Outback Steakhouse prepares to open

The Hamilton Outback Steakhouse, which will be located next to The Home Depot and across the street from the post office, is expected to open in November. Staff photo. There is good news for “Bloomin’ Onion” fans in Hamilton – an Outback Steakhouse is opening Nov. 12 on U.S. 130 South at Kuser Road. Proprietor Preston Russell said he is excited to bring the franchise to Hamilton, until now a hole in the Outback Steakhouse empire. The closest other restaurants are in Edison, Bensalem, Pa. and Brick. “I hear people say for a long time they wanted one here,” he said. “I’m excited about being here.” The steakhouse will be open Mondays and Tuesdays between 4 and 10:30 p.m., Fridays from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 3 to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 9:30 p.m. Workers are putting finishing touches on the building while Preston is amassing a wall of Polaroid photos of staff members (none of whom were Australian, so far) who will serve the 242-seat restaurant. As the name suggests, the Outback specializes in steak. Russell said the most popular choice is the Outback Special Center Cut Sirloin. The biggest is the Porterhouse, and the most flavorful is the New York Strip, he said. Russell has experience in the Outback business, having opened one other restaurant before as a manager. The company is also bringing in other experienced supervisors to ensure a smooth opening. Russell said the restaurant will be donating up to $5,000 of its opening night proceeds to Big Brothers and Big Sisters, a youth mentoring organization. He said that will not be the last of the steakhouse’s contributions to the community. “We love to do stuff with the community,” he said.