G'Day Mate at the Outback Steakhouse.

Outback Steakhouse

4921 E. Main Street
Farmington, New Mexico, 87402

(505) 324-2122

Website: http://www.outback.com/restaurant/locations/nm/farmington/farmington/index.aspx

Outback Steakhouse is mainly open for dinner, after 4pm, but this one in Farmington, NM is open Saturday and Sunday at 11am; starting July 1, 2013 it will be open for lunch everyday.  We were immediately greeted upon entering, and while the host wanted to seat us in the bar area, we insisted on a booth in the dining area.  Our waitress, Heidi, was friendly, took our drink and appetizer order quickly; brought warm bread and butter to nosh on; and made sure to keep our drink glasses filled.  Several times the General Manager, Chris, stopped at booths and tables nearby us; for whatever unknown reason, he didn't bother to stop by ours to introduce himself, nor ask how our meal experience was.  Another gentleman wearing a red shirt came by later on, stopped at each table and booth, asked how everything was before moving on; didn't introduce himself, so he could have been just some friendly guy.

We chose two appetizers, the new Crab Stuffed Mushrooms and a half order of Aussie Cheese Fries.
The Crab Stuffed Mushrooms were cooked well; moist, delicious stuffing with mushrooms that could easily be cut with a fork.  The lemon butter sauce served on the side was thick, yet creamy and went so well with this appetizer.

The Aussie Cheese Fries were deep fried shoestring potatoes covered in melted cheese and just a smidgen of bacon; definitely would have appreciated more bacon with this appetizer.  It was served with a spicy ranch dipping sauce, but nothing to rave about.



For the main entree, we both chose 6 ounce sirloins; The Bloomin' Sirloin which came topped with "petals" from Outback's Bloomin' Onion appetizer and the Sirloin with Wild Mushroom Sauce (new item on the menu); both came with a choice of potato, steamed vegetables or side salad.  If you wanted the choice of potato and a side salad, it was an extra $2.99 for the salad (lettuce, croutons, cherry tomatoes, red onion, shredded cheese).  While we both enjoy our steaks medium-rare, we ordered medium and surprise!, the steaks both came out medium-rare anyway.  I enjoyed the garlic mashed potatoes with The Bloomin' Sirloin; they were not only creamy and delicious, but stayed hot throughout the entire meal. 

My husband had ordered the side salad which was served after the appetizers, so his steak looked so lonely on that large dinner plate all by itself.  Perhaps if the large slices of mushroom had been served on the side of the steak, the presentation would have been better; the sauce was creamy though.

We shared one dessert, Carrot Cake with a Cream Cheese Frosting which is not house made, but brought in from an outside source.  However, the cake itself was moist with plenty of diced pecans and raisins; the frosting was not overly sweet and went so nicely with the cake.  It was a pleasant ending to the overall meal experience.

Normally I don't give ratings, but with a chain restaurant like Outback Steakhouse, I would give this one in Farmington, NM a B minus (B-).  Not overly bad, not overly good and just a touch above average.

Mary Cokenour