Came here for the steak & unlimited shrimp. I called ahead and still managed to have to wait 45 minutes after we arrived. Service is always good here and food is usually top notch. My only issue is my steak was not very seasoned. The garlic shrimp & fried shrimp came out in a timely manner. My steak was cooked perfectly as usual. The garlic mashed potatoes had the right ratio of potato & garlic. I would strongly recommend that you call quite bit ahead & then arrive shortly prior to your time otherwise you will be waiting longer than anticipated.
(3)
Ami T.
Came in because my husband and I like their prime rib. Amy, our server was very attentive and sweet. The bread, appetizers, and salad came out great but the problem was our prime rib. We split the prime rib but instead of making the meat thinner and splitting it for the both of us, they cut it into two, uneven pieces. Also, we ordered medium rare and they gave us tough, well-done meat. Thank you Amy for taking it back and exchanging it for a juicer slice. :). Lastly, the broccoli... The broccoli was overcooked to a point that it was mushy. Plus, they simply gave us two GIANT pieces of broccoli. Were the cooks too lazy to chop it into smaller pieces? Overall, great service staff but they need to see what's happening in the kitchen.
(3)
Nichelle B.
The service was great. Our server Russell was amazing. The prices weren't spectacular for what we got, but the food wasn't too bad. Salad dressing was a little weak for being bleu cheese. I really couldn't tell the difference between that and ranch to be honest. The steak was perfect, which actually surprised me. Normally, my steak is over cooked under cooked. I guess my review is more for the service and not the food. Best service I've received in a long time.
(3)
Veronica W.
Sad to say that the recent reviews about this place are spot on. Our server was terrible and the food was only mediocre. Aussie fries were so greasy could not eat them. Had to ask twice for everything like ketchup and water. Salad ordered with Italian dressing came with mustard vinaigrette. Shouldn't the server have informed us that? Then she didn't ask if there was a problem when I pushed the whole thing aside. When she came back to remove the salad plates, STILL didn't bother to ask. Neither my husband nor I had a great entree. Potatoes barely warm, and the unlimited shrimp took forever to get refilled. It just goes on and on. Such a waste of $$$ for such OK food and service. We'll drive out to Firebirds instead!
(2)
Cathy W.
I hesitate to give this review even 1 star ... For the first time in years, we have been severely disappointed ... 2 of almost everything was delivered to our table ... We kept saying we already got that ... The response was, well, if you don't take it, we have to throw it away ... The check was wrong and wrong and wrong again ... A quick soup and salad luncheon turned out to be a massive comedy of errors !!! Luckily, being a holiday, I don't have an appointment waiting on me !!!
(1)
Anna L.
Decided to give this place a second try and failed epically. The waiter was unenthusiastic and sounded bored. The buffalo chicken dip was alright. I ordered the grilled salmon and it wasn't anything special. My friend ordered the filet mignon, well done, and it came out burnt. I mean almost fully black. The manager was nice enough to bring out another one for free. Another ordered a sirloin and barely any seasoning. A kid at table ordered chicken fingers and they were over fried. Nothing really special at this place. Give me bad food once, shame on you. Serve me bad food again, shame on me. Never coming back.
(1)
Michael P.
It's been a while since I stopped by this Outback location at Oak Park Mall. In fact, I had sworn off Outback altogether because I was sick of their kitschy, fake Aussieness and subpar steaks. On my first time back in years, I was pleasantly surprised. 20 bucks for an eight ounce sirloin, shrimp, salad, and choice of dessert. Not a bad deal. I was most drawn back to Outback for the carside pick up. With a three month old in the house, going out to eat isn't as easy as it used to be. With convenient online ordering and lightning fast carside pick up, Outback gives me the opportunity to order from home, pick up in a jiffy, and get home in time to bond with my little guy. My carside server was friendly and quick and offered to put the food in the backseat for me. The food was better than I remember and with the convenient carside pickup option now available, I'll consider more stops here soon.
(3)
Ariel M.
Well it was a bit disappointing, especially since the place has steak house in the name. I had the sirloin with grilled shrimp, side was rice and had the baked potato soup. Total cost was about $20, overall I didn't think it was worth it. I asked for medium rare steak and it was medium rare, but it was a horrible cut. I suppose you can't really go to a large restaurant like outback and expect decent steak but then they shouldn't label themselves as a steak. The shrimp however was pretty decent. excellent flavor, not dried out, and well seasoned, but nothing exceptional. The rice was alright but slightly overcooked, far too mushy. The best part of the meal was sadly the soup, which was fantastic but came in a very small portion. Now for the service. Our waiter was good, the waiter of the people next to us not so much, but I should only review my own. Ours was good, he kept our glasses full, didn't keep us waiting too long, and thank god he didn't hover. It probably also helped that it was a busy time so he couldn't hover and be a good waiter (unlike our neighbors waiter, but I digress). The only bad thing about service was the seater at the beginning. We had made a reservation for 7 pm, 2 people and we weren't seated till 15 minutes after 7 and they seated a party of 4 that came after us and didn't have reservations. That little incident put a damper on the rest of the meal. So all in all there are better restaurants in kc I would rather go to. I would only go again if a friend tried really hard to convince me.
(3)
Cindi W.
