Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Georgia

I have not been to the Outback 6 miles from Dawsonville and just off GA-400; however, I have been to a lot of Outback’s all around the nation. Though they are very good competitors — speaking of the one with horns that are exceptionally long — I typically choose the Australian place serving the botanically unique onions with exceptionally large blossoms. Years ago, I thought it was an Austrian themed restaurant, perhaps serving Austrian-Bavarian foods, then blow through an exceptionally long horn to tell my party our table is ready.

But NOOOOooooo! We have ourselves a genuine Aussie themed restaurant — Bloomin’ Onions, generously cut steaks, great drinks and a waiting staff that always met or exceeded expectations. I guess there’s always a bad “Apple that Bees” a bad example, like a waitress we heard cursing us as she walked away, then got loud to another employee at the front of the restaurant. I actually favored that restaurant because I helped the decorators find old photos of the local people and places. Though it was not intended nor people even identified, many of the 19th Century photos of friends and family became their main focus.

A lot of good that did for me…. Sitting there with my family, unusually quiet, we tried our best to be the cordial group many serving staff over the years have said, “I wish all of my customers were like y’all. During that visit a friend who has had a few network specials, came over and sat down to tell us about his next TV show. While there he encountered the waitress and said, “What is her problem??? It was all reported to the manager on duty, then I called their corporate office the next day. Ain’t no Bloomin’ Onions there, just Bloomin’ Idiots. Better hiring practices most probably could have avoided the debacle and kept regular customers returning — we haven’t been back in well over 2 1/2 years.

A sense of complacency often descends on staff after the rush of a grand opening and training of staff. Local customers are the backbone of their business. You cannot have the attitude of, “Plenty more customers where they came from.”’ I’ve waited on Outback to arrive, thrilled you’re here despite my slow first visit. I will become a regular customer!

I grew up and lived for 35 years within 1/2 mile or less from the current Dawsonville Outback. Sadly, I live about a mile away now. LOL Please don’t become complacent like I’ve seen so many do around here. I’ve personally seen many regional and national businesses, mostly food, board up their windows and doors. They were well known, profitable, highly regarded and in excellent locations. Please, remember where the backbone of profitability is held and please share with coworkers, those who work for you and even those potential employees.

Corny old saying, “If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he didn’t get there without the help of someone.”

GO...

UPDATE2: after speaking with the management and giving them a chance, the service and environment was very pleasant. Glad we chose not to stick to our perception and actually gave them a chance to make up for how we were initially treated. Turns out they were genuinely just trying to do their best. They were “in their perception” just trying to diffuse the entire situation. Much thanks to Joe and his team for helping us feel welcomed.

UPDATE: Received a phone call from their district management. Agreed that perception equals reality. The situation was complicated for all. Had a positive conversation. Expecting a follow up in person conversation with local management. Depending on how that goes I will consider changing this review. I’m 100% clear that they cannot control other patrons and what they do but also I’m 100% clear that they are in control of how they react to it. I hope that we can have some positive dialogue where they can learn from my version of events and how their actions could affect the experience their patrons have in the future. I can respect they did the best they thought they could.

I’d like to give a 5 star review but unfortunately I can’t. First visit and we didn’t even eat there. Waited in the parking lot while my husband ordered desert to go. Two men walking into the restaurant were annoyed for reasons beyond me. They were staring at me as they walked past my vehicle and I simply stared back. I gave them no reason or intention to engage with me. That was until they made disrespectful comments at me as they passed my vehicle. I replied in kind and things escalated. My husband came out of the restaurant and our daughter who was still inside asked for the police to be called. No one was arrested but video was taken by my kid. Before the cops arrived, Managements first reaction was to ask my husband and I to leave. Makes me wonder…was it because we had melanin and they didn’t? Hmmm??? I’m a black female, two grown white males get verbally aggressive with me. I send my son (who’s autistic) into the restaurant to get his father. And one of them yells at my son “you best control your bitc#, boy!” (Which is what caused the altercation that occurred). No way I’m allowing anyone to speak to my son that way. When management comes out, they immediately assume we are the problem (even tho it was my daughter who asked for them to call the police). Management is asking us to leave. Police arrive and agree we were not the aggressors. Genuinely disappointed. Was looking forward to visiting the new establishment and supporting a local restaurant but left with a bitter taste in my mouth. The police officers were amazing...

I have had good experiences at this location until tonight. Most of the employees seem very nice and professional. On this occasion my waitress “Hillary” started off by getting my steak and drink wrong. I try to be polite so I did not mention it or complain. It was not correct but acceptable. By my observation “Hillary” is one of those servers who will approach people as they are talking or busy engaged in something and just speak over them or interrupt them. Someone who is lacking social cue’s. Halfway through my meal she approached me and asked if she could give me my check and box my side that had not been touched yet. She was essentially pushing me out the door at 9:45. I understand everyone wants to go home at the end of a shift but I see this as inappropriate behavior for a server. You just do not approach a customer halfway through their meal after ten minutes of eating in that manner. I would have been respectful of the employees and left the restaurant by close regardless. In my opinion this particular waitress is someone who has no business serving food or working with the public if she is unable to understand what is considered socially acceptable behavior in a given work situation. I normally grossly over tip with even moderately decent service but not in this case. On a positive note the hostess was polite and professional, the other female server who brought me my food was prompt and competent, and the food was excellent. If you read through the other reviews you will see the owner responses are auto generated. If you still see my post it would be due to poor management that results in employees or an employee providing poor experiences. If that is the case we need less business’s such as this one in our area and more business’s that are...