Outback Steakhouse remains one of America’s most recognizable casual dining steakhouses, and 2025 has been a year of notable changes spanning closures, expansions, menu refreshes, corporate strategy shifts, operational updates, and even legal developments. As the brand works to maintain relevance in a competitive market, every facet of its U.S. operations has drawn attention. From new restaurants opening in communities to closures of long-standing locations, and from a major national holiday shutdown to lawsuits and reinvestment initiatives, the story of Outback Steakhouse in 2025 reflects both challenge and opportunity.
This comprehensive article provides detailed, up-to-date insights into everything happening with Outback Steakhouse in the U.S. as of December 25, 2025. It is rooted in confirmed events and reflects verified developments affecting customers, communities, and the brand’s broader strategy.
Table of Contents
Holiday Operations: Nationwide Christmas Day Closure
This year’s holiday season brought a major operational announcement for Outback Steakhouse: the chain confirmed a 24-hour nationwide closure on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, across all of its U.S. restaurants. The decision was designed to ensure employees could spend the holiday with family and friends, aligning Outback Steakhouse with several other major restaurant brands that also pause operations on significant federal holidays.
Multiple Outback Steakhouse locations also shortened their hours on Christmas Eve, closing earlier than usual to prepare for the full holiday shutdown. Normal operations resumed on December 26. This clear scheduling helped diners plan ahead for holiday outings and reinforced the company’s commitment to employee well-being.
New Outback Steakhouse Locations Open in 2025
Despite challenges in the casual dining sector, Outback Steakhouse continued to expand in select markets in 2025. A notable new opening took place on December 10 when a brand-new Outback Steakhouse welcomed guests in north Cullman, Alabama. Community leaders, local chamber representatives, and economic development officials joined employees for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new outpost promised not just steaks and signature appetizers, but also jobs for local residents. In conjunction with the grand opening, Outback hosted fundraising efforts supporting local nonprofits, reflecting the brand’s ongoing efforts to embed itself in community events and partnerships.
In addition, late 2025 saw the planned opening of an Outback Steakhouse in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, part of a new mixed-use plaza. This location operates under a smaller prototype format that Outback is testing to serve modern dining demand with high service standards and a contemporary interior. The Lakewood Ranch restaurant is expected to provide more than 100 jobs and introduce fresh uniform styles as part of customer-facing culture and branding tests.
These openings illustrate that Outback Steakhouse is not only retrenching but also investing selectively where community demand and growth potential remain strong.
Significant Restaurant Closures Across the U.S.
While new locations are opening, 2025 has also seen a wave of permanent Outback Steakhouse closures in multiple U.S. cities. These closures have been part of Outback’s broader strategy to streamline its footprint and focus capital on better-performing restaurants.
More than 20 Outback Steakhouse locations were closed in 2025, particularly during the fall. These included restaurants in Alabama, Florida, Maryland, New York, Louisiana, and Wisconsin, among other states. Some of these closed sites had been longstanding community fixtures, and their departure underscores the tough market dynamics facing sit-down chains nationwide.
Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, continues to evaluate leases and, in many cases, has opted not to renew leases for underperforming units in the coming years. This approach is designed to shift resources away from lagging locations and toward renovations, service enhancements, and higher-traffic markets.
Why Outback Steakhouse Is Restructuring Its Footprint
The closure of multiple Outback Steakhouse locations in 2025 did not occur in isolation — it is part of a strategic response to evolving dining patterns and cost pressures affecting the entire casual dining segment.
Key reasons behind the closures include:
- Rising operating costs, especially for beef and other core proteins.
- Softening customer traffic in certain suburban and urban markets.
- Competitive pressures from both fast-casual steak concepts and upscale steakhouses.
- A need to reinvest capital into fewer, higher-impact locations rather than spreading resources thin.
Rather than pursuing a blanket expansion strategy, Outback Steakhouse is focusing on where it can deliver the best guest experience and operational efficiency. The closures allow the brand to reinforce its core identity while deploying capital where it can drive stronger returns.
Legal News: Lawsuit Filed Against an Outback Steakhouse Location
In an unusual but notable development tied directly to the brand’s U.S. operations, a lawsuit was filed in December 2025 against an Outback Steakhouse in Ocala, Florida. The plaintiff alleges that a toilet in the restaurant’s restroom “shattered and collapsed” while he was using it earlier in the year, causing serious injury. The lawsuit claims negligence in maintenance and seeks more than $50,000 in damages.
This legal action is one of the few publicized personal injury suits involving the chain in 2025 and highlights how customer safety and facility upkeep are critical operational priorities for casual dining chains nationwide.
Menu Updates and Culinary Strategy
Despite the operational shifts, Outback Steakhouse continues to innovate and refine its menu. In 2025, the brand maintained a mix of nostalgic favorites and value-focused additions designed to appeal to a wide range of diners.
