Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Bel Air

We just left this Outback about an hour ago from having dinner. It was a pretty disappointing dinner, for a few reasons. We ordered a Bloomin' Onion appetizer and I made it a point to ask our waitress to give us time to enjoy the onion before the food came out. The onion is one of the main, and almost only, reason we go to Outback. She said she understood and would make it happen. I made it a point because without fail, they bring out your appetizer and before you've had barely any time to enjoy it, here comes your main entree and you have your choice of either jumping straight to your entree and letting the appetizer go, or you continue to eat the appetizer while your main dish gets cold. And when you're paying roughly $30 for a steak, you don't want that to sit and get cold. When the onion came, I asked the gentleman who brought it for a side of ranch as my wife doesn't like the regular sauce. He said he would get it right away. Along came our waitress and I didn't ask her for it since the guy said he would bring it right out. Well, he never brought it. I had to ask our waitress to bring it. Well, in true Outback style, before she came back, here comes our main entrees. My wife hadn't had her first bite of the onion yet. When our server returned with the ranch, I told her that I wasn't thrilled that the entrees were here already, especially given the fact that I asked specifically that that doesn't happen. She apologized and said she would take them away and have them made fresh, but what a waste of food that would be, and most likely they would just sit under a heat lamp anyway and dry out, so I told her no. So, again, and while it was delicious, we left our $11 appetizer to eat our entree before they got cold. My steak ordered medium-rare was somewhat over-cooked, but edible. It was pretty doused in pepper though, enough to burn my tongue a little bit. I don't mind pepper on my steak, and again it was edible, but this was just a little over the top. My wife ordered a wedge salad for one of her sides but asked for ranch instead of the blue cheese. They switched the dressing to ranch, but still piled blue cheese crumbles on top of it. Our server had the salad remade. We don't visit this Outback very often, but this visit was pretty on par with the last few times we've been here. And by the amount of guests in the dining room, it seems like this location is not really doing all that well business wise anymore. Maybe we don't spend the most of any of their guests, but when you're paying roughly $80 for dinner for two, and the dining room is at probably 20% capacity, why the need to rush us through the meal by bringing everything out at once? This visit has kind of left enough of a "final straw" impression on us that it will probably be a much longer time between visits, if we return...

EDIT! About 30 minutes after writing this review, I received a phone call from William Hicks, the Outback manager and spoke to him for at least 15 minutes and he was so kind and apologetic. Today I received a letter from him and some gift cards! This more than makes up for our experience and we will definitely be going back!!! First, it was Valentine’s Day so we expected busy. Placed a to go order that was to expected to be ready at 8:30. Total chaos when we arrived (there was a pick up line the parking spots were blocked) so I called to make sure I was in the correct line etc. The young girl told me yes I was in the correct line and asked my name than proceeded to tell me @ 8:35 that my order hasn’t been started yet because the kitchen is prioritizing the dine in guests. After being asked our name 3x by employees AND checking in online saying we were there, we still were sitting in our car after 9pm. I was seeing other costumers going up to the door and getting their food (although we were told not to) so I decided to see what was going on & there were 10+ bags sitting (and 3 young girls just chatting) but NO food! Finally I got food at approx 9:10! Should’ve snap pics because it was TERRIBLE!!! The bread was cold, wet & mushy on one side and hard and stale on the other & no butter. Our filet meal was literally Cold not even slightly warm, although cooked well. The fresh veggies were wrapped in plastic wrap cold & completely mushy like baby food texture! The veggie juices had leaked into the box I guess and the fries were also mushy & cold!!! I get it was busy, but the expectation times should’ve been readjusted or something! (Although 10-15 bags of food waiting to be picked up doesn’t seem like everyone’s food was late) I honestly wish I would’ve got fast food! $65 on food that was barely editable. My daughter only ate the filet after we warmed it in a skillet. The entire experience was surprisingly terrible. Two managers came outside at one point… they could’ve just apologized. Next year don’t offer carry out! It was...

We arrived around 530 and as you would expect...it was crowded. Dinner time in Bel air. Therefore , we sat at the bar and was greeted by AUSTIN (forest) a pleasant young man. Austin, very accommodating and very personable and attentive. Even if the restaurant isn't crowded next time...we will sit at the Bar if Austin is there. The food was good. The arrival time of the food was right on point. It had been a while since I've been to outback. Only because I have been trying to try recently opened restaurants. This was my go to place. Especially, for the coconut shrimp and Prime rib. I would have given this dining experience a 5 star....if it hadn't been for the prime rib was tough and had gristle running through it in several places of the cut. I only ate a quarter of it. Took it home to try to salvage sum to cut it in thin slices to rid it of the gristle. Prime rib is fatty... there was a acceptable amount. The seasoned and seared flavor was cooked to perfection! I wasn't able to do anything with the cut..but the dog certainly had a nice meal. The delicious warm bread they usually give you was not so at this visit. We asked for a fresher piece...it was the same. The salads were fresh and flavorful. Next time I will not get the prime rib I will try...