13 Dishes You Should Never Order At Outback Steakhouse

When I think of Outback Steakhouse, visions of sizzling steaks, Bloomin' Onions, and grilled seafood instantly come to my mind. As a lifelong customer of this chain restaurant, I have enjoyed dozens of delicious meals here, giving me the ability to try a variety of Outback's dishes. Many of these menu items have excelled in flavor and quality, making me excited to buy them over and over again.

In opposition, the restaurant also has several dishes that have failed to meet my expectations and left me feeling unsatisfied. To help steer future customers clear of these menu mistakes, I compiled a list of the dishes I won't order again at Outback Steakhouse. In some cases, customer reviews on Reddit and other social media platforms also agreed with me, helping further solidify my opinions. 

To create this list, I considered factors such as flavor, healthiness, and originality of these appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts. Making sure I am getting a good-value purchase is also important to me, so in this article I also referenced the prices found at my local Outback location in Edgewater, New Jersey. If you are considering taking a trip to an Outback Steakhouse anytime soon, here are my choices for 14 dishes I think you should never order -– your taste buds (and your wallet) may thank you.

Starting out this list is perhaps one of the more controversial choices I have for menu items to skip: Outback Steakhouse's Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie. This iconic menu item has become synonymous with Outback's Australian theming, but for me, it is not worth the splurge. The grilled shrimp can be found in several meals on Outback's menu, and each time I am left unimpressed by their flavor. While they can be a nice addition to some of the salads and pastas, they fail to stand out as an appetizer on their own. To me, these shrimp taste no better than a store-bought shrimp you could defrost from your freezer at home.

Even if you like the taste and preparation of these shrimps, the value is still reason enough to skip making this purchase. This appetizer comes with eight small-medium shrimps served on a slice of garlic toast for a whopping $15.99. In comparison, the Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie entrée comes with over double the amount of shrimp as well as two freshly made sides for just $23.99. Considering both taste and price, this appetizer is one I will always skip buying at Outback Steakhouse.

Who orders a Chicken Tender Platter at an Outback Steakhouse? I did once, and I surely will not make that mistake again. This entree item was a massive letdown when I tried it recently, as this dish comes with only a few measly chicken strips and two sides for a hefty $18.99. For such a high price, I was especially saddened to realize that each slender strip was heavily coated with an underwhelming batter. According to some reviews on Reddit, the recipe was changed within the last year, but this claim has not been confirmed by Outback Steakhouse. As one review stated, this new reported recipe is "nowhere near as good as the previous recipe."

Another reason to avoid this menu item is for health reasons. This dish contains 1020 calories and 2000 milligrams of sodium, making it far from one of the healthiest menu item options. The American Heart Association recommends that we eat around 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day, meaning this menu item alone would exceed your entire day's sodium capacity. Overall, this menu item was not worth the money I spent, and I will certainly not be ordering it for myself again.

The Aussie Cheese Fries at Outback Steakhouse seem like a delicious indulgence, but in reality, this appetizer tastes more like a fast food item. This dish comes with Outback's standard fries topped with melted Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, chopped bacon, and ranch dressing. To me, this item feels like a lazy creation, and it also does not match the Australian theme of the restaurant as a whole.

Another major negative for this item is that it is overpriced, coming in at $13.79 for this small plate that features little to no protein. Another glaring issue with this item is that it is one of the unhealthiest items on the entire menu. Despite being just an appetizer, the Aussie Cheese Fries contain 2620 calories, have 7,490 milligrams of sodium, 182 grams of fat, and 315 milligrams of cholesterol. These numbers exceed the recommended daily values of sodium, fat, and cholesterol that a person is meant to consume in a day. These three reasons are enough to justify why I recommend you skip ordering this Outback Steakhouse appetizer.

As a seafood lover, a plate full of delicious and crispy coconut shrimp is usually something I would instantly gravitate towards at any other restaurant. Unfortunately, Outback's Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp fails to meet my standards, earning it a place on this list. As I mentioned before, the shrimp at Outback are not my favorite, but the issue with this item comes down to its preparation.