My husband and I went there for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Our server was nice but not very attentive. My salad arrived with a tiny dot of dressing and when I asked for more, the server wanted me to dig through the salad to look for the dressing she claimed was hidden beneath. The bowl is shallow so it wasn't an easy task without spilling it all over the table. She finally agreed to bring me some dressing. My husband got a large salad as his entree. It arrived with NO salad dressing at all and it took forever to flag down someone to get some. Our server wasn't all that busy but never seemed to be around when you needed her. My steak was mediocre but cooked properly. The garlic mashed potatoes were so salty, they were not palatable. No extra bread was offered either. We will most likely not bother going back.
(2)
Mike B.
From the kids- the bread is delicious and we love the steaks, and great side choices, this is our favorite restaurant. From the folks- well I love the Outback, everything they serve is made fresh down to the croutons, the steaks are consistently good, the Fosters on tap for me and a Wallaby Darn for the wife. Well the family loves this place, and it just received the new decor package. .awesome improvement. .
(5)
Beau G.
Today's meal was a disappointment. They were out of kc strip and everyone's food came out over cooked. It was a major accomplishment to get ketchup for everyone. We will not be going back
(1)
Toni C.
Great food, not so great service, especially through the curbside to go. They are so slow and it takes double the estimated time for me to get my food. Half the time no one even comes out to my car and I have to go find a hostess to check on my food.
(1)
David R.
I had the $7.99 Outback Burger lunch special. I was with a group but this review was limited just to the burgEr. The burger comes with a choice of a side (e.g. Aussie fries, baked potato, even vegetables) for $7.99. That price is competitive with Five Guys McDonald's and Burger King . I ordered mine wrapped in lettuce. As you know outback has an extensive gluten-free menu . The taste of the burger was satisfactory. I declined the included side so I cannot comment on them. Why not five star? Well on this visit, the glasses at the front where they provide lemon water for customers waiting to be seated were dirty (we promptly told hostess). The plates originally placed on the table and also dirty. (The waiter brought clean plates upon request). The food running was delayed . A few minutes between the first group of food and the second group. In addition to half the party having their food much sooner than the other half, Delivery of the catsup and mustard was delayed by at least four minutes from arrival of the burger. And the bill was incorrect and had to be re-done. The other members of the party, who do not yelp, generally expressed satisfaction with their food and commented on how nice it was that the fried food was exactly right so it was crispy not burned. Their meals ranged from steak to lobster tacos and they also seem to generally happy with the price.
(4)
Casandra G.
What a horrible trip to the Outback Steakhouse , went in with a party of ten even made a reservation and from the moment we got there the customer service was not very good, even with a reservation we still waited 20 mins. to be seated even tho the restaurant wasn't busy and their were open tables available, so after being seated and placing our drink orders that she rushed us to make we waited another 15 mins for the drinks and it just got worse, the waitress wasn't friendly she brought our food out in two sessions 20 mins. apart so half of us had our food and the other half waited 20 additional mins. never had that happen at any restaurant and if couldn't get any worse it took 23 mins to receive and pay the bill it was by far one of the worst experiences at a restaurant i ever had. The waitress was not friendly and not attentive.
(1)
Patrick Y.
Great place for dinner like any other franchised steak houses. This outback in particular is spacious and features a lot of booths for seating. The service was quick and the wait staff was very courteous. Close to the Oak Park Mall... it's convenient for those wanting a quick "surf-and-turf-esque" lunch or dinner. The food were prepared as we asked for and the prices were reasonable. Will return in the future.
(4)
Amanda W.
I feel like Outback gets sort of a bad rep sometimes. Granted my experience was a to-go experience. Ordered some steak and dessert for me and another person last weekend. I was pleasantly surprised to see they had adopted the curbside parking that a lot of other restaurants do. It was quick, simple. I got home and honestly the food was delicious. Both the steaks (medium and medium-rare) were cooked to absolute perfection. The only complaint is that they put the fries in with the steak on one of the orders, which led to nothing but a mushy mass of what was once french fries.. either way, not a bad experience.
(4)
Jacob E.
Outback has great steaks, at not too expensive prices. The taste is very good, plus lots of great sides and bread. The kids menu has enough and the place is very kid friendly. They have a walk in seating area that is a nice addition to the restaurant.
(5)
Billie H.
I like Outback when I am in the mood for a steak, but don't want to go out. The car side to go option is a nice alternative. I always get good service and my order is always complete. My complaint would be that the cooks have no clue how to cook steaks. Luckily, they under cook them so instead of being stuck with a steak that is well done when you order it medium, you will get a steak that is barely medium rare and you can correct it instead of being left with a dry overcooked steak. This happens every time that I order for pick up. They have a nice selection of sides to choose from to go with your meal. The entree salads are a nice option for a meal also. Overall a good place to stop and grab a quick steak to take home and finish cooking properly. If I was eating in I would probably pick elsewhere though.
(3)
Nick A.
Steak was cooked properly (rare). About what you would expect from a chain steakhouse. Reasonably priced as well, you get a good sized steak for ~$20.00.
(4)
Timothy R.
