Aussie Grill by Outback features steak, shrimp via drive-thru

Aussie Grill by Outback, the first fast-casual restaurant chain in the U.S. to serve steak via drive-thru, is also featuring several seafood dishes

Aussie Grill, which has 91 locations across the U.S., is operated by Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.-based Bloomin’ Brands, owner of the Outback Steakhouse and Bonefish Grill restaurant brands.

Aussie Grill is currently featuring several shrimp dishes that can be ordered via drive-thru, Aussie Grill Corporate Executive Chef Efrem Cutler told SeafoodSource. They include Crispy Cajun Shrimp Snack; Crispy Cajun Shrimp Po’boy Sandwich; Aussie Cobb Salad Topped with Crispy Shrimp; BBQ Ranch Salad Topped with Crispy Shrimp; Beef and Reef Steak, which is topped with crispy shrimp and creamy Cajun sauce; and the Craveable Volcano Burger, topped with crispy Cajun shrimp, creamy Cajun sauce cheddar cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and smoky mayo.

Aussie Grill is also touting its new Topped Steaks, a limited-time offering. The Topped Steak dishes include the restaurant chain’s signature six-ounce sirloin steak, served on a slice of baguette, in three varieties: BBQ Brisket Steak, Bloomin’ Steak, and Beef and Reef Steak.

“The Beef and Reef is the most popular steak option. It’s a fan favorite, because who doesn’t like surf and turf?” Cutler said. "A center-cut sirloin cooked to perfection and then topped with crispy shrimp and a creamy spicy sauce. What’s not to like?”

Aussie Grill is able to offer steak by drive-thru by utilizing cutting-edge clamshell oven technology to cook its sirloin in less than five minutes, the company said in a press release.

Numerous other restaurant chains are offering limited-time seafood dishes for fall and winter.

For instance, San Diego, California, U.S.A.-based Rubio’s Coastal Grill, which previously announced several shrimp LTOs, is offering several dishes with wild-caught and Marine Stewardship Council-certified langostino lobster through 2 January. Options include the Langostino Lobster Two Taco Plate, the Langostino Lobster Bowl, the Puerto Nuevo Burrito and the Más Queso Quesadilla.

The langostino lobster used in the specials is caught off the coast of Chile, Rubio’s Co-founder Ralph Rubio told SeafoodSource. All of the seafood suppliers to the 145-unit restaurant chain are Best Aquaculture Practices-certified, Rubio told SeafoodSource in August.

“The sustainability of our seafood products is a core part of our brand’s values,” he said.

Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.-based Long John Silver’s, which operates 579 restaurants in 37 U.S. states and 19 restaurants in Singapore, is promoting two fall deals. Limited time offerings include fish baskets, which include two pieces of battered Alaska pollock with a choice of side and two hushpuppies, for USD 6.00 (EUR 5.69) each.

Additionally, LJS is bringing back Shrimp Sea-Shares, which includes a choice of 15 pieces of grilled shrimp, 15 pieces of batter-dipped shrimp, or a “sharable serving” of crispy breaded popcorn shrimp for USD 10.00 (EUR 9.48) each.

Photo courtesy of Aussie Grill by Outback