I want SO badly to leave a great rating for Outback. I really like their food, but there is one big issue-the service. This location does not handle large parties well.(larger than 4) I recently ate there with a party of 9 and once we were seated we had to wait over 20 minutes for drink orders and another 10 – 15 for them to arrive. The food then took over an hour to arrive(thank God for free bread). I did complain in a polite manner(the server was polite, but very indifferent to our concerns) and we were offered free desserts by the manager. I guess I do not understand why a place with so much potential for greater financial gain would neither train their staff better for efficiency and customer service nor just hire more professional servers and kitchen staff. I asked why there was so long of a wait and back up that night. I was given a couple of reasons. 2 of them were: 1-The owner was not there so everybody was basically doing what they wanted and 2-there was a concert that night so the place was packed and too busy. I did not really think those were acceptable answers for the extremely long wait time and poor service we had. When I have been there with smaller parties the service is fair, but I have never been overly impressed. Train and organize-please. Your food is good, but there are comparable places located close by with much better service. **My husband and I still tipped over 20%. Servers work their butts off and since he was not rude we did not short him. But if it happens again the tip goes down.
Steve Y.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Yorktown, VA
Wow. Service has really gone to pot. Took 10 minutes just to get table wiped off… Another 10 minutes to get our drink order. Silver ware was dirty. Heard waiters and waitresses apologizing left and right to everyone for delays. Food was average at best. Not sure what’s going on.
Carolyn T.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Gloucester Point, VA
Had dinner here for the first time in a while. The steaks were good and cooked properly. We waited at least 15 minutes for coffee and desert. The dessert which was supposed to be warm was not. The coffee was barely lukewarm. The waitress replaced the dessert with one that was sort of warm. She then told us that they don’t have any way to keep the coffee hot and she’d have to make a new pot. By that time we just wanted to leave, but she’d disappeared again and we had to ask another waitress to find her. I don’t know what happened between the entrée and the dessert. It was like two different restaurants. We’re not going back.
Sam K.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Chesapeake, VA
Went in at 2pm for lunch(just a 2 top) didn’t leave unit 3:45??? Service was terrible, they weren’t even that busy. No acknowledgment or apology of how long we had to wait. Good luck, do not recommend this particular Outback location.
Freddie T.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Newport News, VA
Service was slow place wasn’t busy, ordered soup and salad. Soup both French onion and potato soap was watery, Cesar dressing tasted like ranch, portions small. Manager clothes not the cleanest for someone uncharged and serving food. Many other Steakhouses in area. Won’t eat here even if it was free.
Susan F.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Newport News, VA
I went to Out Back Steakhouse on Jefferson Ave. in Newport News, VA. The greeter there showed me where«she wanted me to sit», it was a little table in the corner, I said I would like a booth instead, the door greeter and the person who sits people flipped her head like she had a «Nasty, Nasty attitude with me and didn’t say anything to me and stormed off into the back. I told the manager there and she said that she would talk to her about it. Then the manager casually walked in the back(not in the direction of the door greeter who was at the front waiting for the next person to walk thru the door. So, on my way out I told the little greeter/seater that I thought she was Nasty and had no class, her response to me was have a blessed day, my response to her was«your were not blessed by good manners». I then called the manager to ask if she had a chance to speak to her employee, and the manager said no she had not had a chance to, then the manager told me if I ever talk to her employee again there was going to be an issue.(I would like to see this manager talk to a Williamsburg resident the way she talked to me in a threatning way, it no doubt would have not went down real well for the manager)… Well, manager if you would have done your job right away to take care of your little problem that you have at your restaurant, then I would not have had to do your job for you by telling the employee«THETRUTH». Lastly, the plates there are dirty, when you eat there you see hardened remnants of meals gone by that people have eaten off the same plates you are about to eat off of. I think they have a dishwashing machine that is substandard that does not entirely clean the plates, UNSANITARY
Shamekia Calvin M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Spring Lake, NC
Service was great my husband had the char-grilled ribeye with broccoli and I had the seasoned and seared New York strip with broccoli and a blackberry sangria. The broccoli was delicious, my steak was ok but a little bland. However, my husband steak was delicious. I would definitely recommend char-grilled over seared any time. The sangria was ok but nothing to write home about. Overall, good experience.