We have been going to this Outback for quite a while. The food is good, the new atmosphere is nice and the wait staff is attentive. However, the wait time has recently become unbearable. Part of the problem is the seating of large groups who spend a large amount of time talking rather than eating. Unfortunately, because of this we will be eating elsewhere for awhile until this problem is rectified.
(3)
Gina M.
I always enjoy the food and atmosphere here and the wait staff is always attentive. There are a few dishes I wouldn't try again, but I love the teriyaki steak medallions and the sweet-glazed pork tenderloin.
(4)
Ann L.
Our recent Saturday night visit was somewhat of a disappointment. We called ahead so we wouldn't have the 50-minute wait that was in force when we arrived, having encountered their inefficient approach to welcoming guests in the past. Seems like a "guest" might be offered a drink while they wait just out of hospitality. Tea? Water? On the other hand, one of my pet peeves is the way wait staff these days arrives as the menus are hitting the table and expect guests to know what beverages are available, not to mention which one they might want. Really, I'm out for an evening, not for a pop quiz. I consistently flunk the "what do you want to drink" question, as I don't have time to consider the options. If restaurants only knew how many times I opt for water then see the lucious offerings I could have had, they would bring water and help me decide! Questions like alcohol or non? Hot or cold? Red or White? would help narrow the choice. My potato soup was tasty, but my husband's salad was delivered in the hit-and-run style common today, so when he figured out it had the wrong dressing there was no one in site to care or help. The disappearing waitress syndrome took over and I grabbed someone else's waiter to get it fixed. My Mahi with Artichoke-Lemon sauce was disappointing. The portion was, I'm certain, accurate, but small. The square of fish looked like it came out of a box from Mrs Pauls, and was cooked quite thoroughly to the state just before rubber. The lemon sauce was really very tasty, but to call it Artichoke Heart sauce would imply that it acutally had more Artichoke Hearts than the one 1/2-teaspoon bite I got. It was more like Sundried Tomato Lemon sauce, as there were plenty of those, which is fine if that's what you want and ordered but in this case it was not. Yes, the menu says it has sundried tomatoes, but no, the name of the dish would lead me to think I would have more Artichokes than Sundried Tomatoes. The vegetable side was the best part of the meal. Steamed to aldente, the carrots and brocolli were tasty, fresh and good. They balanced with the fish side of the plate quite nicely. The dirty rice that came under the fish was acceptable, but not a star. When we had ordered dinner, the waitress insisted on taking our menus, though I had spotted a Salted Caramel Cookie on the specials menu that looked tempting at only $4.99. She assured me the desert menu was on our table, though I pointed out to her that the BEER & WINE lable on the book had misled me. Unfortunately, when I went to order desert, I discovered that the cookie I wanted was not in that menu, but she said she could get us one of those. Again, her apathy was overwhelming. I asked in a friendly tone if she was having a rough night, and she said she was overwhelmed because they were busy. Really. I thought busy was good for waitresses--how they make a living. Not busy means less than minimum wage, doesn't it? What's up with the attitude? Do you want us to go home & cook so you have both a light evening AND a light wallet? Really? Anyway, the cookie came, and it was flavorful, but served room temp. The ice cream on top just sat there, puddling sadly. After a couple bites, i got up and walked back the the entry where I could find a menu that confirmed my memory that the cookie was supposed to be warm. They said they would re-do the dessert, but by then we just wanted to make our movie on time. Really, folks, it's Saturday Night! We don't want to spend another 20 minutes waiting on you. They took it off the bill, promised to get us one to go, but never did. I agree with the other Yelper that the whole pseudo Aussie thing is so plastic it reeks, but if they cranked their act up a couple notches they still stand the chance of being a decent place to get mid-priced food nicely done. The right wait staff could do a whole lot for the place. Making the food match the menu would be a certain way to get to success, as the menu really sells this food.
(2)
Mitch G.
Always have good and consistent service at this location. The new remodel is more fun with an expanded bar area, large tables and new menu.
(4)
Rose L.
OK, two stars look downright mean, but when I roll over my options, two says "Meh, I've experienced better," while three says "A-OK." It was definitely NOT A-OK, and I have definitely experienced much better,thus two stars. I took my daughter and her boyfriend to Outback for her high school graduation dinner. Her choice . . .definitely not mine. It had been twelve years since I had been in this particular Outback, and lo and behold, they have not changed a thing! Same old dark, dreary Westerny feel. Blech. The staff was all super nice and welcoming. Well, the kid at the host desk wasn't really articulate at all . . .his saggy khakis might have been interfering with his voice, I don't know, but through some gesturing and mumbling, he did show me to a table. Our server tried way too hard to be cutesey, and it turned out to be loud and a little elementary. Maybe it works for senior citizens and people with little kids, but not me and my 18 year old guests. Hey, at least she kept check on us and made sure we were taken care of. I ordered a beer, and I needed it quick, as I had just called the vet about my deathly ill dog and needed to act happy in front of my daughter, and honestly, it took fifteen minutes to get the beer. She came by numerous times saying it was on the way, and it apparently was not on the way. The restaurant was about 1/3 full at the time. And now to the food. Good Lord. Outback must own stock in Morton Salt, as everything was drenched in it. Of course, if they are used to people who wouldn't know tasty steak if it smacked them up side the head, then I guess salt and rich, gross sauces are the way to go, but EVERYTHING was way oversalted to the point I had to choke it down, and I hate wasting food. We started with the bloomin onion. Salty, but we ate most of it. Best when dipped in the mayonnaise-based concoction to drown out the salt as much as possible. I ordered the Ahi Tuna with steamed (oversteamed and limp) veggies and a loaded baked potatoe. The potatoe was by far the best thing I had all night, other than the gigantic beer that helped lighten my mood. The ahi tuna was served sashimi style, overcrusted with salty spices, and overcooked. It wasn't horrible, and I ate it, but it wasn't anything I would label "good." My daughter did not like the crab cakes. I thought she had to be nuts after the way our server talked them up, so I tasted them. Salt! (You might be noticing the theme here). Her bf ordered some kind of chicken breast with bacon and cheese on it. He snarfed it up, so I guess that was OK. He also loved his flavored iced tea. Hey, I ate most of mine and sent a little home with the kiddo, but it was really below average. I can find loads of places in K.C. to spend just a wee bit more money and get a heck of an incredible steak dinner. Or ahi tuna. Or crab cakes. Overall, I don't plan to return unless I am treating and it's someone else's request. I think this is great for people who automatically grab the salt shaker. This will save them a bit of their usual restaurant workout.
