Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Memphis

We love the food but the service of the restraunt on Union in Memphis TN is horrible. I can not get anyone to answer the phone between 4/5:30. I love the coconut shrimp entree and can not figure out why it is not an option on the on line menu so it has to be called in or go in person. The last time we ate in it took forever to get served. So we've decided to go place a carry out in person thinking its quicker. WRONG. We had been servicing the restraunt 3 out of 4 weekend a month. Yesterday's experience has changed that. They let my husband wait 35 minutes to place a carry out order while the curbside expediter was running double time as 2 bartenders with an empty bar stood doing nothing but talking to the manager. Not to mention the waitress who was told to help up front broke her neck not to catch my husband's eye as to avoid serving him with him addressing her as "miss". I had to ask curbside (after waiting 25 minutes)if they had anyone handling carry out besides him and of course they didn't. So after 40 minutes my order of 2 coconut shrimp entrees was taken one with cesar salad and a carrot cake. My husband paid the tab. The dessert was left off accidently and ordered separately. When we got home took out our meal the shrimp was grilled! Messed up the side choices and the dressing was blue cheese not cesar and the carrot cake was missing. I noticed while we were waiting to be serviced 2 other couples were having the same issues. One gentleman even commented that the young man couldn't do it all and left. While the other couple turned and walked out. There is no excuse for FOH staff to not help the runner/ expediter who was doing all in thier might providing attentive and courteous service while in the weeds just because it wasn't thier section. When I returned for my desert the hostess was commenting to a server that its crazy no tables were being bussed. They both had time to conversate which meant they had time to bus dishes. It amazes me the lack of work ethic being presented in today's service industry yet they expec higher wages. When I started in service we were tipped based upon or service and did NOT make minimum wage yet we did our jobs with pride hustled and made the tips just as I am sure the young man did yesterday. One should get paid right for thier work yet it seems work ethic has been lost. I do not leave bad reviews; I believe this is my 2nd and worst of 10 years. I'm very aware, as I have managed both restraunts since 21 yrs of age and until recently 30 yrs later, managed a grocery store. So i know how these businesses should run and something needs to change there. First of all answer the phone. There should always be someone to answer the phone and second of all teach team building skills and enforce them. It should never reach customers to the extent this has. Every business has a bad night but this has been 3 consecutive weekends of not being serviced. It's truly a shame. Needs management and disciplinary for the servers who do thier best to avoid the paying customer. I didn't even go into the meltdown that the lady in the kitchen had. Yelling and cussing causing a scene attracting the attention of the dining room as well as the 2 bartenders casually conversation with the manager while 2 servers leaned against the counter in the kitchen. If you have time to lean you have time to clean. That's one of the first things taught...bad thing this is all going on with customers walking out without service. The manager should set better standards for herself as well as her staff. The kicker is we paid for this experience. Outback on Union in MemphisTN. ought to be ashamed they have no more pride in thier selves or thier performance than they have demonstrated. Some say you are what you do...your actions do say something about theeperson you are. With exception of the young man working curbside it's a shame yall do not strive to be and do better. If it's worth doing do it right the first time. If you show up then show your best while out in this world otherwise why bother...

First off, I would like to start off with the original plan for family dinner. It did not go as planned and we were not able to eat together. This dinner also served as a meet and greet with his little sister and Aunt. They live far away and I was really looking forward to this dinner with them and other family, but the only time I got to spend with them was in the waiting area.

My party had a dinner reservation at 7:00 PM last Sunday evening for a large group. We arrived shortly before 7:00 PM and were asked to wait, which we did in the seating area. The seating area was a decent size, but not big enough for all of us to sit as there are other people waiting as well. We took up the majority of the seating area. We continued to wait for 45 minutes to an hour and still did not have a table. The host informed us that we were waiting on one specific table to finish up and that he thought they were almost done. As time went on, it was clear that they were not done and we continued to wait. Eventually, I wanted to get a drink so my boyfriend and I went to the bar and ordered a drink. It was a rum inspired Koala cocktail and it was absolutely delicious! The bartender was very cool and chill! I really appreciate her and I hate that I did not get her name. We decided to stay at the bar and eat as there didn’t seem to be a definite time that we would be eating. Shortly, after that, the rest of the group decided to go to the manager and see if they could be seated somewhere else separately but close to each other in which I did however, it was not close to the bar so our group was entirely separated.

The food that we were served at the bar was delicious. I ordered a medium rare porterhouse with a loaded, baked potato and mac & cheese. The steak was cooked perfectly. My only complaint about the steak is that it was a bit tendon-y. The mac & cheese was creamy and everything I would hope for in mac & cheese. The loaded baked potato was soft and had the right amount of ingredients on it. My boyfriend ordered the pasta. He said it was delectable! At the end, we ordered a sweet potato to go. It was also super soft and scrumptious. The bartender took great care of us! She is phenomenal!

Overall, it seems like you cannot count on having a dinner reservation here. It was truly disappointing not being able to eat with family, especially with meeting them for the first time. This restaurant dropped the ball big time in regards to managing reservations.

Zero ⭐️ for this.

5 STARS 🌟 for the Bartender & Cooks

I hate I didn’t get any pictures of food, but we demolished...

2nd UPDATE: Nine days later and I still hadn't received a refund. I just decided to let my bank dispute the charge (They had no intention on giving a partial refund). I don't have any plans on returning to this location. The fact that I have to ask for a refund repeatedly for food I didn't receive is bad business practice. (Back to 1 star)

UPDATE: The store owner Timmy and the manager Craig handled the situation with care and urgency. The curbside workers never talked to the manager to let him know what was going on. (Update is from 1 star to 3 stars until I have another visit)

Original: I ordered online and used curbside pick up. My order was ready a little more than 15 minutes after the estimated time. I drove home and realized that they forgot the carrot cake I ordered (they also gave me a potato soup instead of the broccoli and cheese soup that I ordered). I drove back and called to let them know that it was left off. I was told that it would be right out. I waited 20 minutes before calling back. I asked for a refund(for the carrot cake only not for the full $64) and a receipt. They told me that they were too busy and that the manager would do it tomorrow. I told them that their response wasn't good enough. I asked for a refund an hour and twenty minutes after the time that they said my order would be ready. They refused to give me a refund and the managers(apparently multiple) were all too busy. I told them I would wait and they hung the phone up in my face. I called back and asked for the number to corporate and the names of the managers and the people working curbside. Tonya told me that she didn't know and told me to google it (with a nasty attitude)and refused to give me the number and names before hanging up in my face again. I called back again and whoever answered next also refused to give me the names of the managers. So far I talked to Madison, Tonya, and the other girl refused to state her name.Madison and Tonya were rude but the 3rd girl wasn't as rude. Tonya mentioned that Craig was one of the managers. The service overall was less than mediocre. They only became rude when I asked for a refund for the 8.99 carrot cake. On top of that I'm wondering how they pick and choose who they're going to give good service to. How can you take money for a service/product and decide not provide that service? And why is being "busy" an excuse for poor service and refusing a refund while not providing the food I paid for? I waited in total roughly an...