Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Mesa

(This 1 star is solely based on my visit from TODAY...not on the other visits I usually have here. I typically don't write reviews, good or bad, but the service today was awful.) I am in the service industry myself, and after work on Saturdays, I bring my kids here. Gives us time to spend together, and I also I don't have to cook dinner after waiting tables all day. So it's usually a win-win. Typically we get sat in Miguel's section, and he is WONDERFUL. He even said hi to us at our table today, even though we weren't in his section today. As a server myself, that is something I also do, to let the guest know they are a valued customer, whether or not they are in your personal section. Our server walked right past us several times after we were sat, and then actually greeted and helped another table that was sat AFTER us, before us. After about 5 minutes she got our drink order, and although we were ready to order as we usually get the same thing every week, she didn't ask for that. She left, and didn't take our food order for another 10 minutes or so. Our bloomin onion was burnt and we barely touched it. She didn't acknowledge that fact, and just cleared it when I told her we didn't want it. My kids finished their drinks, but she wasn't really checking back with us at all to let her know they were empty. So I took the kids/straws out and set them at the end of the table, hoping that she would notice and come refill them. She never did. Another server did after the cups sat there for what seemed like forever. Our original server never came back to the table after that it seemed like. I felt as if she was purposely ignoring us. My bill was right under 87 dollars. I typically tip around 25%, because as I stated, being in the service industry, I get it. I honestly did not want to tip her at all. I understand that there was a spring training game today and it was kind of busy, but when we very first got there, it wasn't busy at all. There is literally zero excuse for this type of service. I didn't feel right leaving her nothing, although I truly felt that her service was worth. So I left 10 dollars. I was not happy about leaving that. Even though Miguel is a wonderful server and I really enjoy the food there, for the most part, I don't know if I'll even be back because it was such a horrible experience today. I guess me and the kids will have to find a new Saturday early...

I've eaten at Outback many times through the years, but this was a frustrating experience. Upon our Saturday night arrival, we quickly learned that all the empty seats (perhaps about 1/4 empty) where due to being short handed. If those seats had been available for seating, everyone waiting would not have had a wait. I have to believe that having so many empty seats was very costly for the francise and corportion as a whole. From loss of food and drink revenue, to poor reviews. I should note that we witnessed multiple parties complaining about waiting for tables, with so many open ones.

The two of us put our names on the list, but watched the bar for an opening with 2 seats together, since there were only 3 open seats scattered around the bar. We finally got 2 seats at the bar, but after waiting at least 10 minutes the bartender never acknowledged us. Plates and glasses from previous partron sat there untouched. One bartender for the entire restaurant is crazy. (Perhaps if the hostess had helped to bus the bar, then the bartender could have attended to customers in a reasonable timeframe. The bar is where a good portion of profit can be made, only if there's an attentive bartender. As long as the drinks are flowing, the wait for food isn't as bad and the establishment makes money.) Thankfully, the hostess approached us to ask if we would still like a table because one just opened up. Since we had been waiting for so long without service we figured we give a table a try.

Now on to a positive note. Our waiter Jason was one of the best I've had. He was quick to wait on us, get our drinks in a very timely manner, and very attentive the whole time. He is the only reason why we would consider going back for another try. I'm still trying to figure out how he got our drinks so quickly (within minutes) compared to no service at the bar. As has always been the case, the food was excellent. Unfortunately, I felt I had to base the number of review stars for service on what happened before...

I hate to give bad reviews, but‼️ I feel that some places need to hear it. I called around 5:50 (as seen on photo) to be put on the waiting list. I was told on the phone that there was “About 25 minute wait”! 🤦🏻‍♀️ We didn’t get seated till 7:10! 🤦🏻‍♀️ We ordered our drinks and food........... My soup didn’t come till 7:45..... When we got our food 🤦🏻‍♀️ They forgot to bring the broccoli and Mac n cheese. The waitress asked my husband if he wanted another drink, he said yes! That never came‼️🤦🏻‍♀️ When I took the photo of my stake, is when I was waiting for the waitress!🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ She took the other customers their drinks, turned around and saw me just sitting there‼️🤦🏻‍♀️ The waitress came over and asked if everything was okay? I told her that “I need butter, A-1 sauce, tabaco sauce. They forgot our broccoli and Mac n cheese! And‼️He’s waiting for a refill of his lemonade!” She said she was sorry and she was going to bring it right away! The waitress did bring everything right away, but as you can see in the picture, my food was cold‼️😡🤦🏻‍♀️ The butter didn’t even melt all the way‼️ The broccoli had no flavor‼️ The Mac n Cheese was not oven baked, the noodles were still hard and the crumbs were cold‼️😡 My husband ordered his steak medium/well, it was well done and dry‼️ I went to the restroom just to wash my hands and I wished I would’ve took some pictures 🤦🏻‍♀️ It was dirty with toilet paper one the floor. I didn’t even look in the stalls!🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ We finally left at 8:30......... I will never go back again! As we were eating my husband said “Ask me if we’re coming back again?” I asked him and he replied “NOPE‼️“ For the price that they charge, definitely not worth the wait, food or service‼️ I will for sure go to their competitors with the same time wait (This is why we went to Outback, because the other guys had 1 hour and 30 minute wait)🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ I will never go back to Outback...