Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Phoenix

We came for my father in-laws 84th birthday. We got here at 6:45pm and just leaving now 8:50pm. Here long enough to see 1 table 3 different guess. A group of 8 came in 15 mins after us and left an hour before us. Another table seated 2 different guest. A third table also had two sets of guest all who got there food before us.

Our waitress stop by to say hi and that she would come back after helping a table on the patio, we had already wait 10 mins at the table with menus in hand.. We caught her in passing (10 mins later) to tell her we were ready to order our appetizers. She took the order and hurried off before we could say put our dinner order then. She walked pass us once and 20 mins later came back with the appetizers. My father in-law just started saying his order, so she had to stay and take our dinner order. Time and time went by and this is when we start watching the other tables leave.

I had to get up go stand by the bar to wait for her to come out of the kitchen. I told her about the long wait and she said the kitchen was behind and she'll get the manager. The food came right out while I was seating down.

The food...mom and dad's food was perfect to order. They cooked my spouse's steak medium rare when she ordered well done, that took another long stand by the bar.. They also forgot her soup which was suppose to come before dinner. She had to send her plate back, and then they brought her soup after the second time asking for it.

The waitress was filling the water glasses for the 1st time and forgot to fill mine. I just didn't bother to ask for a refill. I had already sent the first glass back because there was food stuck on the glass.

My food...they forgot my coconut shrimp, but was right on it getting it to me. My steak was cooked just right, the steak mac n cheese was good and the broccoli was steamed tender.

Let's not forget this was a celebration. We received our check (some unknown employee brought it to us) with the 20% off the manager promised, but our waitress never came back to see about us. My mother in-law, had to get her from the table next to her to tell her about the senior discount. We mentioned again the birthday ice cream dessert (it was on the receipt that we got it). They brought it out with 1 spoon, not 4 to share. Sooo, we pulled our unused forks from the table next to us, because that is where I sat our dishes, no one came to clear up our appetizers plates or our finished dinner plates. We were scared to ask for a bag for our food. It might have taken another half hour.

We were nice enough, but I think the manager should have given a larger discount.

All in all, we were just happy we didn't have to stay the night.

But we will not be back or recommend...

If I could give zero stars I would. I went here on Sunday night looking to enjoy my birthday dinner with my sister and it had to be the worst experience ever. From the food to the service I was just genuinely appalled. Our sever only came to our table two to three times, I kid you not. And every time we’d ask for something he was extremely bothered and took about 10 to 30 minutes to follow through with what was asked of him. Mind you there were little to no people in the restaurant. We were sat and ordered our drink and food and It took 20 minutes just for the drinks to come and my sibling who was with me didn’t even enjoy it. Then our food came out and my food was completely undercooked. I asked for a medium well steak, and I know how to cook steak to perfection and I know what medium well looks like, my steak was very medium rare, and when I mentioned it to my server he got an attitude and snatched it from the table. Then brought back the same steak still NOT cooked. And I sent it back again and it came back burnt! But I didn’t complain bc again I know how to cook steak to perfection and i understand not all cooks are competent but oh my lord. Then my sisters burger was absolutely atrocious and undercooked as well and when we expressed our dismay our server left and didn’t show back up for 30mins , just to then ask us if we want something. And I said “sir no, respectfully we just waited over an hour for this food we just want it taken off and. Was met with more attitude and rudeness. He then brings our check and it still has the burger on there he took off the drink, which I am glad he did, but discounted my steak. I mentioned to him the mistake and told him I am happy to pay for my steak but we just don’t want to pay for the burger when it was not even eaten. She took one bite and sent it back. And he then left again for 30 minutes and told us he did take it off and proceeds to talk to me like I’m stupid so I just paided the fee and left. I was extremely displeased with my service and I’d ask for the money back but I don’t want anymore trouble. I’ve never been treated so...

We were seated promptly. Our server took our beverage orders. Then returned to take our food order. My wife ordered a salad to enjoy before her steak. About 3 minutes after receiving her salad, another server came to the table with our entrees. My wife explained that she wanted time to enjoy her salad and that the steak would be getting cold. The server said that if she put the meals under the warming lamp the steaks would end up overcooked. She looked like a deer in the headlights. Had no clue how to handle the situation. We asked to speak to a manager. About 10 minutes passed and no manager. Clearly the server had no intention of getting the manager to come to our table. I went to the front and asked a hostess if we could speak to a manager. In a minute or two, Mike (the manager) came to our table. He listened attentively to our concerns. He then offered to take the (now cold) steaks back to the kitchen. He assured us that he would have new meals prepared and would place the orders when we let him know we were ready. He asked for about 8 minutes lead time to cook the steaks. He brought out the nicely cooked steaks at the appropriate time. We enjoyed the meal in spite of the incompetence of the server who dumped the meals on the table while my wife was just starting her salad. The measure of a business is not whether they ever make mistakes, but how they handle the situation when they do. Mike saved the day and our dinner experience. Gracious and effective in resolving our issue. Thanks, Mike!!! We’ll be back.

Update: We visited again on 5/24/25. We were seated promptly after being greeted by the hostess and Mike the manager. Our server, Anthony, was very attentive. Helped with menu questions, took our order, delivered our food right on time. He checked back with us multiple times to make sure we had what we needed and that the food was up to our standards. Mike also checked on us a couple of times. I upgraded the service to 5 star based on our experience this evening. Thanks Mike...