The visit yesterday was very poor. It started with my call ahead and when arrived I was told 35 min to wait. OK I understand that my call ahead didn't mean anything. Then we placed our drink orders that took 25 min to receive. With 2 little kids and slow service was a challenge. I asked for more crayons and had to wait another 15 min. The kids burger was like a hockey puck. I asked it for medium. The Ali tuna had fat chunks in it which I could not swallow. My wife's ordered the steak and that was OK. The waitresse kept forgetting about us until I had re-ask for everything. To top it all off we weren't even asked for desert just were given the bill. At this point my wife and kids were done so they decided to go wait in the car. It took me another 15 minutes to get my credit card back.
(1)
Scott S.
In one phrase: decent food, horrible service. We came on New Years Day to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and what a mistake! After a 30-minute wait, we were escorted to our booth, and when we sat down, our seats were wet! The seats had obviously just been wiped down seconds before we came. We were served by John F., and he was extremely impersonal and cold; it was clear he did not care and did not want to be there. When my wife asked him a very simple question about the menu, he just stared at her, not making any kind of effort to understand what she was asking. When our food finally came out, they got my wife's dish wrong; she ordered her steak cooked medium, but they brought it out to her rare. We brought it to their attention, and they fixed it within about five minutes. As we were getting to ready to pay the check, we realized that we never received any complimentary bread. When I asked our server John F., he started fumbling and coming up with some strange excuse, and then said very quickly, "so that was my fault," and then bolted from our table! He did not really express any real remorse at failing to bring us our bread, and to top it off he did not even take the time to make it right--to offer to bring us out bread. We had to flag him down ourselves and tell him we would like our bread to go. I don't remember a time when I experienced worse service at a restaurant. We chose Outback to celebrate our anniversary, and we certainly will not be making that mistake again.
(1)
Gina N.
I usually don't give bad reviews. I'm not one of those "omg too much ice in my coke.. ONE STAR FOR YOU" but I've come here twice and it takes forever to get food. I'm here now and have been for an hour now. It's not packed or even busy. Here's the run down, we sat down and ordered martinis and wait 20 minutes to get them. While waiting we ordered an app and entrees. 20 minutes later the app comes and 10 minutes later my soup came. It's been an hour and we're still waiting for our entrees. I asked the waitress if they're butchering the cows back there for our steaks. She wasn't impressed. Not coming back cuz there is no sense of urgency.
(1)
Jim A.
Ok to the point.... I know it's a chain and I have visited them in many states and it is hit and miss however...... Slow service, cold appetizer, ordered bone on ribeyes and 30 minutes later told they were out. Seriously you're a steakhouse and only have like 6 cuts it would behoove you to have steak. Went with the normal ribeye and mine tasted like a salt lick (of you know deer you know what I'm talking about) and had to ask for a drink refill. Rant over won't even get into the cracked wet seat cushion and all around shabbiness.
Don't order the prime rib it's like rubber no juice no test dry frozen meat came from microwave....
(1)
Gwen O.
Here on business this was a very good as always. Had the wallaby darned which is the same as a peach Bellini and it is amaze balls!!!!! Highly recommend this as well as the blue cheese chopped salad!
(4)
Jennifer L.
Nice restaurant. Fairly busy on a Saturday night (20 minute wait or so). We sat at the bar and got a drink. Bartenders were super-friendly and fun, and prompt. Once we got seated our waitress was sweet and attentive. The food was all delicious! Portion sizes were great. We were quite satisfied. Even went home with left-overs. I would totally come back to this location, and suggest it to others.
(4)
J D.
I was here once years ago. Lackluster food for the price. Won't be back.
(2)
May K.
Not sure what's going on, but I used to love their prime rib. It used to be just right. But the last few visits have been so disappointing that I may never go back. The wedge salad was good, but my prime rib was so tough and so chewy that I didn't know where to spit it out. Thats how the entire slab of meat was. Service was slow even though the place was not crowded. It took them 15 minutes to get my water refill after I had to ask. If my steak was decent, that wouldn't be an issue but I keep getting bad cuts of meat. It's not worth the effort of chewing if i paid for meat and got chewing gum instead. Yuck. BTW, we had reservations but when we arrived they said our reservation was cancelled. Thankfully there was hardly anyone there, so we still got seated. We didn't cancel it so what happened is beyond me.
(2)
Dana V.
We came in just now with a party of ten, we'd made a reservation. We didn't have to wait too long for our reserved table but that's about where it went to shit. Our waitress Penny fucked up every single part of our order. She got two beer orders wrong and forgot my drink at the bar. The appetizer my fiance and I ordered came out 15 minutes before the bread for the table. The appetizer was the only part of the meal that was actually cooked properly. When the main courses did come out, two people had to send their steaks back, one of them got sent back twice. Mine was WAY rare when I ordered medium rare but I didn't send it back. My fiance had to ask three separate people for ketchup for his fries. Then, when we went to pay we asked to split checks which apparently was too difficult for her. She couldn't take more than one check at a time and she fucked up one of the checks and had to redo it. Way overpriced for what you get, and seriously lousy service. If it had been a busy Saturday night I could cut her some slack but it was a less busy Sunday night. Definitely not coming back.
(1)
Craig S.
The food here is great, but... We usually do takeaway (takeout) service. The last FOUR times we ordered and they messed up our orders. They have blamed corporate, the website, the phones, their computers...everything but themselves. Tonight was our Wedding Anniversary. My wife is recovering from a recent surgery, so we ordered takeout. We ordered extra provolone cheese on our French Onion Soups. They put it on the steaks (YUK!!) No toppings for the sweet potato and only 1 regular potato instead of the 2 we ordered. It took 10 minutes to get it straightened out via phone, then a return trip. The manager offered us ONE extra dessert. (gee...thanks...) Complained that the website system is at fault, but then admitted that she has never used the system herself. Very poor attempt at customer service. We usually like the food here, and my Mother-in-Law loves it, but I don't think we will be back due to the customer service and quality control issues.
(2)
John B.
ordered from curbside service. They ask how you want your burger cooked. It does not matter what you tell them they cook all of the burgers the way they want it. well done. IT is not worth the fight to get it cooked the way you want it . I have tried before. So if you order burger jut tell them it does not matter how you cook it.
(2)
Princess D.
Over the years Outback has been up and down for me. I'm not sure if they changed management, but in the last ten years their food has improved immensely. I usually get their 6 oz classic sirloin with a baked potato and salad. The seasoning on the steak is perfect for me. It's just the right amount of salt with a kick of spice. Their baked potato is cooked to perfection with sea salt on the skin. Yum! I also enjoy their shrimp on the barbie. The sauce that comes with the shrimp has a deliciously spicy flavor. Our server, Jordan, was very cordial. Great service! Thanks, Jordan and thanks Outback for providing a lovely dining experience.
(3)
Lindsey L.
We use to come to outback all the time. My husband loved the ribs and I always adored the salmon. We often claimed that it was the best place for ribs and salmon we have ever been. Tonight (10/11/13) we went for my husband's birthday dinner and the food was horrible. The salmon was tough, small and tasted extremely fishy. After one bite I couldn't even eat a second. It was obviously a frozen filet. It was upsetting. For $15 I expect a lot more. My husband's ribs were just okay, except the entire end of them was way too tough to eat. I don't know if they changed their food or lost their cook, but we probably won't be back. $60 for a meal that was mediocre at best.
(1)
Jim T.
We had a great experience at this location. It's not just the food that makes a place but when you combine that with a great staff like our server Sue the stars get bumped up to a higher level. We took our parents out for their 63rd wedding anniversary (one of Dads favorite places). It started out with a few drinks and appetizers. We are fans of the blooming onion...... When it arrived I noticed that the sauce dish in the center was taller than the onion. I mentioned that it looked awful small for a large onion and the food server said "sometimes they are smaller" noting that the batch they had were not large. I looked over cooked as well. The mushrooms we ordered were a little more crispy than usual. Now the place was not packed so I cannot imagine the kitchen was in the weeds or something like that. Just must have been forgotten about in the deep fryer. Not sure who but shortly thereafter a new onion came out much larger than the 1st. Someone must have heard the comments. One of us ordered the steak salad with dressing on the side. Well it came out wet with dressing and dressing on the side. Also asked if there was any wheat product items in the salad (was told no) and surprise.... there was.This was corrected and the wheat was still there. Those little crispy chow mein noodles contain wheat. The rest of the meal went off without a hitch and the food was great. If you like to taste meat with your steak you need to ask for it without the salt and seasoning. I personally thing they over season.
(4)
Justin V.
