When I emailed I emailed from the company website, not just my specific location and I did not mention my area in the email. So I'm guessing it would apply to all outbacks??? I will still always ask when I go to a specific one though. Maybe they have changed their product? Who knows, it is scary to get inconsistent anwers though. Thanks for your replies!

I'm so shocked!! It seems like every time I check this thread one of my favorite restaurants is on it for saying that they use peanut oil. Chili's, the Olive Garden, now the Outback...personally I have been eating at these restaurants in different locations all over the country for several years and I've never encountered a problem. I wonder if these peanut oil restaurants are in the same area? The only time I can remember ever having to leave a restaurant due to peanut oil (and believe me, we ALWAYS ask) was in Maryland. Or possibly Virginia, I can't quite recall. But it wasn't a chain or a franchise, just some upscale hotel restaurant. I don't understand these reports of random locations of national restaurants using peanut oil inexplicably. Why....???

I have always asked to speak to a manager when I go in to see what oils they use to cook with. Many of those times the manager has gone to the kitchen and come back with the answer - never being peanut oil. I don't know if there are different owners? I have always felt comfortable with their efforts to check.
I will say never trust a hostess to answer the question. I made the mistake of one time asking the hostess what oil they used to cook in and she looked at me seriously and said. "Its solid and white." Thanks, but that isn't what I was looking for! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]???

I'm in Ontario,Canada and we eat at the Outback often. My son whom is only allergic to peanut eats the bread, caesar salad(croutons), chicken fingers or buddies with fries. They also serve the Chapman's peanut free vanilla ice-cream which is such a plus for him to be able to eat when at a restaurant.

We went to Outback last night. The manager told us the "Vegetable butter" , which they put on the steamed vegetables, has peanut product in it. I took that to mean "may contain." Apparently it is special butter, because my mother ordered steamed vegetables without the vegetable butter and they had to make a separate order.
Other than that, there were a few items with pecans and almonds. My pa dd had a hamburger & fries, plus the cinnamon applies. No dessert.
But, here's what's on their web site:
General Guidelines for Allergies
Peanuts and Nuts

Hey Blair,
Do you have any concerns about the fries if your son has a seafood allergy? Do they fry their seafood separately from the fries? I'm just curious.

We go to Outback all the time, and have had wondeful, caring waitstaff everytime.
I was told on one (only one) occasion that they do use the same oil to fry the fries in, which they may have fried a fish breaded with a nut-type (pecan, almond) crust.
Since then I have never seen a fish advertised like this, and I have been told by other managers that the fries are safe for PA's.
I still usually order the mac n cheese to be safe.
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Lisa

My best friend had a reaction to fish at the Outback Steak House.

We sometimes go to Outback, my PA son likes only the Mac-A-Roo & Cheese.
I just went to their website and in the FAQs it says that they do not use peanut ingredients. Right below it says "order the bonzer salad without the peanut sauce."
I am confused... Any thoughts?
Thanks!
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Luisa