they are famous for their steaks ... but I got interested on the other dishes they offer.. love the way the onion rings were served ,, look sumptuous.

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  19. Haven't been back to Outback for a long time, and I miss their brown bread among other things! I think it's time to go back! :D

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  20. Chef Ramsey keep on popping in my mind while reading this. ALl of the foood kept on reminding me of Hell's Kitchen. I haven't eaten on a steakhouse because the food is too expensive for my budget. But if I can afford it, Outback will surely be my first steakhouse experience!

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  21. Great, comprehensive review about Outback Steakhouse I did not know that they offered other dishes outside of steaks. The food is enticing and looks delicious!

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  22. I hope Outback Steakhouse would open their branch here in Davao City. The look of the Dessert Sampler Trio makes me wanna eat something sweet now.

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  23. The dishes at Outback are sinfully delicious! I've once tried to eat there and will surely go back!

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  24. I've once tried to eat at Outback Steakhouse and will definitely go back!

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  25. I've once tried to eat at Outback Glorietta and will definitely be coming back! =)

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  26. Its a full course.. And I cant decide on which one to check..
    The gluten-free loaf of honey wheat bushman bread is a taker, like everything else.. nyam!

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  27. Wow! I wanna thry the Teriyaki Beef Medallions!

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  28. I love Outback though I've never tried their lunch specials. Those dessert pics are convincing me to go to an Outback branch nearby. :)

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  29. Chicken Parmesan looks very tempting :P~

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  30. I was smiled when I read your first line as "hardcore carnivore" anyway I love steaks especially beef steaks. But I believe that they offer veggies and seafood, perhaps that would increase their traffic. Thanks for being honest...I love Teriyaki Beef too.

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  31. The food presentation of the typhoon bloom is really stunning. I'm starting to crave now!

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  32. Wanna go back to OUTBACK and order my favorite food that is the Kookaburra Wings!

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  33. Been trying to limit myself with meat lately but the Teriyaki beef medallions can be excused. It's been a while since I last visited.

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  34. Delicious foods! I have once visit outback with my sister and definitely will go back. The service is really fantastic and the food are yummy and mouthwatering!

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  35. Everything look yummy hope they can make more branch so that I can always go there

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  36. I only go to Outback because of their Angus beef steak. But this made me wanna try something else

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