Outback Steakhouse

Where is your Outback post? People are getting tried of waiting.

Outback is guarded by its Giant Kangaroo bouncer.

Much to the annoyance to my dining buddies, I've been taking my own sweet time writing this post. Just that I didn't really had the time and I just keep creating excuses not to write this and instead focus on my other stuff. Well. I finally gave in and its time to read about the Outback experience.

Complementary bread.

We started the meal with a complimentary bread by Outback. I believe its their Bushman Bread, but I have yet to confirm this. Comes warm, but well rested from the oven. Unlike the hard crusted french loaf, this bread is soft and slices easily. Upon breaking it open, it has this distinctive unique aroma (in a good way). Spread a bit of butter and eat. Not bad. Really one of the better breads I've eaten. Too bad the portion is small and it was gobbled up quickly. Though the bread was warm, it wasn't hot enough to melt the butter, else I'm sure it would have tasted much much better. Two's anyone?

Bushman 'Shrooms (a die die must try)

Firstly, I would like to say. Order this. Yes. You wouldn't regret this at all. Inside these battered capsules are button mushrooms with every drip of their nature juiciness locked inside. Just awaiting someone to break them open and let the juice to flow into your mouth. Although, you may want to be cautious about this. They can be quite hot, especially when just arrived on the table. It also comes with a ranch sauce for dripping and it goes really well with the mushrooms. I believe it contains sour cream in it. Rather flavorful. This is highly recommended. The top dish of this dinning experience.

Bloomin' Onion

Another appetizer, we had was the Bloomin' Onion. This is basically a humongous onion craved up, battered then deep fried till it opens up nicely, resembling a flower. Rather novelty I must say. Just imagine fries. Yup. Fries. This is really what it is when you break them from the exploded bunch. Putting the normal onion rings to shame. In the center sits the sauce with seems to be some spiced up thousand island sauce (though I would prefer more of the ranch sauce). Though it looks rather dry, its moist in the inside. Though I would complain that the crust is rather brittle and we all agreed that it was a bit too salty. Although this is Outback's signature dish (heck they even copyrighted it), compared with the Bushman 'Shrooms I would like the latter. (Btw. The picture is rather deceiving. It isn't as big as it looks.)

Outback Sirloin w/ Jacket Potato & Aussie Chips

It would be called a steakhouse, without being specialised on their steaks. Since the price difference between the 8 and 11 ounce sirloin steak was only $2. All 4 eating the Outback Sirloin opted this option. The steak varies between us. Mine was prefect and came with the doneness of medium well done. Whereas one of my friends, ordered the same as me. However, towards the thicker portion of his steak it turn out to be medium rare.

Medium rare and looking gorgeous.

As for the texture and taste wise. Its rather pleasant given that it was a sirloin steak. One thing I don't understand is why would a piece of steak in Astons seem more tendered than this in Outback. Maybe Aston tenderness their meat? Or it could be that Outback sirloin is that mush thicker, thus explaining the denser meat. I didn't feel any tendons in the presents of my steak, could be I got a good cut. Lucky me. There wasn't any bleeding too. Seems like they rest their steak well enough before serving them.

New York Striploin w/ Grilled Onion & Aussie Chips

The evil me manages to psyched one of my friends to try this more pricey New York Striploin. This big daddy weights 12 ounces and only cost $6 more. Not bad. Since you are getting 2 ounce more and a much better cut. He was kind enough to offer me a bit of his steak. Its really tender and much succulent. Well worth the money spend.


All steaks come with a choice of two sides. There are some we have tried.

• Jacket Potato
  Baked potato that is cracked opened and topped with sour cream, chives and bacon bits. Rather fluffy. Only if they would be more generous on the sour cream.
  
  
• Garlic Mashed Potato
  Really good. They smash their own potatoes and infuse them with garlic bits. There isn't any bitter bits of garlic. The mash isn't too smooth and you can still taste bits of potatoes, just the way I like it.
  
  
• Aussie Chips
  Chips are also known as fries in Singapore. Normal. Taste like regular fries.
  
  
• Rice Pilaf
  Buttered rice with spice. Rather disappointing, not fragrant and flavourful enough.
  
  
• Grilled Onions
  Normal sauteed onions.

Jackeroo Chop

This isn't kangaroo meat as one may perceive from its name. Instead, its just grilled pork chops. Served with Aussie Fries.

