Outback Best Steaks Ever: New Steak Menu, New Cuts and Restaurant Closures
Outback Steakhouse just launched “Outback Best Steaks Ever,” its biggest steak menu overhaul in years: two new cuts, upgraded preparation on every steak, a new Chief Steak Officer, and an interactive Spokesbooth experience. Meanwhile parent company Bloomin’ Brands has closed at least 11 US restaurants in 2026 as part of a turnaround plan. Here’s what changed and which locations closed.
Honestly, Outback hasn’t given us much to talk about lately, and that’s been part of the problem. The Tampa-based chain has been losing ground to rivals like Texas Roadhouse and Chili’s for years, traffic has been slipping, and customers had started grumbling that the steaks just weren’t what they used to be. So in October 2026, Outback went all in. New cuts. New seasoning. New grills. A new head honcho for all things steak. Let’s break it all down.
What Is the Outback Best Steaks Ever Menu?
The Outback Best Steaks Ever menu is Outback Steakhouse’s October 2026 overhaul of its entire steak program, built around new cut specifications, hand-trimming techniques, a new seasoning recipe, and tighter cooking standards across every restaurant.
According to the company, every steak now goes through upgraded prep: exact cut specs, hand-trimming in the kitchen, a new seasoning recipe, and expert preparation on clamshell grills, backed by new steak training and a certification test for kitchen leaders.
This builds on work Outback started last year. Bloomin’ Brands CEO Mike Spanos said on the company’s earnings call that the earlier steak quality investments raised guest food satisfaction 4 points and intent to return 5 points, ending a run of same-store sales declines.
Which Steaks Are New on the Outback Best Steaks Ever Menu?
Two cuts are brand new to the Outback new steak menu, and three existing favorites got reworked with the new specs. Here’s the full lineup.
The Two New Cuts
Down Under Delmonico Ribeye: a new thick-cut ribeye with juicy tenderness, deep marbling, and a flavor-packed char. This is the showpiece of the lineup.
New York Strip: new to Outback for the first time ever, the classic steakhouse cut that balances full-bodied flavor with tenderness. About time, if you ask me.
The Three Upgraded Steaks
Victoria’s Barrel-Cut Filet Mignon: hand-trimmed and shaped for tenderness, with a flavorful seared crust.
Center-Cut Sirloin: lean and flavor-packed with Outback’s signature seasoning and sear.
Rockhampton Ribeye: marbled for rich, buttery flavor and an extra-juicy bite.
Who Is Outback’s Chief Steak Officer?
Outback’s new Chief Steak Officer is Chef Efrem Cutler, a veteran chef with more than 45 years of culinary experience who also serves as the company’s VP of Research and Development. He led the revamp of the steak program, including the new seasoning.
His job? To be the brand’s authority on steak selection, marbling, seasoning, and preparation. Basically, when Outback needs someone to explain what makes a great steak, Cutler is the guy. “A great steak comes down to the details,” he said in the company’s announcement. “The cut matters, but so do the marbling, trimming, seasoning and how you cook it. Best Steaks Ever is about bringing all of those pieces together, so every cut delivers what steak lovers are looking for.”
And a fun fact from Outback’s own research: only 41 percent of Americans feel confident telling steak cuts apart. For the record, their cheat sheet says ribeye is about flavor, filet mignon is about tenderness, the strip is the balance of both, and sirloin is the leaner one.
Why Is Outback Closing Restaurants?
Outback is closing restaurants as part of a selective pruning strategy under CEO Mike Spanos’s turnaround plan, not a bankruptcy fire sale. The chain has been shrinking its US footprint for over a year while trying to improve quality at the restaurants that remain.
The numbers tell the story. Bloomin’ Brands reported 659 US Outback restaurants as of June 28, 2026, down from 678 a year earlier, with at least 11 closed in 2026 including locations in Wyoming and Maryland, per a September report. One new location opened in that span, so this is pruning, not collapse.
The cuts come alongside the service improvements the company rolled out, including a new service model that cut peak-hour stations from 6 tables per server down to 4. The company says Q2 service scores hit over 90 percent and rose nearly 3 points year over year.
And here’s the Wall Street angle. Analysts at JPMorgan just upgraded Bloomin’ Brands from Underweight to Neutral and raised the price target from $6 to $13, after a private lunch at an Outback with Spanos, CFO Eric Christel, and Outback President Pat Hafner. The team said the experience reminded them of the brand from 20 to 30 years ago, back when lines were often out the door.
What Does the Overhaul Mean for Outback Prices?
So far, Outback hasn’t announced new pricing tied to the Outback steak menu overhaul, and there’s no indication the new cuts carry a surcharge. The push is about quality and perception, not a price hike.
That said, steakhouse prices move around by location, and any menu change is a moment when prices can quietly shift. Prices last verified: October 18, 2026. For the most current prices, check Outback’s official menu page, which is the source of truth for what your local restaurant charges.
The bottom line? The Outback Best Steaks Ever push is the chain betting everything on the one thing it has to be good at: steak. In Q2 2026, comparable sales rose 1.4 percent while traffic fell 2.8 percent, which means people are spending a bit more per visit but visiting less often. If the new cuts win back the regulars who drifted off to Texas Roadhouse, this overhaul goes down as the moment Outback turned the corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Outback Best Steaks Ever?
Outback Steakhouse’s October 2026 steak menu overhaul: two new cuts (Down Under Delmonico Ribeye and New York Strip), three upgraded existing steaks, plus new cut specs, seasoning, and grilling standards chainwide.
Why is Outback closing restaurants in 2026?
Outback is selectively closing underperforming locations as part of a turnaround plan under CEO Mike Spanos. At least 11 US restaurants closed in 2026, bringing the count to 659 US locations as of June 2026, down from 678 a year earlier. The company does not publish a list of specific closures.
Who is Outback’s Chief Steak Officer?
Chef Efrem Cutler, who also serves as Outback’s VP of Research and Development. With 45+ years of culinary experience, he led the steak program revamp and is now the brand’s authority on steak selection, marbling, seasoning, and preparation.
What is the Spokesbooth at Outback?
An interactive booth Outback set up at select locations for the Best Steaks Ever campaign. Guests try a new steak and record their first-bite reaction on camera; some clips may appear on Outback’s social channels and in future ads.
