Outback Steakhouse — Restaurant in Virginia

We have been regular customers at outback for years. Husband and I arrived at this outback around 11:15 am was not busy. We got seated at a bouth, Lauren B our waitress came to take our order, she didn't smile. I gave her my phone number before ordering, so we could get our discount of $10. She looked it up and said since we are rewards members we have $10. I ordered the special 3 course entree for both of us coconut shrimp, with up charge of $2 more for the clam chowder soup each totaling $4 more, and cheese cake. She asked the husband what would like to order. He repeated same thing. Some thing appeared off, because I just had ordered for both of us. The bus boy brought water and bread. Waited along time the clam chowder arrived, half way through the soup waitress arrived with some appetizer She placed in middle of table. I said we didn't order that. She said I thought you said shrimp on the barbie. She took it back. I even pointed on the menu the coconut shrimp when I had ordered. Waited another half our before the bus boy brought us coconut shrimp. As she walked by our table, she shouted every thing alright, and kept walking no eye contact. We were done with shrimp, waitress walked by shouted do you want your cheesecake to go. We said no we would like to eat it here. Waited another half an hour to get cheesecake, witch Lauren didn't bring, but the bus boy brought. We asked for the check was around $37. She had rung up shrimp on barbie x2, than had corrected to 2 coconut shrimp, however did not discount the $10 rewards points. We waited 15 mins before she came back, explained to her the problem with check. She said I will take care of it. Took her another 15 mins to bring new check with correction made. She came back and with the same check. I thought we were in the twilight zone. I said to her what is wrong with you. I honestly have never said this to a waitress, before. Asked to talk to manager. He came and we explained the situation to him and he brought us the right check. He tried to give us a coupon for Blooming onions appetizer, as complimentary peace offering. Told the manager that we don't like Blooming onions, because of all the grease, it gives me heart burn, he said get the cheesy fries instead. I was not amused by the managers handling of the situation, it was terrible service, waitress was rude, waiting so long to get the check and the food. Sure way to lose regular customers. Outback certainly has gone down hill. Need to train their...

I called ahead to reserve a table. The woman I spoke with assured me there were tables outside and that I could have my dog sit under the table while I ate. When I arrived a half hour early, the hostess said while they do have a few tables outside, they didn’t actually have a server to wait the tables and I may or may not be able to sit there because the servers inside were busy. She was not very apologetic about it and was obviously very frazzled. She said she would have to call me after she spoke to the manager. I sat in my car for 30 minutes waiting for someone to call me, before watching the hostess seat someone else outside at the table I had requested. (There were only a handful of tables on a tiny patio area.) I then called and asked to speak with a manager myself, who said that she was very short staffed but that my dog would never have been allowed on the patio in the first place. I wasted an hour of my time driving across town and waiting at Outback only to find out I could not be served. I then went next door to Carrabas, was seated right away at a comfortable table outside, and was allowed to have my dog sleep next to my chair while I ate. The steak at Carrabas was better than the steak I normally have at Outback, and was the exact same price. The staff at Carrabas were very pleasant, and the food was delicious. It will be a long time before I return to Outback after...

From 3 years ago: The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was warm and delicious. The service was phenomenal!

EDIT: So first, I understand that it was Mother's Day and they were busy. The wait was not the issue. It was that our party of five had two disabled people and 3 plus size women. A booth with a chair at the end is not a suitable option. A hightop table is not a suitable option. So, eventually we're seated outside. The weather was nice but there is nothing blocking the direct sunlight from beating down on me and one other member of our party. Being outside is to be basically forgotten and you will be served by every server in the place that's and exaggeration but it felt that way. The food came and one person in our party ordered mashed potatoes, got Mac & Cheese and didn't receive the mashed potatoes until we were almost finished with the meal. One of the hostess seemed rude and unaffected by our visible unsatifaction and the server we were assigned was basically invisible. The food was OK, the service less than stellar and my mom didn't enjoy her Mother's Day evening. We won't be back...