The Real History Behind Outback Steakhouse
Ойын-сауық
Today on Weird History we are taking you on a mental walkabout to the Outback Steakhouse! How exactly did this kitschy 'Australian' dining experience come about, and did it seriously originate in Australia, or, somewhere entirely different? ...and what is with that bloomin' onion, anyway?
Maybe you have eaten there once, twice, or more - if you hav, tell us in the comments what is YOUR favorite outback steakhouse offering!
#oubacksteakhouse #bloomionion #weirdhistoryfood
Пікірлер: 308
I used to think that Outback Steakhouse was for rich people growing up
@guyk768
23 күн бұрын
I always understood Outback Steakhouse to be a slightly fancier place as a kid.
@krisfrederick5001
23 күн бұрын
I used to think Pizza Hut was for rich people growing up.
@joeykeilholz925
23 күн бұрын
And now it is! McDonald's is too expensive for a lot of people now too
@PLCTheCd
23 күн бұрын
Yo, same here. I also though the Red Lobster was a fancy restaurant
@HippieSoul77
23 күн бұрын
Same...and it might as well be because I still can't afford it
My Mom used to say 'bloomin' onions!' when I was a kid, instead of swearing, and every time I hear the name of the restaurant, or pictures of the food, I think of my Mom stubbing her toe.
Millennials slowly abandoning dining away from home because wages have stagnated versus rampant inflation. If a single entree is $20 and the Federal Minimum Wage is $7.25 you would have to work THREE HOURS to cover a burger & fries!
@Kimberly-xi5fc
23 күн бұрын
Probably more like four, accounting for fed, state, Medicare and SSI that gets taken out.
@Sniperboy5551
23 күн бұрын
Most states have higher minimum wages so federal minimum wage wouldn’t apply
@dave882
23 күн бұрын
If you’re making minimum wage as a millennial you have a lot of problems
@BeyondDaX
23 күн бұрын
@@dave882 and even then most higher wage jobs are being replaced by Ai
@dakineprotoss
23 күн бұрын
even if you can afford to go out for dinner, the quality has gotten worse specifically at large corporate chain restaurants that will replace expensive ingredients with cheaper ones, reduce serving size, and increasingly use frozen foods that are simple to prepare maybe my taste has just gotten more refined, but a restaurant like Outback/Chilis/TGI Fridays used to have a reasonable standard, it was of course not fine dining but it was also not microwaved slop. Nowadays the standard is on the floor. the truth is, as a millenial in my late 30s I have more disposable income now than I have ever had, even with inflation and cost of living increases. But i almost never go out to restaurant, or a casual take out place, or even fast food, because its all absolutely garbage tier food
Every time I see a kangaroo, I think of the video when the dude punches the roo in the face after it tried to attack his dog. And how insulted it looked 😂
I work at red lobster, and alot of our stuff is microwaved lol
@DillonTrinhProductions
23 күн бұрын
....
@ladynikkie
23 күн бұрын
Honestly I'm not shocked my sister went to the Olive garden one time and it came with traces of melted plastic
@matthew_natividad
22 күн бұрын
@@ladynikkieyikes
6 years of my life spent there as a waitress. It was hard work but I really loved my restaurant. It was always clean and delicious.
Ive cooked professionally for the over 20 years... Saying that serving lunch AND dinner out of the same kitchen is a logistical nightmare is probably the most pathetic thing I have ever heard.
@spencerdokes6056
23 күн бұрын
You just need to hire for 2 shifts
@Derek-no8fu
23 күн бұрын
I know right?
@3xfaster
23 күн бұрын
I thought it was breakfast to lunch?
@peterreily1490
23 күн бұрын
So you’ve worked at Waffle House for 20 years then. I worked at a Tampa outback. I also worked at a Tampa red lobster. Then I got a college degree. You… clearly still work at Waffle House.
The downward spiral of Outback started when they purged their 22 oz for $2.22 all tap beer happy hour special, two decades ago which they missed out on a lot of revenue and lost repeat customers.
@Dave-bj3pq
23 күн бұрын
😂
Fun fact: Shrimp are called "prawns" in Australia.
@RobertBatchelor
14 күн бұрын
Shrimps and prawns are similar but different.