Danielle M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Smithfield, VA
Had lunch here yesterday, no wait which was excellent. We had a baby in our party, and I know servers dread children, but the server was very nice. We had the ahi tuna app, good as usual but there was a weird piece in the mix, so we didn’t gamble and decided to push it to the side. We ordered soup and salad, a filet and hearts of gold mahi, which is no longer on the lunch menu but he said it wouldn’t be a problem. It was excellent as usual, much better dining experience for lunch, I may never go there for dinner again!
Joni F.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Newport News, VA
It hurts me to give 2 stars. My husband and I have gone here for years but the last few experiences have ended it. We ordered take out… disgusting, hard as a hockey puck. Salad rotten. Bread stale. I emailed them and NEVER got response. Went back Sunday. Dirty looking, waited way to long for as empty as it was. So sad.
Amy A.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Norristown, PA
Yay for call ahead seating. It’s a life saver when you have a child. It was my dad’s birthday and he chose here for his special day. We arrived and didn’t wait at all for a table of 5. Our server was fantastic. Kept the bread coming and was on top of refills, extra butter, etc. I’m typically a healthy eater, but when dad wants a blooming onion you don’t disagree. While it’s a heart attack on a plate, it’s the tastiest one ever. And that spicy dipping sauce is great. Since we ordered that I went with fish as my entrée. I definitely needed some thing lighter. It was properly seasoned and the veggies were crisp but cooked well. Everyone gobbled down their meals and they brought out a nice dessert to celebrate my dad’s birthday. We didn’t even ask. Excellent service and a great way to celebrate.
Michael R.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Newport News, VA
Went to this Out Back Steak House located by Patrick Henry Mall tonight. Sat in the bar area with my wife for over. 20 minutes before they even said anything. Took the order of the couple beside us first, who just got there. Their excuse was that she was to busy, whoa ! That’s your job ! Manager was no where to be found. Drove straight to P F Changs @ the Beach. Super busy at 9:00, more than Out Back! Sat at the bar, service was super. Very organized staff… Out Back management team should see how PF Changs does it. They might learn something . Cheesecake Factory for dessert next door. Once again crazy busy, but no problem, even @ 10:00 at night. Out Back team needs organization & team work, plus good management.
Jacob L.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Hampton, VA
The food here is amazing and the atmosphere is really great. However or waitress was horrible. Barley checked on us we waited Ten minutes just for our drinks and bread. The food came or fairly quickly. After we were done we waited about twenty too thirty minutes for our check and our waitress passed us multiple times. To top off the night she couldn’t even get the change right and asked me if it was correct. Would have given 5 stars but the service was less the okay.
Jeremy R.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Roseville, CA
The only reason I’m giving this place 2 stars is because the potato soup and bloomin onion weren’t too bad and the bread was decent to. But our server, not so much. Got our drinks wrong 4 times(wasn’t busy at all either). The kitchen burnt our blooming onion 3 times. Took 45 mins to get our sodas and a bloomin onion. Once we did get it she apologized and said it would be taken off our bill. At the same visit she delivered my root beer refill with Dr. Pepper. I saw her do this to a few other table to. All in all this was my first visit to a Outback and unless it’s a family outing and I have no say in it, I probably won’t be returning. She also didn’t know about a military discount but with how bad service was I didn’t push the issue. So walkin in hungry, getting a tiny bowl of potatoe cheese soup and a couple glasses of root beer we didn’t even feel like ordering a main course so we paint $ 11.
