I took the family and friends to Outback the other night for the first visit in some time. Pleasant evening and good food with some hiccoughs. Our party of 8 needed the leaf of the table turned up to make two tables wide enough together. Amusing that the Hostess had no idea how to do it, then the server had no grasp of how to do it. I could not believe they were not shown how their first training day. It seems a simple and elementary thing to cover right with "Here is the bathroom" or "the silverware goes here." So we were finally settled and ordered and began drinks and got salads. I was disconcerted to have drinks and salads passed across the face of two people instead of brought to the other side of the table. (Yes, there was ample room all around our table.) Perhaps such arm-in-the-face service is considered Australian for casual. And it saves on hankies. We enjoyed good fresh salads, well prepared. We all shared a bloomin' onion, that Outback favorite, and it was even better shared with so many instead of overeaten by a few. When the main dishes came, the salad and hor's d'oeuvre plates were not cleared so my aunt asked for hers to be moved from her place. The server wanted it to be passed across everyone to her. I declined to shuffle it the length of the table so she said she would come get it, but after going to do something else: "I see your impatience and raise you a delay." Then other things came up before any salad plates were cleared: "I see your impatience and I raise you two delays." Finally some salad plates were removed but not the one which my aunt had asked to be removed, nor several others: "I see your impatience and raise you two delays and a denial." It became amusing to watch how seriously poor the service of the table was. Does no one else prefer to eat without being surrounded by dirty dishes? Is it just me, being fussy? Still and all our meat was excellent and perfectly cooked. I recommend you eat meat at Outback. I had the seared Ahi for my main course. While it had a delicious blackened coating, it had more the look, feel, texture and temperature of something precooked and slipped from the bag than fresh from the searing pan. I get better at Indianapolis Airport and that is an amazingly negative comparison if you know airport food. I ate and enjoyed it, I am merely comparing. The salad underneath was nice. I will go back to Outback from time to time. I did not snub on the tip. But I sincerely hope I have a server with experience and sense next time. Pleasant and smiling is not really enough to go the distance in making a dinner special or even smoothly pleasant. I can cook a good steak and leave dirty dishes on the table at home for less.
(4)
Greg K.
I have enjoyed steaks and the bar in the past. Tonight wanted a snack and beer TWO of 8 taps were off. Chain beer only. Mac and cheese was sub standard. I cannot suggest this place for a snack!; Wife not pleased. Likely lost our future business. Oh well. Many good local places!
(2)
Lyn M.
Let me just start by saying I love Outback and I love their food. However, my last visit here has made me begin to rethink my position. This was our only meal of the day (2:30ish) and we were famished. But by the time we were done, we all wished we had gone to Taco Bell. 1. Service was horribly slow. 2. Heard more "I'm sorries" from the wait staff than I ever care to hear again in my life (they said it to our table and others and wrote it on the check simply cuz they couldn't get things correct) 3. Lots and lots of breaking dishes. 4. Steaks weren't cooked properly and the one most rare was tough 5. 5 pieces of ahi tuna for $11? It used to be worth the money - no more. 6. Ordered items that weren't received 7. They've ruined the Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie appetizer by adding tomatoes & skewers, garlic mashed potatoes tasted like the box they're shipped in, smallest sweet potato they could find. I could go on, but you get the gist. And the last kicker after all that nonsense - the bill came to $100! Definitely NOT worth the mediocre food and the crap service.
(1)
Franklin D.
I re-visited this place finally for lunch on a weekend. The service was pretty good, the food totally reminded me of TGI Friday's, Chili's, any other freezer-truck chain. Nothing to write home about, not even much to Yelp about. I went to the store bought my own ribeye, and grilled it. It was fantastic. Let me know if you guys need some pointers on how to grill meat.
(2)
Emily M.
Here are a few things that were wrong with our experience: 1. We waited forever to order drinks and found out that our booth wasn't even in a section. 2. The steak was over cooked- a medium was cooked well done. The bill came close to $60. Our server was nice but too busy, and the food definitely wasn't worth what we paid for it.
(2)
Ryne S.
This place doesn't even deserve one star. Waited over an hour for our food on a non busy Sunday night. My steak came out cold, I sent it back for a new one and they said they would get me a new steak. They put my steak back on the grill, burnt the living shit out of it and then brought it back to me. Horrible experience and won't come back again.
(1)
Elle W.
I have always loved Outback in other cities! The Bloomington location is awful. The food has been awful and never tasted very good. Don't waste your time and money! Very poor management!
(1)
Jeremy W.
I come here for 22 reasons: the Big Bloke, 22 ounce Foster's to go with the amazing steaks. Feed your face. Feed it!
(5)
Meow M.
