Outback Steakhouse

Just a couple observations for this particular Outback. I’ve been to a lot of different Outback Steakhouse’s so I feel I can do a fair comparison to others. Every time I go into this Outback there is always a table outside of the bar filled with employees socializing, eating & rolling silverware. This most recent visit, which was dinner time, there were six employees sitting down and eating while they were rolling silverware. My issue with this is optics and the unsanitary practice of eating finger foods and talking while rolling silverware for customers. You can’t apologize for slow service, again when six employees are sitting down at a table and not all of them are rolling silverware. I know everyone wants to blame Covid saying that they can’t get good help but I think it starts with management. My other issue with my latest visit was a manager who was wearing a baseball cap, shorts and a T-shirt who i would never have known was affiliated with Outback restaurant until he went behind the bar to train a prospective new server on the drink menu. Now it just may be me because the older I get the younger everyone looks but this particular trainee looked very young and in my eyes not old enough to drink and I found it disturbing when that same manager gave the trainee a sample of a drink on the menu. Again just me, but I feel optics are very much something to consider when you are in a management position. I voiced my concerns to someone who I thought was another manager but very well could have been just a host. Judging by his response or lack thereof he was not very concerned. The optics make it seem like the priority is more of a fun place to work rather than a great place to eat!

I ordered a large amount of food from Outback Hamilton for our Super Bowl Sunday party. My husband drove 40 minutes to pick up the food. We love this location and drive there to eat in the restaurant and also to pick up food because the food and service there are always exceptional. When he got there he was told all of the food was in the bags. When he got home and I was setting up the table we were missing the platters of wings and tenders. I called and explained what happened and was told by the rep that the proprietor would personally deliver the items we were missing. He arrived with the food and was so kind that he gave us dessert too. My family will always drive the distance to eat at this location because of the excellent service that we constantly receive.

I bring my 17-year-old son here from time to time because he thinks it's the Ritz-Carlton. He asked for the prime rib and he couldn't be happier. For me, it's just a typical franchise restaurant. Staff is pleasant enough, but not splitting the atom. The food is tasty enough, without again doing anything remarkable with it. The house cab which is I believe is a wine maker know as Federalist He's fine too. I suppose what I'm trying to say is if you have kids, they'll think you're old out of red carpet for them, which is a good thing given it's an affordable meal that persuades the kids into thinking something remarkable just happened to them.

It was my son and I first time there and our waitress Theresa (Terry) made it the best experience ever. She was awesome and customer service 20 out of 10. My teenager son was like this is what it looks like when you love what you do. I hope they give her a promotion or at least an incentive to train future employees. 💖