Ambience is cozy with its dark and warm lit diner. Service also prompt and waiters are always as the side to answer your request at a snap of a finger. However, the dishes coming out of the kitchen can be said otherwise. They took about 15-20 minutes for our appetizers to arrive and the mains a lot longer. Thank goodness we ordered the appetizers or we could have stared to death before our steaks arrive.

To end it all. Outback is a good experience with great appetizers and above average steaks, but with that much of a heavy price tag that comes with it. I would seriously reconsider before coming back.

Outback Steakhouse (Singapore)
9 Raffles Boulevard
#01-99 Millenia Walk
Tel: 6837 3242
Website: http://www.outback-sea.com/sg/

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Astons Cathay Again...

Yup. Just before the Chinese New Year come and we welcome in the new lunar calendar of the ox, my friend craves for more beef. Hopefully we don't offend any ox deity. Lol.

It seems like lots of people have found out of this location of the fairly cheap good food in the city. In the past, most youngsters use to converge on Plaza Singapura's Cafe Cartel, due to its cheap and yet "good" food (and free bread) it provides. I believe the sudden surge of crowd in Astons is due to the people being more aware of its presences in the sleepy and silent building. However, since Astons can provide cheaper and great tasting food that Cafe Cartel, I don't see why the regular people make their pilgrimage to this location, to savour some tasty steak.

Charbroiled and BBQ Chicken with Baked Potato and Potato Salad

Black Pepper Steak with Potato Salad and Fries

Seems to me that even thought Astons menu have Black pepper steak. Its just a version of the normal sirloin steak, but with black pepper sauce instead of its normal mushroom sauce. This I don't understand, why would they classify this as another dish. Instead, shouldn't they just have sirloin steak with choice or black pepper or mushroom sauce.

Ribeye Steak with...well you know
Yes. We are Potato Fanatics

Look at that beautiful marbling or medium rare doneness

I would say this visit to Aston's was a very pleasant one. Even with the long queue, we did not wait for long before we were served in the queue. That's right. The waitering staff came to us with menu and inform us to select own choice of meal, so that they can cut down preparation time and serve us better. True enough. Not long after we placed our orders, we were ushered to our table (too bad for the group in front of us, but going to Aston's with a crowd of 9 is just to plain dumb). Soon after the meals followed.

Apparently, there was some mixed up with the sauces in our order and we ended up with a complimentary baked potato again. Yes. This also happened in my previous Cathay visit. Still service is prompt. Soon all the meal arrived excepted mine. Then this man without the regular staff uniform served me. Too my pleasant surprise its Mr Aston Soon himself. Damn. I should have chat with him and took a photo.

Rating on the meal I had? Best Aston's visit by far. The Ribeye was grilled to perfection with even doneness and marbling. The steak doesn't bleed, proves that I has rested long enough, plus the fat just seeps out of its juicy succulent meat when I place it in your mouth. Heaven. Maybe Mr Aston grilled the steak himself. Lucky me.

Astons Specialities (Cathay)
2 Handy Road #04-03
The Cathay Building
Tel : 6887 5889
Website: http://astonsspecialties.blogspot.com/

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Astons Specialities @ Katong

Tuck under the small shop house next to Katong Mall, lays the first Aston's cafe which I've visited and by far my most favourite one. Now. Word of caution, this place will (I stress WILL) be pack at lunch and dinner hours, so go earlier or be prepared to wait for a very very long time. The staff here are please and polite, though they can be forgetful and miss some of your orders sometimes. Not complaining, since Aston's provide such budget meals for my enjoyment.

Sirloin Steak with Fries & Coleslaw

Sirloin Steak with Fries & Potato Salad

Fried Chicken Cutlet and Lemon Chicken
w/ Potato Salad and Fries (they forgotten about my fries...)

If you notice. Compared to the Cathay experience, Katong branch seems to shear their steaks better. Just look at the differences, the grill marks are beautifully done, dark and perfectly even. Also the steaks seems less dry and much juicer than their Cathay cousins.

Not only are Alston's steak good. They do their chicken dishes just as good. The above dish is called Double Chicken, its basically any two chicken dishes which they offer on their menu and only for $9.90 if I remembered properly. The lemon chicken is uniquely nice, with the chicken marinated in lemon and later grilled to perfect tenderness. Not some low grade chicken grilled and lemon sauce poured over it. Each bite into the meat is juicy and explodes with lemon flavor which isn't too sour or sweet, but just nice. The fried chicken cutlet is even better. Its a butterflied of the chop size, thus looking humongous huge. The cutlet isn't too dry and is evenly coated with bread crumbs. Upon sinking in your teeth, the fats flow out. ***Yum! Yum!***

Also note. Not a lot of people notice this, but Aston's also sell loafs of bread at the front of their shop. Not the fanciful sandwiches, but whole loafs of bread (regular, coffee, chocolate, cinnamon, etc). What so nice about them is that after eating so many "regular" supermarket bread, there loafs in Aston's are thick slices of bread. Not the hollow lumpy ones in the supermarket, one single slice is thick and filling with the "uuumh" feeling. Meant to be eaten with steaks, but I don't see why can we make great sandwiches or garlic toast with it.

