Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Rochester

Outback Steakhouse – Rochester, MN

We rolled in for an early bird dinner around 5 PM on a Tuesday. The place was practically empty—so far, so good. We were asked, “Table or booth?” We chose a table, only to be seated at the closest one to the door on a 30-below-zero Minnesota winter evening. Every time someone entered or exited, we got a refreshing arctic blast. Given that the entire section was empty, a trained host should have known better. After our impromptu ice bath, we asked to move.

We started with the Bloomin’ Onion, which arrived quickly—great! But then we took a bite. It tasted like someone had upended an entire bag of salt into the fryer oil. Maybe they were going for a “salt-cured” effect? Hard to say.

For the main course, we were intrigued by the $17.95 Prime Rib Steak Sandwich. We asked the server if it was actual prime rib, and they confirmed it was—served on a hoagie-style bun. We figured it would be day-old prime rib, maybe the smaller end pieces that don’t make it onto the $27.99 or $31.99 plated dinners. That seemed fair. What we got, however, was a tragic pile of random, tough, overcooked “ribeye” scraps that tasted like they had been microwaved into submission. The sandwich had precisely four tiny mushroom pieces (we counted) and was served on bread that didn’t look or taste fresh—either previously frozen and thawed or just very old.

Look, we get it—ordering a steak sandwich instead of actual prime rib at a steakhouse was a rookie move. But the menu description made it sound spectacular: grilled mushrooms, onions, provolone cheese, Bloomin’ Onion sauce, horseradish cream, and au jus. In reality? Not so much. To make things worse, the $6.99 upgrade to a wedge salad meant this sad sandwich ended up costing as much as the 12 oz prime rib dinner with two sides. Lesson learned.

Unfortunately, this experience sealed the deal—we won’t be giving the Rochester Outback another shot. Management doesn’t seem too concerned with quality checks, and the staff could use better training (starting with “don’t seat people in a wind tunnel when the restaurant is empty”). We’ve dined at the Inver Grove Heights location and had great food and service, so we know Outback can get it right....

Update, 8-1-2024. Cowboy jacks has closed dislocation. I think it's been taken over by outback steakhouse. UPDATE 1-25-2020. FUNNY, no response at all from Cowboy Jacks. You would think they would at least respond, sorry for the inconveniences, but no. I guess they really don't care.

First I want to make it clear, I'm not a complainer I'm just sharing exactly how our experience was this evening. If you're thinking, well they were busy, that's no excuse as there was plenty of wait staff on the floor.

Ordered Steak (9oz Sirloin) & all you can eat shrimp. It took awhile for the waiter to bring the beverage and the bread. My dinner salad was served before the bread ever arrived.

One of my forks was sticky, i.e. nasty, unclean, unwashed. Yikes.

Both of our steaks were seasoned with pepper, which was never specified by us, and it wasn't in the menu as well . There was so much pepper, it was uneatable. I love pepper and spicy too, but this was not good. I brought this up to the waiter, instead of addressing it, he said "well they're kind of going for that peppery flavor". I said that I understood that but this was not eatable.

The battered and fried shrimp was way over cooked. You know the cheap Banquet shrimp you get in the grocery store, that's exactly what it was like.

The garlic herb shrimp was okay. But the garlic wasn't prevalent at all as a matter of fact it seemed as if they had muddled the sauce with a lot of other things like thyme, savory Etc. It was a little pastey in texture.

We had to ask a couple times for more shrimp and bread. As a matter of fact, the couple next to our table asked for bread as well, and I heard the waiter say "yeah, I'll get you in line with everyone else". Really???

I used to really enjoy Out back Steak House, not so much anymore. They have really lost their touch.

Note: The manager came by our table and asked about our concerns address them and discounted the steak from our bill. He was very nice and extremely professional. And we did tip our waiter the proper amount because he did look like...

So not really sure how i feel about the whole night honestly. So im with the hubby and our three old shawn. I am also 18 weeks pregnant here on a trip to the mayo and yes this is all do to her making me super unhealthy. So kinda on edge waiting to see doctor tomorrow. So we decided we will relax with a good sit down meal. Let me just say great waiter great food. Hubby and shawn had a amazing meal BUT then my salmon came. Let me start by saying i eat salmon all the time. At home and night-out and focks it was raw. The moment i toke a bite. It tasted werid. So i looked it over and its your classic tail end of the cut. Thin on one end super thick on the other. So i bust open thicker side and it didnt cook all the way through. Thats it no big im not even mad so i send it back. Well they throw it back on and cooked it longer. Ugh ok so it be a little dry no big deal thats what lemon is for. Honestly there was not enough lemon in the world to make me eat that thing. So wait for the manager who never comes back. Take my son out to the car wait (hungery) in the car for my husband to pay the check. He waited forever ended up paying the bill on the app. Waiter finally comes just as the payment goes through. he ask for the manager waits some more. Went to the bathroom came back waited some more then left. Like wtflip. So i call in get the hole sorry we are busy "must have slipped my mind" ugh whatever. We will give you a refund. So i ask if i can just have the dinner i ordered in the first place. They say yes it'll be done in 15 min. More like longer. Get coupon and bread with it. So get my food finally...and no joke you guys its a little over cooked and slightly burnt seasoning but still taste good so i eat it. Would have been juicier but they forgot the lemon ugh. So take it as you will and maybe just dont...