Outback is back!
Jul. 29th, 2015 06:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bex77N and I had a delicious early dinner at Outback Steakhouse today! They opened on Monday in the Assembly Row development along the river in Somerville behind the Assembly Square Mall. Hooray!
We used to go to Outback once a month with the Theatre@First denizens, then suddenly one Sunday night about five years ago? Poof! They were gone! We tried the one in Burlington a few times, but their management was horrendous - long waits to be seated with a half empty restaurant, slow service, wrong food delivered... not worth it even if we adored their steaks.
There were announcements last August that Outback was coming to Assembly Row and we waited eagerly. My sister discovered they were open when she did a random search of the restaurants there for a post-movie supper. Hooray!
So we popped in about 4 pm Wednesday and were seated along the back wall. There is a huge bar with high tables then booths and several tables along the back. The menu is mostly the same with my favorites still there and some intriguing new options such as more cuts of steak, three tacos, more fish options and lobster tails!
They have a good assortment of non-alcoholic drinks. I had the cherry limeade and N. tried their skinny 'Rita with rocks and sugar.
We tried the coconut shrimp - a generous platter of 8 shrimp with a tangy sauce. I had the Victoria's 10 oz filet with a baked potato and a house side salad. N. tried the sirloin with a baked potato and the caesar side salad.
They still have their incredible chocolate thunder and carrot cake and cheesecake desserts. They also have small parfaits including a chocolate oreo mixture that tempted me mightily. We indulged in a new dessert - the salted caramel cookie skillet with white chocolate bits, almond toffee and pretzels baked in, served warm with vanilla ice cream. It was on the small side, which I see as a plus. Just right for two mostly full people to share and soooo delicious!
The staff are all shiny and excited and eager to please. The general manager stopped by to chat us up. They have the "everyone serves you" model, which is not my favorite, with different waiters bringing things, but they made it work.
It's on the pricy side, but not for the quality of food and service. The only trick will be not going over there once a week...
As I stood outside their door facing Assembly Square, I marveled at the changes in that waterfront area. I remember running into the dear departed long-time Somerville Alderman picking up a pizza several years ago at Pizzeria Regina in Wellington Circle, where a gas station and decrepit flower stand were turned into a huge development with streets and restaurants and condos. He told us something similar was going to happen near Assembly Square. We scoffed, having waited years for the IKEA that never came. He said no no... this is coming, and soon. It is amazing to see his prophecy fulfilled! Outback is the first business that has tempted us, and what a great addition it is!
-B
We used to go to Outback once a month with the Theatre@First denizens, then suddenly one Sunday night about five years ago? Poof! They were gone! We tried the one in Burlington a few times, but their management was horrendous - long waits to be seated with a half empty restaurant, slow service, wrong food delivered... not worth it even if we adored their steaks.
There were announcements last August that Outback was coming to Assembly Row and we waited eagerly. My sister discovered they were open when she did a random search of the restaurants there for a post-movie supper. Hooray!
So we popped in about 4 pm Wednesday and were seated along the back wall. There is a huge bar with high tables then booths and several tables along the back. The menu is mostly the same with my favorites still there and some intriguing new options such as more cuts of steak, three tacos, more fish options and lobster tails!
They have a good assortment of non-alcoholic drinks. I had the cherry limeade and N. tried their skinny 'Rita with rocks and sugar.
We tried the coconut shrimp - a generous platter of 8 shrimp with a tangy sauce. I had the Victoria's 10 oz filet with a baked potato and a house side salad. N. tried the sirloin with a baked potato and the caesar side salad.
They still have their incredible chocolate thunder and carrot cake and cheesecake desserts. They also have small parfaits including a chocolate oreo mixture that tempted me mightily. We indulged in a new dessert - the salted caramel cookie skillet with white chocolate bits, almond toffee and pretzels baked in, served warm with vanilla ice cream. It was on the small side, which I see as a plus. Just right for two mostly full people to share and soooo delicious!
The staff are all shiny and excited and eager to please. The general manager stopped by to chat us up. They have the "everyone serves you" model, which is not my favorite, with different waiters bringing things, but they made it work.
It's on the pricy side, but not for the quality of food and service. The only trick will be not going over there once a week...
As I stood outside their door facing Assembly Square, I marveled at the changes in that waterfront area. I remember running into the dear departed long-time Somerville Alderman picking up a pizza several years ago at Pizzeria Regina in Wellington Circle, where a gas station and decrepit flower stand were turned into a huge development with streets and restaurants and condos. He told us something similar was going to happen near Assembly Square. We scoffed, having waited years for the IKEA that never came. He said no no... this is coming, and soon. It is amazing to see his prophecy fulfilled! Outback is the first business that has tempted us, and what a great addition it is!
-B
