Leslie Massey
Outback Steakhouse is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants, serving American cuisine. The chain has over 1,000 locations in 23 countries, including eight in Australia. Despite its Australian theme, Outback Steakhouse was founded in Tampa, Florida, by four Americans who had never visited Australia. The founders were inspired by the popularity of the film Crocodile Dundee and aimed to capture the rugged and carefree vibe of Australian culture. However, the menu and dishes are not considered authentic Australian cuisine, and the chain is owned and operated in the United States by Bloomin' Brands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Bloomin' Brands, an American company, owns Outback Steakhouse |
| Origin | Founded in 1988 in Tampa, Florida, USA |
| Founders | Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon |
| Headquarters | Tampa, Florida, USA |
| Theme | Australian-themed |
| Inspiration | Inspired by an Australian backpacking trip taken by one of the founders |
| Menu | Offers a variety of steaks, seafood, chicken, and Australian-inspired dishes |
| Locations | Over 1,000 locations worldwide, including the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia |
| Australian Influence | While not Australian-owned, Outback Steakhouse incorporates Australian themes and influences in its decor, menu, and branding |
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What You'll Learn
- Outback Steakhouse was founded in Tampa, Florida, in 1988
- The chain is American-owned and has over 1,000 locations worldwide
- The founders were inspired by the film Crocodile Dundee and the idea of Australia
- The menu is inspired by Australia but isn't authentic Australian cuisine
- The Bloomin' Onion is Outback Steakhouse's signature dish, but it isn't Australian
Outback Steakhouse was founded in Tampa, Florida, in 1988
Outback Steakhouse is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants. It was founded on March 15, 1988, in Tampa, Florida, by Bob (or Robert) Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon. The founders were four friends and veterans of the hospitality industry who wanted to open a restaurant with a casual atmosphere, quality food, and top-notch service.
The Australian theme was chosen to fit the relaxed but lively mood of their ideal restaurant. The concept was "American food and Australian fun," inspired by the popularity of the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee and the America's Cup. The founders, none of whom had been to Australia, wanted to capitalise on Americans' fascination with their notions of 'the land Down Under'. They believed that making the cuisine too authentically Australian could put customers off, as they wanted to cater to Americans' ideas of Australia rather than provide an accurate representation of Australian culture and cuisine.
Despite the Australian theme, Outback Steakhouse is not Australian-owned, and the food served is largely American. The chain has over 1,000 locations in 23 countries, including the United States, Canada, South America, Asia, and Australia. The first Outback Steakhouse location opened in Tampa, Florida, and the company is currently headquartered there.
The Bloomin' Onion, a signature item at Outback Steakhouse, is not typically Australian and is not sold in Australia apart from this chain. It is a deep-fried, breaded onion served with a mayonnaise-horseradish sauce. Other menu items include steak, chicken, ribs, and seafood, with Aussie-inspired names but not necessarily authentic recipes.
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The chain is American-owned and has over 1,000 locations worldwide
Outback Steakhouse is an American-owned chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants. The chain was founded in 1988 in Tampa, Florida, by Americans Bob (or Robert) Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon. The founders were inspired by the popularity of the film Crocodile Dundee and aimed to capture the rugged and carefree vibe of Australian culture. However, none of the founders had visited Australia, and the cuisine and motifs were designed to appeal to Americans' perceptions of the country. The chain has since expanded to over 1,000 locations in 23 countries, including Australia, North America, South America, and Asia.
Despite its Australian-themed branding and menu items like the Bloomin' Onion, Outback Steakhouse has been criticised for its inauthenticity by Australians and food critics alike. The chain's focus is on American cuisine with an Australian twist, and it has become an integral part of the American restaurant landscape. Most Outback locations are corporately owned by Bloomin' Brands, with some locations in the Western US owned by the Out West Restaurant Group.
Outback Steakhouse has a strong presence in the United States, with 694 locations across the country. The chain has also expanded internationally, with locations in Canada, the UK, and Australia. The company has sponsored various sports teams and events, including NASCAR and NCAA football's Outback Bowl.
The founders of Outback Steakhouse contributed significantly to the Republican Party through the Outback Steakhouse PAC, making it one of the largest donors in the food and beverage sector. The company also owns two blimps named after its signature appetizer, the Bloomin' Onion.
In summary, Outback Steakhouse is an American-owned chain with a unique Australian-themed concept. With over 1,000 locations worldwide, the chain has become a prominent player in the casual dining industry, offering a blend of American cuisine and Australian hospitality.
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The founders were inspired by the film Crocodile Dundee and the idea of Australia
Outback Steakhouse is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants. It was founded in 1988 in Tampa, Florida, by four Americans: Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon. None of the founders are of Australian origin, and none of them had visited Australia while developing the restaurant concept.
