Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Fultondale

I've tried this Outback several times now and if they don't change, they'll be like the O'Charlies next door... closed. The hostess was nice and our server was great, they deserve better from the other departments. Most likely management issues because all the personnel we came in contact with was friendly, attentive and professional. To begin with, something was on the seats but the hostess saw it before we did and told us to wait while she got "some disinfectant". No big deal, but as the night went on all the little things added up, things that could be avoided. I came for the lobster and steak, extremely uncommon for me to be able to spring for this kind of food BUT we had a gift certificate and thought it would be a good time to splurge. Our server says, "first of all, let me tell you up front that we don't have any lobster tails, numerous steaks and a few other items. So now it was my choice whether to leave and come back to get lobster or just find something else. We chose the latter. My wife selected the shrimp plate and I went with the sirloin and Alice Springs chicken. Long story short, the only thing that was decent was the salad and French fries. I mean, she doesn't get fries much but for whatever reason... glad she did i guess. Bread was dry and cold, shrimp was old (like from the day before and reheated), chicken was, well, boiled chicken breast slab with a piece of old bacon on top of a mushroom piece (I think) microwaved to melt some Cheddar over top. (I mean seriously, look at the pics. One is from the menu and the other is what I actually got.) The asparagus i paid extra for, I PAID EXTRA FOR, looked like it was cooked in a dishwasher, soggy limp....I don't even know. And the steak, THE STEAK that you go to Outback for...i couldn't chew it. For real. I'm a carnivore. I like to chew me some animal now. Just NOT THE HIDE! I had to spit it out, as inconspicuous as possible. I really REALLY don't want to be one of those people....I usually don't say anything cuz I've heard all the cook's retaliation stories; especially in today's society. We didn't say anything about all the food that was left on the plates, I mean, to me it should be obvious that something's not right. I mean, who goes to a restaurant to order food just to let it sit on the plate? I did tell the waitress about the steak, I should've known better than to try to chew it after sawing on it. She did order me another steak but my appetite was gone. Oh well, been trying to lose a few pounds anyways. The cost was $72 plus tip. And yes I did tip 20%. The guy in the booth beside us had trouble with his steak also and they didn't get the bloomin' onion they ordered until after their meal came and they had reminded several staff. So I know it's not just me. Management- get your act together to save the business. Your employees will have no problem finding work elsewhere, just like I'll have no problem finding...

Worst Outback experience ever. Lindsey was our server. That was a really bad experience in and of itself. I can expound on that in a private conversation with management. I will say, there was a young lady who delivered our food and assisted Lindsey (I did not catch her name, but she was excellent and the only redeeming quality in this entire experience (hence the 3 stars so not to skew the ratings dramatically but still adequately and honestly review today's experience). Please have management reach out, and I can give a detailed description of this star employee). Otherwise, everything else in our experience was awful. I was very patiently waiting my turn to attempt to get our meals corrected but while doing so, our neighboring booth was attempting to get their order corrected and I saw Lindsey roll her eyes at the elderly guest. The utter disrespect in that was the end for me. I waited for almost 20 minutes after my family packed up and went to the car in an attempt to get our bill. My husband came back into the restaurant to find out what was taking so long and he finally got the hostess to get the bill, at which point we traded out and I went to the car while he paid. The meals were inedible. EVERYTHING had a burning spice on them. My husband ordered a steak/ chicken combo, I had Alice Springs chicken (which is my all-time favorite, and I have never had a horrible Alice Springs!!), my daughter ordered a filet, and all of our meals had a HORRIBLE BURNING spice on them. We made it to the Target parking lot where my husband had to pull over, and I lost everything, and I had eaten only a few bites of the chicken. (Of Note: I did make an error above, we ordered the Aussie cheese fries as an appetizer and they were EXCELLENT, HOWEVER, due to whatever the kitchen staff drench all the food in that burned going down and coming back up and even now after midnight as I type this review when I should be getting my things ready for church in the morning, I lost all the cheese fries which was the only good food in our entire meal today. I'm guessing after tip (yes, we are those people, we still left an extremely generous tip), we are out about $130 and I am about to go get some Saltines out of the pantry to eat and go to bed. Such a sad way to end the day, because we don't have an Outback where we live anymore which is the specific reason I chose the place to eat today and made our whole family, including our 2 year old granddaughter sick 😫 (a belated birthday celebration since we are not close anymore amd she only turned 2 five days ago, my poor sweet girl!!!) Definitely not a win for Mimi today, but hopefully, management will take this, figure out what is going on, and improve the restaurant for you guys...

Long post, but I felt like everyone needed to know my experience. I took my mother out for an early Mother's Day dinner Sunday, 5/4/2025. Our experience with our waiter, Ryan, started the second he walked to the table. He brought us some bread, but had to ask for some silverware. He disappeared for a good minute. I asked my mom if he had to roll some silverware because he was gone for so long. A lady brought our food. Wish I had gotten her name. Very sweet lady. Asked us if we needed anything else and she got us some steak sauce and ketchup. Very friendly. Ryan, on the other hand, never once asked us how our food was or if we needed anything. Another waiter brought us tea and we didn't ask for it or needed it, but we thanked him and took it. At first I shrudded Ryans behavior to him being busy with 2 more tables behind us, but when he filled their glasses up with drink, asked them if they needed anything, at least 2-3 times and just walk past our table and said nothing I was about to tell my mom let's get up and leave and not pay, but I knew that wasn't the right thing to do. The food was amazing. The BEST steak I've had in a while. Potato and broccoli was good too. As our visit was coming to a close a man past by our table and the lady that was sitting behind us asked if he was a manager and he said yes. She wanted him to know what such great service Ryan did for her. He thanked her and walked off. I said excuse me and he turned around. I told him I felt like he needed to know mine and my mother's experience too since it was not the same as this lady's. I told him Ryan was a terrible server. Never once asked us how was the food or needed anything. This man laughed in my face. I couldn't believe what we were experiencing. I really almost lost it there. I think he could tell by the look on my face I wasn't pleased. He apologized for laughing. Said the reason he laughed was because the lady behind us had a totally difference experience. I told him I knew because I heard what she said to him and I knew he needed to know that Ryan wasn't that way to all his customers. Overall experience -negative on service. You can't give a - number so he got a 1 star. Food +100 definitely 5+ stars and the lady that brought the food. Beautiful young lady and great smile. I'll go back, but not going to have Ryan next time. I also did a comment when I paid for the food, but Google review wouldn't have seen it and you guys...