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Soooo, Outback Steakhouse... Wow (long).
Normally, we don't go to Outback. I used to *love* their food, but for some reason every time I eat there I get these intense stomach cramps afterwards.
DH wanted a Bloomin' Onion and since V-Day is his birthday I said ok.
I remember from a while back that they don't take reservations there, so we were prepared for a long wait since, not only was it Saturday night, but we were there the night before V-Day. It ended up being 80 minutes... I had no idea that you could call ahead and get a "placement." I guess that's different than a reservation 
The ENTIRE time we waited we were stuck either outside or in the outter doorway where every time someone opened the door to come in or go out (which was like every 30 seconds) we were blasted with cold air.
So, after waiting for about 85 minutes, the hostess goes "Hey, there's a booth by the bar that's open... it's first come first serve so if you run over there you can probably grab it."
Since we were starving at this point, we took the booth by the bar.
I guess because we haven't been there in a few years, we were unaware that they had downsized their menu. None of the things we used to order were on there. I ended up settling for a salad I had eaten a few years back that was pretty good. It's was an iceberg salad w/ sliced steak, bacon crumbles, toasted almonds, raspberry vinagarette, and all that good stuff.
When they brought the food out, I said "That's not what I ordered."
And the waiter said "Oh, yeah... this is the wedge fillet salad."
Let me tell you... this "salad" was literally a WEDGE of iceberg lettuce cut into a very large chunk and not chopped at all. There were 2 pieces of steak dropped onto my plate that were 70% fat (I don't even like steak to begin with... let alone fatty steak), maybe 4 sliced cherry tomatoes, a scattering of onion and like 5 toasted almonds. And a side of ranch dressing to dip my huge freaking wedge in, I guess. Rip off.
So I start eating. I have this habit of examining each piece of food before I eat it. I always got on my own nerves doing this, but it's sort of an impulse and now I'm glad I do it. I lifted a piece of onion from my plate and I was like "What the hell is this?!"
The onion was black and rotting and COVERED in mold.
It took me 10 minutes to get my waiter back... but I sent it back. I was *super* nice about it because I worked in the restaurant business at one point and I know it's not the waiter's fault that there is a moldy friggin' onion in my sorry excuse for a "salad." He was soooooo blase about the whole thing... he said "Oh, hm. Ok. I'll see if we can take that off your check. What else would you like?"
I just ordered the dessert.
They did take it off the check (if they didn't, I would have had a sh*t fit). But, at first, the waiter made it seem like they might have to charge me for the salad.
Man, I am *never* going to Outback again.
Re: Soooo, Outback Steakhouse... Wow (long).
Yeh, I'm not a huge Outback fan either. Although if stranded on an inland, I could easily live off the bread and loaded cheese fries.
Personally, they should have offered you a complimentary dessert. It was a full blown molded onion, right? Like hairy mold?
I think there are a few restaurants that need to step it up. In this economy they should feel lucky that people are still dining out. Sorry AT, it might not hurt leaving them feedback on their website or Facebook page.
Ugh! That is so gross! I am sorry that your night out was a bust! I'm not a huge Outback fan. We only go if we have a GC. The only thing i ever order is the filet as I am waaay too picky about my steak to order anything else.
They should have been falling all over themselves making you satisfied after that ordeal! I would be making a call to corporate!
Yup, a full blown moldy and rotten onion.
I was actually thinking about that this morning, I think I will leave them some feedback on their site.
That sucks. At least they didn't try to charge you. I would have thrown a fit over that too.
This is exactly why DH and I never wait in line to eat. If we're with a group we will, but if it's just us we wait and go when we know it will be slow, or we eat at home. When they're having a slow night even a bad waiter can be attentive. But the mold thing could have happened any time. Good for you for being nice about it. You can always tell when someone hasn't worked in the service industry b/c they're usually a-holes about stuff like that.
Me too. I would've been so pissed. I've never been to Outback, and after reading this I'm sure I never will go. I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants (except for a seelct few), especially ones where you wait 30+ minutes for a table.
#1 You should have asked to see the manager and told him about the nasty attitude and the nasty food.
#2 Be sure to send an email to the corporate office to get something for what you went through.