Outback Steakhouse

should call their restrooms steak back outhouse.

Their bloomin onion used to be delicious in 2008 

In reply to bearmtnmartin :

And how much had you had to drink when you posted this?

Went to a Black Rock restaurant over the weekend where you cook your own steak over a scalding hot rock. Interesting idea but kinda takes the relaxation out of going out to eat

Clicked expecting this to be an RIP thread.

Is that still a thing? The one around here is an AutoZone now and the food is way better. 

AutoZone has food?

Placemotorsports said:

Went to a Black Rock restaurant over the weekend where you cook your own steak over a scalding hot rock. Interesting idea but kinda takes the relaxation out of going out to eat

I'm a fan really, my steak is perfectly done

In reply to NickD :

eggnog mostly.

Placemotorsports said:

Went to a Black Rock restaurant over the weekend where you cook your own steak over a scalding hot rock. Interesting idea but kinda takes the relaxation out of going out to eat

All Korean restaurants here are like that 

you cook your own food 

the all you can eat places are $32/person and you cook all your own food 

For a place pretending to be an Australian themed restaurant specializing in steak, I've never had a terribly good steak there.

There's one a couple miles from my house that always has an hour's wait for a table on weekends.  It's definitely not worth waiting for.

Duke said:

For a place pretending to be an Australian themed restaurant specializing in steak, I've never had a terribly good steak there.

20 years ago Outback was a place to go for an decent (not great, but decent) if somewhat overpriced and overseasoned steak.  In the intervening years they've cut costs a lot and the food quality has gone way down.  I quit going 4-5 years ago and most of the local locations have closed.

The Outback near me always seems to be busy, but it's also pretty much the only steakhouse in the area. All of the chain places do well around here.   I've definitely had better steaks at better restaurants, but I've also paid considerably more for them.  I go to Outback with a certain level of expectations and they are usually adequately met. 

Outback, much like Applebee's, Fridays, and olive garden ALWAYS have lines around the building and through the parking lot. I have never understood it. And for some reason everyone in line seems to be in their Sunday best clothes.

For less money, I can go to a nicer nonchain restaurant, wait less time for my table, and have considerably better food. 

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

Duke said:

For a place pretending to be an Australian themed restaurant specializing in steak, I've never had a terribly good steak there.

20 years ago Outback was a place to go for an decent (not great, but decent) if somewhat overpriced and overseasoned steak.  In the intervening years they've cut costs a lot and the food quality has gone way down.  I quit going 4-5 years ago and most of the local locations have closed.

Actually, until very recently, 20 years ago was when I quit going to Outback because of how mediocre it was for the time and money.

See also:  Longhorn Steakhouse.

RevRico said:

Outback, much like Applebee's, Fridays, and olive garden ALWAYS have lines around the building and through the parking lot. I have never understood it. 

Prior to Covid-19 the Olive Garden in Orland Park, IL always had gobs of people outside on a super busy Friday or Saturday night.

I think they sprinkle cocaine dust on the food to get people excited   

In reply to Datsun310Guy :

I like Olive Garden.  The ones I have been to generally have lettuce in their salads that wasn't cut a week ago, the bread is fresh and hot, the entrees are adequate.  

It's the salad and bread quality that does it for me.

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

Living in the Chicago area and having an Italian father has spoiled me over the years.  

https://italianvillage-chicago.com/the-village/

You go to a restaurant and pay money to cook your own meal?

They saw you coming, didn't they?

Olive Garden is just plain awful. The salad is salty. 

Actually the famous salad I make is the OG salad but I use romaine lettuce rather than iceberg.  

Purple onions, black olives, tomatoes, croutons, romaine lettuce and Italian dressing.  
 

I don’t think I’ve ever had a good meal at the Outback, or Longhorn, at least not good enough for what it cost. 

Olive Garden?  I don’t eat cheese, butter or cream. That’s 99% of their menu

RevRico said:

Outback, much like Applebee's, Fridays, and olive garden ALWAYS have lines around the building and through the parking lot. I have never understood it. And for some reason everyone in line seems to be in their Sunday best clothes.

For less money, I can go to a nicer nonchain restaurant, wait less time for my table, and have considerably better food. 

Agreed. Every town has local restaurants, that have way better food, better staff, and you're putting money into your community. berkeley the chains, support small businesses. I can't remember the last time in a decade that I've had chain restaurant food and been anything more than disappointed. 

You know local people are working in those chain restaurants, right?

Gave up on Olive Garden when they put a video console on the table to order with.  If that is what I wanted, I would go to McDonalds. On top of that, the food was meh.

I will say that the best beer I ever had was in an Outback.  It was 110* in Medford, Oregon.  No breeze at all.  Went in to just get out of the heat.  Ordered a Fosters.  It came in a frosted glass and had ice crystals in the beer.  Perfect.

In reply to ShawnG :

That's like saying to order more from Amazon because they employ people who live in your community.