Anyone disappointed in Outback lately?

[Mrs.Reese]

They charge for lemons in my neck of the woods. DH and I went there about 6 months ago and it was TERRIBLE! The service was slow, portions small and it really wasn't all that good.

There was an article in my local paper about how outback is having problems now.

 

[bicker]

I am certain an argument will follow, but I believe it relates to Outback's lowering their standards.

Just read around the web. Everyone is lowering their standards. With regard to everything. Have you seen THIS thread?

Back to restaurants: The worst decline I've seen is Macaroni Grill. Bertucci's has been horrible forever, so they don't count. Not Your Average Joe's has gone down hill also; they don't even bake bread all day long anymore. And don't get me started on the local restaurants, Dandilion Green and The Fish House. Focusing on one restuarant is silly, IMHO.

 

[rie'smom]

We're lucky because the service and food at our Ourback is still great. My husband and I have dinner there once or twice a month.

 

[Cindy B]

Just read around the web. Everyone is lowering their standards. With regard to everything. Have you seen THIS thread?

Back to restaurants: The worst decline I've seen is Macaroni Grill. Bertucci's has been horrible forever, so they don't count. Not Your Average Joe's has gone down hill also; they don't even bake bread all day long anymore. And don't get me started on the local restaurants, Dandilion Green and The Fish House. Focusing on one restuarant is silly, IMHO.

Shame. Our local Macaroni grill was pretty good the last time I went. We had great service and fantastic entrees.

However, we've just been so under enthralled with restaurants lately, we've been making foods ourselves or using other products for a ready made meal. For example, our local Chinese food place is terrible lately. We've been going to Trader Joes--getting ingredients and making it ourselves.

I've actually had great luck with Houlihan's. We have one that just opened near us and they have a great $12 special that includes an appetizer, entree, drink and dessert. However, if the only professional waiter isn't on, we leave. Seriously! He's such a good waiter, we will go in his section and his section only. If he's not there, we will leave.

We have told the managers many times about him and how he makes us come back.

 

[Heather1101]

Wow....I just gotta ask if you went to Chuck's Steak House in Hawaii. I grew up there (left in 75) and that was a favorite spot of ours. I have noticed they are down to just one location, so I'm guessing they've gone downhill too.

We never did go there. Honestly, we got tired of eating out in Hawaii because the food was so mediocre and EXPENSIVE for what it was. I mean the Outback Special 8oz was $21 in Hawaii and cheese fries were $9..nuts. Hawaii also has the slowest service we have ever experienced.

 

[frisco]

It's gone downhill drastically as of the past year or so.

Service was always excellent at all of them. Now, it's average, at best.

They shrunk the portions quite a bit as well. Even on desserts. I used to love the chocolate thunder from down under. It's more expensive than it used to be (understandable) but it's half the size.

We stick to a Chili's near our house. They are consistantly good.

 

[HeatherFeather]

My biggest issue with ours is that the servers seem to be aggravated that we are there and wanting to eat. If I want surly service, I will go to Dicks.....

 

[Camicar]

We are still happy with ours, no problems. I haven't noticed that the portions are smaller, but frankly given how oversized restaurant portions have become, making them smaller isn't a problem for me.

However, we were there the same night as one of my coworkers and she had a very different experience -- her server told her that they were out of this food, that food... all stuff WE had ordered at the same time. Very odd. But I have to wonder in that case if the server had had them before and was trying to discourage them from eating there because my coworker is such a bad tipper it's insulting to the server (IMO).

 

[Muushka]

I don't mean to lump any more on poor Outback, but I remember an incident a few years ago. We were eating dinner and a cockroach crawled in front of me (and a big one at that). My husband got his napkin and caught (squished ) it. I did not scream.

I quietly called the waiter over and showed him our catch. We received a coupon for a Bloomin Onion. So not a wise move. We didn't ask for any other compensation (mostly because we are not demanding in that respect), but looking back, that was poorly handled. I wish I had screamed and jumped on a chair.