The founders were inspired by the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee and the idea of Australia. They wanted to capitalise on the wave of popularity of all things Australian following the movie's release. Their concept was "American food and Australian fun". They chose an Australian theme to fit the relaxed but lively mood of their ideal restaurant.
In an article for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Sullivan wrote that at the end of the 1980s, most steakhouses in America were western-themed. They saw a 'Down Under' concept as a way to stand out while still being consistent with people's expectations for a casual steakhouse. The name 'Outback Steakhouse' was easily spoken and memorable.
Sullivan also acknowledged that they knew they didn't want the restaurant to be too authentically Australian. Americans were fascinated by their notions of 'the land Down Under', and the founders wanted to capitalise on these images. They were concerned that too much authenticity might cause a disconnect between customers' perceptions and the real thing. As a result, the menu creations are inspired by Australia and bear Aussie names, but are not authentic recipes.
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The menu is inspired by Australia but isn't authentic Australian cuisine
Outback Steakhouse is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants. It was founded in 1988 in Tampa, Florida, by Americans Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon, who had never visited Australia. The chain now has over 1,000 locations in 23 countries, including eight in Australia.
The Outback Steakhouse concept was inspired by the popularity of the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee, which portrayed a rugged and carefree Australian lifestyle. The founders wanted to capitalise on Americans' fascination with their notions of 'the land Down Under' and create a casual steakhouse with a unique theme. They chose an Australian theme to fit the relaxed but lively mood of their ideal restaurant.
While the menu at Outback Steakhouse is inspired by Australia, it is not authentic Australian cuisine. The founders felt that making the cuisine too authentically Australian could put off American customers, who were the intended audience for the restaurant. As Sullivan, one of the founders, wrote:
> "From the beginning, we were very clear that while Australia was our theme, America was our biggest customer. Consequently, our menu creations are inspired by Australia, reminiscent of Australia, and bear Aussie names, but are not authentic recipes."
One example of this is the Bloomin' Onion, a signature Outback item that is not typically sold in Australia outside of this chain. It has been criticised by Australians for its inauthenticity, including by New Yorker cartoonist and Australia native Jason Chatfield, who stated that most Australians do not understand what a Bloomin' Onion is. Other items on the Outback Steakhouse menu, such as steaks, chicken, ribs, and seafood, are also not uniquely Australian and can be found in many American steakhouses.
In conclusion, while Outback Steakhouse's menu may be inspired by Australia and include some Australian elements, it does not serve authentic Australian cuisine. The founders intentionally created a menu that was inspired by, but not a true reflection of, Australian food to appeal to American customers' perceptions of Australia.
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The Bloomin' Onion is Outback Steakhouse's signature dish, but it isn't Australian
Outback Steakhouse is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants, serving American cuisine. It was founded in 1988 in Tampa, Florida, by Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon—four Americans who had never visited Australia. The concept behind the restaurant was "American food and Australian fun," inspired by the popularity of the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee.
The Bloomin' Onion is a signature Outback item, but it is not Australian. It is a large onion cut to 'bloom' open, breaded, deep-fried, and served with a mayonnaise-horseradish sauce. While it is a popular dish at the restaurant, with guests ordering over eight million per year, it is not a typical Australian food item. In fact, it is rarely sold in Australia outside of the Outback Steakhouse chain.
The Bloomin' Onion was created by Outback founder Tim Gannon in 1988 and is considered the chain's icon of appetizers. It is a unique dish, with approximately 15 growers in Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and California supplying the onions, which have a diameter of 4.25 inches and weigh around 1.24 pounds raw and 1 pound cooked.
The Bloomin' Onion has become so iconic to the Outback Steakhouse brand that the company owns two blimps named Bloomin' Onions I and II after their famous appetizer. The dish has also been used as a promotional tool, with NASCAR driver Ryan Newman offering a free Bloomin' Onion on the Monday after a race in which he finished in the top ten.
While the Bloomin' Onion may be a delicious treat for customers, it is important to note that it is not an authentic Australian dish. It is a creation of the Australian-themed restaurant chain Outback Steakhouse and is just one example of the chain's interpretation of Australian cuisine, which includes dishes like the Melbourne Porterhouse steak and Alice Springs chicken.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Outback Steakhouse is an American-owned chain of Australian-themed restaurants.
The first Outback Steakhouse was opened in Tampa, Florida, in March 1988.
Outback Steakhouse was founded by Americans Bob (or Robert) Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon.
The founders were inspired by the popularity of the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee and the wave of fascination with Australia it generated. They wanted to create a restaurant with a casual atmosphere and an Australian theme.
No, the food at Outback Steakhouse is not considered authentically Australian. The founders of the restaurant have stated that they did not want the cuisine to be too authentic as they felt it could put off American customers. The menu is inspired and reminiscent of Australia but is not made up of authentic recipes.