We had to wait a little bit for seating but it's Mother's Day at dinner time so that's not at all surprising. To start, our server was prompt, efficient and friendly. I feel like every time I write a good review about a restaurant that's the main reason. He was always checking in to see if we needed anything and we never waited too long to get a refill or anything supplementary. The food is always really good. I've become a big fan of the Ahi Tuna appetizer. The blooming onion is always a staple, as is the bread. Personally I really love the French Onion soup. I go to Outback more for the soup than for the steak sometimes! There's a thick layer of delicious cheese over the top covering the soup and bread. I got the Victoria's filet. It was flavorful and delicious. I get my steaks "still bleeding" and this did not disappoint. We finished with the chocolate thunder from down under of course. The manager, Alexa, came by the table to chat us up and say hello. She was extremely cheery and very nice. Why can't all managers be that nice? A great experience - always highly recommended!
(4)
Tom Y.
Eating at the best steakhouses in Vegas twice per year has spoiled me, so I went in with low expectations. I got the twin cold water lobster tails and they were extremely flavorful. They were seasoned well and weren't cooked to death. My wife enjoyed her filet and my daughter's steak medallions were just fine. Service was attentive and the pricing is reasonable. My son ate all of his chicken fingers which speaks for itself. I was pleasantly surprised and would visit again. One other nice convenience was the ability to add myself to the wait list online. We were seated immediately upon arrival.
(4)
Jim J.
Our waitress Kimberly was definitely five stars, what a ray of sunshine! Had some problems with the food, but the manger made it right. The crew here was good. Would definitely come back here and enjoy some more meat. See you there
(4)
Jim K.
Went for a late lunch , early dinner and was surprised to find that this location will be closing and setting up at Randhurst. There were at most 10 people in the place, and we waited a long time for a server to come around, many servers past our table till around 5 minutes maybe 8 the server came round. we had a bloomin onion which was huge almost too huge , but tasty followed by Chicken tacos and I had the filet with never ending shrimp. The fillet was just OK didn't taste any better than the sirloin which we normally have. The chicken taco's were meh, the salad and the shrimp were very good for the price point, but not Don's Dock good. Only issue was the length of time waiting for someone to take the drink order, empty bar and manager with bar person talking but not asking what we wanted. Wonder if the move has the staff demotivated?
(3)
Sweeny Y.
Sergio, at the curbside pick up is the best! We get curbside pick up at least once a week. Always fresh, good good and super friendly staff.
(5)
Chip G.
Had a little wait for seating, but well worth the effort. . Great steak as usual. Aspergus wa grilled and good also. Just a nice place relax and enjoy dinner out waiter paul was noce also.
(5)
Kayla C.
The food is really good. I ordered the steak and lobster tail combo. The lobster comes with this delicious buttery sauce on the side. Their margaritas are pretty decent. They come inside those glass jars you use when you make your own jam. I didn't like that you can't make reservations. The best they can do is put you on a wait list. So what i did was call an hour ahead then showed up an hour after we said we'd be there. Once we got there we only had to wait like 10 minutes. Our waitress was pretty nice, but seemed to be in a bit of a rush. I asked if we could order dessert and she walked away really fast then came running back asking if I had said something. Other than that everything else was great.
(4)
Alex G.
Love the food but as they say about all the restaurants the lack of service can spoil all the fun. I've been coming to Outback Steakhouse for years and I always order the same steak and it's always perfect and the blooming onion is incredible but when you get new rude manager it makes everybody else look bad. We asked for table instead of the booth. Even though half a dozen tables were available he stated that he would not sit us at the table because we needed to reserve it ahead of time. This is the biggest lousy excuse I've ever heard in my life and after coming to Outback for years I've never heard of such a thing. To make it even more ridiculous, all those tables that were available when we were sitting down, were still available when we left. Only because of that you get 3 stars. I would have given one if I didn't know that it's not the whole restaurant is just one jerk
(3)
Brad S.
Very bad service and less than ok meat. We came in and from the start I was underwhelmed by the experience. The staff was in the bar area having fun and watching tv. It sounded like a party and there were no patrons. Manger Rebecca was rude and unhelpful when it came to the kitchens errorS on my meat. 1st wrong topping I wanted the blue cheese. 2nd try My medium rare stake came well to the point of no pink and no red just gray and my wife's was also over cooked. I ended up eating 2 bites and all we were offered was a free ice cream. I left the stake there as I would not eat that again. How can a stake house get this simple task wrong.
(1)
Carolyn T.
I used to love the Outback in Champaign, IL. This location was an enormous disappointment. The food was not good, the service was bad. Our waitress took a very long time to take our order, deliver drinks and bread... When our crab and avocado stacker appetizer came out, it was barely edible. I love crab meat and avocado, but this tasted more akin to a seafood salad you could get at a gas station. Awful. Drinks were not refilled before or even when our dinner was served (even after asking). We finally got a refill after my husband had already finished his steak. My sirloin was one of the worst I've had - while it was cooked to proper doneness (medium rare), the sear wasn't good so meat steamed more than seared. My sides were comically overcooked, the broccoli limp and droopy. When we got the bill, we found we were charged for a Filet instead of a Sirloin (big price difference). I think my husband may have even been served the filet, but didn't realize it. It noteworthy that he said his steak was bland, dry, and tough... We asked that the bill be corrected, so the manager stopped by to apologize and they comped us *almost* the price difference between the items (less $1). I sure hope they are just bad at math. Rather than wait around again for them to fix it, I took the dollar out of our waitress's tip. We won't be back. I'll have to get my Outback fix when I visit Champaign again!
(1)
David P.
Honestly we've never had a bad meal here. When we first came here years ago I was a bit skeptical walking because it's a big chain restaurant. My family and I were pleasantly surprised by the food and service. Steaks are cooked and seasoned well and the sides are delicious. My personal favorite side is the Ahi Tuna. I could honestly just eat that for dinner. Take out service is quick and they pack your order securely.
(4)
Gus P.
Dinner was good, and the server (Beth) was great. I was properly introduced to the bloomin' onion, which was almost a meal by itself. I was very satisfied with my steak, which was tasty and cooked just right. The salad was fresh and served cold, just as it should have been. And the little loaf of warm bread was a nice touch (reminded me of the scene in the Johnny Depp movie, Benny & Joon.)
(4)
Jennifer L.
My family, my boyfriend and I dined here to celebrate Father's Day and my younger brother's birthday. Our server (a redhead whose name I did not catch) was, hands down, one of the most pleasant servers I have ever had in a while. My dad LOVES to crack jokes while out to eat. I won't list examples here as not to burst his bubble when he goes out to eat. Some servers don't feel it at all and don't even bother so much as to crack a smile. Our server was the complete opposite. She was able to hang with my Dad as he was cracking his jokes and was even able to provide us with some laughs on her own. She was able to handle our party well and the fact that she joked around with us made the experience a great one. As for the food, everyone enjoyed their meals. My mom, dad and younger sister ordered steaks with a side of sweet potato fries. The fries were one of the best sweet potato fries I have had in a long time. They have a glaze of honey butter and a touch of brown sugar on them, which sets them apart from other sweet potato fries I have had. I downed a handful of my mom's since she was stuffed after eating her steak. We stared with some complimentary rye bread with some sweet butter. We also had the spinach and artichoke dip with tortilla chips as an appetizer. Our server even offered us complimentary chips so we could eat the rest of our dip. We didn't even have to ask. That's another big plus in my book. I had the lunch combo, which is soup or salad with a sandwich. I started with the French Onion Soup, which was OK, but nowhere near as good as ordering it at a French restaurant. I couldn't finish it all. I also had the Alice Springs Cheese Quesadillas, which came with grilled chicken breast, sauteed mushrooms, crispy bacon (yay!!), melted cheeses and honey mustard sauce. Their honey mustard is good and a lot less tangy that other ones and had some pieces of herbs in it. It was the perfect portion for lunch. I washed it down with the County Style Wild Berry Lemonade, which was tart and had some chunks of fruit in it. It was delicious! My family didn't mention it to our server that it was my brother's birthday, but our server saw the gift bag I had given him with his present. She brought out a complimentary scoop of ice cream topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, a cherry and a candle. The servers sang to him and embarrassed him, which I enjoyed greatly. Overall, wonderful meal and great experience. I'm impressed and would go back for dinner to try some of their steaks.
(4)
To Eat... O.