Lol, I love the way they didn't serve lunch as some benefit to employees. Then, at some point, said "ah, f*** em"
Id love to go to a sit down restaurant but realistically I can’t afford to spend $60 on food then an additional $15 tip.
@homuraakemi493
23 күн бұрын
You don't have to eat the entire menu, slim.
@lawrencetalbot8346
23 күн бұрын
So don’t tip
@PhantomFilmAustralia
23 күн бұрын
Tips and poor wages are the big signs that Outback isn't a real Aussie place
@ladynikkie
23 күн бұрын
don't blame you most restaurants can overcharge you for cheap quality food.
@adrienkingson2889
23 күн бұрын
@@homuraakemi493 hun that’s the average of a meal where I live. Even a basic fast food meal costs about $25. But if it’s cheaper where you live that’s great.
I’m 50 years old and Outback was where we’d have “fancy” dinners when we were poor. I haven’t been to one in 20 plus years.
@strykerentllc
23 күн бұрын
Right? 20 years ago and order of Kookaburra wings cost $5 and today they're $17.50 here local to us. The bloomin' onion was $5 and today it's $10... for one onion. The 9 0z. filet was $15 & today it's $32...The prices have exploded and unfortunately the average person's wages haven't kept up so the decline in sit-down dining places like Outback, Red Lobster, Chili's and TGIF are like ghost towns these days. People have less money to splurge even once in a while and opt for low grade fast food from places that have mascots--either a clown or king. It's sad; meanwhile the geniuses in D.C. are handing out tens of billions of dollars like it's free money to illegals and foreign countries. If they're simply giving money away, what is that money really worth? Nothing. Truly crushing the American lower and middle classes. Sad...
@SimuLord
12 күн бұрын
I'm a couple years younger than you are and Outback (and Chili's, and all those other casual-dining chains) were a staple of my early 20s. Sometime around 2005, when my then-wife pointed out that "it's just fast food at twice the price", I dropped the habit, and I've not been to a restaurant like that since. So 19 years now.
As someone from south tampa, i still find it humorous seeing a confused look when i tell someone outback was made in Florida and not Australia 😂😅
I thought this was common knowledge that the menu wasn't authentic Australian food lol.
0:01 I went to Outback Steakhouse in Charleston, South Carolina. My new friend, who I later lived with two months before moving, bought me supper there for giving him rides to work while his car was being repaired.
@Dave-bj3pq
23 күн бұрын
U suck 🍆
@Dave-bj3pq
23 күн бұрын
Your boyfriend took you to dinner how sweet...
@btetschner
23 күн бұрын
@@Dave-bj3pq If you received what you deserved, you would get rotten food.
@Dave-bj3pq
22 күн бұрын
🤣
I'm Australian and moved to the US over 20 years ago. One of the first places I was taken to was an Outback Steakhouse. Cracked open the menu: "What the hell is a bloomin' onion??" I scanned that menu for anything familiar. Not a single burger on offer was Aussie-style, which blew my mind. The closest thing I found was that they did offer some barramundi (which once I got it I wasn't entirely sure it was truly barramundi they'd given me, but maybe a similar fish more local to the US). To their credit, they did have a couple of Sidney Nolan prints on the wall and they were playing Midnight Oil music, so at least those were authentic.
I’m very happy that Bluey is the reason for the new wave of “crikeycore”, it’s far more accurate to Australian culture than Crocodile Dundee, despite being about anthropomorphic dogs lol
I took my Aussie ex-wife to an outback once to see how outraged she would get 😂
@mikeks8181
23 күн бұрын
I took my German Aunt,born and raised To a local but famous German restaurant! Turned out the same!
@donna6592
21 күн бұрын
I’m Australian- I understand her frustration 😂
@mattyt1961
18 күн бұрын
Is that why she is your ex?
That sudden hollering at 4:49-4:50 hurt my ears as I was watching this with earphones on!!!!! 😡😡😡 Damn you, whoever does the audio editing!!!
@pantera1420
18 күн бұрын
Fucking woke up my kid!
Took me a minute to figure out you were talking about Toowoomba when referring to seafood. 😄 It's like To-Wom-Bar (The "Wom" as in the first syllable of woman.)