(2)
Matt J.
I know Outback is a chain, but if I want a great steak and I can't afford Hereford House, this is the place I go. Love the food, the service and the prices!
(4)
Desiree D.
I went out to dinner with my boyfriend on a Thursday night. They were having a fundraiser with the police department for the special Olympics which I thought was super sweet. But on a Thursday when it was semi-busy my boyfriend and I sat down at 7:45 and didn't leave till 9:30 because the waitress took forever getting our food completely forgot about our appetizer until her manager came out with our food and I looked up at him confused for why we hadn't gotten our spin dip. My boyfriend waited 20minutes to get his mixed drink. Not impressed. We've gone there before and never had to wait that long. For forgetting the dip they took it off the bill then gave me the wrong one. Worried that she would give my credit card away I paid in cash giving a petty tip and walked away. Being a waitress I know it's hard but come on! The food was excellent and my steak was cooked to perfection but I would've preferred to get it a little sooner than I did
(3)
Samantha R.
I think the service at this particular location used to be much better. I went out for a birthday dinner, and I didn't even get recognized for the occasion, not that I asked for it, but I was turning 21, he had to check my ID and we mentioned it in the conversation. The watermelon margaritas were sub-par, our server paid more attention to the women behind us who wanted to discuss his belt buckle, and I used to eat here quite frequently and the food is not up to it's normal standards anymore. They recently got new ownership, and I haven't been impressed since then.
(2)
Rob M.
Over the years I've eaten occasionally at Outback when I was looking for an affordable, casual steak dinner. I've come to this location at Oak Park Mall several times as it's close to where my folks live. We ate here the other night when my Mom wasn't in the mood to cook but my Dad was getting over an upset stomach, so they didn't want anything spicy. My folks ordered the 20 oz. prime rib special with crab cakes to be split in the kitchen, which they were accommodating about doing. It was plenty for the two of them, came quite pink, as they had requested, and they said it was tender. I ordered the 12 oz. top sirloin special that came with a couple of crab cakes. The crab cakes were small but pretty good and came with a nicely spicy remoulade sauce for dipping. My top sirloin was cooked a bit more medium than medium-rare, which is what I had ordered, but was still pink in the center. It was flavorful, but chewy. Top sirloin is NOT a tender cut, so know what you're ordering. It can be quite tasty cooked medium-rare or medium, but if you ask for it well done you're risking it being turned into shoe leather! If you're with people who have problems chewing (my folks are at that age) top sirloin's not a good choice for them. But Outback does have more tender (and expensive) options. Outback has always been consistent the times I've eaten at one. The service has been friendly and efficient. On our most recent visit we were sitting next to a large, boisterous party and noticed the manager coming over to apologize for some deficiency in their service which seemed to solve the issue. Later on the manager stopped by our table to check if we were satisfied with our meals, which we were. All in all, there's nothing really remarkable about Outback (and the food is not remotely Australian) but it's reliable, consistent and pretty good value.
(3)
Collin F.
There was a time when I would not have thought twice about eating at Outback Steakhouse. But that was several years ago. After a few not- so-great experiences with their food, I wrote them off my list of 'go-to' restaurants. But flash-forward to a Friday night while my wife's car is getting new tires installed and we need to find a place to eat. Since my steak birthday dinner never happened, someone suggested Outback so we decided to give it a go after all these years. My daughter got the kid's mac-n-cheese, my wife chose the Salmon with vegetables, and I chose the 12-oz sirloin (cooked medium) with lobster tails and a side salad. My wife is not a big fish eater, but she loved the salmon that night. She said it was cooked just right - still flakey and juicy. My steak was also quite good: not over-seasoned or over-cooked. The lobster tails were also quite good but were on the small side (more like large shrimp). And we heard no complaints from our daughter, either. The black bread they serve is still there and that is still good. Our waiter was very good about appearing just when we might need him and made us feel like he was ready and able to please. Overall, the prices were actually decent, too. So, not the greatest steak place I've ever eaten, but I have to say the food and the service won me back on this visit, so chances are we will be back again.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jennifer G.