Kicked Out & Don't-come-back Steakhouse July 16, 2014 Re: A family of five is asked to leave Outback restaurant in Buffalo Grove, IL and told not to come back! We ordered the minute we sat down while informing the server that our 2 year-old and teenagers were in a rush to eat. After waiting 40 minutes for salads, we asked to speak to a manager. Our food came out after 50 minutes of waiting, as did the manager. First, she defended the kitchen by presenting a timeline that was nowhere near accurate (off by 30 minutes). Then, she chose to attack my husband for having a similar issue a few weeks back. After I informed her that each time we eat at this Outback, we promise each other we will never come back, she insulted us again by questioning why we didn't inform our server that we were in a rush... The problem is that we did- from the start, and several times after. The final straw was when she "dismissed" us and informed us that we were not welcome back. Not only had we not eaten our meals, but we were giving feedback that was meant to be constructive. This store (and chain) has lost our business, and our respect. Where is the professionalism? Where are the customer relations skills? Customers should come first. I operate that way in my own career. I travel for business, and I'm disappointed to experience that with this chain, this philosophy is non-existent. In a totally separate incident in another city, I had a server who inflated our bill, not just for us, but for several customers... The cost of this meal pales in comparison to the overall experience and disappointment we feel as well-paying customers. Unbelievable!
(1)
Sheila O.
We ordered a bloomin onion for curbside pickup. When we got there, the young man opened the door and the bag with the blooming onion inside fell off the shelf because of the wind. The young man apologized and the manager came out to our car. "i am so sorry about that", he said. He told us they'd make another one up fresh right away and he'd get us a couple of gift certificates for our patience. He returned 5 minutes later with a $20 gift card and a certificate for a free blooming onion on our next visit! We were thrilled! Then 5 min. later he came with our blooming onion AND a salad...we asked, "salad?", he said, "You didn't order a salad?", we said, "No...." he said, "Well, tonight, you got salad!" THANK YOU! We'll be back to Outback and tell all our friends as well!! .
(5)
Ballard M.
The food was the normal out back food, the service sucked ass. The weightier was nice but they did not have a lot of people in there and the service was slow. Real slow for the greater to the weightier, we waited forever for food an refills on beers. Do not go here for good service. They suck.
(2)
Eugene K.
The Good: Steak + Coconut shrimp for $10. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare (Is it bad that I have to mention this?) I don't even know why I started writing this review. It's bad enough I'm admitting I went to Outback (I haven't been to an Outback since college), but I had a $25 gift card so that's my excuse... It's a standard chain restaurant. They have $2 domestic specials. Their Bloomin Onion was cooked uneven and over battered. Not open for lunch. Bottom line is I'm sure you have a uncle, friend, coworker that can cook a decent steak. Grill one at home, or if you're hellbent on having a steak save some money and go to a real steakhouse downtown.
(2)
Susan S.
Strike 2 at this location. They seem to be short-staffed as service takes long--getting the drink orders, receiving the drinks, taking the food order, getting the food, all took longer than average. Management seems overwhelmed. Manager was screaming out names since their pager system was not working. I understand why, but it was tacky to hear the screaming while waiting and it made him appear even more flustered. A younger server had better business sense and pleasantly walked around asking folks in the waiting area if they were "John, party of two." The place needs leadership. Issue #2: My bill came out to almost $40 for a very small portioned plate of food, one beer, and a side salad (which cost extra). I will be driving further to Schaumburg to see if they are as good as they were 10 years ago. The Buffalo Grove location is in a nice area but clearly a poorly run restaurant. OSH is not the gem it used to be. There are many better choices out there with more generous helpings at lower prices and with better service.
(2)
John S.
Went to Outback with some friends for dinner. This location was packed when we got there. We waited about a hour for a table. The waiting area was really crowded and there wasn't really a good place to stand and be out of the way. Seemed every place I tried to stand I was in the way of others (something I really try to avoid). Service here however was very good. Our waitress was very good. For dinner we started with the cheese fries and I had the Filet. The cheese fries here are great. Loaded with cheese. If I was just reviewing those would be 5 stars easily :) The steak however is not very good for the money. I found mine really tough and cooked more then medium (how I ordered it). I have been to Longhorn also and the steaks there are much better. I wasn't expecting Carmichael's here but was pretty let down. Over all better places to go for a steak dinner.
(2)
Anthony M.
I used the call ahead seating and our table was waiting when we arrived. I'm so glad I did because they were crowded for a Sunday night!!! The staff at the front door were very professional and organized. They seemed ready to handle anything. While we were sitting at our table, a manager came over and took our drink order. She did this because our waiter was given two new tables at the same time. So smart to back him up with a little help. We placed our order and the warm bread hit the table. This is such a nice touch. The waiter tried pushing the Awesome Blossom on us. It is so good but I wasn't looking for a heart attack on a plate tonight. I looked around me and all of the tables had them. I just needed a taste. I almost went around to beg for a piece or two. But I didn't. The new fire grilled filet is really good. It was cooked perfectly...medium rare. I also got it with no seasoning and it was really tasty. Trying to cut back on some of the salt. I also got the baked potato not rolled in salt. I am so glad that I asked. Food came out perfect and fast...the staff was also amazing too. Manager came over and asked if we needed anything, during dinner. The staff has been trained well and go out of there way to serve you. Almost feels like a family owned place and not a large chain. Keep up the good work!!!
(5)
Rob W.
Thought I'd give this place a try. I have lived nearby for years and never gone there, but when I drive by, there is always a lot of activity in the parking lot. I ordered an 11oz sirloin steak and grilled shrimp. I asked for rare and that's what I got - kudos to the chef on that one. Quality-wise, it is what can be expected of a "discount" steak place; minimally juicy and slightly tough. No fat to be found however. The shrimp were four medium sized ones that were OK, but severely over-seasoned for my taste. They came on a bed of grape tomatoes, which was excellent. A salad preceded the meal - good size and pretty fresh. At $18.99, not too bad a deal. What did kind of surprise me was the beverage price - especially the after dinner drink I ordered. My soda was a refillable 16ozer that was $2.59 - about 10% higher than what I would have expected. Afterward, I ordered a Grand Marnier up. The usual range on this is $6.50 - $9.75, often it is priciest at the higher end restaurants. Well, at Outback it was $9.50, which for a discount steakhouse was surprising. And this wasn't server error - it's the preset price on their system. Glad I tried it, but for what I paid, I'd rather pay more for a premium steak experience or shell out the same money at a different theme or an ethnic restaurant and get a huge meal at a great value.
(3)
Vera Lynn W.
Stopped in recently to have dinner and a beer. Sat in the bar as I do not like to take a table from waitstaff for just one. I needed to get online. No wifi. Ridiculous. I left before my Fosters was poured. Won't be back.
(1)
Jennifer M.
I've had better service at other Outback steakhouses. This place was not busy when we arrived so I'm not sure what the deal was with the food coming out so late. We ordered the 11oz Sirloin and Coconut Shrimp, Seared Ahi Tuna and 10oz New York Strip. My New York strip was seasoned and cooked to perfection! We paid an extra $1.00 for the Grilled Asparagus. It's a new item on their side dish and needs some work. It was overcooked and soggy!
(2)
Rich D.
Friday, September 5, four of us enjoyed our meals at this location. The Bloomin Onion was very good as our starter. I had the Salmon with rice and a side of Broccoli; it was very good. My wife enjoyed her Chicken Parmesan and her sides. In addition, our friends who tried the current specials of meat with unlimited shrimp where happy with their choices; as the shrimp kept comin! My friend George did mention that some of his steak was a little chewy but his plate was empty when he was finished. Our overall dining experience was made special by our server, Kathy S. Katy was so very pleasant and accommodating, checking back with us quickly after our entrees were brought out to insure all was okay. We did not try any desserts. We left believing our dinners were a fair value.
(4)
Shauna H.
Just left the restaurant on Labor Day. It was a tad packed wen we got in they told us ten to fifteen we only waited 5. Our server was super friendly and waited as patiently as her must be very tired feet took a rest for the adults to order their alcoholic drinks. She came back we ordered and all was well. The poor server next to us had to deal with whiny customers who asked him every question imaginable and then some. He handled it like a champ. Props to him. My step dad even asked if we have an extra $20 if they would give her some gluten in her food so they would leave. It made our server laugh and I'm sure he did as well. Great night relaxing and good drinks :)
(5)
Rebecca R.
My daughter has an autoimmune disease that causes severe multiple food allergies (including wheat, soy, milk, and eggs). We have found very few restaurants that can safely prepare and serve her a meal that won't end in a nasty, sometimes dangerous reaction. We have a laminated card that explains her medical problem and the care that must be taken to avoid cross contamination. Very few restaurants have been able to help my daughter enjoy a restaurant meal safely. Outback in Buffalo Grove is one of the few restaurants that has reliably served her food that she can safely enjoy. Each time, the manager worked closely with us to be certain that she understood the necessary precautions. Each time, she prepared the meal herself. Each time, the meal was perfect. My daughter enjoyed the meal and observed no swelling or other allergic reactions. We had her epipen handy, but never used it. One of the nicest parts of the experience has been that the servers and manager never ever treat my daughter as if her special dietary needs are an imposition. She was made to feel genuinely welcome and at no point did the staff ever draw attention to the extra work they were having to go to to ensure my daughter's safety. That's a big deal to me. The rest of us also enjoyed our meals. I enjoyed the fact that I could easily get calorie and nutrition information online. Outback is a pretty easy place to eat a low calorie meal if you are careful.