The food is great. The female manager with the bug eyes doesn't know the definition of customer service and enjoys screaming at and degrading her employees for no perceivable reason in fromt of customers, whether busy or slow. The omly redeeming quality of this restaurant in terms of customer service is the male manager who is always pleasant to talk to and is in general a great presence. The service is lacking, a little over a year ago the service was much better. However, if I was a decent server I would never want to work for the dragon lady either. Get rid of her and put the gentleman manager or someone much more experienced in social situations in charge and the service would improve along with everything else, making this location much more on par with the rest of the company.
(3)
Tamara M.
The boyfriend LOVES Outback Steakhouse and begs to go every time we have cause for celebration. Unfortunately, they're only open for dinner, the place is swarming with families, and service is super-slow. We made the mistake of trying to go the night the parents were driving their kids back to school from spring break, and were looking at a 45 minute wait just go get in (not to mention the hour it would take them to prepare the food). The teenager at the front chastised us for not calling ahead, which is the primary reason we turned around and went somewhere else. The food is nice; it's a franchise, so it tastes the same there as it would any other Outback. The boyfriend likes the Blooming Onion, and I like the pumpernickel bread. Though ordering one of the burgers is close to a death wish, they offer some pretty healthy options: the grilled chicken or a six-inch steak with veggies is tasty, filling, and reasonable.
(3)
Stephen F.
Outback is always consistent. The slow roasted pork tenderloin is exceptional. I don't know of anywhere else to get it.
(5)
Colleen M.
Bloomin onion isn't that great... but its no longer at chili's so its nice that they still have it. I've had mostly great food at outback with a few exceptions. One thing I like, they carry Kendall Jackson, do half price wine on Sundays and as long as they open it, you have a sip, you can take it home (if you don't feel like goign out to Oliver, it's too late, or you just want some KJ). The thing that for me brings this place to one of my favorites, their ribs, oh my dear goodness!!!! Only my mom makes better ribs and I've tried many ribs! Still can't find them, bugs me that a chain has to have the best ribs, but they do. Wedge salad is good too, my lamb chops weren't the best.
(3)
fred n.
Their Outback special is like eating rubber. Ceaser salad would have been ok if it hadn't been swimming in dressing. Don't see the draw of this chain at all!
(1)
Lindsay B.
This particular Outback did me wrong in 2007 and I haven't gone back since. Perhaps I'm being a little dramatic (I have that tendency, I realize) but everything about my experience at this location rubbed me the wrong way. I used to love Outback. I'd request it for my birthday almost every year when I was a kid. They had a good, loyal customer in me and I'd go as an adult when I wanted a good dinner. This came to a screeching halt in 2007. It started with the prices. I realize our great country fell into an economic funk around this time so it may not have been so bad - if they didn't raise the prices and cut the portions simultaneously. Seriously, $16 for an 11 ounce steak? At OUTBACK? This isn't Ruth's Chris, this is freaking Outback! Used to be 12 bucks for a 12 ounce steak, which was a good deal. Needing to save some money myself, I had to opt for the 6 ounce steak for 10 bucks. No big deal, I figured. It's healthier to eat less meat, plus the salad and bread are always awesome so that would fill me up. NOPE! For a table of four they gave us one loaf of bread. That was enough for one small slice each. No one came by and asked if we wanted more, and when I did ask they said they'd bring it out but never did. I asked twice. The salad used to be glorious. Plenty of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, crutons, with a big pile of cheese on top. The salad I received was pathetic. A couple shreds of lettuce, one (count 'em, ONE) tomato, a couple cucumbers, a couple croutons, and a meager topping of cheese. For upping the prices so much, they sure are misers at this Outback location! And then the steak, dear lord, the steak... I asked for medium rare. What I got was a burnt-crisp piece of meat no larger than the size of a deck of cards. Yes, that's the dieter's portion, but you DON'T GO TO OUTBACK ON A DIET! You want a big, juicy, delicious steak and you're not counting every calorie while you eat it! I paid $20 with drink, tip, and tax, and left hungry and unhappy. I sent a complaint to the manager but he/she never responded. I've written this same type of review on several websites so manager, if you're out there, know that I'm still unhappy five years later and I never plan on coming back! And dear readers, if you want a good steak, let me tell ya something. Outback sells a 9 ounce filet for $22, right? Go to Kroger, look for Laura's Beef in the meat section. Grab a filet package, which will run at about $20 and give you two 8 ounce steaks. Take those babies home and heat a pan at medium. Throw some butter in your pan and coat your steaks in a bit of salt and pepper. When the butter is melted and your pan is hot, add your steaks. Cook on one side for a few minutes (until lightly browned), then flip. Cook another couple minutes. Turn the steaks on their side if they're thick and rotate the steaks until they're cooked all the way around. Serve with your favorite sides and you will have yourself a meal that rivals anything you could ever get at Outback. Guaranteed.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Lynn J.
