"G’day mates!" That’s the greeting that you’ll get as you enter the Outback Steak & Oyster Bar. By entering, you step into the Australian Outback without even leaving Branson. On the host station at the entrance of the restaurant is an alligator skin (with the business end of the alligator still attached), and thus, the scene is set for your excursion into the Land Down Under. In the center of the restaurant is the grill area, and the scent of cooking food permeates the restaurant with a delicious aroma that makes your mouth water in anticipation. The Outback is known for its delicious steaks and Australian dishes, ranging from Adelaide chicken to fried alligator tail served either as a dinner or on a sandwich, and yes, it really does taste like chicken. Roast lamb and snaggers and spicy Aussie sausages round out the specialty items with such standbys as steak, hamburgers, sandwiches, and chicken completing the menu. The Aussie blooming onion appetizer is not to be missed! There is a children’s menu for the little Aussies in your group. In warm weather, there is a covered outdoor dining area that overlooks a small manmade stream and an area landscaped and decorated to look like an Australian garden.
The service is always friendly and efficient. On this visit, my wife and I took her mother for her birthday, and the waitress made her feel special and welcome. Service was quick, but we weren’t rushed out the door once we finished our meal. Our drinks were kept filled without having to ask for refills.
The Aussie atmosphere doesn’t end with the food. The restaurant is decorated to look like an Australian Outback Pub with rustic wood and tin walls and rugged tables of natural wood. The walls are covered with Australian pictures and carved koalas, as well as items that you would find on a cattle ranch, such as tools and ranching gear. License plates from Australia round out the decor. The center of the restaurant is hung with a large Australian flag and a replica bush plane hangs from the exposed rafters of the building. The theme is continued in the restrooms, where the wallpaper is made of travel brochures, newspaper articles, and advertisements from Australia.
Also located on the property is the Outback Pub, which is a smaller version of the main restaurant that is open for lunch. The food is similar, but it has more sandwiches and quick foods, as well as drinks and appetizers. The Outback Roadhouse, a motel with Australian decor is also a part of the Outback, but we have never stayed there.
Good food, top-notch service, and a fun atmosphere make The Outback one of my favorite places to eat in Branson.