Search
Close this search box.

Log in

Top Stories

Southwest Florida has a new fast-casual dining option, and it’s not just new to the region. It’s new to the world.  

Aussie Grill, a spinoff from Outback Steakhouse, opened Monday at 12916 S. Cleveland Ave., in Fort Myers near the Bell Tower. The first Aussie Grill opened January 2019 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The pandemic slowed growth in 2020, but now there are 12 restaurants: seven in Florida, three in Saudi Arabia and two in Hong Kong. More are planned to open later this year.  

Brazil has 70 “ghost kitchens” with the Aussie Grill theme for takeout only. But the Fort Myers location has seating for about 68 diners. There are about 50 employees and a menu of burgers, sandwiches and salads in the $10 range.  

There are fries on the menu but no “Bloomin’ Onion” like at Outback, because those take longer to cook and don’t fit in with the fast-casual concept, said Aussie Grill CEO Suk Singh.  

“In 2018, we decided we really needed a concept that would appeal to the international market,” said Singh, former chief development officer of Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse.  

Aussie Grill spent about $1.3 million on reshaping the building, which for more than 20 years had been a Boston Market.  

“We wanted fewer menu items and a lower price point that people could get in and out of more quickly,” Singh said. “We wanted to appeal to a younger demographic. When you’re spending $12 instead of $22, you can come back more often. The menu is Outback-inspired. We have the same seasoning mix.”  

Copyright 2024 Gulfshore Life Media, LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without prior written consent.

Don't Miss

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Please note that article corrections should be submitted for grammar or syntax issues.

If you have other concerns about the content of this article, please submit a news tip.
;