Aston's Specialities
119 East Coast Road
(Opposite Katong Mall)
Tel: 6247 7857
Website: http://astonsspecialties.blogspot.com/

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Sizzler @ Suntec

Celebrating my friend's birthday and since he was all crazy about this place with its steak and unlimited salad bar. Unfortunately its really pricey for its stand in my opinion. Price range is from $25 and above. All sets came with the unlimited salad buffet which is value at $19.90 itself. However, who would miss the main (STEAK) in a steakhouse.

Ribeye Steak

Singapore Spicy Chicken (Hindu friend cant eat beef. :P)

Steak and Grilled Salmon

St. Louis Style Pork Ribs (Full Rack)

Teriyaki Mushroom Cheese Steak

I got the Teriyaki Mushroom Cheese Steak, should have gone with medium rare instead of medium. :s
The cheese seems to be rather like the cheese slices for the supermarket rather disappointing. In addition, only a sirloin at that price seems rather steep. The only think I enjoyed in the main is the sweet fried onions, though is seems to be rested too long, thus not as crispy as it should be. The fries are just nice with just enough season salt for flavor. Honestly, I would recommend the Sirloin Steak instead of the Teriyaki Mushroom Cheese Steak. Though priced similarly and use the same sirloin cutting, due to the "cheese and fried onions", the Teriyaki Mushroom Cheese Steak is considerably much smaller then the Sirloin Steak set.

I also tried a bit of the Singapore Spicy Chicken, its really tender and good, but its not spicy even one bit.

On the salad bar. It has a really great variety of salads leafs, olives, sauces. There are also pre-prepared salads like tuna, pasta, potato salads, etc. (I strongly don't recommend the potato salad. Its blend.) There is also nachos with a range of different sauces and garnish like spring onion and mozzarella cheese. There is also grounded coffee machine for your cappuccino and a soup station with excellent soup with vegetable chip and crouton to go with. (The mushroom soup and clam chowder are damn good, thick and fragrant.) Finally to finish the meal, there is fruit bar and soft serve machine.

Perfectly Shaped.

Mango Fruit Cake (Fruit Noobs Beware!!!)

Birthday Boy

I do hope Sizzler adjust their menu, to provide their menu with the option of set meals alone. Instead of "forcing" the unlimited salad to the customers, since the price of the salad is "integrated" in. I feel we didn't really get to enjoy the full glory of the salad bar anyway. We were fully quite a bit from our mains and didn't really eat much from the salad bar.

Sizzler Suntec
#B1-21/22 Suntec City Tower 2
Tel: 63365866

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Astons Specialities @ Cathay

Finally, we can get good steaks in the city area at affordable prices at the new opened Cathay branch. Its located at the silent corner in right of the escalator. The place is rather small like all the other branches and you can choose between indoors or open air tables. My friends went for the sirloin steak xtra cut and grilled dory fish with herbs. As for me, I'd decided to be adventurous and try the tenderloin.

Sirloin Steak Xtra Cut with Mash & Coleslaw

Same as above, but with Fries (Paprika!!!)

Grilled Dory Fish with Herbs

Tenderloin with Baked Potato and Potato Salad

I do admitted that the tenderloin is a bit small for the price you pay ($25+), but the beef texture is worlds apart from a sirloin. Its smooth, soft and melts in your mouth with great marbling between the flesh and fat making the flesh juicy and succulent with every bite. However, I was disappointed as one of the tenderloin was burned and tough to even chew. Disappointed on it. Perhaps its due to the inexperience staff in the new establishment i assume. The sides are still good though. I love the way astons does their baked potatoes, its skin isn't burned and the potato just done, not over cooked. The potato salad is great too, with every potato coated with mayo thoroughly, no unevenness.

For people who want the better experience,go to the one in east coast road. I still prefer that one.

Astons Specialities (Cathay)
2 Handy Road #04-03
The Cathay Building
Tel : 6887 5889
Website: http://astonsspecialties.blogspot.com/


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