The glaring issue is that it is incredibly sweet, especially when compared to your standard coconut shrimp. While any good Coconut Shrimp recipe should have a kick of sweetness from the shredded coconut and the marmalade sauce that it is typically served with, Outback Steakhouse's version is so sweet that I lost the shrimp flavor altogether.

This appetizer item is 940 calories and contains a significant 29 grams of sugar in it, which is notable considering humans are recommended to consume no more than 25 to 36 grams of sugar per day. Another factor that stops me from ordering this menu item is the price, which charges $15.99 for around eight small battered shrimp. In the future, I will stick to other appetizer options. 

I was excited to try the Queensland Chicken & Shrimp Pasta at Outback Steakhouse, and was saddened when it failed to impress me. I was impressed by the portion size of the shrimp and chicken in this dish, and saw it potentially being an item I would wan't to order routinely. For $23.99, customers who order this dish get a decent portion of grilled chicken and shrimp served over a mountain of fettuccine with Alfredo sauce.

Unfortunately, this entree is a miss for me due to the Alfredo sauce. While Outback describes the sauce in its menu as being "bold," to me it is the complete opposite: dry and lacking in any flavor. Other customers have noted this as well, with one Redditor describing the pasta as "bland." This menu item is not delicious enough to justify the 2150 milligrams of sodium that it packs, and I recommend spending your money on another, more flavorful option at Outback Steakhouse.

One of the best things about Outback Steakhouse is the fact that many of its entrees come with two delicious side options of your choosing. One of my favorite options used to be the Steakhouse Mac & Cheese, however, in the last several years I have noticed a change in quality that has made this side one that I will skip selecting from now on.

While this Mac & Cheese used to be creamy and decadent, it has tasted synthetic as of late. While there is no confirmation of any recipe change from Outback Steakhouse, several employees claim that the recipe has been altered, with one former employee stating: "I know they changed the mac & cheese & subbed light sour cream instead of the regular one for the bakers, not sure what else was changed." In my opinion, this side does not compare to some of Outback's other options, such as its Homestyle Mashed Potatoes, Dressed Baked Potato, and Sweet Potato with Honey & Brown Sugar, making it one I will not order again. 

A Cobb Salad is one of my favorite things to order when I am going out to eat, but Outback's version of this classic dish is not one I would ever recommend. When I am craving a Cobb Salad, I am looking for a bed of leafy greens topped with a large serving of eggs, bacon, tomatoes, diced avocado, and other seasonings and dressings. Unfortunately, Outback's Aussie Cobb Salad features only a sparse amount of eggs and bacon, no avocado, and only a handful of bland cherry tomatoes, stale croutons, and shredded cheddar cheese mixed in.

While it is not necessarily bad, it does not fit the bill that I was expecting when ordering this iconic salad. With prices ranging from $13.99 to $20.99 depending on your protein selection, this item is too expensive for the lack of mixed-in ingredients, making this one item I will skip purchasing at Outback Steakhouse moving forward.

Outback Steakhouse's Tasmanian Chili is truthfully one of my least favorite menu items in Outback's entire repertoire. When I think of chili, I think of an All American chili recipe full of beans, ground beef, tomatoes, and spices. Outback's version is truly not a chili at all, and instead more of a spicy steak stew with no beans and an overbearing flavor.

The spicy flavor of this chili is overtly loud and off-putting. As I continued my meal after having a cup of it, I couldn't get the taste of it out of my mouth. The flavor of the steak chunks are completely masked by the Tasmanian Chili's spice as well, and many of the steak pieces were fatty and felt like rejected cuts of beef jumbled together and dumped into this dish.

Unlike many of Outback Steakhouse's other soups and appetizers, this item is one that I struggled to find any redeeming qualities about. In my personal opinion, the Tasmanian Chili is an item to definitely avoid spending your money on at Outback Steakhouse.

When I am going out to eat with friends or family, I love ordering a dip to share for the table. While I love sharing salsa, guacamole, queso, and spinach dips, Outback Steakhouse's 3 Cheese Steak Dip is not one you'll find me ordering again. This appetizer comes with a small pan full of melted cheddar, colby, and American cheese, topped with a handful of tomatoes, green onions, and some small steak cubes. The dip is served with a plate of tortilla chips, which taste standard — not fresh or homemade.

