New Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon features unique design and tasty menu. Here’s a look

Jennifer Green
·4 min read
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Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon opened this week, and the place is already off to a great start.

“We’re just very proud to be here, happy. I know it’s been a long time coming … but we are here now,” said Eric Edwards, proprietor of the new restaurant.

A ribbon-cutting charitable event was held Thursday to welcome members of the community and to present donations to two O’Fallon organizations.

I attended the ribbon-cutting event, mainly to get a firsthand look to share what one can expect when stopping in for a meal.

A new footprint

Smaller than the average Outback location, the O’Fallon restaurant features a new design that is the first of its kind in Illinois.

The bar draws the eye to the back of the restaurant dining area.

View of the bar at Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon
View of the bar at Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon

Up to 187 guests can sit comfortably while enjoying their meals.

Guests enjoy complimentary food offerings at the ribbon-cutting event for Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon.
Guests enjoy complimentary food offerings at the ribbon-cutting event for Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon.
A view of the dining area at Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon
A view of the dining area at Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon
Some seating at Outback Steakhouse includes four-seaters with a combination of bench and chairs.
Some seating at Outback Steakhouse includes four-seaters with a combination of bench and chairs.
Comfortable seating areas are available at Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon
Comfortable seating areas are available at Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon

Eye-catching wall art

Multiple Australian-themed murals adorn the walls at Outback Steakhouse.
Multiple Australian-themed murals adorn the walls at Outback Steakhouse.

The wall art at Outback is fun to look at and includes some of Australia’s famous landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and Ayers Rock.

A photomosaic (image made up of many smaller photographic images – look closely!) tryptic of Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, a large sandstone monolith in Australia
A photomosaic (image made up of many smaller photographic images – look closely!) tryptic of Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, a large sandstone monolith in Australia
Wall art depicting the Sydney Opera House
Wall art depicting the Sydney Opera House

One mural is unique to the O’Fallon Restaurant and represents the metro-east.

Created by artist Lindsey Jenneman, the mural is inspired by a notable local event and landmark.

This mural by artist Lindsey Jenneman is unique to the O’Fallon Outback Steakhouse.
This mural by artist Lindsey Jenneman is unique to the O’Fallon Outback Steakhouse.

Sampling the menu

Guests at the ribbon-cutting event enjoyed some food and beverage samples.

Outback Steakhouse’s famous Bloomin’ Onion
Outback Steakhouse’s famous Bloomin’ Onion
A staff member brings out sample plates of steak and mashed potatoes at the ribbon-cutting event for Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon.
A staff member brings out sample plates of steak and mashed potatoes at the ribbon-cutting event for Outback Steakhouse in O’Fallon.

If you aren’t familiar with the offerings at Outback, here are some highlights:

Appetizers:

  • Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie

  • Aussie Cheese Fries

  • Bloomin’ Fried Shrimp

  • Sydney ‘Shrooms

  • Kookaburra Wings (mild, medium or hot wings)

  • Steakhouse Mac & Cheese Bites

Steak (with add-on options including mushrooms, garlic butter, grilled onions, shrimp, lobster tail):

  • Victoria’s Barrel-Cut Filet Mignon

  • Filet Sheila (two tender filet medallions with melted Provolone, sautéed mushrooms, peppercorn sauce and fried Bloomin’ Carrot Crunch)

  • Outback Center-Cut Sirloin

  • Ribeye

  • Prime Rib

  • Melbourne Porterhouse

Other offerings:

  • Kingsland Steak & Shrimp Pasta

  • Queensland Chicken & Shrimp Pasta

  • Caramel Mustard Glazed Pork Chops

  • Outback Ribs

  • Spicy Jammin’ Meatloaf

  • Bloomin’ Fried Chicken

  • Grilled Chicken on the Barbie

  • Perfectly Grilled Salmon

  • Toowoomba Salmon

Also available are burgers, sammies, soups, salads, sides and desserts.

A strawberry frozen margarita and samples of strawberry lemonade
A strawberry frozen margarita and samples of strawberry lemonade
Sample shots of The Wallaby Darned and Blueberry Lavender Lemonade
Sample shots of The Wallaby Darned and Blueberry Lavender Lemonade
Guests at the Outback Steakhouse ribbon-cutting event were able to enjoy sample bites of New York-style cheesecake. This and other desserts are available by the slice.
Guests at the Outback Steakhouse ribbon-cutting event were able to enjoy sample bites of New York-style cheesecake. This and other desserts are available by the slice.

Community involvement

“We are all about being an active member in our community,” said Edwards. “Right out of the gates, one of the ways we want to do that is in choosing two wonderful … charities that we can kick off some of our opening day sales and some of our VIP sales to help some great causes in the area.”

A combined total of $8,644.14 was presented to VFW Post 805 and the O’Fallon Food Pantry. The money came from proceeds of opening day sales and VIP night sales.

“It’s not just the Outback reputation that’s coming to our community, but we’ve got a person who knows and understands the restaurant business from the ground level up,” said Mayor Herb Roach.

He was speaking of Edwards, who started with Outback as a server and worked his way up.

Roach said it’s great to have someone who knows “what it takes to have not only good food but good service. So that’s why I feel very, very fortunate that O’Fallon is gonna have the best Outback that we could possibly want.”

In addition to Edwards, Outback O’Fallon has a strong team.

“It was important for our founders to carry on a culture where we build restaurants where people live so that we can embed ourselves in the community and be part of that community,” said Brenda Kingsbury, market vice president for Outback.

“This is one of the biggest turnouts I’ve seen on an event like this, so it really gives me hope for the future and the partnership that you and the Outback team here in O’Fallon will have,” she said.

About Outback Steakhouse

The opening of Outback Steakhouse, located at 1102 Central Park Drive in O’Fallon, comes nearly three years after a fire that damaged Outback location in Swansea.

Hours for the O’Fallon restaurant are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

For more info about this location, call 618-206-5131 or visit outback.com.