Just drove by it and all the signage was being removed. It could be a major renovation is starting I suppose. Either way . I missed this news.

Interesting.

I'm going to see an old friend in a nursing home in Austin tomorrow and was looking for a restaurant close to the facility. There was an Outback, and when I clicked on the link it said it was 'temporarily' closed.

The last few times I was at the Waco Outback the crowd was very light, and like other casual dining establishments, they had resorted to offering $14.99 3-course meals.

It's got to be brutal trying to serve a quality steak at a reasonable price with beef prices being as high as they are.

Unlike the white-tablecloth joints, they can't get away with pricing everything as 'market price.'

EDIT: As of October 31, 2025, the location on Research Blvd./US 183 in Austin that I referenced above is now shown to be 'Permanently' closed.

I suppose their parting words were:

Hmm just "temporarily closed"? Then it must be undergoing a major renovation. Like I said it appeared all signage was coming down and there was one of those giant trash bins to the side like you see when someone is getting a new roof or something. I thought they might have been just hastily stripping the building of all Outback identity. Like they did at the Applebee's building.

I would still think rather than do a major renovation, if that is what is going on, they just relocate to 35 in Legends or CenTex Marketplace area.

Edit here. I just googled and it says "Permanently Closed". Too bad. I remember when that was the hotspot from when it opened at the end of 1996 through about 2009/10 time period.

They removed it from their website locations... Where will I be able to eat an entire onion battered and deep fried now?

Texas Roadhouse has a similar product just fyi

WacoKelly83 said:

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Texas Roadhouse has a similar product just fyi

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I hardly ever order that kind of stuff but I have had it a couple of times, it has probably been 20 years since I have been at a table where that was ordered, same with their cheese fries, but I recall both being very good. I have no idea how those are at Roadhouse.

location was terrible. Just a weird spot.

WacoKelly83 said:

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Texas Roadhouse has a similar product just fyi

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And every time I see a Texas Roadhouse its packed to the gills....

BylrFan said:

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location was terrible. Just a weird spot.

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It really wasn't when it opened around Dec of 96. It didn't start becoming a weird spot until about the late 00s when Legend's Crossing opened and after the Central Texas Market Place had been opened a few years. Then in 2014 it was no longer conveniently located near Baylor football games and on the route home for the locals heading back to Woodway from the games, which had to add at least a little more hardship.

PartyBear said:

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BylrFan said:

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location was terrible. Just a weird spot.

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It really wasn't until about the late 00s when Legend's Crossing opened and after the Central Texas Market Place had been opened a few years.

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With the way Franklin Ave was set up with the service roads and New Road with high amounts of traffic to be able to crossover. It's largly inconvenient to access. Compare to Longhorn just down the road where it's a simple turn.

BylrFan said:

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PartyBear said:

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BylrFan said:

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location was terrible. Just a weird spot.

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It really wasn't until about the late 00s when Legend's Crossing opened and after the Central Texas Market Place had been opened a few years.

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With the way Franklin Ave was set up with the service roads and New Road with high amounts of traffic to be able to crossover. It's largly inconvenient to access. Compare to Longhorn just down the road where it's a simple turn.

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That is true but that was not as much the case 30 years ago when it went in. However population growth has caused traffic to grow as well over the past 15 years causing these jam ups and access problems you speak of. Incidentally they are about to start a complete infrastructure renovation there to alleviate those issues. However I would imagine that will take at least a year or two to complete and it will be a bigger mess during that time.

PartyBear said:

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BylrFan said:

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PartyBear said:

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BylrFan said:

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location was terrible. Just a weird spot.

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It really wasn't until about the late 00s when Legend's Crossing opened and after the Central Texas Market Place had been opened a few years.

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With the way Franklin Ave was set up with the service roads and New Road with high amounts of traffic to be able to crossover. It's largly inconvenient to access. Compare to Longhorn just down the road where it's a simple turn.

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That is true but that was not as much the case 30 years ago when it went in. However population growth has caused traffic to grow as well over the past 15 years causing these jam ups and access problems you speak of. Incidentally they are about to start a complete infrastructure renovation there to alleviate those issues. However I would imagine that will take at least a year or two to complete and it will be a bigger mess during that time.

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It is crazy how much the population has grown since it was built in the mid 90s.

PartyBear said:

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Hmm just "temporarily closed"? Then it must be undergoing a major renovation. Like I said it appeared all signage was coming down and there was one of those giant trash bins to the side like you see when someone is getting a new roof or something. I thought they might have been just hastily stripping the building of all Outback identity. Like they did at the Applebee's building.

I would still think rather than do a major renovation, if that is what is going on, they just relocate to 35 in Legends or CenTex Marketplace area.

Edit here. I just googled and it says "Permanently Closed". Too bad. I remember when that was the hotspot from when it opened at the end of 1996 through about 2009/10 time period.

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Alas--the bloom is off the onion....

whitetrash said:

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PartyBear said:

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Hmm just "temporarily closed"? Then it must be undergoing a major renovation. Like I said it appeared all signage was coming down and there was one of those giant trash bins to the side like you see when someone is getting a new roof or something. I thought they might have been just hastily stripping the building of all Outback identity. Like they did at the Applebee's building.