(5)
M B.
We have been here more times than you can shake a stick at, and I think we had one less than satisfactory experience...out of hundreds...not a bad record, if you ask me. I love the rib eye, my husband loves the teriyaki medallions with green beans. My children order steaks with teriyaki sauce on the side to dip their steak into, and I also love their ranch sauce on the house salad. I could eat it with a spoon! The food here is extremely consistent and we always leave stuffed and satisfied!
(5)
Christina G.
Fast service and tasty food make up for the lack of charm in the decor. I wanted a Blooming Onion but no one else did, so the waitress suggested I get the Blooming Onion petals instead of fries with my steak sandwich. I thought that was so sweet of her until I got the bill and figured out that substitution cost me $4! Worth it because the blooming onion is freaking god like, but still... Bottom line: expect a good dinner, but dont expect to be transported to the Australian outback like in the commercials, the decor is cute but super generic and lame.
(3)
M. S. O.
To: Carolyn T. Urbana, IL Same thing happened to us around February or March. Waitress kept saying we wanted the fillet, never once called it an upgrade. We didn't and said every time no, just what's on the coupon in her pocket. When the bill came we were each charged for fillet, about double the coupon price of $15. She insisted that was the coupon. She even tried not to show us the coupon again to prove it. The WORDS say SIRLOIN and lobster, so no we didn't want a fillet. She would not adjust the bill down after a long debate. It's a scam that management allows to continue and a not so clever corporate advertising scam, because she said "The PHOTO on coupon you brought in is of a fillet"...(something a customer would not know). Seriously! Grilled lobster was so overcooked it was dark and dried, totally adhered to shell. Yes all vegetables are always overcooked mushy limp beyond recognition. Baked potato was hard though. Ordered steaks medium rare, one was well and one was rare. Drinks are overpriced for what you get. Tried again last week and if you remember to tell them not to nuke the veggies they are perfect. Tried steamed lobster but was so salty we couldn't eat. They have no flavor as they don't broil in butter or drizzle, just steam. Never need to salt lobster. They leave shell attached whether grilled or steamed. It should not be near the shell while cooking or taste is like rotting seashells. Never any melted butter served with them. I tried to request out of shell, no salt, broiled with butter few minutes but that was not an option. The steaks this time were so rare could not get knife or fork into them...we had again ordered medium rare. We are not that fussy, but all brown or all bloody? Those who can't have peppers of any kind are limited to an unseasoned steak. They only have one smoke seasoning, red pepper flakes. The blooming onion too, was terrific except covered in red pepper. Seems easy enough to offer the option to omit red pepper for those who are not fond of a mouth on fire or are severely allergic to peppers. Leave the red pepper flakes in it's own bottle to be added as desired. I was also assured no red pepper as she didn't actually know what the red things were. The injured wild raccoon got a feast that night.
(1)
Joseph P.
A better than average chain Steakhouse, with some items that stand out, and now a weekend lunch menu that adds a real option to waiting at dinnertime. A few years ago, this Outback was so popular that they could have people wait outside in the dead of Winter. Perhaps because of the recession or competition, etc., today you can call ahead and have a table waiting. My wife often has the mid-size prime rib, and it is always properly done. If you have a salad, try the blue cheese vinaigrette dressing - looks odd but tastes fabulous. It's also nice that they still act like a "real restaurant" - cloth napkins, hot bread while you wait for your order, and decent service (no more buttons on the uniform as in years ago). One minor point - if you order some sides (e.g. Onion Soup) there is an extra charge they usually but not always mention, but it is modest. All in all, well worth the trip when you want "real food" and not the "trendier" simplified items that places like TGIF, Applebee's, etc. dish up for similar prices. Note that there is some Wi-Fi here, a weak version of the Comcast service that comes and goes.
(4)
Jaime J.
if i could give this place zero stars i would. we went to this outback for our fathers birthday. Our server was a older lady who from the beginning was very unaccommodating. it took us over 15 minutes to get water. when she came to take our drink orders we ordered appetizers too but than she never came to take our food order even after all our appetizers were out and finished. we had to flag down someone to get our server. we had to ask a few times before we ever got refills on water. One thing that i dont blame her was that even our food orders were off. the steaks that were ordered medium or well .. was rare.. and the steak that was ordered med rare was well done. Even some of the side orders we ordered never came out. (they were on the bill though) When we sent one of the steaks back to redo it took so long that we had to ask another server to check on it to bring it back. the server was never there during the whole meal except when the check came out after we were all done eating .. than she checked on the table every few minutes to make sure we were doing okay. but never gave us refills on water.. when we left her a tip instead of the 18% she decided to come back to the table and let us know in front of the entire table that we did not pay her enough money. I do not expect great service from a outback but i do expect some service. We are still paying to eat there...The servers bad service ruined our fathers birthday party. We all left with a bad taste in our mouths. I will NEVER EVER go back to this place again. I can not believe that any place of business will allow that kind of customer service to take place. the sad part is that our family has been going to this outback for years to celebrate many different occasions. But thanks to this one server we will never be going back there again.
(1)
George S.
Went there last night and had an awful dinner. I ordered Mahi and it had a sour taste to it and was terrible. I had to get some soy sauce to try and kill the taste a bit. I had ordered a side of fries but I never got the veggies that were supposed to come with it. The amount of rice was skimpy, the fries were skimpy, cold, and soggy. It was a waste of a meal.
(2)
Ron S.
Yeah there are better places to get a steak but we all know you get what you pay for most of the time and Outback is a great value for that. Yeah its not USDA but its still tastes good and is reasonable. Anything I have ever tried from Outback is awesome! Blooming onion, coconut shrimp, filet with horseradish crust, good burgers, good salads/soups, great bread and butter do I need to go on?
(4)
P N.
We love this place. We have never had bad service or a bad meal. The bloomin' onion is fantastic, the chopped pecan salad is great, and the prime rib is excellent. Steaks are very good too. When we go out to dinner, this is my first choice. LOVE IT!
(5)
Jill L.
Went to Outback steakhouse tonight. Normally you can depend on decent quality meals. But they lost their "a" game. First off - my steak was "well done" when I asked for medium and had a lot of fat. My husband had the crab and fish dinner, and he advised the crab was gross. Service was good... but it was the worst meal from outback i've ever had!!!
(2)
Henry B.
The steak wasn't the best. The steaks were over seasoned, and the "Outback Special" was too dry. The rest of the food is ok, but it was not worth the money.
(2)
barry o.
I know this isn't Mortons Steak House, but honestly... I've had better steak at Taco Bell. If you are forced to eat here, get a blooming onion, and a desert.
(1)
Danielle X.
The environment is good. I recommend the ribeye steak and new watermelon rita drink.
(4)
Michael P.
I came here on a Wednesday night seeking refuge from the fire engine sirens that plague the road outside my apartment in Chicago. That, and sometimes you just want a steak with A1. I got here at around 7 and was seated right away. My waitress was very attentive--the service was great. Why, yes, I will have the 22oz Sam Adams Octoberfest, thanks for asking! I went with the 6oz filet and it came out great. And, it had been a while since I had had the loaded baked potato, so I got that too and it was just right (though it could have use a little more sour cream, just like everything else in life).
(4)
Chris M.
Oh My Lord, please stop it with the flare!!! Our waiter had about 10 pounds of buttons and pins on his shirt, which always reminds me of Jennifer Aniston in Office Space (which, now that I think about it, isn't so bad). But the flare was. We only went here because my crazy 80 year old grandmother wanted to go for her birthday (I love you, Grandma, but your taste buds aren't right). Chains like these (you can add Applebees and Olive Garden to the list) preach value and meal deals, but at Outback, you're paying 20 bucks for a steak. Not bad, but the food isn't very good either. It's not high quality, and the steak will not melt in your mouth. For the money, I'd rather pay 5-10 dollars more to eat something worth remembering. Otherwise, what's the point? So here's the deal, if you are thinking of eating at Outback, you might as well save yourself a few more bucks on the value side and just go to Jewel or Dominicks and buy your own steaks and veggies to grill. You'd probably do a better job too, and you won't have to stare at a lame waiter with annoying flare.
(2)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :720 W Lake Cook Rd
Buffalo Grove, IL, 60089
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Al Z.