Came here for the steak & unlimited shrimp. I called ahead and still managed to have to wait 45 minutes after we arrived. Service is always good here and food is usually top notch. My only issue is my steak was not very seasoned. The garlic shrimp & fried shrimp came out in a timely manner. My steak was cooked perfectly as usual. The garlic mashed potatoes had the right ratio of potato & garlic. I would strongly recommend that you call quite bit ahead & then arrive shortly prior to your time otherwise you will be waiting longer than anticipated.
(3)Ami T.
Came in because my husband and I like their prime rib. Amy, our server was very attentive and sweet. The bread, appetizers, and salad came out great but the problem was our prime rib. We split the prime rib but instead of making the meat thinner and splitting it for the both of us, they cut it into two, uneven pieces. Also, we ordered medium rare and they gave us tough, well-done meat. Thank you Amy for taking it back and exchanging it for a juicer slice. :). Lastly, the broccoli... The broccoli was overcooked to a point that it was mushy. Plus, they simply gave us two GIANT pieces of broccoli. Were the cooks too lazy to chop it into smaller pieces? Overall, great service staff but they need to see what's happening in the kitchen.
(3)Nichelle B.
The service was great. Our server Russell was amazing. The prices weren't spectacular for what we got, but the food wasn't too bad. Salad dressing was a little weak for being bleu cheese. I really couldn't tell the difference between that and ranch to be honest. The steak was perfect, which actually surprised me. Normally, my steak is over cooked under cooked. I guess my review is more for the service and not the food. Best service I've received in a long time.
(3)Veronica W.
Sad to say that the recent reviews about this place are spot on. Our server was terrible and the food was only mediocre. Aussie fries were so greasy could not eat them. Had to ask twice for everything like ketchup and water. Salad ordered with Italian dressing came with mustard vinaigrette. Shouldn't the server have informed us that? Then she didn't ask if there was a problem when I pushed the whole thing aside. When she came back to remove the salad plates, STILL didn't bother to ask. Neither my husband nor I had a great entree. Potatoes barely warm, and the unlimited shrimp took forever to get refilled. It just goes on and on. Such a waste of $$$ for such OK food and service. We'll drive out to Firebirds instead!
(2)Cathy W.
I hesitate to give this review even 1 star ... For the first time in years, we have been severely disappointed ... 2 of almost everything was delivered to our table ... We kept saying we already got that ... The response was, well, if you don't take it, we have to throw it away ... The check was wrong and wrong and wrong again ... A quick soup and salad luncheon turned out to be a massive comedy of errors !!! Luckily, being a holiday, I don't have an appointment waiting on me !!!
(1)Anna L.
Decided to give this place a second try and failed epically. The waiter was unenthusiastic and sounded bored. The buffalo chicken dip was alright. I ordered the grilled salmon and it wasn't anything special. My friend ordered the filet mignon, well done, and it came out burnt. I mean almost fully black. The manager was nice enough to bring out another one for free. Another ordered a sirloin and barely any seasoning. A kid at table ordered chicken fingers and they were over fried. Nothing really special at this place. Give me bad food once, shame on you. Serve me bad food again, shame on me. Never coming back.
(1)Michael P.
It's been a while since I stopped by this Outback location at Oak Park Mall. In fact, I had sworn off Outback altogether because I was sick of their kitschy, fake Aussieness and subpar steaks. On my first time back in years, I was pleasantly surprised. 20 bucks for an eight ounce sirloin, shrimp, salad, and choice of dessert. Not a bad deal. I was most drawn back to Outback for the carside pick up. With a three month old in the house, going out to eat isn't as easy as it used to be. With convenient online ordering and lightning fast carside pick up, Outback gives me the opportunity to order from home, pick up in a jiffy, and get home in time to bond with my little guy. My carside server was friendly and quick and offered to put the food in the backseat for me. The food was better than I remember and with the convenient carside pickup option now available, I'll consider more stops here soon.
(3)Ariel M.
Well it was a bit disappointing, especially since the place has steak house in the name. I had the sirloin with grilled shrimp, side was rice and had the baked potato soup. Total cost was about $20, overall I didn't think it was worth it. I asked for medium rare steak and it was medium rare, but it was a horrible cut. I suppose you can't really go to a large restaurant like outback and expect decent steak but then they shouldn't label themselves as a steak. The shrimp however was pretty decent. excellent flavor, not dried out, and well seasoned, but nothing exceptional. The rice was alright but slightly overcooked, far too mushy. The best part of the meal was sadly the soup, which was fantastic but came in a very small portion. Now for the service. Our waiter was good, the waiter of the people next to us not so much, but I should only review my own. Ours was good, he kept our glasses full, didn't keep us waiting too long, and thank god he didn't hover. It probably also helped that it was a busy time so he couldn't hover and be a good waiter (unlike our neighbors waiter, but I digress). The only bad thing about service was the seater at the beginning. We had made a reservation for 7 pm, 2 people and we weren't seated till 15 minutes after 7 and they seated a party of 4 that came after us and didn't have reservations. That little incident put a damper on the rest of the meal. So all in all there are better restaurants in kc I would rather go to. I would only go again if a friend tried really hard to convince me.
(3)Cindi W.