@HeatherAckroyd
19 күн бұрын
I know, I had the same issue. If they hadn't shown us a quick picture, I'm not sure I'd have figured out what place she was referring to.
Eating ANOTHER Weird History snack! Eating Fairy Bread*†...while watching this Weird History video! According to some sources, Fairy Bread is Australia's favorite party snack! * Inspired from the Weird History video "How Exactly Did Australia Become a Penal Colony?" † Fairy Bread has three ingredients: Butter (some say margarine), white bread, and sprinkles. o The white bread I am using is homemade and cut into triangles.
@Dave-bj3pq
23 күн бұрын
🏆😂
@mintykiwi
23 күн бұрын
bro put 3 different kinds of asterisks in their youtube comment, i can respect that
@nt7519
23 күн бұрын
Don't know if I'd say Fairy Bread is the favourite party snack, but it's certainly up there for kids parties..
@mintykiwi
23 күн бұрын
@@nt7519 i'm not strayan whats it taste like
@btetschner
23 күн бұрын
@@nt7519 What other party snacks are popular in Australia?
I used to think Fosters was the leading australian beer.
@HeatherAckroyd
19 күн бұрын
Fosters is the shit we export because no self-respecting Aussie would drink it.
Can we get a video on what happend to CHI-CHI’s mexican cantina restaurant!! Please
Your passion for your subject is contagious.
You've heard of the French Kiss, but have you ever heard of the *Australian Kiss?* It's the same thing, just "Down Unda!" 🤪
When I saw the title of the video I thought "didn't Sam Reid just do a video on this?" and low and behold my guy's video gets clipped in here.
My first steakhouse experience was the outback and it was in Alice Springs, Australia probably 1998 or 1999. I thought it was an an Australian restaurant, having moved there from the States. I don't remember my order, as I was a kidz but I guess it was fine, because I don't have a negative memory. The other time I've been there was in college and a friend wanted to go. It was fine. I learned to cook steak at home and found a good butcher, so I don't eat out at steak places (other than those Brazilian ones, which are awesome for special times).
I like Outback and Carrabas! Another interesting video from Weird History. I didn’t know I wanted to know about Outback, but you made it entertaining.
Theres an OBS in my town but didn't get that much business most people rather go to LongHorn steakhouse in my town
I’m from Australia. What the hell is a blooming onion 😂
@donna6592
21 күн бұрын
I’m Australian- no idea WTF they’re talking about either 😂🇦🇺
for the record, no australian says 'shrimp' we say 'prawn', and i'msure some might cook them on the barbeque they aren't like a staple (honestly most barbeques would go for a sausage sizzle as a staple). In Westen Australia at least the aprts where i live seafood is pretty popular, fish and chips shops being everywhere. we aussies also have a betroot burgers and 'aussie burger with the lot' which has both beetroot and a fried egg
My local Outback (Silicon Valley) was one of the forty that closed. I tried the “Bloomin’ Onion” one time. The following evening, I nearly passed out at a music rehearsal. Not sure if the onion was the cause but it never happened again.
yeah 1900 calories for a blooming onion is right but if you ask Outback they’ll tell you it’s meant for six people. If you’re going to the Outback & throwing down a blooming onion by yourself you’re probably gonna have a pretty bad day later.
@joeykeilholz925
23 күн бұрын
Your onion will bloom
As an Aussie, I'm horrified. Outback? LOL. A good local fish n chip shop, homemade hamburgers at same. With the lot. Beefburger, bun, lettuce, cheese, tomato, onion, beetroot, pineapple, egg, bacon and a dollop of bbq sauce. Only from the Little DESERT region. It's a meal.
@kenmore01
23 күн бұрын
Beetroot. Yep, checks out
@nancycurtis7315
23 күн бұрын
@@kenmore01 Yeah. Population, about 2,500
@kenmore01
22 күн бұрын
@@nancycurtis7315 The outback, yeah. Here in USA, it's kinda like the mountains and deserts. There, natives. Here, outlaws and homeless. Of course we have the native Americans, but they are mostly rich! They own the casinos.