I would still think rather than do a major renovation, if that is what is going on, they just relocate to 35 in Legends or CenTex Marketplace area.

Edit here. I just googled and it says "Permanently Closed". Too bad. I remember when that was the hotspot from when it opened at the end of 1996 through about 2009/10 time period.

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Alas--the bloom is off the onion....

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Much like Chili's, Applebee's, etc, Outback dealt with rising costs by trying to stay near its historic price point, which meant the food got worse.

Years ago if I remember correctly, you could choose between Outback, TGI Fridays and jt mccords all in relatively close area.

Jt McCord's was before the time of the other two. It was 80s era. . It closed around 90 I think. Its location wasn't very close to this area. Could you possibly be thinking of Cheddar's or On the Border, which is fairly close.

Robert Wilson said:

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whitetrash said:

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PartyBear said:

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Edit here. I just googled and it says "Permanently Closed". Too bad. I remember when that was the hotspot from when it opened at the end of 1996 through about 2009/10 time period.

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Alas--the bloom is off the onion....

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Much like Chili's, Applebee's, etc, Outback dealt with rising costs by trying to stay near its historic price point, which meant the food got worse.

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I was involved when Outback first staffed up for opening. Boss told me they aimed for a 27% food cost. Compared that to many restaurants at 18-20% and Italian at 11%.

Just confirming it is permanently closed.

PartyBear said:

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Jt McCord's was before the time of the other two. It was 80s era. . It closed around 90 I think. Its location wasn't very close to this area. Could you possibly be thinking of Cheddar's or On the Border, which is fairly close.

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Loved JT's back in 87-89 period

anyone remember Cotton Patch?

bularry said:

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PartyBear said:

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Jt McCord's was before the time of the other two. It was 80s era. . It closed around 90 I think. Its location wasn't very close to this area. Could you possibly be thinking of Cheddar's or On the Border, which is fairly close.

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Loved JT's back in 87-89 period

anyone remember Cotton Patch?

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Isn't Cotton Patch still there on Bosque?

Permanently closed.

But the Killeen, College Station, and Georgetown locations remain open.

Waco had a terrible location, and they're about to begin a multi-year project to realign Franklin and add an overpass at New Road. That's going to make that intersection that much more of a circus.

Also, last time I went to the Waco location, it was a Friday night and nothing but crickets.

Crikey!!!

Yes, Cotton Patch still on Bosque. Near Target, site of old Lake Air Mall.

Oso_retired said:

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Yes, Cotton Patch still on Bosque. Near Target, site of old Lake Air Mall.

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Come to think of it. I could have sworn a couple of years ago or more the Cotton Patch announced they were moving out on a pad in front of the Cinemark in 35. I remember a thread about it. But that hasn't happened.

PartyBear said:

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Oso_retired said:

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Yes, Cotton Patch still on Bosque. Near Target, site of old Lake Air Mall.

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Come to think of it. I could have sworn a couple of years ago or more the Cotton Patch announced they were moving out on a pad in front of the Cinemark in 35. I remember a thread about it. But that hasn't happened.

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That's the realm of Black Bear Diner: the place you go eat when your doctor tells you you're not getting enough sodium in your diet.

Outback's food quality has seriously declined. I used to love it, and now I won't eat there at all. In that tier of steak joints, Longhorn blows Outback away.

Oso_retired said:

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Yes, Cotton Patch still on Bosque. Near Target, site of old Lake Air Mall.

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Nice, glad it is hanging on. Is that same location it had always been? I can recall location

Building was Black Eyed Pea originally. Cotton Patch opened there when other restaurant left. I don't remember it being anywhere else in Waco.

Cotton Patch came along around 2001/02 taking over the building that was originally a Black Eye Pea (which opened in 92).

PartyBear said:

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Oso_retired said:

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Yes, Cotton Patch still on Bosque. Near Target, site of old Lake Air Mall.

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Come to think of it. I could have sworn a couple of years ago or more the Cotton Patch announced they were moving out on a pad in front of the Cinemark in 35. I remember a thread about it. But that hasn't happened.

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Yes, that was the plan but they backed out of it is my understanding. Not happening anymore over there.

If I may, Cotton Patch is one of those places you say when you go there,, "I wish I would have remembered this was here".

Waco's location is just terrible.

Oso_retired said:

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Building was Black Eyed Pea originally. Cotton Patch opened there when other restaurant left. I don't remember it being anywhere else in Waco.

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I may be thinking of the Pea, then. Wife and I ate at Cotton Patch a lot around 94 when living in Ponca City

Do I need a reservation for Steak & Ale this homecoming weekend or do yall think I can walk in???

Chipoople said:

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Do I need a reservation for Steak & Ale this homecoming weekend or do yall think I can walk in???

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I'd say, "walk on in" if you can find it.

Chipoople said:

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Do I need a reservation for Steak & Ale this homecoming weekend or do yall think I can walk in???

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Join me over at J.T. McCord's after your finished with your meal!

Chipoople said:

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Do I need a reservation for Steak & Ale this homecoming weekend or do yall think I can walk in???

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booked up 3 weeks ago!