 

[cseca]

I thought it was just me... I LOVED outback, we live out in the boonies so not very many restaurants around here. And I used to drool at the thought of going there. But with the current economy our last trip was disappointing.
They literally charged the primerib sandwich DOUBLE what it was before (from $8 to $13) and then got rid of some of the menu items that we liked...
I asked our server about that and he said they have to put lower prices menu items to make people come in... blah... I'd rather they keep the original menu and offer half portion prices other than cutting the menu items

Now I don't love them anymore. They're just ok to me. I still crave their cheesy fries every now and then but I won't make a special trip for it anymore... DH is very happy about that... LOL!

 

[dahirsh]

Just read around the web. Everyone is lowering their standards. With regard to everything. Have you seen THIS thread?

Back to restaurants: The worst decline I've seen is Macaroni Grill. Bertucci's has been horrible forever, so they don't count. Not Your Average Joe's has gone down hill also; they don't even bake bread all day long anymore. And don't get me started on the local restaurants, Dandilion Green and The Fish House. Focusing on one restuarant is silly, IMHO.

Let's hope that Bertucci's issue doesn't spread to NJ. Bertucci's is one of my favorites.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

I thought it was just me... I LOVED outback, we live out in the boonies so not very many restaurants around here. And I used to drool at the thought of going there. But with the current economy our last trip was disappointing.
They literally charged the primerib sandwich DOUBLE what it was before (from $8 to $13) and then got rid of some of the menu items that we liked...
I asked our server about that and he said they have to put lower prices menu items to make people come in... blah... I'd rather they keep the original menu and offer half portion prices other than cutting the menu items

Now I don't love them anymore. They're just ok to me. I still crave their cheesy fries every now and then but I won't make a special trip for it anymore... DH is very happy about that... LOL!

I agree. Which is why I liked the short lived early bird menu. Same favorites, but smaller portions and a smaller price. I think it was around for 2-3 months.

If you're going to lower the price, then shrink the portions. But don't lower the price and serve food that tastes like it's been reheated. I had the slices of slow roasted filet and shrimp stuffed with crab in some gloopey cheesy sauce. Very Stoufers.

When I told the manager I was disappointed in the food and missed their old menu items, he just shrugged and said they were responding to the current economic times.

 

[photobob]

We went New Years at 5:15 pm and were seated after 6pm. When we ordered they didn't have any baked potatoes ready. How can a steak restaurant not have any baked potatoes ready?? I ordered a steak medium rare and it was ultra rare, I ate it anyway. Not a great experience, but they always have an overflowing parking lot.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I did not read the whole thread so forgive me if anyone else has said this. First I HATE the OUtback. I have never liked it but three years ago we took my son for his b day and it was just as horrible as I remembered. If you all are unhappy I suggest you ALL write a letter or an e mail just to let them know why their business is going down. I wrote and they offered me a gift card which I turned down. Life is too short to eat bad food even if it is free. I always called it the "OUTCRACK".

 

[manning]

Back in 2007 Outback was bought out and taken private by an investor group.

Take a look at this and you will be surprised what is going on in the steakhouse business.

http://www.thedeal.com/newsweekly/dealwatch/steakhouses-buyouts-and-bankru.php

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

To answer the question, NOPE.

Went there last week.

Good Food, good brewskis.

Steak was done just right, very jucy and flavorful, salad was cold and crisp, dressing was plentyfull, Baked sweet potato was hot, butter melting in it, the mug was ice cold that the beer was poured into.

GREAT PLACE, going back soon whe we go OUT...BACK!!!


hehehe

 

[SamRoc]

My son got the worst food poisoning at Outback near our house in Florida. He was sick for 2 days. Will never go back to any Outback again.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Menus here changed recently too. They sadly got rid of the toasted coconut rolled ice cream that I'd wanted to try forever and never got around to trying. Ah well.

I did have the Filet a couple weeks ago, and it was as fabulous as usual. However, it went up by almost $4 here. It was $17, and now it's $20.75.

When Outback food is approaching Disney prices, I know my visits there will be even less frequent than usual.

 

[shelly3girls]

As long as they do not mess with the Aussie cheese fries I will remain happy.

 

[fireflymedic]

Have you noticed all the waiters are men? or it that just hear. But we have to one North 50 miles (dothan, AL) and one south 50 miles (panama city)

I have noticed the last couple of times I got the filet minon it hade a streak of grissel in it. Not the worst stake I'v ever had but defently not the best. a lot less of the rub cure on it also, and not as much of the crystalized salt on the potato.

So I agree with most of you, we are getting less for more $$$,