The visit yesterday was very poor. It started with my call ahead and when arrived I was told 35 min to wait. OK I understand that my call ahead didn't mean anything. Then we placed our drink orders that took 25 min to receive. With 2 little kids and slow service was a challenge. I asked for more crayons and had to wait another 15 min. The kids burger was like a hockey puck. I asked it for medium. The Ali tuna had fat chunks in it which I could not swallow. My wife's ordered the steak and that was OK. The waitresse kept forgetting about us until I had re-ask for everything. To top it all off we weren't even asked for desert just were given the bill. At this point my wife and kids were done so they decided to go wait in the car. It took me another 15 minutes to get my credit card back.
(1)Scott S.
In one phrase: decent food, horrible service. We came on New Years Day to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and what a mistake! After a 30-minute wait, we were escorted to our booth, and when we sat down, our seats were wet! The seats had obviously just been wiped down seconds before we came. We were served by John F., and he was extremely impersonal and cold; it was clear he did not care and did not want to be there. When my wife asked him a very simple question about the menu, he just stared at her, not making any kind of effort to understand what she was asking. When our food finally came out, they got my wife's dish wrong; she ordered her steak cooked medium, but they brought it out to her rare. We brought it to their attention, and they fixed it within about five minutes. As we were getting to ready to pay the check, we realized that we never received any complimentary bread. When I asked our server John F., he started fumbling and coming up with some strange excuse, and then said very quickly, "so that was my fault," and then bolted from our table! He did not really express any real remorse at failing to bring us our bread, and to top it off he did not even take the time to make it right--to offer to bring us out bread. We had to flag him down ourselves and tell him we would like our bread to go. I don't remember a time when I experienced worse service at a restaurant. We chose Outback to celebrate our anniversary, and we certainly will not be making that mistake again.
(1)Gina N.
I usually don't give bad reviews. I'm not one of those "omg too much ice in my coke.. ONE STAR FOR YOU" but I've come here twice and it takes forever to get food. I'm here now and have been for an hour now. It's not packed or even busy. Here's the run down, we sat down and ordered martinis and wait 20 minutes to get them. While waiting we ordered an app and entrees. 20 minutes later the app comes and 10 minutes later my soup came. It's been an hour and we're still waiting for our entrees. I asked the waitress if they're butchering the cows back there for our steaks. She wasn't impressed. Not coming back cuz there is no sense of urgency.
(1)Jim A.
Ok to the point.... I know it's a chain and I have visited them in many states and it is hit and miss however...... Slow service, cold appetizer, ordered bone on ribeyes and 30 minutes later told they were out. Seriously you're a steakhouse and only have like 6 cuts it would behoove you to have steak. Went with the normal ribeye and mine tasted like a salt lick (of you know deer you know what I'm talking about) and had to ask for a drink refill. Rant over won't even get into the cracked wet seat cushion and all around shabbiness.
(2)Jennifer K.
I Love the cheese fries there and it use to be a lot bigger, which im glad they brought it down to more of an appetizer size bc a lot would go to waste. My visit to this outback i will have to say was one of the best, best cheese fry, our food came out perfect. My fiancé and I both ordered off the moonshine menu ... Ribs, shrimp, and chicken wings were all delicious !!!! The entire waitstaff was very nice from the host to our waiter, Randy, to the manager; We stopped to see him to give Randy a compliment .. It was pretty busy and we couldnt tell bc Randy was on it!!!! Great visit only thing was a couple got seated after us, we both got our appetizer at the same time, yet their food came first and they left while we were still eating but we werent in a rush so no big deal!
(4)Amzok E.
Don't order the prime rib it's like rubber no juice no test dry frozen meat came from microwave....
(1)Gwen O.
Here on business this was a very good as always. Had the wallaby darned which is the same as a peach Bellini and it is amaze balls!!!!! Highly recommend this as well as the blue cheese chopped salad!
(4)Jennifer L.
Nice restaurant. Fairly busy on a Saturday night (20 minute wait or so). We sat at the bar and got a drink. Bartenders were super-friendly and fun, and prompt. Once we got seated our waitress was sweet and attentive. The food was all delicious! Portion sizes were great. We were quite satisfied. Even went home with left-overs. I would totally come back to this location, and suggest it to others.
(4)J D.
I was here once years ago. Lackluster food for the price. Won't be back.
(2)May K.
Not sure what's going on, but I used to love their prime rib. It used to be just right. But the last few visits have been so disappointing that I may never go back. The wedge salad was good, but my prime rib was so tough and so chewy that I didn't know where to spit it out. Thats how the entire slab of meat was. Service was slow even though the place was not crowded. It took them 15 minutes to get my water refill after I had to ask. If my steak was decent, that wouldn't be an issue but I keep getting bad cuts of meat. It's not worth the effort of chewing if i paid for meat and got chewing gum instead. Yuck. BTW, we had reservations but when we arrived they said our reservation was cancelled. Thankfully there was hardly anyone there, so we still got seated. We didn't cancel it so what happened is beyond me.
(2)Dana V.
We came in just now with a party of ten, we'd made a reservation. We didn't have to wait too long for our reserved table but that's about where it went to shit. Our waitress Penny fucked up every single part of our order. She got two beer orders wrong and forgot my drink at the bar. The appetizer my fiance and I ordered came out 15 minutes before the bread for the table. The appetizer was the only part of the meal that was actually cooked properly. When the main courses did come out, two people had to send their steaks back, one of them got sent back twice. Mine was WAY rare when I ordered medium rare but I didn't send it back. My fiance had to ask three separate people for ketchup for his fries. Then, when we went to pay we asked to split checks which apparently was too difficult for her. She couldn't take more than one check at a time and she fucked up one of the checks and had to redo it. Way overpriced for what you get, and seriously lousy service. If it had been a busy Saturday night I could cut her some slack but it was a less busy Sunday night. Definitely not coming back.
(1)Craig S.
The food here is great, but... We usually do takeaway (takeout) service. The last FOUR times we ordered and they messed up our orders. They have blamed corporate, the website, the phones, their computers...everything but themselves. Tonight was our Wedding Anniversary. My wife is recovering from a recent surgery, so we ordered takeout. We ordered extra provolone cheese on our French Onion Soups. They put it on the steaks (YUK!!) No toppings for the sweet potato and only 1 regular potato instead of the 2 we ordered. It took 10 minutes to get it straightened out via phone, then a return trip. The manager offered us ONE extra dessert. (gee...thanks...) Complained that the website system is at fault, but then admitted that she has never used the system herself. Very poor attempt at customer service. We usually like the food here, and my Mother-in-Law loves it, but I don't think we will be back due to the customer service and quality control issues.
(2)John B.
ordered from curbside service. They ask how you want your burger cooked. It does not matter what you tell them they cook all of the burgers the way they want it. well done. IT is not worth the fight to get it cooked the way you want it . I have tried before. So if you order burger jut tell them it does not matter how you cook it.
(2)Princess D.
Over the years Outback has been up and down for me. I'm not sure if they changed management, but in the last ten years their food has improved immensely. I usually get their 6 oz classic sirloin with a baked potato and salad. The seasoning on the steak is perfect for me. It's just the right amount of salt with a kick of spice. Their baked potato is cooked to perfection with sea salt on the skin. Yum! I also enjoy their shrimp on the barbie. The sauce that comes with the shrimp has a deliciously spicy flavor. Our server, Jordan, was very cordial. Great service! Thanks, Jordan and thanks Outback for providing a lovely dining experience.
(3)Lindsey L.
We use to come to outback all the time. My husband loved the ribs and I always adored the salmon. We often claimed that it was the best place for ribs and salmon we have ever been. Tonight (10/11/13) we went for my husband's birthday dinner and the food was horrible. The salmon was tough, small and tasted extremely fishy. After one bite I couldn't even eat a second. It was obviously a frozen filet. It was upsetting. For $15 I expect a lot more. My husband's ribs were just okay, except the entire end of them was way too tough to eat. I don't know if they changed their food or lost their cook, but we probably won't be back. $60 for a meal that was mediocre at best.
(1)Jim T.
We had a great experience at this location. It's not just the food that makes a place but when you combine that with a great staff like our server Sue the stars get bumped up to a higher level. We took our parents out for their 63rd wedding anniversary (one of Dads favorite places). It started out with a few drinks and appetizers. We are fans of the blooming onion...... When it arrived I noticed that the sauce dish in the center was taller than the onion. I mentioned that it looked awful small for a large onion and the food server said "sometimes they are smaller" noting that the batch they had were not large. I looked over cooked as well. The mushrooms we ordered were a little more crispy than usual. Now the place was not packed so I cannot imagine the kitchen was in the weeds or something like that. Just must have been forgotten about in the deep fryer. Not sure who but shortly thereafter a new onion came out much larger than the 1st. Someone must have heard the comments. One of us ordered the steak salad with dressing on the side. Well it came out wet with dressing and dressing on the side. Also asked if there was any wheat product items in the salad (was told no) and surprise.... there was.This was corrected and the wheat was still there. Those little crispy chow mein noodles contain wheat. The rest of the meal went off without a hitch and the food was great. If you like to taste meat with your steak you need to ask for it without the salt and seasoning. I personally thing they over season.