The dip itself tastes like a jar of queso you could buy at the store, and the steak portion is incredibly small. If this item was priced at $10 or less, I would probably say it is worth it. Unfortunately, Outback Steakhouse currently charges $17.99 for this item, which I feel is far too expensive for the small quantity of dip that you are getting. If you love a cheese dip, I would suggest saving your money and making a similar dip at home for less.

Outback Steakhouse is known for its deep fried menu items such as its iconic Bloomin' Onion and Bloomin' Fried Shrimp. As another option, Outback Steakhouse also offers their Sydney Shrooms appetizer, which features battered and fried mushrooms served with house-made ranch dressing. Unfortunately, this item does not compare to the flavorful impact of Outback's Bloomin' appetizers, and the Sydney Shrooms are an item I won't find myself ordering again.

While I love indulging in a battered and fried treat every once in a while, this entree is excessive with its batter coating, and every time I have tried it the mushrooms have been dripping with oil and grease. One Reddit reviewer agrees, stating that: "They're so spongy they soak up way too much oil." Another complaint against these mushrooms is the rubbery texture, which one customer describes as "absolutely off."

Another negative aspect of this item is how unhealthy it is, with the appetizer containing 2530 milligrams of sodium and 1390 calories. If you are looking to try a fried outback appetizer, there are several other items that I would recommend over the Sydney Shrooms.

As the partner to Outback Steakhouse's Queensland Chicken & Shrimp Pasta, the Kingsland Pasta entree is also a miss for me for similar reasons. This item is essentially the same as the Kingsland Pasta: a fettuccine alfredo pasta topped with steak and your choice of shrimp or chicken. The steak on this pasta is alright, but the cuts of beef are not as consistent as the other steak entrees available on the menu.

Like the Queensland Chicken & Shrimp Pasta, this version of the pasta also tastes bland and dry, and the added spices to the sauce fail to spruce anything up. In addition, this pasta is 1560 calories and has 2150 milligrams of sodium, which is a significant amount for just one entree. The price for this dish ranges from $25.99 to $27.99, depending on your protein selection, which is almost as much as an entire 13-ounce Outback Steakhouse Ribeye. For taste, value, and health reasons, the Kingsland Pasta is one I would recommend skipping on your next visit to this restaurant.

While most customers probably do not come to a steakhouse for a dessert, one of my favorite parts about dining at Outback Steakhouse is trying some of the delicious sweet treats. With iconic menu items like the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under and the Salted Caramel Cookie Skillet, it is rare for me to leave an Outback meal without treating myself to one of these dessert selections. However, one that I won't find myself ordering again is the New York-Style Cheesecake.

This cheesecake, which comes topped with your choice of raspberry melba sauce or chocolate sauce, tastes like something you could buy at your local grocery store. For $10.79, the price of this cheesecake is not justified by its quality or flavor. The other dessert options on this menu are much better choices in flavor and in value. All in all, I would recommend customers avoid this cheesecake and try Outback's other superior options instead. 

There are so many great protein options available at Outback Steakhouse, but in my opinion, the Caramel Mustard Glazed Pork Chops are not one of them. While I commend Outback Steakhouse for stepping out of its box with this menu item's recipe, it falls flat for me in execution. On the occasions where I have tasted this dish, I have noticed that the pork feels constantly dry, and the sweet caramel and creole mustard glaze tastes more like a syrup than a complementary sauce.

Like the other items on this list, the Caramel Mustard Glazed Pork Chops is one item I won't be tempted to order again at Outback Steakhouse. That being said, this list does not discredit the entire Outback experience, and I am happy to report that there are so many other standout dishes, even some "secret menu" items" that I believe deserve your time and your money at this restaurant. Whether you are a longtime fan or a first-time diner, I hope this guide can help set you up for a delicious and satisfying meal the next time you sit down to eat at an Outback Steakhouse.