I took the family and friends to Outback the other night for the first visit in some time. Pleasant evening and good food with some hiccoughs. Our party of 8 needed the leaf of the table turned up to make two tables wide enough together. Amusing that the Hostess had no idea how to do it, then the server had no grasp of how to do it. I could not believe they were not shown how their first training day. It seems a simple and elementary thing to cover right with "Here is the bathroom" or "the silverware goes here." So we were finally settled and ordered and began drinks and got salads. I was disconcerted to have drinks and salads passed across the face of two people instead of brought to the other side of the table. (Yes, there was ample room all around our table.) Perhaps such arm-in-the-face service is considered Australian for casual. And it saves on hankies. We enjoyed good fresh salads, well prepared. We all shared a bloomin' onion, that Outback favorite, and it was even better shared with so many instead of overeaten by a few. When the main dishes came, the salad and hor's d'oeuvre plates were not cleared so my aunt asked for hers to be moved from her place. The server wanted it to be passed across everyone to her. I declined to shuffle it the length of the table so she said she would come get it, but after going to do something else: "I see your impatience and raise you a delay." Then other things came up before any salad plates were cleared: "I see your impatience and I raise you two delays." Finally some salad plates were removed but not the one which my aunt had asked to be removed, nor several others: "I see your impatience and raise you two delays and a denial." It became amusing to watch how seriously poor the service of the table was. Does no one else prefer to eat without being surrounded by dirty dishes? Is it just me, being fussy? Still and all our meat was excellent and perfectly cooked. I recommend you eat meat at Outback. I had the seared Ahi for my main course. While it had a delicious blackened coating, it had more the look, feel, texture and temperature of something precooked and slipped from the bag than fresh from the searing pan. I get better at Indianapolis Airport and that is an amazingly negative comparison if you know airport food. I ate and enjoyed it, I am merely comparing. The salad underneath was nice. I will go back to Outback from time to time. I did not snub on the tip. But I sincerely hope I have a server with experience and sense next time. Pleasant and smiling is not really enough to go the distance in making a dinner special or even smoothly pleasant. I can cook a good steak and leave dirty dishes on the table at home for less.
(4)Greg K.
I have enjoyed steaks and the bar in the past. Tonight wanted a snack and beer TWO of 8 taps were off. Chain beer only. Mac and cheese was sub standard. I cannot suggest this place for a snack!; Wife not pleased. Likely lost our future business. Oh well. Many good local places!
(2)Lyn M.
Let me just start by saying I love Outback and I love their food. However, my last visit here has made me begin to rethink my position. This was our only meal of the day (2:30ish) and we were famished. But by the time we were done, we all wished we had gone to Taco Bell. 1. Service was horribly slow. 2. Heard more "I'm sorries" from the wait staff than I ever care to hear again in my life (they said it to our table and others and wrote it on the check simply cuz they couldn't get things correct) 3. Lots and lots of breaking dishes. 4. Steaks weren't cooked properly and the one most rare was tough 5. 5 pieces of ahi tuna for $11? It used to be worth the money - no more. 6. Ordered items that weren't received 7. They've ruined the Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie appetizer by adding tomatoes & skewers, garlic mashed potatoes tasted like the box they're shipped in, smallest sweet potato they could find. I could go on, but you get the gist. And the last kicker after all that nonsense - the bill came to $100! Definitely NOT worth the mediocre food and the crap service.
(1)Franklin D.
I re-visited this place finally for lunch on a weekend. The service was pretty good, the food totally reminded me of TGI Friday's, Chili's, any other freezer-truck chain. Nothing to write home about, not even much to Yelp about. I went to the store bought my own ribeye, and grilled it. It was fantastic. Let me know if you guys need some pointers on how to grill meat.
(2)Emily M.
Here are a few things that were wrong with our experience: 1. We waited forever to order drinks and found out that our booth wasn't even in a section. 2. The steak was over cooked- a medium was cooked well done. The bill came close to $60. Our server was nice but too busy, and the food definitely wasn't worth what we paid for it.
(2)Ryne S.
This place doesn't even deserve one star. Waited over an hour for our food on a non busy Sunday night. My steak came out cold, I sent it back for a new one and they said they would get me a new steak. They put my steak back on the grill, burnt the living shit out of it and then brought it back to me. Horrible experience and won't come back again.
(1)Elle W.
I have always loved Outback in other cities! The Bloomington location is awful. The food has been awful and never tasted very good. Don't waste your time and money! Very poor management!
(1)Jeremy W.
I come here for 22 reasons: the Big Bloke, 22 ounce Foster's to go with the amazing steaks. Feed your face. Feed it!
(5)Meow M.