(4)Justin V.
We had to wait a little bit for seating but it's Mother's Day at dinner time so that's not at all surprising. To start, our server was prompt, efficient and friendly. I feel like every time I write a good review about a restaurant that's the main reason. He was always checking in to see if we needed anything and we never waited too long to get a refill or anything supplementary. The food is always really good. I've become a big fan of the Ahi Tuna appetizer. The blooming onion is always a staple, as is the bread. Personally I really love the French Onion soup. I go to Outback more for the soup than for the steak sometimes! There's a thick layer of delicious cheese over the top covering the soup and bread. I got the Victoria's filet. It was flavorful and delicious. I get my steaks "still bleeding" and this did not disappoint. We finished with the chocolate thunder from down under of course. The manager, Alexa, came by the table to chat us up and say hello. She was extremely cheery and very nice. Why can't all managers be that nice? A great experience - always highly recommended!
(4)Tom Y.
Eating at the best steakhouses in Vegas twice per year has spoiled me, so I went in with low expectations. I got the twin cold water lobster tails and they were extremely flavorful. They were seasoned well and weren't cooked to death. My wife enjoyed her filet and my daughter's steak medallions were just fine. Service was attentive and the pricing is reasonable. My son ate all of his chicken fingers which speaks for itself. I was pleasantly surprised and would visit again. One other nice convenience was the ability to add myself to the wait list online. We were seated immediately upon arrival.
(4)Jim J.
Our waitress Kimberly was definitely five stars, what a ray of sunshine! Had some problems with the food, but the manger made it right. The crew here was good. Would definitely come back here and enjoy some more meat. See you there
(4)Jim K.
Went for a late lunch , early dinner and was surprised to find that this location will be closing and setting up at Randhurst. There were at most 10 people in the place, and we waited a long time for a server to come around, many servers past our table till around 5 minutes maybe 8 the server came round. we had a bloomin onion which was huge almost too huge , but tasty followed by Chicken tacos and I had the filet with never ending shrimp. The fillet was just OK didn't taste any better than the sirloin which we normally have. The chicken taco's were meh, the salad and the shrimp were very good for the price point, but not Don's Dock good. Only issue was the length of time waiting for someone to take the drink order, empty bar and manager with bar person talking but not asking what we wanted. Wonder if the move has the staff demotivated?
(3)Sweeny Y.
Sergio, at the curbside pick up is the best! We get curbside pick up at least once a week. Always fresh, good good and super friendly staff.
(5)Chip G.
Had a little wait for seating, but well worth the effort. . Great steak as usual. Aspergus wa grilled and good also. Just a nice place relax and enjoy dinner out waiter paul was noce also.
(5)Kayla C.
The food is really good. I ordered the steak and lobster tail combo. The lobster comes with this delicious buttery sauce on the side. Their margaritas are pretty decent. They come inside those glass jars you use when you make your own jam. I didn't like that you can't make reservations. The best they can do is put you on a wait list. So what i did was call an hour ahead then showed up an hour after we said we'd be there. Once we got there we only had to wait like 10 minutes. Our waitress was pretty nice, but seemed to be in a bit of a rush. I asked if we could order dessert and she walked away really fast then came running back asking if I had said something. Other than that everything else was great.
(4)Alex G.
Love the food but as they say about all the restaurants the lack of service can spoil all the fun. I've been coming to Outback Steakhouse for years and I always order the same steak and it's always perfect and the blooming onion is incredible but when you get new rude manager it makes everybody else look bad. We asked for table instead of the booth. Even though half a dozen tables were available he stated that he would not sit us at the table because we needed to reserve it ahead of time. This is the biggest lousy excuse I've ever heard in my life and after coming to Outback for years I've never heard of such a thing. To make it even more ridiculous, all those tables that were available when we were sitting down, were still available when we left. Only because of that you get 3 stars. I would have given one if I didn't know that it's not the whole restaurant is just one jerk
(3)Brad S.
Very bad service and less than ok meat. We came in and from the start I was underwhelmed by the experience. The staff was in the bar area having fun and watching tv. It sounded like a party and there were no patrons. Manger Rebecca was rude and unhelpful when it came to the kitchens errorS on my meat. 1st wrong topping I wanted the blue cheese. 2nd try My medium rare stake came well to the point of no pink and no red just gray and my wife's was also over cooked. I ended up eating 2 bites and all we were offered was a free ice cream. I left the stake there as I would not eat that again. How can a stake house get this simple task wrong.
(1)Carolyn T.
I used to love the Outback in Champaign, IL. This location was an enormous disappointment. The food was not good, the service was bad. Our waitress took a very long time to take our order, deliver drinks and bread... When our crab and avocado stacker appetizer came out, it was barely edible. I love crab meat and avocado, but this tasted more akin to a seafood salad you could get at a gas station. Awful. Drinks were not refilled before or even when our dinner was served (even after asking). We finally got a refill after my husband had already finished his steak. My sirloin was one of the worst I've had - while it was cooked to proper doneness (medium rare), the sear wasn't good so meat steamed more than seared. My sides were comically overcooked, the broccoli limp and droopy. When we got the bill, we found we were charged for a Filet instead of a Sirloin (big price difference). I think my husband may have even been served the filet, but didn't realize it. It noteworthy that he said his steak was bland, dry, and tough... We asked that the bill be corrected, so the manager stopped by to apologize and they comped us *almost* the price difference between the items (less $1). I sure hope they are just bad at math. Rather than wait around again for them to fix it, I took the dollar out of our waitress's tip. We won't be back. I'll have to get my Outback fix when I visit Champaign again!
(1)David P.
Honestly we've never had a bad meal here. When we first came here years ago I was a bit skeptical walking because it's a big chain restaurant. My family and I were pleasantly surprised by the food and service. Steaks are cooked and seasoned well and the sides are delicious. My personal favorite side is the Ahi Tuna. I could honestly just eat that for dinner. Take out service is quick and they pack your order securely.
(4)Gus P.
Dinner was good, and the server (Beth) was great. I was properly introduced to the bloomin' onion, which was almost a meal by itself. I was very satisfied with my steak, which was tasty and cooked just right. The salad was fresh and served cold, just as it should have been. And the little loaf of warm bread was a nice touch (reminded me of the scene in the Johnny Depp movie, Benny & Joon.)
(4)Jennifer L.
My family, my boyfriend and I dined here to celebrate Father's Day and my younger brother's birthday. Our server (a redhead whose name I did not catch) was, hands down, one of the most pleasant servers I have ever had in a while. My dad LOVES to crack jokes while out to eat. I won't list examples here as not to burst his bubble when he goes out to eat. Some servers don't feel it at all and don't even bother so much as to crack a smile. Our server was the complete opposite. She was able to hang with my Dad as he was cracking his jokes and was even able to provide us with some laughs on her own. She was able to handle our party well and the fact that she joked around with us made the experience a great one. As for the food, everyone enjoyed their meals. My mom, dad and younger sister ordered steaks with a side of sweet potato fries. The fries were one of the best sweet potato fries I have had in a long time. They have a glaze of honey butter and a touch of brown sugar on them, which sets them apart from other sweet potato fries I have had. I downed a handful of my mom's since she was stuffed after eating her steak. We stared with some complimentary rye bread with some sweet butter. We also had the spinach and artichoke dip with tortilla chips as an appetizer. Our server even offered us complimentary chips so we could eat the rest of our dip. We didn't even have to ask. That's another big plus in my book. I had the lunch combo, which is soup or salad with a sandwich. I started with the French Onion Soup, which was OK, but nowhere near as good as ordering it at a French restaurant. I couldn't finish it all. I also had the Alice Springs Cheese Quesadillas, which came with grilled chicken breast, sauteed mushrooms, crispy bacon (yay!!), melted cheeses and honey mustard sauce. Their honey mustard is good and a lot less tangy that other ones and had some pieces of herbs in it. It was the perfect portion for lunch. I washed it down with the County Style Wild Berry Lemonade, which was tart and had some chunks of fruit in it. It was delicious! My family didn't mention it to our server that it was my brother's birthday, but our server saw the gift bag I had given him with his present. She brought out a complimentary scoop of ice cream topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, a cherry and a candle. The servers sang to him and embarrassed him, which I enjoyed greatly. Overall, wonderful meal and great experience. I'm impressed and would go back for dinner to try some of their steaks.
(4)To Eat... O.