My husband and I went there for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Our server was nice but not very attentive. My salad arrived with a tiny dot of dressing and when I asked for more, the server wanted me to dig through the salad to look for the dressing she claimed was hidden beneath. The bowl is shallow so it wasn't an easy task without spilling it all over the table. She finally agreed to bring me some dressing. My husband got a large salad as his entree. It arrived with NO salad dressing at all and it took forever to flag down someone to get some. Our server wasn't all that busy but never seemed to be around when you needed her. My steak was mediocre but cooked properly. The garlic mashed potatoes were so salty, they were not palatable. No extra bread was offered either. We will most likely not bother going back.
(2)Mike B.
From the kids- the bread is delicious and we love the steaks, and great side choices, this is our favorite restaurant. From the folks- well I love the Outback, everything they serve is made fresh down to the croutons, the steaks are consistently good, the Fosters on tap for me and a Wallaby Darn for the wife. Well the family loves this place, and it just received the new decor package. .awesome improvement. .
(5)Beau G.
Today's meal was a disappointment. They were out of kc strip and everyone's food came out over cooked. It was a major accomplishment to get ketchup for everyone. We will not be going back
(1)Toni C.
Great food, not so great service, especially through the curbside to go. They are so slow and it takes double the estimated time for me to get my food. Half the time no one even comes out to my car and I have to go find a hostess to check on my food.
(1)David R.
I had the $7.99 Outback Burger lunch special. I was with a group but this review was limited just to the burgEr. The burger comes with a choice of a side (e.g. Aussie fries, baked potato, even vegetables) for $7.99. That price is competitive with Five Guys McDonald's and Burger King . I ordered mine wrapped in lettuce. As you know outback has an extensive gluten-free menu . The taste of the burger was satisfactory. I declined the included side so I cannot comment on them. Why not five star? Well on this visit, the glasses at the front where they provide lemon water for customers waiting to be seated were dirty (we promptly told hostess). The plates originally placed on the table and also dirty. (The waiter brought clean plates upon request). The food running was delayed . A few minutes between the first group of food and the second group. In addition to half the party having their food much sooner than the other half, Delivery of the catsup and mustard was delayed by at least four minutes from arrival of the burger. And the bill was incorrect and had to be re-done. The other members of the party, who do not yelp, generally expressed satisfaction with their food and commented on how nice it was that the fried food was exactly right so it was crispy not burned. Their meals ranged from steak to lobster tacos and they also seem to generally happy with the price.
(4)Casandra G.
What a horrible trip to the Outback Steakhouse , went in with a party of ten even made a reservation and from the moment we got there the customer service was not very good, even with a reservation we still waited 20 mins. to be seated even tho the restaurant wasn't busy and their were open tables available, so after being seated and placing our drink orders that she rushed us to make we waited another 15 mins for the drinks and it just got worse, the waitress wasn't friendly she brought our food out in two sessions 20 mins. apart so half of us had our food and the other half waited 20 additional mins. never had that happen at any restaurant and if couldn't get any worse it took 23 mins to receive and pay the bill it was by far one of the worst experiences at a restaurant i ever had. The waitress was not friendly and not attentive.
(1)Patrick Y.
Great place for dinner like any other franchised steak houses. This outback in particular is spacious and features a lot of booths for seating. The service was quick and the wait staff was very courteous. Close to the Oak Park Mall... it's convenient for those wanting a quick "surf-and-turf-esque" lunch or dinner. The food were prepared as we asked for and the prices were reasonable. Will return in the future.
(4)Amanda W.
I feel like Outback gets sort of a bad rep sometimes. Granted my experience was a to-go experience. Ordered some steak and dessert for me and another person last weekend. I was pleasantly surprised to see they had adopted the curbside parking that a lot of other restaurants do. It was quick, simple. I got home and honestly the food was delicious. Both the steaks (medium and medium-rare) were cooked to absolute perfection. The only complaint is that they put the fries in with the steak on one of the orders, which led to nothing but a mushy mass of what was once french fries.. either way, not a bad experience.
(4)Jacob E.
Outback has great steaks, at not too expensive prices. The taste is very good, plus lots of great sides and bread. The kids menu has enough and the place is very kid friendly. They have a walk in seating area that is a nice addition to the restaurant.
(5)Billie H.
I like Outback when I am in the mood for a steak, but don't want to go out. The car side to go option is a nice alternative. I always get good service and my order is always complete. My complaint would be that the cooks have no clue how to cook steaks. Luckily, they under cook them so instead of being stuck with a steak that is well done when you order it medium, you will get a steak that is barely medium rare and you can correct it instead of being left with a dry overcooked steak. This happens every time that I order for pick up. They have a nice selection of sides to choose from to go with your meal. The entree salads are a nice option for a meal also. Overall a good place to stop and grab a quick steak to take home and finish cooking properly. If I was eating in I would probably pick elsewhere though.
(3)Nick A.
Steak was cooked properly (rare). About what you would expect from a chain steakhouse. Reasonably priced as well, you get a good sized steak for ~$20.00.
(4)Timothy R.
