Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Bellingham

It has been a good decade or more since I've been to an Outback Steakhouse. Walking in, it isn't as aggressively faux-stralian as it used to be, with the "way too much stuff on the walls" pared down to a few "visit Australia" and "this is a burger" type art. Long and short- the theme is dead and it just feels like any other chain restaurant.

That said, it is comfy and nice enough. Its atmosphere meets modern family dining expectations.

I was greeted after waiting around for a few minutes, then seated in a booth. I love booths. Like, with a passion. The host took my order since I knew what I wanted, and my waitress came by afterwards offering bread.

Why yes, I would love bread.

It was that sweet dark- maybe it's pumpernickel- bread that they always had and it took me back to sitting around in the same restaurant, cutting bread and chatting. Back then, the Drover's Platter had steak, ribs, and chicken. Sigh. I remember then...

Anyways, I wasn't here for memories. My parents' dog got me a gift card for Christmas, and by gum, I was here to use it. Plus, I was here for something different. Double plus, my Mum kept saying "you can get a bloomin onion." Well, one person is no match for a whole bloomin onion, so I went for the next best thing - the bloomin onion cheese burger. I got a potato with sour cream instead of fries.

I was starving after a long work week and way too much exercise, so I also decided to get a cup of the Tasmanian Chili. I figured I might as well do it up big today.

The chili arrived first, and it looked great. However, it just kinda tasted like fancied up Hormel. Or maybe that Stagg brand chili that used to come in a box. It wasn't inedible, just not thrilling to eat. I think that the Brisket Chili from Gotta Q ruined beanless restaurant chili for me forever.

In quick succession, my burger arrived. I wasn't even halfway through my chili. No worries though, because I arrived with a plan. I read the menu ahead, and I ordered what I ordered so that I could put CHILI ON MY POTATO!

I lopped the potato in two, ate half with chili and sour cream on it, and the other half with just the sourcream. I congratulated myself on my genius.

Then, there was the burger.

It was cooked to medium as I asked, the bloomin onion pieces were abundant and added to the experience, and over all it was a satisfying burger experience for a chain restaurant.

That said, it was a satisfying burger experience from a chain restaurant, but it felt barely elevated above Wendy's. The American cheese is a travesty. The bloomin onion sauce is lost in the morass of cheese. All this makes it taste just like a Wendy's or MAYBE a Five Guys burger. A good Wendy's burger, but a Wendy's burger nonetheless. I want better from a burger at a sit down restaurant, full stop.

With my meal done, I paid up my bill. 20-something dollars isn't bad, but frankly I might have preferred going to Five Guys instead.

Will I go back?

Probably not, unless I'm not paying. I haven't been to The Outback in ages, and there is good reason for it. It is serviceable food, but that is about it. It isn't anything more special than TGI Friday's or something similar. If I'm gonna get a burger or a steak out, I want something that is better than what I can get at home. This? This barely clears the bar, and it is because I'm not making Bloomin Onion bits at home.

There is nothing wrong with The Outback, and I'm sure that there are folks that still love it, but for me? I think I prefer to remember it more than I relish experiencing it again. Don't get me wrong - it was a fine meal. However, I'm at an age where I long for more than just...

If I could give this place 0 stars I would, when we arrived tonight @ 9pm. We waited over 5 minutes while host, servers and bartender walked by us numerous times. We were finally seated at a booth near the bar. The bartender on duty who’s in her late 50’s to early 60’s with the short bob haircut is absolutely TERRIBLE! She shouldn’t be in the industry anymore as it seems to have passed her by. She was short and rude and just took our order and walked away- food came out incredibly greasy with old fryer oil on apps- and steaks came out undercooked and fatty. She did not even check on the tables once per course, and seemed completely oblivious that we were not pleased with our food after pushing it to the side blatantly. My girlfriend and I have been managers, bartenders and servers in the industry mostly in fine dining steak houses such as Smith and Wollensky. So we weren’t expecting the greatest service but this by far takes the cake for one of the worst experiences we ever had. Said bartender was always too busy cleaning or talking to her two regulars at the bar while neglecting us. The only other table tried to flag her down as well but she acted like she didn’t even notice, I know it’s hard to find good help nowadays in the industry but if I was management here I would cut ties with her immediately. Props to manager Kristen though noticing this after coming out from the kitchen for literally 30 seconds and trying to rectify the situation. Needless to say we will not return. Spend your money @ Longhorn which is much...

I was at outbacks for the 1st time in 5 years because I banned myself from going because they could never cook my steak right. I ordered center cut sirloin. I got my meal and the top was so burnt..I couldnt even cut through..btw waitress was excellent...she brought another steak and this too was a little less burnt so I cut a piece and ate it..I had to spit piece out ..the seasoning was so overwhelming. Now I wanted to make sure that I wasnt crazy and had husband try because he eats anything..he was so mad that they served a steak with seasoning like that...so manager sharon very nice said ok well make another with very little seasoning. Got that one and the outside of steak looked much better so I try a piece and spice so overwhelming it burnt the inside of mouth for 3 days..sharon came over and I said we just want bill. She did credit our food and gave us 20 bucks to come back which I never will. What happened to a good ol steak..sharon said 17 bold flavors including 7 types of pepper..what a joke..I begged them to try a piece and she didnt...so good luck you'll be the next business to go out of business..I called my dad in fl and asked if he still goes to to outbacks and he said he hadnt been in a while because he had a problem with his burger.so I told him I.d send the 20 gift card and he said great. I can get some cheesecake! !NOW...