Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Palm Desert

I haven't eaten at Outback in years, because I didn't think it was good Quality food. Turns out, as you can tell, my feelings still stand. But that's not all, our service was below adequate. Let me break it down for everyone.

Total bill of $89.25, $4 per drink (2), Ceaser Salad $5, Coconut Shrip $14.50, 9 oz Filet Mignon $30, Blooming Burger $15, New York Cheesecake $7, and a Side of Mac and Cheese $5. Pretty big dinner for two.

First, we were sat down at the "Overstock" table, with the light off (I call it the overstock table when theres an excessive amount of items on the table). For us it was Coasters and paper tabs for something. Then after waiting for 10 or so minutes we placed our orders, and asked to have the light on. We had got our appetizers, my Cesar Salad came within 10 minutes of ordering, and we waited an additional 5 for the Coconut Shrimp. We had to ask for straws, we had to ask for refills, when we got our refills and straws it was brought by two different people who weren't our waitress. Additionally there was an empty grinder at this table so no pepper for my salad. The salad tasted fine, and the shrimp tasted good. Still waiting to see how it settles.

After we finished our food, we had a good 20 minute wait before someone stopped by to "clear" the table. Except my empty salad bowl sat right next to me. They took the shrimp tray but that was it. So we scooted it even closer to the edge of the table. The waitress walked by several times, not even looking at our table. We then received our food, the bowl still on the edge of the table. I had ordered the Blooming Burger, Well done (I don't like pink hamburger meat, only steaks). My fries were surprisingly cold lukewarm to be exact, one tasted stale too. The burger itself was cooked a little under well, but it had flavor. Yeah, it was on the colder side.

The Filet Mignon was ordered Medium. I had a bite, as soon as it was cut I knew it was Medium-Rare. Temperature was good, however it lacked any flavor. It tasted like cooked steak. Completely unseasoned. The mashed potatoes was the chosen side, I also tried it, it was really good once it hit my tastebuds. Then, towards the end of finishing the bite, BAM! It hit my mouth like a truck. Latex, or some sort of rubber. Like they keep it sitting in a Rubber bucket, or someone's latex glove melted inside. The other dish was the Broccoli and Cheese, but I didn't want that.

Towards the end of our meal, wanting our checks, the salad bowl was then removed from our table. Another refill was made for our drinks, this time we didn't ask. I had tried the Mac and Cheese, it was some Picante flavor. I didn't care much for it (has no impact on my feelings or experience). I haven't tried the Cheesecake yet, but I doubt I'll be impressed. All this place has is presentation, but even then, it's a reach.

So because of our negligent waitress and our subpar food, that's why it's so low. I expect more, especially when these prices are being asked. If I wanted this type of food and services, I'd eat at Arby's or Applebees.

Additionally the couple that sat behind us had ordered a Blooming Burger too. Funny enough they brought her the Outback Burger. Why is it funny? Theres only TWO Burger Choices! How are you going to mess that up? They left and didn't need...

You know this place used to be a really big deal when it came out. It was a sort of inexpensive steak dinner with lots of sides in a dimly lit restaurant that you can pass off is fancy to the kids…. The food was good. The service was great and the menu was huge. It’s changed. Like everything else I feel this restaurant with tension over keeping clients coming and keeping prices is low…. I think unfortunately to serve the same kind of food in the same kind of setting as they did 15 years ago, the prices would have to be so high that they would lose the clientele— it’s fallen into this catch 22 were they resorted to coffee shop style waiters, and waitresses, small portions of mediocre food and expensive drink— it caters to a middle to lower middle class clientele who fortunately for Outback doesn’t have to be that picky about their food. They still serve a terrific blooming onion and I’d have to admit that the baby back ribs were damn good— and they were actually baby backs!! Despite a seemingly bad review I will surely be back for these two items.. The salads are OK. The chicken fingers are plentiful and they’re pretty damn good. I can’t recommend the steaks or any of that because it’s simply not the quality that you want. I guess it’s a different kind of restaurant today and I’m having a trouble getting my arms around that but I do understand the struggle that this category faces. It’s not yet sizzler, but it’s damn close. I do wonder what happens to this category of restaurants and restaurants like it— Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorn and the rest of the Darden Restaurants which all seem to be suffering with either mismanagement or inferior food. These restaurants were the backbone you might say of the modern middle class and I hate to see them go up and smoke leaving families to basically fast food. Hopefully they’ll be an economic shift that brings more cash to the middle class, allowing these chains to raise their prices without...

My brother and I went for dinner and even though it was not crowed We decided to eat in the bar area. There were three people sitting at this huge bar so we sat directly in front of the register in front of the bartender Elaine I politely asked her for a glass of water as my brother had allergy issues and was having trouble breathing. More than five minutes passed and I could see that we were not on any ones welcoming list so I asked the bar back if he would pass me a glass of water well immediately the bartender's bionic ears opened up and she grabs two waters from the waitress station and says " wow someone has no patience" ! and she pounds the two glasses down splashing water on the bar. My brother and I look at each other with disgust and surprise like what brought on this attitude ? I then asked her what was her problem and She replied in a disrespectful manner "are You going to order anything else but water?" If someone needs water because they are ultimately chocking they should be prioritized because that's what any other establishment would do. There was a gentlemen sitting to my left that had sat down 10 min after we arrived who was completely served food and his drinks. At this point i had enough and asked for the manager whos name is Mathew stroggins. I then explained to him the situation and he was being completely disrespectful and not hearing me out, not listening to what I had to say. He replied to me with " I'm sorry mister but you and your friend will have to wait just like everyone else." I was in shock by the way I was being treated All I wanted was a glass of water for my brother who was ultimately choking and still made him wait as if his health was not a priority. I feel that Elain(bartender) and Mathew(manager) do not have the proper training to carry out their daily jobs. My experience with this establishment is absolutely of the very...