Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Monroeville

Let me start by saying the service was horrible. The place was kinda busy but there were at least 6 maybe more servers so they all only had 3 tables max at a time. Our server Kia started by getting our drinks and then asked us if we can order because the kitchen is busy... Like okay that's a bit of a red flag as someone who's been a server for years, I can understand being busy and we were ready to order but don't rush us. So I order a salad and then she automatically turns to my boyfriend and asks what he's having... Um can I finish my order? All I got was a house salad... So we order our food and we don't see her for a while, she had one other table that was leaving and one that just ordered after us. A different girl, very sweet should have got her name, brought us refills because our drinks sat empty for more than 10 minutes, that same girl brought our food out as well while the actual server was to busy taking care of the 4 top who came in after us and we're already eating. All we had was a baked potato and a burger cooked medium, how that came out after the 4 top who ordered after us I don't know... So when the other girl brought our food I asked for another order of bread because that's honestly my whole reason for picking outback, as she did that the server came by to ask if everything is okay, I said the other girl was getting us more bread and could I please have another side of sour cream, she goes to get it and tosses the little Togo container of sour cream on our table, and I do me toss, she tossed it and walked away. At this point we had been there for at least an hour and I had seen every other table in that building get exceptional service from their other servers who brought their own orders out and got refills, checked on them, brought them dessert, to go boxes, everything. I wanted dessert but I wasn't gonna wait another 30 minutes since this server clearly had more important things to do than to take care of our table... Idk maybe she figured us being a two top that our tip wouldn't be as worth the attention as the 4 top? We left her a zero tip and again as someone with years of experience as a waitress that's not like me, I would have easily tipped her $15 minimum had she actually payed attention to us at all but that's her own fault. Heard another server complain to another server about how bad a day they were having but I didn't once see them be unfriendly to their table, I get having bad days when you're a waitress but that girl still managed to be nice to her tables and take care of them unlike our server Kia. Food was okay, not the best but not the worst, would have been better if the server had added the extras we asked for and we're charged for but the extras were not there. We might give them another try in the future but if she's our server again we would...

As a long time fan of Outback, a co-worker and I visited on 12/5/16, and I have to say I was very disappointed in the entire experience. We sat at the bar, and it was obvious from the get-go that the bartender was more interested in attending to her regulars and talking with them than serving new guests. It took over 5 minutes just to place our drink order. We were served our drinks 3 or 4 minutes later, after she went to a couple of other high top tables to refill their drinks and finally got to us.

Next was the Salad. Usually a great part of the Outback experience, however, this one was pretty bad. The lettuce was not only wilted, but physically dirty. The worst part is that I didn't notice until the second bite. I stopped eating it, and pushed it aside. When she asked if I was done, I said I was because it was nasty. The only response I received was "Oh". No offer of a new one, no questions about why, etc.. I left it alone, and waited for the main meal.

While I was pleased with the steak, the grilled asparagus came out charred. Good thing I paid the extra dollar to upgrade to a premium side. It literally looked as if it fell off the grill right into the flame, and smelled the same way. Again, when asked why I didn't eat it, I answered and received the exact same "Oh" response. No offer to replace it.

The restaurant is dated, which doesn't bother me, but it's definitely not kept in the best condition for its age. The bathroom floor drains were visibly clogged, the walls and mirrors dirty, and it just had a general appearance of disconcern.

As I'm not one to complain to receive anything free, or try to get anything comped, I chose to not speak with any manager about my issues. I feel that saying something to the bar tender should have been plenty to have the food that I couldn't/wouldn't eat replaced.

At least my co-worker had a near pleasant experience, except for it taking nearly 15 minutes to get a second order of fried shrimp (he did the all you can eat shrimp with his dinner) after...

Walking into the Outback Steakhouse in Monroeville, I was brimming with anticipation for a carnivorous feast that would satiate my primal hunger. Little did I know, I was about to embark on a culinary journey that was less "wild Australian adventure" and more "lost in the Outback without a compass," particularly on a night that seemed as understaffed as a solitary kangaroo manning the Sydney Opera House.

The service moved at a pace that would make a sloth impatient, a testament to the valiant but visibly overwhelmed crew that could have used a few more mates to help navigate the evening's Outback. It seemed as if our server was on a walkabout across the vast Australian desert, only making rare appearances at our table. This gave us plenty of time to ponder life's great mysteries, such as, "Why are we here?" and, "Will our food ever arrive?"

When we attempted to order, we found the menu to be as barren as the Australian Outback itself, with several items mysteriously absent. "Sorry, we're out of that," became the evening's refrain, a chorus sung with a hint of regret that only added to the ambiance of unfulfilled desires.

And when our dishes finally emerged from the kitchen, much like a mirage in the desert, I half-expected a lively kangaroo to deliver them with more zeal. Alas, it was not to be. The food, having lost all enthusiasm to be eaten, arrived at our table with the warmth of a Sydney winter morning. The steak, a dish I imagined would be a succulent tribute to Australian cattle, was as cold as my disappointment. It seemed the only journey it had been on was a leisurely stroll through the refrigerator.

In the end, dining at the Monroeville Outback Steakhouse was an unforgettable experience—not for the flavors that danced upon my palate, but for the test of patience, the chilling realization that even the warm embrace of Australian hospitality can sometimes leave you out in the cold, and the adventure of navigating a menu as sparse as the...