@nancycurtis7315
22 күн бұрын
@@kenmore01 Here, we have about 10 different nationalities. Yes. There are drugs, drunks and abusers too. Gays, trans. No one gets over excited. We are just all people. Advantage, is if anything happens, we all know who dunnit!
@nerd4ever1000
21 күн бұрын
@@kenmore01most natives are not rich. Some don't even have running water, air conditioning and acsess to affordable food. The casinos are owned by a few tribal governments and is invested in that specific tribes resources- kind of like taxes and ssi for lower incomes. Most tribes don't have casinos. I wish all were rich.
I still eat there every now and then. It's okay, but if I want a really good steak, I just make one myself cause it's better and cheaper than what I can get from most restaurants. Plus, it's just so expensive to eat out these days. I do like Outback's appetizers and drinks. And yeah the bloomin' onion is super unhealthy, but who is eating an entire one by themselves lol!? That's something you're supposed to get and share with the table.
@BeyondDaX
23 күн бұрын
Yeah, that was the point. It's meant to be shared
Used to love Outback in the late '90's, early 2000's. The consistency was amazing. I guess it still is, if you consider a consistently gristly filet "amazing." I gave up on them years ago. Can't even imagine what they're trying to charge for that "filet" today.
And yet i have so many great memories going there!
I and my fellow Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans think Spike talking about the blooming onion is hilarious. IYKYK
@angrytvrobot6130
23 күн бұрын
And what he says is spot on too. I always felt the soaking made the onions too brittle and difficult to work with, but can't argue with the results (when everything is done right).
As an Australian who does lots of travelling in the US, I gotta say, The Outback Steakhouse is better than any steakhouse we have here....
What about a video on Sizzler Steakhouse?
Outback was the sheet back in the day. Boy how times have changed
Tried Outback for a month and it's very hit or miss. Blooming onion and mustard was too strong because of the seasoning they used. Ribs and steak were fine.
Can you guys please do an episode on Lemonade if you haven't already? It's constantly on my mind now that McDonald's serves it!
Where men thunder. As in loud and boisterous. Cudos to OB for being concerned about employee burnout. It is a thing that no one cares about. Except OB👏
There's only 2 in QLD now. The 3rd one was in Springwood and it closed wayyy before covid
4:50 Rhett, is that you?
Now ahm curious to know what a real Australian joint is like...or at least know what Aussie food is like..(from a regional prospective, how about that?)
8:43 this is not true. While the restaurants remained open if local rules allowed, servers only make two dollars an hour. They weren’t making tips if they didn’t have customers. My ex was a server during the pandemic at Outback. The company was supposed to pay some sort of wage to compensate them for not getting tips, but she never got paid anything.
@TheMarkGoudy
23 күн бұрын
She also was fired during the pandemic.
Do one on Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse! Those animatronics were the best.
@zebragum27
22 күн бұрын
And Rainforest Cafe too
If you’ve followed anything about Australian’s politics/censorship efforts, it’s no surprise they don’t allow the “No Rules - Just Right” slogan over there lol
A former employer used to treat us to Outback. I've only eaten there once myself and got the cheapest item.
This video was called.... " Why nothing at Outback is actually Australian " no more than half an hour ago
lol they just closed a store that’s 10 minutes down the road. It’s just next to a Texas Roadhouse and a Longhorn.
Outback is another franchise that has lost almost all quality in the US.
6:30, however, the Bloomin Onion is designed to be shared as a table.
I’ve never had outback before? This video makes me curious
Nice Sam Ried shoutout!
Outback is fine but wish there were more steak options. And their drinks and bread aren't as good as other run of the mills like even Logan's. They usually make em medium rare tho! Not too often have they overcooked it.
That 12 year old new damn well there was alcohol in that drink 🤣
You’re telling me that you can’t order a steak raw and have it come out medium well in Australia?
We All went OSH ...they did not deliver our meal as expected ...we asked for the Manager ..she said... "we do not offer customers choices" ..good luck mate ...never been to their outback again
Worked at outback for 3 years. I really like the appetizers, the onion wings and steakhouse quesadillas (RIP) were the best. The steaks.. not so great. Weird for a place with steakhouse in the name
@michaelturner2806
22 күн бұрын
Reminds me, there's a place near me called Pizza Ranch, with all you can eat pizza. I don't know what it is about it, but I can't stand it. They also have a small dinner buffet with fried chicken, sides, and a soup and salad bar.