We have been going to this Outback for quite a while. The food is good, the new atmosphere is nice and the wait staff is attentive. However, the wait time has recently become unbearable. Part of the problem is the seating of large groups who spend a large amount of time talking rather than eating. Unfortunately, because of this we will be eating elsewhere for awhile until this problem is rectified.
(3)Gina M.
I always enjoy the food and atmosphere here and the wait staff is always attentive. There are a few dishes I wouldn't try again, but I love the teriyaki steak medallions and the sweet-glazed pork tenderloin.
(4)Ann L.
Our recent Saturday night visit was somewhat of a disappointment. We called ahead so we wouldn't have the 50-minute wait that was in force when we arrived, having encountered their inefficient approach to welcoming guests in the past. Seems like a "guest" might be offered a drink while they wait just out of hospitality. Tea? Water? On the other hand, one of my pet peeves is the way wait staff these days arrives as the menus are hitting the table and expect guests to know what beverages are available, not to mention which one they might want. Really, I'm out for an evening, not for a pop quiz. I consistently flunk the "what do you want to drink" question, as I don't have time to consider the options. If restaurants only knew how many times I opt for water then see the lucious offerings I could have had, they would bring water and help me decide! Questions like alcohol or non? Hot or cold? Red or White? would help narrow the choice. My potato soup was tasty, but my husband's salad was delivered in the hit-and-run style common today, so when he figured out it had the wrong dressing there was no one in site to care or help. The disappearing waitress syndrome took over and I grabbed someone else's waiter to get it fixed. My Mahi with Artichoke-Lemon sauce was disappointing. The portion was, I'm certain, accurate, but small. The square of fish looked like it came out of a box from Mrs Pauls, and was cooked quite thoroughly to the state just before rubber. The lemon sauce was really very tasty, but to call it Artichoke Heart sauce would imply that it acutally had more Artichoke Hearts than the one 1/2-teaspoon bite I got. It was more like Sundried Tomato Lemon sauce, as there were plenty of those, which is fine if that's what you want and ordered but in this case it was not. Yes, the menu says it has sundried tomatoes, but no, the name of the dish would lead me to think I would have more Artichokes than Sundried Tomatoes. The vegetable side was the best part of the meal. Steamed to aldente, the carrots and brocolli were tasty, fresh and good. They balanced with the fish side of the plate quite nicely. The dirty rice that came under the fish was acceptable, but not a star. When we had ordered dinner, the waitress insisted on taking our menus, though I had spotted a Salted Caramel Cookie on the specials menu that looked tempting at only $4.99. She assured me the desert menu was on our table, though I pointed out to her that the BEER & WINE lable on the book had misled me. Unfortunately, when I went to order desert, I discovered that the cookie I wanted was not in that menu, but she said she could get us one of those. Again, her apathy was overwhelming. I asked in a friendly tone if she was having a rough night, and she said she was overwhelmed because they were busy. Really. I thought busy was good for waitresses--how they make a living. Not busy means less than minimum wage, doesn't it? What's up with the attitude? Do you want us to go home & cook so you have both a light evening AND a light wallet? Really? Anyway, the cookie came, and it was flavorful, but served room temp. The ice cream on top just sat there, puddling sadly. After a couple bites, i got up and walked back the the entry where I could find a menu that confirmed my memory that the cookie was supposed to be warm. They said they would re-do the dessert, but by then we just wanted to make our movie on time. Really, folks, it's Saturday Night! We don't want to spend another 20 minutes waiting on you. They took it off the bill, promised to get us one to go, but never did. I agree with the other Yelper that the whole pseudo Aussie thing is so plastic it reeks, but if they cranked their act up a couple notches they still stand the chance of being a decent place to get mid-priced food nicely done. The right wait staff could do a whole lot for the place. Making the food match the menu would be a certain way to get to success, as the menu really sells this food.
(2)Mitch G.
Always have good and consistent service at this location. The new remodel is more fun with an expanded bar area, large tables and new menu.
(4)Rose L.
OK, two stars look downright mean, but when I roll over my options, two says "Meh, I've experienced better," while three says "A-OK." It was definitely NOT A-OK, and I have definitely experienced much better,thus two stars. I took my daughter and her boyfriend to Outback for her high school graduation dinner. Her choice . . .definitely not mine. It had been twelve years since I had been in this particular Outback, and lo and behold, they have not changed a thing! Same old dark, dreary Westerny feel. Blech. The staff was all super nice and welcoming. Well, the kid at the host desk wasn't really articulate at all . . .his saggy khakis might have been interfering with his voice, I don't know, but through some gesturing and mumbling, he did show me to a table. Our server tried way too hard to be cutesey, and it turned out to be loud and a little elementary. Maybe it works for senior citizens and people with little kids, but not me and my 18 year old guests. Hey, at least she kept check on us and made sure we were taken care of. I ordered a beer, and I needed it quick, as I had just called the vet about my deathly ill dog and needed to act happy in front of my daughter, and honestly, it took fifteen minutes to get the beer. She came by numerous times saying it was on the way, and it apparently was not on the way. The restaurant was about 1/3 full at the time. And now to the food. Good Lord. Outback must own stock in Morton Salt, as everything was drenched in it. Of course, if they are used to people who wouldn't know tasty steak if it smacked them up side the head, then I guess salt and rich, gross sauces are the way to go, but EVERYTHING was way oversalted to the point I had to choke it down, and I hate wasting food. We started with the bloomin onion. Salty, but we ate most of it. Best when dipped in the mayonnaise-based concoction to drown out the salt as much as possible. I ordered the Ahi Tuna with steamed (oversteamed and limp) veggies and a loaded baked potatoe. The potatoe was by far the best thing I had all night, other than the gigantic beer that helped lighten my mood. The ahi tuna was served sashimi style, overcrusted with salty spices, and overcooked. It wasn't horrible, and I ate it, but it wasn't anything I would label "good." My daughter did not like the crab cakes. I thought she had to be nuts after the way our server talked them up, so I tasted them. Salt! (You might be noticing the theme here). Her bf ordered some kind of chicken breast with bacon and cheese on it. He snarfed it up, so I guess that was OK. He also loved his flavored iced tea. Hey, I ate most of mine and sent a little home with the kiddo, but it was really below average. I can find loads of places in K.C. to spend just a wee bit more money and get a heck of an incredible steak dinner. Or ahi tuna. Or crab cakes. Overall, I don't plan to return unless I am treating and it's someone else's request. I think this is great for people who automatically grab the salt shaker. This will save them a bit of their usual restaurant workout.