The food is great. The female manager with the bug eyes doesn't know the definition of customer service and enjoys screaming at and degrading her employees for no perceivable reason in fromt of customers, whether busy or slow. The omly redeeming quality of this restaurant in terms of customer service is the male manager who is always pleasant to talk to and is in general a great presence. The service is lacking, a little over a year ago the service was much better. However, if I was a decent server I would never want to work for the dragon lady either. Get rid of her and put the gentleman manager or someone much more experienced in social situations in charge and the service would improve along with everything else, making this location much more on par with the rest of the company.
(3)Tamara M.
The boyfriend LOVES Outback Steakhouse and begs to go every time we have cause for celebration. Unfortunately, they're only open for dinner, the place is swarming with families, and service is super-slow. We made the mistake of trying to go the night the parents were driving their kids back to school from spring break, and were looking at a 45 minute wait just go get in (not to mention the hour it would take them to prepare the food). The teenager at the front chastised us for not calling ahead, which is the primary reason we turned around and went somewhere else. The food is nice; it's a franchise, so it tastes the same there as it would any other Outback. The boyfriend likes the Blooming Onion, and I like the pumpernickel bread. Though ordering one of the burgers is close to a death wish, they offer some pretty healthy options: the grilled chicken or a six-inch steak with veggies is tasty, filling, and reasonable.
(3)Stephen F.
Outback is always consistent. The slow roasted pork tenderloin is exceptional. I don't know of anywhere else to get it.
(5)Colleen M.
Bloomin onion isn't that great... but its no longer at chili's so its nice that they still have it. I've had mostly great food at outback with a few exceptions. One thing I like, they carry Kendall Jackson, do half price wine on Sundays and as long as they open it, you have a sip, you can take it home (if you don't feel like goign out to Oliver, it's too late, or you just want some KJ). The thing that for me brings this place to one of my favorites, their ribs, oh my dear goodness!!!! Only my mom makes better ribs and I've tried many ribs! Still can't find them, bugs me that a chain has to have the best ribs, but they do. Wedge salad is good too, my lamb chops weren't the best.
(3)fred n.
Their Outback special is like eating rubber. Ceaser salad would have been ok if it hadn't been swimming in dressing. Don't see the draw of this chain at all!
(1)Lindsay B.
This particular Outback did me wrong in 2007 and I haven't gone back since. Perhaps I'm being a little dramatic (I have that tendency, I realize) but everything about my experience at this location rubbed me the wrong way. I used to love Outback. I'd request it for my birthday almost every year when I was a kid. They had a good, loyal customer in me and I'd go as an adult when I wanted a good dinner. This came to a screeching halt in 2007. It started with the prices. I realize our great country fell into an economic funk around this time so it may not have been so bad - if they didn't raise the prices and cut the portions simultaneously. Seriously, $16 for an 11 ounce steak? At OUTBACK? This isn't Ruth's Chris, this is freaking Outback! Used to be 12 bucks for a 12 ounce steak, which was a good deal. Needing to save some money myself, I had to opt for the 6 ounce steak for 10 bucks. No big deal, I figured. It's healthier to eat less meat, plus the salad and bread are always awesome so that would fill me up. NOPE! For a table of four they gave us one loaf of bread. That was enough for one small slice each. No one came by and asked if we wanted more, and when I did ask they said they'd bring it out but never did. I asked twice. The salad used to be glorious. Plenty of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, crutons, with a big pile of cheese on top. The salad I received was pathetic. A couple shreds of lettuce, one (count 'em, ONE) tomato, a couple cucumbers, a couple croutons, and a meager topping of cheese. For upping the prices so much, they sure are misers at this Outback location! And then the steak, dear lord, the steak... I asked for medium rare. What I got was a burnt-crisp piece of meat no larger than the size of a deck of cards. Yes, that's the dieter's portion, but you DON'T GO TO OUTBACK ON A DIET! You want a big, juicy, delicious steak and you're not counting every calorie while you eat it! I paid $20 with drink, tip, and tax, and left hungry and unhappy. I sent a complaint to the manager but he/she never responded. I've written this same type of review on several websites so manager, if you're out there, know that I'm still unhappy five years later and I never plan on coming back! And dear readers, if you want a good steak, let me tell ya something. Outback sells a 9 ounce filet for $22, right? Go to Kroger, look for Laura's Beef in the meat section. Grab a filet package, which will run at about $20 and give you two 8 ounce steaks. Take those babies home and heat a pan at medium. Throw some butter in your pan and coat your steaks in a bit of salt and pepper. When the butter is melted and your pan is hot, add your steaks. Cook on one side for a few minutes (until lightly browned), then flip. Cook another couple minutes. Turn the steaks on their side if they're thick and rotate the steaks until they're cooked all the way around. Serve with your favorite sides and you will have yourself a meal that rivals anything you could ever get at Outback. Guaranteed.
(1)