OUTBACK Restaurants to close all 9 Ontario Locations

[james t kirk]

I read today that the Outback is closing ALL of its Ontario locations. Nine stores in total.

Sad for the people who worked there.

It reminds me of the Olive Garden frankly in that whenever I went to an OB, it was always busy (though never as packed as the Olive Garden was) and yet they could not make a go of it.

The food was very run of the mill. It was just food, nothing to write home about for sure. Never terrible, never good either. It was the kind of place where I'd meet up with a few friends for a McMeal and the bill was ok. Not cheap, but a long way from pricey.

I don't know if their business model was based on a full restaurant all the time, or what, or if they suffered the same issues as the Olive Garden where they imported all their food supplies from a Central Depot in the USA, thus incurring a lot of shipping charges. (Outback was owned by some restaurant corporation from Tampa Florida.)

For the McMeal sort of experience, I would always opt for Baton Rouge over the Outback any day, any time to tell you truth, or Milestones, or Jack Astors even.

 

[Julius Caesar]

Never really liked Outback.
No great loss for me.

 

[lt. lawton]

I prefer The Keg for my steaks. My favourite locations are the Bay&Richmond and Yonge&Eglington ones.

 

[buckwheat1]

OVER priced food

 

[Justanormalguy]

I feel sorry for the people but the Outback didn't have much going for it. Only I ever liked were the Scallops on the Barbie.

 

[red]

I went to one once and that was enough.

 

[james t kirk]

OVER priced food

Actutally, I thought it was on the cheap side for a meal, but the food lacked any sort of mmmm mmmm good consideration.

2 people could get out of OB for 60 bucks or so.

At the end of the day, I'm not so sure about chain restaurants, especially chain restaurants succeeding in the GTA. Toronto for sure. With so many excellent independent restaurants that offer something really unique, going to a chain restaurant is usually the last thing that enters my mind.

 

[rafterman]

Never been, but these restaurant chains come and go, very tough business and they all seem to have the same basic, casual menu. Food varies from average, at best to mediocre.

I'd rather go to a little mom and pop place or an ethnic themed eatery. Best meals I've had in the past couple of months are at local indian place and vietnamese noodle house.

 

[alexmst]

The only good dessert on their menu was the 'Sidney sinful sundae' and they removed it from the menu a few months ago. I used to go once every couple of months as there was a location in a handy location to me and it made for good pre-movie fare. The lamb was decent, the fish special was fine. The salads were good. I never much liked the steaks. The past year it was never as crowded as it used to be previous years.

 

[lawyerman]

...but Movenpick is coming back

Miss the ice cream from Movenpick on a hot summer day in Yorkville. Those were the days.

 

[Dark Chimera]

I think they missed the health food movement


their food is calorie dense

As well it seems only Europeans went there



Indians and blacks and orientals do not relate to Crocodile Dundee

 

[alexmst]

Miss the ice cream from Movenpick on a hot summer day in Yorkville. Those were the days.

Yes, back in the 80's I was at the Yorkville Movenpick weekly - loved it. Now all we have there is Flow in that location - other than a good Mojito, nothing to write home about.

 

[stang]

Gonna miss their wings, and the blooming onion.

 

[spankingman]

Outback

Always found the OB too pricey for the quality of steak they served. I too go to the KEG for a steak.A lot of these "roadhouse" type places are too much the same. Although i do like MONTANNAS They have great beef ribs.

 

[buckwheat1]

Great bloomin onion I'm going to miss them

 

[Cycleguy007]

I prefer The Keg for my steaks.

As far as casual dining, yes Keg is by far better than Outback... I think I have been to Outback 2 times in my life... no loss for me personally, but unfortunate for the employees.

The Keg in Niagara Falls on the 9th Floor of the Embassy Suites Hotel is very nice. Tables overlooking the falls, and at 10:00 pm there's Fireworks!

http://www.fallsviewrestaurant.com/

Taking the SO there on Friday...

 

[beenthere123]

OVER priced food

So is Baton Rouge, not sure of spelling. They will be next to go bankrupt as their service and food not up to par

 

[rc12rc12]

I prefer The Keg for my steaks. My favourite locations are the Bay&Richmond and Yonge&Eglington ones.

I too like the bay richmond keg

 

[LatinDancer]

I too like the bay richmond keg

The Outback filled the niche between the Ponderosas of the world and the Kegs. I liked theri bread.

 

[Insidious Von]

Now that the city is diversifying street food, the chains are under more pressure than ever before.

Even the higher end places go bust; Houston Steak House at Vaughan Mills shut down. And I've never been a fan of Ruth's Chris, I've had better prime rib (the acid test of a good steakhouse) in other places.

The next to go bust, pardon the metaphor, is probably Hooters; selling garbage for eye candy doesn't work in TO. The Carlingview locvation is struggling; they cannot compete with either Arizona's or The Landing Strip.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/604516