(2)Matt J.
I know Outback is a chain, but if I want a great steak and I can't afford Hereford House, this is the place I go. Love the food, the service and the prices!
(4)Desiree D.
I went out to dinner with my boyfriend on a Thursday night. They were having a fundraiser with the police department for the special Olympics which I thought was super sweet. But on a Thursday when it was semi-busy my boyfriend and I sat down at 7:45 and didn't leave till 9:30 because the waitress took forever getting our food completely forgot about our appetizer until her manager came out with our food and I looked up at him confused for why we hadn't gotten our spin dip. My boyfriend waited 20minutes to get his mixed drink. Not impressed. We've gone there before and never had to wait that long. For forgetting the dip they took it off the bill then gave me the wrong one. Worried that she would give my credit card away I paid in cash giving a petty tip and walked away. Being a waitress I know it's hard but come on! The food was excellent and my steak was cooked to perfection but I would've preferred to get it a little sooner than I did
(3)Samantha R.
I think the service at this particular location used to be much better. I went out for a birthday dinner, and I didn't even get recognized for the occasion, not that I asked for it, but I was turning 21, he had to check my ID and we mentioned it in the conversation. The watermelon margaritas were sub-par, our server paid more attention to the women behind us who wanted to discuss his belt buckle, and I used to eat here quite frequently and the food is not up to it's normal standards anymore. They recently got new ownership, and I haven't been impressed since then.
(2)Rob M.
Over the years I've eaten occasionally at Outback when I was looking for an affordable, casual steak dinner. I've come to this location at Oak Park Mall several times as it's close to where my folks live. We ate here the other night when my Mom wasn't in the mood to cook but my Dad was getting over an upset stomach, so they didn't want anything spicy. My folks ordered the 20 oz. prime rib special with crab cakes to be split in the kitchen, which they were accommodating about doing. It was plenty for the two of them, came quite pink, as they had requested, and they said it was tender. I ordered the 12 oz. top sirloin special that came with a couple of crab cakes. The crab cakes were small but pretty good and came with a nicely spicy remoulade sauce for dipping. My top sirloin was cooked a bit more medium than medium-rare, which is what I had ordered, but was still pink in the center. It was flavorful, but chewy. Top sirloin is NOT a tender cut, so know what you're ordering. It can be quite tasty cooked medium-rare or medium, but if you ask for it well done you're risking it being turned into shoe leather! If you're with people who have problems chewing (my folks are at that age) top sirloin's not a good choice for them. But Outback does have more tender (and expensive) options. Outback has always been consistent the times I've eaten at one. The service has been friendly and efficient. On our most recent visit we were sitting next to a large, boisterous party and noticed the manager coming over to apologize for some deficiency in their service which seemed to solve the issue. Later on the manager stopped by our table to check if we were satisfied with our meals, which we were. All in all, there's nothing really remarkable about Outback (and the food is not remotely Australian) but it's reliable, consistent and pretty good value.
(3)Collin F.
There was a time when I would not have thought twice about eating at Outback Steakhouse. But that was several years ago. After a few not- so-great experiences with their food, I wrote them off my list of 'go-to' restaurants. But flash-forward to a Friday night while my wife's car is getting new tires installed and we need to find a place to eat. Since my steak birthday dinner never happened, someone suggested Outback so we decided to give it a go after all these years. My daughter got the kid's mac-n-cheese, my wife chose the Salmon with vegetables, and I chose the 12-oz sirloin (cooked medium) with lobster tails and a side salad. My wife is not a big fish eater, but she loved the salmon that night. She said it was cooked just right - still flakey and juicy. My steak was also quite good: not over-seasoned or over-cooked. The lobster tails were also quite good but were on the small side (more like large shrimp). And we heard no complaints from our daughter, either. The black bread they serve is still there and that is still good. Our waiter was very good about appearing just when we might need him and made us feel like he was ready and able to please. Overall, the prices were actually decent, too. So, not the greatest steak place I've ever eaten, but I have to say the food and the service won me back on this visit, so chances are we will be back again.
(4)