In 1986, the founders of Outback Steakhouse were inspired by the success of the movie Crocodile Dundee to create an Australian-themed restaurant concept. Despite never having been to Australia, they aimed to capture the fun-loving and casual atmosphere associated with Australians, giving their restaurants a unique twist on the traditional 'western' steakhouse.

The first Outback Steakhouse was established in Florida in 1987 by Tim Gannon, Bob Basham, and Chris Sullivan.

Outback Steakhouse was founded on March 15, 1988, in Tampa, Florida by Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon. It is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants.

By late 1989, Outback expanded to various locations including Orlando, Jacksonville, Louisville, Houston, Dallas, Indianapolis, and Washington D.C.

By the end of 1990, the company was operating a total of 23 restaurants.

In late 1991, Outback's three founders made the decision to take the company public.

In May 1992, Outback Steakhouse was recognized as the third best small company by Business Week magazine. The company's rapid growth was attributed to key principles established by its founders.

A piece in the New York Times from January 25, 1993, highlights how steak is defying the current trends in the culinary world.

On March 13, 1993, the Toledo Blade covers the opening of a new Outback Steakhouse location in Toledo, with locals embracing the Australian-themed eatery.

An article in F&B Magazine from November/December 1993, discussing the fusion of Australian and American cuisine.

The Charleston Post and Courier reports on May 5, 1994, how Outback Steakhouse's signature dishes are larger than life.

An article in Nation's Restaurant News from March 27, 1995, discusses how the founders of Outback Steakhouse are breaking new ground in the restaurant industry by changing the traditional rules.

Nation's Restaurant News covers Robert Basham in an article from October 14, 1996, shedding light on his role in the restaurant industry.

In 1997, the Outback Steakhouse chain achieved a significant milestone by surpassing $1 billion in revenue, showcasing its continued success and popularity.

In August 1999, Outback Steakhouse entered into a joint venture with chef-restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi to further develop Roy's Restaurants, an upscale east-meets-west concept with a per-person check average of about $35.

In September 1999, Outback Steakhouse entered into a joint venture for the operation and development of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, known for its prime cuts of meat and premium wine selection.

In January 2000, Nation's Restaurant News profiles Avery and Merritt, key executives at Outback Steakhouse, who have played a crucial role in its mainstream success.

Following the acquisition of Fleming's in 2000, Outback Steakhouse purchased the seafood-centric Bonefish Grill brand in 2001, adding to its growing list of restaurant chains.

In 2003, Brett Walrath was fatally hit by a driver with a blood alcohol level of .13%, who had been served alcohol at Outback Steakhouse. The incident resulted in a lawsuit naming the restaurant.

Outback Steakhouse and its founders contributed $334,197 to the Republican Party via the Outback Steakhouse PAC for the 2004 election cycle.

In 2005, Outback Steakhouse emphasized employee satisfaction and comfort by implementing unique practices like dedicating half of the restaurant space to the kitchen, limiting servers to three tables, and reducing layers of management. This approach aimed to create a different and successful restaurant environment.

On June 14, 2007, OSI Restaurant Partners, the then-owner of Outback Steakhouse, completed a stock repurchase plan and transitioned to a privately held company.

In 2008, Bloomin' Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, sold Lee Roy Selmon's chain of Florida restaurants as part of its business restructuring.

Outback Steakhouse opened locations in the UK but faced closures over the years. By September 13, 2011, the last remaining stores in Basildon and Romford closed, marking the end of Outback's presence in the UK market.

In April 2012, Bloomin' Brands, the current owner of Outback Steakhouse, filed for an initial public offering to raise up to $300 million. The company later became publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol 'BLMN'.

In 2013, native Australian Besha Rodell reviewed Outback Steakhouse for LA Weekly and confirmed that it's nothing like authentic Australian cuisine. The restaurant was founded by Americans who had never been to Australia and aimed to capitalize on stereotypes.

Outback Steakhouse introduced lunch service in 2015 to prevent employees from working long hours and split shifts, ensuring they have a better quality of life. This change also aimed to maintain food freshness and enhance customer satisfaction.

In 2016, Outback Steakhouse made donations totaling around $350,200, with 88% of the contributions going to the Republican party through the brand's PAC. This was part of the company's ongoing support for Republican causes.

In 2017, Outback's parent company, Bloomin' Brands, announced the closure of many locations due to various factors such as the shift from casual dining to fast-casual, resulting in significant financial losses.

In April 2020, Outback Steakhouse's CEO, David Deno, decided to forgo his $900,000 per year salary to help cover the salaries of frontline workers during the pandemic. This sacrifice, along with the board of directors also forgoing their salaries, helped the company retain employees and be prepared for reopening.

In January 2022, an Outback staff member posted a TikTok video showing how the chain prepares lobster tails by cooking them in the microwave. The use of microwave for cooking various dishes at Outback has been confirmed by employees on platforms like Quora and Reddit.