In my “Real†World back here in the States my Business places me in Contact with many Bars and Restaurants that would typically be called Chains. One of the Many that I frequent is the Outback Operations, and was told before my First Trip that there was a Store located in San Jose. So my disclaimer here <To Divert Incoming Flames> for Business Purposes I made it a priority to stop by and do some Goodwill Spending.
You can not miss this Restaurant as you will pass by during your Express Ride into the Gulch….. It’s located very close to the Multi Plaza Mall and a very short Cab Ride from the Presidente. I actually didn’t go my First Trip back in April but did make it a point to go in September. It was a very nice evening as I took a Favorita Tica that had never been to an Outback nor knew what it was.
I paid a Driver $20 to take me and my gal to the Restaurant, where he waited for us to finish our meal then proceeded to take us for a Night Time Tour up in the Mountains just beyond Escazu. Take away the fact you know you are in a foreign country you really would find it hard to distinguish this Restaurant from any other Outback in the States. The Menu was very similar with Pictures of all the Popular Signature Items that make this a Popular American Pit Stop.
The gal I was with spoke very little English and I speak Very little Spanish so Our Meal starts off with a Point and Shoot Conversation. I pointed to the Pictures and she smiled and said si… Our Waitress was bilingual and spoke very good English and helped with my Translations during our meal. The Restaurant was subdued and actually quiet during this mid-week night mostly Business Men in White Shirts and a few Dating or Married Couples.
Like I mentioned the Menu Selection is typical to what is offered in the States, I chose several Appetizers for starters. The Bloomin Onion was Served in it’s Bloomin Glory….. I’m not that fond of Breaded Onions <Neither was my gal> but it did make for a nice Table Centerpiece. The Aussie Cheese Fries was a different story. I like to have my Fries Cooked Well Done Crispy, Extra Cheese Centered…. I had to force-feed my gal her first helping but after that first bite you can picture the Harry Met Sally Event…. And I thought Chocolate was a Girls Hot Button Food of Choice…. She was drooling with each bite of those Cheesy Fries… I ordered a Blue Cheese Chopped Salad <Blue Cheese Chunks with Cinnamon Pecans and Chopped Lettuce> to compliment my incoming 14oz Rib Eye….
My gal ordered the Queensland Salad for her entrée and it’s no wonder how these spinners keep their Hard Bodies intact. I decided to Beef Up with a Rockhampton 14oz Rib-Eye…. I was in need of an Energy Boost if I was going to give my Little Lettuce Bunny a Piece of my Rock.
If I were to rate the taste of my Steak from 1 – 10 and Ten being the Best of the Best I would rate my slab of Beef a 6. It’s been mentioned in earlier post that Outback Steaks taste as if they have been frozen and I would agree that it’s not up to the quality that you would expect from this Chain in the States. However it’s edible and honestly Most Beef Houses in CR are not up to the Standards that a Beefeater would expect and with Outback you are getting Beef that is Beef served with familiar staples with uniformed service and ambiance that if your Homesick and want the feel of dining back homeland then this is the Place to check out.
For me it was nice to take a Local that had never experienced the “Outback†traditions and besides that Ride in the Mountains after Dinner turned out to be my Best Dessert that Week….. Lets say it was Finger Lickin Good!!!
Outback Steakhouse International
Managing Partner D.R. Segura
Plaza Itskatzu
Autopista Prospero Fernandez
Frente al Price Smart
Escazu. San Jose
Tels:
506.288.0511
506.288.0775
Johnnie B.
PS: During my Last Trip in December I was invited to dinner by our Distinguished VIP Front Line Reporter <VB> who took several of us <CRT’rs> to an Argentinean Steakhouse that was around the Corner from Inka Grill… in Escazu….. I have dined at Donde Carlos, Churrasco’s several times and each time it has been good to excellent but for a change of pace this new steakhouse that VB has Found was Very Good and very reasonably Priced…. I Apologize for that weekend in December my Body was in CR but my Mind was in Hell <I was Sick all Week> and I cannot recall the Name of the Restaurant but it will be on my agenda for my next trip! After Dinner we retreated to VB’s enchanted Casa for a personal Tour and a Cityscape View of the surrounding area. Life is Good when you have a Front Yard that is a Pool and a Living Room that is a Jacuzzi, and a Bedroom with a Waiting List!!!!