Bob L.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Canandaigua, NY
The worst $ 10.00 burger ever. It was per-cooked then warmed up. I know this as the sides were hard and cool to the touch. Had more blank space on the plate then fries. There must have been eight fries on the plate. Not to mention they were soggy. Had to wait 8 minutes for ketchup Will not recommend
JeriLynn H.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Newport News, VA
My husband and I came here on a Sunday night for dinner, this was the first time we have been to this location. Other locations have been pretty mediocre. The parking lot made it seem like it was packed like sardines, but we got right in. The atmosphere was casual and relaxing, and the staff were very pleasant. I ordered the moonshine combo thing that had 1⁄3 rack of ribs, chicken, and their new bacon wrapped shrimp. My husband ordered the new Zealand lamb. My ribs were cooked to perfection and literally fell right off the bone… I was in love! The shrimp was very delicious also. The chicken was tender, but I had little room after eating the ribs and shrimp =p. My husband’s lamb was tender and moist, but he did not like the sauce that came with it… but he is a picky man.lol. Overall we had an excellent meal at this outback and we will be back!
Izell T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Newport News, VA
The service is good, and then there’s is no worry Wednesdays good deal for a meal. And they make a rum punch called a Aussie punch that’s a really good pre-dinner drink. Good after work atmosphere
Davidcia G.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Newport News, VA
We went here at almost closing time. Our waitress was very nice, but forgot alot of things like bread, dressings and refills. We ordered the bloomin onion as an app and it was so burnt from the old grease. The manager took it off the bill, but it shouldn’t have even been sent out like that. I also ordered some toppings for my steak and never got them. I give them the benefit of the doubt because they were almost closing, but each customer should still be treated as if you just opened. Overall steak was good, and bread was fresh.
Aiden B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Yorktown, VA
Today we travel to the land of the great Crocodile Dundee. The land where spiders can run off with your dog, dogs can run off with your kids, and your kids can run off a cliff because just about everything is likely to kill. The men are real men, the women are … real men, and the beer flows like water. Grab your comically over-sized knife and order you a steak, because a fist fight is about to break out somewhere.
Dennis R.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Newport News, VA
I freely admit that Outback sits in the middle of my where I want to go to get a steak(as far as chains go). Normally, I would try and go to one of the local eateries, whenever possible. I love Texas Roadhouse. The last 3 meals that I got at Lone Star Steakhouse were so salty I could not finish them. My one and only trip to Long Horn(in Short Pump), again, another salty steak(ever tried to eat a steak when you were trying to wash the salt off of the steak with Lea and Perrin’s?). The XYL suggested that we go here(she was hungry, and wanted to use a gift card we had gotten). I was reluctant to go, but as she is the Bossy, we loaded up and went. We arrived between lunch and dinner, so parking — at this point was effortless — something that is not at all true, during their dinner rush, as this place is packed, as is their parking lot. Had a slight wait, and were seated. We ordered a blooming onion for an appetizer. It was cooked to the edge of being burned. The XYL said that she could taste it. I could not. Ordered steaks and the like off of the menu. I was presently surprised. We tried the ‘wood fired’ option and our steaks were very good. Much better than their normal grill fried option. Our server was attentive and kept up with our questions and requests. I was quite pleased with our meals. Unexpectedly so. Enough to have changed my point of view on Outback. The Outback does not offer Military/Vet/Senior/Police/Fire Department discounts. The XYL is Bossy, but she sure made the right selection for our dinner tonight.
Jennifer G.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Hampton, VA
Service and quality food issues. Two weekends ago, myself, a friend, her daughter and mine all went to get deserts here. We sat in the bar and was not helped for at least 10 minutes. So we order two apps and four deserts. My appetizer was burnt and somewhat cold when it came out. When the deserts came out about 35 minutes later(why so long I have no idea) the waiter says to my friends daughter, «oh sorry we are out of what you ordered», can I get something else? This was after our order had been in for over 40+ minutes. This guy who could not be found almost the entire time we were there, waits until he brings out all our food to tell her this and have her re-order. Then he takes so long to get her 2nd attempt at a desert out to her, that we were all done eating at this point just waiting on this guy to show up again. WORSTSERVEREVER! Never going back.