Kicked Out & Don't-come-back Steakhouse July 16, 2014 Re: A family of five is asked to leave Outback restaurant in Buffalo Grove, IL and told not to come back! We ordered the minute we sat down while informing the server that our 2 year-old and teenagers were in a rush to eat. After waiting 40 minutes for salads, we asked to speak to a manager. Our food came out after 50 minutes of waiting, as did the manager. First, she defended the kitchen by presenting a timeline that was nowhere near accurate (off by 30 minutes). Then, she chose to attack my husband for having a similar issue a few weeks back. After I informed her that each time we eat at this Outback, we promise each other we will never come back, she insulted us again by questioning why we didn't inform our server that we were in a rush... The problem is that we did- from the start, and several times after. The final straw was when she "dismissed" us and informed us that we were not welcome back. Not only had we not eaten our meals, but we were giving feedback that was meant to be constructive. This store (and chain) has lost our business, and our respect. Where is the professionalism? Where are the customer relations skills? Customers should come first. I operate that way in my own career. I travel for business, and I'm disappointed to experience that with this chain, this philosophy is non-existent. In a totally separate incident in another city, I had a server who inflated our bill, not just for us, but for several customers... The cost of this meal pales in comparison to the overall experience and disappointment we feel as well-paying customers. Unbelievable!
(1)Sheila O.
We ordered a bloomin onion for curbside pickup. When we got there, the young man opened the door and the bag with the blooming onion inside fell off the shelf because of the wind. The young man apologized and the manager came out to our car. "i am so sorry about that", he said. He told us they'd make another one up fresh right away and he'd get us a couple of gift certificates for our patience. He returned 5 minutes later with a $20 gift card and a certificate for a free blooming onion on our next visit! We were thrilled! Then 5 min. later he came with our blooming onion AND a salad...we asked, "salad?", he said, "You didn't order a salad?", we said, "No...." he said, "Well, tonight, you got salad!" THANK YOU! We'll be back to Outback and tell all our friends as well!! .
(5)Ballard M.
The food was the normal out back food, the service sucked ass. The weightier was nice but they did not have a lot of people in there and the service was slow. Real slow for the greater to the weightier, we waited forever for food an refills on beers. Do not go here for good service. They suck.
(2)Eugene K.
The Good: Steak + Coconut shrimp for $10. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare (Is it bad that I have to mention this?) I don't even know why I started writing this review. It's bad enough I'm admitting I went to Outback (I haven't been to an Outback since college), but I had a $25 gift card so that's my excuse... It's a standard chain restaurant. They have $2 domestic specials. Their Bloomin Onion was cooked uneven and over battered. Not open for lunch. Bottom line is I'm sure you have a uncle, friend, coworker that can cook a decent steak. Grill one at home, or if you're hellbent on having a steak save some money and go to a real steakhouse downtown.
(2)Susan S.
Strike 2 at this location. They seem to be short-staffed as service takes long--getting the drink orders, receiving the drinks, taking the food order, getting the food, all took longer than average. Management seems overwhelmed. Manager was screaming out names since their pager system was not working. I understand why, but it was tacky to hear the screaming while waiting and it made him appear even more flustered. A younger server had better business sense and pleasantly walked around asking folks in the waiting area if they were "John, party of two." The place needs leadership. Issue #2: My bill came out to almost $40 for a very small portioned plate of food, one beer, and a side salad (which cost extra). I will be driving further to Schaumburg to see if they are as good as they were 10 years ago. The Buffalo Grove location is in a nice area but clearly a poorly run restaurant. OSH is not the gem it used to be. There are many better choices out there with more generous helpings at lower prices and with better service.
(2)John S.
Went to Outback with some friends for dinner. This location was packed when we got there. We waited about a hour for a table. The waiting area was really crowded and there wasn't really a good place to stand and be out of the way. Seemed every place I tried to stand I was in the way of others (something I really try to avoid). Service here however was very good. Our waitress was very good. For dinner we started with the cheese fries and I had the Filet. The cheese fries here are great. Loaded with cheese. If I was just reviewing those would be 5 stars easily :) The steak however is not very good for the money. I found mine really tough and cooked more then medium (how I ordered it). I have been to Longhorn also and the steaks there are much better. I wasn't expecting Carmichael's here but was pretty let down. Over all better places to go for a steak dinner.
(2)Anthony M.
I used the call ahead seating and our table was waiting when we arrived. I'm so glad I did because they were crowded for a Sunday night!!! The staff at the front door were very professional and organized. They seemed ready to handle anything. While we were sitting at our table, a manager came over and took our drink order. She did this because our waiter was given two new tables at the same time. So smart to back him up with a little help. We placed our order and the warm bread hit the table. This is such a nice touch. The waiter tried pushing the Awesome Blossom on us. It is so good but I wasn't looking for a heart attack on a plate tonight. I looked around me and all of the tables had them. I just needed a taste. I almost went around to beg for a piece or two. But I didn't. The new fire grilled filet is really good. It was cooked perfectly...medium rare. I also got it with no seasoning and it was really tasty. Trying to cut back on some of the salt. I also got the baked potato not rolled in salt. I am so glad that I asked. Food came out perfect and fast...the staff was also amazing too. Manager came over and asked if we needed anything, during dinner. The staff has been trained well and go out of there way to serve you. Almost feels like a family owned place and not a large chain. Keep up the good work!!!
(5)Rob W.
Thought I'd give this place a try. I have lived nearby for years and never gone there, but when I drive by, there is always a lot of activity in the parking lot. I ordered an 11oz sirloin steak and grilled shrimp. I asked for rare and that's what I got - kudos to the chef on that one. Quality-wise, it is what can be expected of a "discount" steak place; minimally juicy and slightly tough. No fat to be found however. The shrimp were four medium sized ones that were OK, but severely over-seasoned for my taste. They came on a bed of grape tomatoes, which was excellent. A salad preceded the meal - good size and pretty fresh. At $18.99, not too bad a deal. What did kind of surprise me was the beverage price - especially the after dinner drink I ordered. My soda was a refillable 16ozer that was $2.59 - about 10% higher than what I would have expected. Afterward, I ordered a Grand Marnier up. The usual range on this is $6.50 - $9.75, often it is priciest at the higher end restaurants. Well, at Outback it was $9.50, which for a discount steakhouse was surprising. And this wasn't server error - it's the preset price on their system. Glad I tried it, but for what I paid, I'd rather pay more for a premium steak experience or shell out the same money at a different theme or an ethnic restaurant and get a huge meal at a great value.
(3)Vera Lynn W.
Stopped in recently to have dinner and a beer. Sat in the bar as I do not like to take a table from waitstaff for just one. I needed to get online. No wifi. Ridiculous. I left before my Fosters was poured. Won't be back.
(1)Jennifer M.
I've had better service at other Outback steakhouses. This place was not busy when we arrived so I'm not sure what the deal was with the food coming out so late. We ordered the 11oz Sirloin and Coconut Shrimp, Seared Ahi Tuna and 10oz New York Strip. My New York strip was seasoned and cooked to perfection! We paid an extra $1.00 for the Grilled Asparagus. It's a new item on their side dish and needs some work. It was overcooked and soggy!
(2)Rich D.
Friday, September 5, four of us enjoyed our meals at this location. The Bloomin Onion was very good as our starter. I had the Salmon with rice and a side of Broccoli; it was very good. My wife enjoyed her Chicken Parmesan and her sides. In addition, our friends who tried the current specials of meat with unlimited shrimp where happy with their choices; as the shrimp kept comin! My friend George did mention that some of his steak was a little chewy but his plate was empty when he was finished. Our overall dining experience was made special by our server, Kathy S. Katy was so very pleasant and accommodating, checking back with us quickly after our entrees were brought out to insure all was okay. We did not try any desserts. We left believing our dinners were a fair value.
(4)Shauna H.
Just left the restaurant on Labor Day. It was a tad packed wen we got in they told us ten to fifteen we only waited 5. Our server was super friendly and waited as patiently as her must be very tired feet took a rest for the adults to order their alcoholic drinks. She came back we ordered and all was well. The poor server next to us had to deal with whiny customers who asked him every question imaginable and then some. He handled it like a champ. Props to him. My step dad even asked if we have an extra $20 if they would give her some gluten in her food so they would leave. It made our server laugh and I'm sure he did as well. Great night relaxing and good drinks :)
(5)Rebecca R.