@ruffs6756
22 күн бұрын
@@michaelturner2806never had it but there’s a few of them if you drive an hour south of me. Never really drew me in- all I hear is it is meh or bad
Wait I grew up in south Tampa. Oh wait, I also worked at outback in Tampa too.
Mmmmmm Bloomin Onion :D Cuz i like onions
Kudos to the high ups that actually looked out for their employees during the covid test run.
I’ve lived in Australia all my life and never seen an “Outback Steakhouse” here and never heard of a “bloomin’ onion”. Most of this crap is not actually Australian. 🇦🇺
good video
So if I went to Australia and introduced a Blooming Onion to them, I would be rich...Got it.
@ashleyw1393
23 күн бұрын
Nope. We aussies wouldn’t buy that crap. You would look like a fool instead.
@donna6592
21 күн бұрын
No one in Australia would know what a “bloomin’ onion is! It’s not on any menu here in Australia 🇦🇺 😂
We stopped going to Outback in 2007 after experiencing terrible service, filth and attitudes of employees. Never been to, or will be going again.
Its got to 25 y3ars sense I was at an Outback steakhouse.
That onion thing looks delicious to me. That said the company looks terrible to work for
I couldn't afford to buy the foods in any fine-dining restos like Outback.
WHERES MY GUY!?! WHO IS THIS LADY!?!
Great video
Ironic that us millennials grew up going to "sit down" restaurants as kids, but have been somewhat a catalyst for their decline over the past decade 😅
I figured since they served Foster's they must be authentic.
@enigma9k
23 күн бұрын
No, just no mate, you don’t want that rats piss in your glass, start out by finding coopers pale ale and go from there.
@donna6592
21 күн бұрын
Why? Australians hate Fosters!
Chef Mic is the real outback MVP
It’s Outback Time!
I’m vegetarian and have never been to Outback
Outback's expansion to Brazil is not that recent, I remember one opening in my neighborhood in 2009. But yes, it is VERY popular here, every location is always packed from friday to sunday. I used to like it when I was a teen, but now I just think it is a place that serves overpriced greasy food
Yoo-hoo next?
It's my favorite chain restaurant
I used to like Outback pretty well, but it feels like their quality has gone down and their prices up. There's just better, similar food available from local restaurants for less.
Please make an apology video for the casino ad
I don't think I've ever been to an Outback. I'm not the biggest fan of steak, onions, or seafood, and there's plenty of presumably cheaper places to get a good burger and fries.
I went to my local outback steakhouse to give it a try. It was sadly one of the most mid experiences I've had. It just wasn't anything special in any real way. Plus paying 50 bucks for a meal and desert before any tip was pretty absurd
Maybe Outback should try some Toyota Land cruiser food trucks😂. Kinda maybe 🤔
“Five guys, Panera and chipotle” LOL they use the three places that are the biggest ripoff as an example. No one is going to those places to save money.
Where is the kangaroo steak and possum grits😂
Fosters, it’s Australian for beerya
I been outback steakhouse
@joeykeilholz925
23 күн бұрын
Prove it.
Forgot about Foster's.
i thought the outback should have everything *upside down*
Corporate chains microwave food? Noooo 😂
outback is famous in brazil
Years ago I used to love going to Outback. Alice Springs chicken and Mum's Steak were so good. In the past several years the quality, quantity and value have plummeted. Except for the fact I can't stand the restaurant that replaced the Outback in my town, I was glad to see them close this location
People are going to Five Guys because its LESS expensive??? Really??
@BeyondDaX
23 күн бұрын
I think they meant less expensive before the price increases
i guess after 2015 employee moral and burnout isnt important once they found out they could profit
@samreid did it first and better. the madman went to outback in australia for testing!
I would rather go to a Brazilian steakhouse than any outback steakhouse ever! Maybe Brazilian steakhouses are not a Brazilian thing? I don't know never been there...
@ianfinrir8724
17 күн бұрын
All I know is that Brazilian steakhouses serve meat on a sword and that's good enough for me.