Some of the prominent menu highlights and regular offerings included:
- Return of fan-favorite cocktails and mocktails, including seasonal choices tied to holidays.
- Limited-time seasonal plates, built around popular items that resonate with frequent guests.
- Classic appetizers like the Bloomin’ Onion, Aussie cheese fries, and fried mozzarella available in bundled platters for group dining.
The menu strategy balances recognizable staples with timely additions that invite both new and returning customers to sample updated offerings without sacrificing the menu landmarks that define the Outback experience.
Steak Quality and Kitchen Upgrades
Steak remains the centerpiece of Outback Steakhouse’s culinary identity, and so the brand has placed emphasis on steak quality and preparation consistency as part of its wider performance improvement strategy.
Over recent quarters, some locations have tested updated kitchen equipment, refined cooking protocols, and improved beef sourcing standards aimed at delivering greater consistency and flavor. These steps are part of larger investments in food quality that align with customer feedback and competitive benchmarks seen across U.S. casual dining.
Outback Steakhouse executives have identified several kitchen and operational upgrades as key to differentiating the brand’s core steak offerings while maintaining price value for customers.
Corporate Leadership and the Turnaround Plan
Underlying many of the changes across Outback Steakhouse restaurants in 2025 is a broader corporate initiative led by Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. This multi-year turnaround strategy targets everything from menu architecture to marketing, operations, staffing, and capital allocation.
Key elements of the strategy include:
- Significant investment across 2026-2028, totaling $75 million aimed at modernizing restaurants and reinvigorating the brand’s position in the casual dining market.
- Enhanced service training to improve guest experiences and reduce wait times.
- Marketing refreshes that spotlight key menu items and value propositions.
- Operational productivity improvements, including menu simplification and expanded use of technology for ordering and payment.
- Planned restaurant remodels, giving select locations updated interiors and improved layouts for efficiency and ambiance.
This approach seeks to preserve the core strengths of Outback Steakhouse — familiarity, broad appeal, and steakhouse tradition — while updating aspects of the dining experience that matter most to contemporary diners.
Testing and Expanding Operational Changes
In 2025, Outback Steakhouse also expanded targeted turnaround tests across several locations to evaluate improvements in service delivery and customer satisfaction. These pilots included:
- Reduced server-to-table ratios in select test markets to ensure staff can focus more attention on individual tables.
- Menu streamlining to remove underperforming items and concentrate kitchen execution on well-liked, high-quality dishes.
- Upgraded payment technology that speeds checkout and reduces wait times.
These operational tests have expanded beyond initial test markets in 2025, setting the stage for wider rollout if positive results continue.
Off-Premise Sales and Digital Ordering
While dine-in service remains central to the Outback Steakhouse experience, off-premise sales have become an increasingly important revenue stream. Digital ordering, to-go pickup, and third-party delivery offer convenience for customers and help the chain remain competitive with fast-casual and hybrid dining models.
Features of the off-premise strategy include:
- Customized digital menus that reflect local pricing and availability.
- Curated combo deals designed for takeout and family meals.
- Integrated loyalty and digital promotions to encourage repeat visits.
These initiatives help Outback Steakhouse adapt to changing consumer behaviors driven by convenience and value.
Consumer Perception and Market Competition
As Outback Steakhouse adjusts its operations, customer perception remains a critical factor in the brand’s ongoing performance. Some diners express appreciation for the chain’s classic menu and approachable atmosphere. Others have voiced frustration with menu changes or closures in their communities.
Meanwhile, competitors — including other steakhouse chains, fast-casual concepts, and independent local restaurants — continue to innovate and capture market share. Outback Steakhouse’s strategic investments aim to reaffirm its position by leaning into quality, consistency, value, and service.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect in 2026 and Beyond
As Outback Steakhouse concludes a transformative 2025, several themes are likely to shape its trajectory in 2026 and beyond:
- Continued targeted openings and closures based on performance analytics and market demand.
- Execution of capital investments focused on quality, technology, and service.
- Customer experience improvements across dine-in and off-premise channels.
- Marketing campaigns designed to reconnect with core audiences and attract younger diners.
- Ongoing evaluation of menu offerings to balance tradition with evolving tastes.
These developments position Outback Steakhouse to maintain relevance while remaining grounded in what has made the brand distinctive for decades.
Conclusion
2025 has been a pivotal year for Outback Steakhouse in the United States. From confirmed city-wide closures and new restaurant openings to holiday operations, legal challenges, and comprehensive corporate strategy initiatives, the brand is navigating a complex landscape with deliberate adjustments.
The focus is no longer solely on sheer footprint expansion, but on operational strength, customer experience, and strategic investments that support long-term stability. As Outback Steakhouse moves forward into 2026, diners can expect to see a blend of tradition and transformation in how and where they enjoy their favorite steaks, appetizers, and dining moments.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time visitor, the changing world of Outback Steakhouse offers plenty to discuss and anticipate in the years ahead.