7 Outback Steakhouse Menu Items Tar Heels Skip & 7 They Can’t Resist In North Carolina
When Tar Heels head to Outback Steakhouse across North Carolina, they’ve developed some pretty strong opinions about what’s worth ordering and what should be left in the kitchen.
From sizzling steaks to questionable appetizers, North Carolinians know exactly what they want when that familiar boomerang sign comes into view.
Ready to discover which dishes locals love and which ones they pass on faster than a NASCAR pit stop? Let’s go!
1. Skip: Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie
North Carolina’s seafood standards are sky-high, making these lackluster crustaceans a major letdown. What should be succulent and flame-kissed often arrives resembling reheated frozen fare.
I once drove two hours from Raleigh for an Outback dinner, only to push these rubbery disappointments around my plate.
Save your appetite (and dollars) for the fresh shrimp at coastal spots like Calabash instead.
2. Skip: Tasmanian Chili
Watery, one-dimensional heat with none of the hearty goodness North Carolinians expect from proper chili. The thin consistency lacks the beans and robust texture that give real chili its character.
Most Tar Heels laugh at this sad interpretation that’s more soup than stew. When a state takes its Brunswick stew and barbecue seriously, this lackluster bowl of spicy liquid simply won’t cut it.
3. Skip: Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp
These sugar-bombed crustaceans leave Tar Heels scratching their heads. The cloying sweetness overpowers any seafood flavor, while the heavy breading turns greasy before you’ve finished your first bite.
During my cousin’s birthday dinner in Charlotte, these shrimp were the only plate returned to the kitchen untouched.
North Carolinians prefer their seafood to taste like the ocean, not like someone dumped a dessert tray on perfectly good shrimp.
4. Skip: Chicken Tender Platter
Bland, uninspired chicken strips that could’ve come from any frozen food aisle. The batter lacks seasoning, the chicken inside is often dry, and the accompanying sides wilt under the heat lamp’s glow.
Carolina chicken enthusiasts know better than to waste calories here. After all, this is a state with legendary fried chicken traditions! The price point makes the mediocrity even harder to swallow for value-conscious Tar Heels.
5. Skip: Steakhouse Mac & Cheese Bites
These gluey, flavorless nuggets masquerade as comfort food but deliver nothing but disappointment. The exterior gets too crisp while the interior remains oddly gooey, creating a textural nightmare.
The cheese lacks that sharp tang North Carolinians love in proper mac and cheese. When I brought visiting friends to the Greensboro location, they politely nibbled one bite before discreetly pushing the plate aside. Stick with traditional sides instead.
6. Skip: Kingsland & Queensland Pasta
Pasta at a steakhouse? Already questionable. These alfredo-drenched noodles arrive swimming in a bland sauce that lacks any personality.
The dry steak topping these dishes often seems like an afterthought. Duke and UNC students regularly report these pastas as the most forgettable items on the menu.
When in Carolina, skip these uninspired carb loads and focus on what Outback actually does well.
7. Skip: Aussie Cobb Salad
A skimpy imposter that would make any salad-loving Tar Heel weep. The promised avocado appears in microscopic amounts, while the bacon bits seem counted out by accountants rather than chefs.
Blue cheese crumbles are sparse, and the chicken often arrives cold and dry. North Carolinians, who appreciate the farm-fresh produce available at local farmers markets, find this overpriced bowl of disappointment particularly offensive.
8. Can’t Resist: Steaks with Roasted Garlic Butter
Smart Tar Heels know this secret menu hack: adding roasted garlic butter transforms any ordinary steak into something spectacular. The compound butter melts seductively over hot beef, creating a silky sauce that amplifies the meat’s natural flavors.
My Winston-Salem neighbor refuses to order steak without it. Even the pickiest eaters from Asheville to Wilmington agree this simple addition elevates Outback’s steaks from chain restaurant fare to genuinely craveable cuisine.
9. Can’t Resist: Kookaburra Wings
These beer-battered beauties deliver a satisfying crunch that keeps Carolina wing enthusiasts coming back. Unlike standard buffalo offerings, the unique seasoning blend provides a distinctive flavor profile, whether ordered mild, medium, or hot.
The crispy exterior maintains its texture even when tossed in sauce. Former staff members from the Raleigh location confess that these wings are the one item they still crave years after leaving the job.
10. Can’t Resist: Honey-Wheat Bread & Whipped Butter
Free bread shouldn’t be this good! The slightly sweet, pillowy loaves arrive warm at your table, creating an irresistible aroma that has Carolinians reaching before menus even appear.
The whipped butter spreads effortlessly across the soft interior. Duke basketball fans have been known to request extra loaves to take home after games.
This humble bread basket consistently outperforms fancier appetizers and keeps loyal customers returning just for another taste.
11. Can’t Resist: Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Carb-loving Carolinians cannot resist these indulgent spuds. Generous amounts of melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, and fresh chives transform ordinary mashed potatoes into a side dish worthy of main course status.
The creamy texture strikes the perfect balance – substantial enough to hold the toppings but still velvety smooth.
I’ve witnessed heated debates at Charlotte tables over who gets the last scoop, proving these potatoes inspire passion worthy of a Carolina-Duke rivalry.
12. Can’t Resist: Chocolate Thunder from Down Under
This decadent dessert has achieved legendary status among sweet-toothed Tar Heels. The warm chocolate brownie arrives in a sizzling skillet, topped with melting vanilla ice cream and rich chocolate sauce cascading down the sides.
The temperature contrast between hot brownie and cold ice cream creates texture magic. Chapel Hill families celebrate good grades and sports victories with this showstopper that consistently delivers on both presentation and flavor, making it worth saving room for.
13. Can’t Resist: Bloomin’ Onion
The undisputed icon of Outback remains a guilty pleasure no self-respecting Tar Heel can resist. This crispy, petal-like appetizer defies all health consciousness with its perfectly seasoned batter and tangy dipping sauce.
Carolina Panthers fans order these by the dozens during game day gatherings. Despite containing enough calories for an entire day, North Carolinians happily dive in, pulling apart the golden layers with the enthusiasm usually reserved for March Madness brackets.
14. Can’t Resist: Salted-Caramel Cookie Skillet
This newer menu addition has quickly gained a devoted Carolina following. The warm, chewy cookie base provides the perfect foundation for the sweet-salty caramel drizzle, while pretzel pieces add unexpected crunch.
Vanilla ice cream melts into the crevices, creating a delightful sauce. During a family reunion in Wilmington last summer, three generations fought over the last bite of this masterpiece.
Even dedicated chocolate lovers find themselves converting to this perfectly balanced dessert alternative.