My daughter has an autoimmune disease that causes severe multiple food allergies (including wheat, soy, milk, and eggs). We have found very few restaurants that can safely prepare and serve her a meal that won't end in a nasty, sometimes dangerous reaction. We have a laminated card that explains her medical problem and the care that must be taken to avoid cross contamination. Very few restaurants have been able to help my daughter enjoy a restaurant meal safely. Outback in Buffalo Grove is one of the few restaurants that has reliably served her food that she can safely enjoy. Each time, the manager worked closely with us to be certain that she understood the necessary precautions. Each time, she prepared the meal herself. Each time, the meal was perfect. My daughter enjoyed the meal and observed no swelling or other allergic reactions. We had her epipen handy, but never used it. One of the nicest parts of the experience has been that the servers and manager never ever treat my daughter as if her special dietary needs are an imposition. She was made to feel genuinely welcome and at no point did the staff ever draw attention to the extra work they were having to go to to ensure my daughter's safety. That's a big deal to me. The rest of us also enjoyed our meals. I enjoyed the fact that I could easily get calorie and nutrition information online. Outback is a pretty easy place to eat a low calorie meal if you are careful.
(5)M B.
We have been here more times than you can shake a stick at, and I think we had one less than satisfactory experience...out of hundreds...not a bad record, if you ask me. I love the rib eye, my husband loves the teriyaki medallions with green beans. My children order steaks with teriyaki sauce on the side to dip their steak into, and I also love their ranch sauce on the house salad. I could eat it with a spoon! The food here is extremely consistent and we always leave stuffed and satisfied!
(5)Christina G.
Fast service and tasty food make up for the lack of charm in the decor. I wanted a Blooming Onion but no one else did, so the waitress suggested I get the Blooming Onion petals instead of fries with my steak sandwich. I thought that was so sweet of her until I got the bill and figured out that substitution cost me $4! Worth it because the blooming onion is freaking god like, but still... Bottom line: expect a good dinner, but dont expect to be transported to the Australian outback like in the commercials, the decor is cute but super generic and lame.
(3)M. S. O.
To: Carolyn T. Urbana, IL Same thing happened to us around February or March. Waitress kept saying we wanted the fillet, never once called it an upgrade. We didn't and said every time no, just what's on the coupon in her pocket. When the bill came we were each charged for fillet, about double the coupon price of $15. She insisted that was the coupon. She even tried not to show us the coupon again to prove it. The WORDS say SIRLOIN and lobster, so no we didn't want a fillet. She would not adjust the bill down after a long debate. It's a scam that management allows to continue and a not so clever corporate advertising scam, because she said "The PHOTO on coupon you brought in is of a fillet"...(something a customer would not know). Seriously! Grilled lobster was so overcooked it was dark and dried, totally adhered to shell. Yes all vegetables are always overcooked mushy limp beyond recognition. Baked potato was hard though. Ordered steaks medium rare, one was well and one was rare. Drinks are overpriced for what you get. Tried again last week and if you remember to tell them not to nuke the veggies they are perfect. Tried steamed lobster but was so salty we couldn't eat. They have no flavor as they don't broil in butter or drizzle, just steam. Never need to salt lobster. They leave shell attached whether grilled or steamed. It should not be near the shell while cooking or taste is like rotting seashells. Never any melted butter served with them. I tried to request out of shell, no salt, broiled with butter few minutes but that was not an option. The steaks this time were so rare could not get knife or fork into them...we had again ordered medium rare. We are not that fussy, but all brown or all bloody? Those who can't have peppers of any kind are limited to an unseasoned steak. They only have one smoke seasoning, red pepper flakes. The blooming onion too, was terrific except covered in red pepper. Seems easy enough to offer the option to omit red pepper for those who are not fond of a mouth on fire or are severely allergic to peppers. Leave the red pepper flakes in it's own bottle to be added as desired. I was also assured no red pepper as she didn't actually know what the red things were. The injured wild raccoon got a feast that night.
(1)Joseph P.
A better than average chain Steakhouse, with some items that stand out, and now a weekend lunch menu that adds a real option to waiting at dinnertime. A few years ago, this Outback was so popular that they could have people wait outside in the dead of Winter. Perhaps because of the recession or competition, etc., today you can call ahead and have a table waiting. My wife often has the mid-size prime rib, and it is always properly done. If you have a salad, try the blue cheese vinaigrette dressing - looks odd but tastes fabulous. It's also nice that they still act like a "real restaurant" - cloth napkins, hot bread while you wait for your order, and decent service (no more buttons on the uniform as in years ago). One minor point - if you order some sides (e.g. Onion Soup) there is an extra charge they usually but not always mention, but it is modest. All in all, well worth the trip when you want "real food" and not the "trendier" simplified items that places like TGIF, Applebee's, etc. dish up for similar prices. Note that there is some Wi-Fi here, a weak version of the Comcast service that comes and goes.
(4)Jaime J.
if i could give this place zero stars i would. we went to this outback for our fathers birthday. Our server was a older lady who from the beginning was very unaccommodating. it took us over 15 minutes to get water. when she came to take our drink orders we ordered appetizers too but than she never came to take our food order even after all our appetizers were out and finished. we had to flag down someone to get our server. we had to ask a few times before we ever got refills on water. One thing that i dont blame her was that even our food orders were off. the steaks that were ordered medium or well .. was rare.. and the steak that was ordered med rare was well done. Even some of the side orders we ordered never came out. (they were on the bill though) When we sent one of the steaks back to redo it took so long that we had to ask another server to check on it to bring it back. the server was never there during the whole meal except when the check came out after we were all done eating .. than she checked on the table every few minutes to make sure we were doing okay. but never gave us refills on water.. when we left her a tip instead of the 18% she decided to come back to the table and let us know in front of the entire table that we did not pay her enough money. I do not expect great service from a outback but i do expect some service. We are still paying to eat there...The servers bad service ruined our fathers birthday party. We all left with a bad taste in our mouths. I will NEVER EVER go back to this place again. I can not believe that any place of business will allow that kind of customer service to take place. the sad part is that our family has been going to this outback for years to celebrate many different occasions. But thanks to this one server we will never be going back there again.
(1)George S.
Went there last night and had an awful dinner. I ordered Mahi and it had a sour taste to it and was terrible. I had to get some soy sauce to try and kill the taste a bit. I had ordered a side of fries but I never got the veggies that were supposed to come with it. The amount of rice was skimpy, the fries were skimpy, cold, and soggy. It was a waste of a meal.
(2)Ron S.
Yeah there are better places to get a steak but we all know you get what you pay for most of the time and Outback is a great value for that. Yeah its not USDA but its still tastes good and is reasonable. Anything I have ever tried from Outback is awesome! Blooming onion, coconut shrimp, filet with horseradish crust, good burgers, good salads/soups, great bread and butter do I need to go on?
(4)P N.
We love this place. We have never had bad service or a bad meal. The bloomin' onion is fantastic, the chopped pecan salad is great, and the prime rib is excellent. Steaks are very good too. When we go out to dinner, this is my first choice. LOVE IT!
(5)Jill L.
Went to Outback steakhouse tonight. Normally you can depend on decent quality meals. But they lost their "a" game. First off - my steak was "well done" when I asked for medium and had a lot of fat. My husband had the crab and fish dinner, and he advised the crab was gross. Service was good... but it was the worst meal from outback i've ever had!!!
(2)Henry B.
The steak wasn't the best. The steaks were over seasoned, and the "Outback Special" was too dry. The rest of the food is ok, but it was not worth the money.
(2)barry o.
I know this isn't Mortons Steak House, but honestly... I've had better steak at Taco Bell. If you are forced to eat here, get a blooming onion, and a desert.
(1)Danielle X.
The environment is good. I recommend the ribeye steak and new watermelon rita drink.
(4)Michael P.
I came here on a Wednesday night seeking refuge from the fire engine sirens that plague the road outside my apartment in Chicago. That, and sometimes you just want a steak with A1. I got here at around 7 and was seated right away. My waitress was very attentive--the service was great. Why, yes, I will have the 22oz Sam Adams Octoberfest, thanks for asking! I went with the 6oz filet and it came out great. And, it had been a while since I had had the loaded baked potato, so I got that too and it was just right (though it could have use a little more sour cream, just like everything else in life).
(4)Chris M.
Oh My Lord, please stop it with the flare!!! Our waiter had about 10 pounds of buttons and pins on his shirt, which always reminds me of Jennifer Aniston in Office Space (which, now that I think about it, isn't so bad). But the flare was. We only went here because my crazy 80 year old grandmother wanted to go for her birthday (I love you, Grandma, but your taste buds aren't right). Chains like these (you can add Applebees and Olive Garden to the list) preach value and meal deals, but at Outback, you're paying 20 bucks for a steak. Not bad, but the food isn't very good either. It's not high quality, and the steak will not melt in your mouth. For the money, I'd rather pay 5-10 dollars more to eat something worth remembering. Otherwise, what's the point? So here's the deal, if you are thinking of eating at Outback, you might as well save yourself a few more bucks on the value side and just go to Jewel or Dominicks and buy your own steaks and veggies to grill. You'd probably do a better job too, and you won't have to stare at a lame waiter with annoying flare.
(2)