Outback

lovinmaryland

Well-Known Member
that is crazy! If I were you I'd call the manager or headquarters and complain.
ESPECIALLY since they were in a FD vehicle. We ate at the OB in LaPlata a couple of months ago and felt like it had really changed back then. :( They've got too much really good competition to be screwing around now.

:yeahthat: Once at the California outback the service we were getting was bad and I ordered grilled shrimp for my 4 year old w/ no spicy seasonings. Needless to say some how that get reversed and they put on what tasted like straight cayenne pepper. So we ended up taking the little one to chik fil a after Outback. Sent an email the next day about our experience and within a few days I got some gift cards and a note from the owner.
 
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RoseRed

American Beauty
PREMO Member
:yeahthat: Once at the California Wal Mart the service we were getting was bad and I ordered grilled shrimp for my 4 year old w/ no spicy seasonings. Needless to say some how that get reversed and they put on what tasted like straight cayenne pepper. So we ended up taking the little one to chik fil a after Outback. Sent an email the next day about our experience and within a few days I got some gift cards and a note from the owner.

I wasn't aware that Walmart served shrimp.
 

Roman

Active Member
that is crazy! If I were you I'd call the manager or headquarters and complain.
ESPECIALLY since they were in a FD vehicle. We ate at the OB in LaPlata a couple of months ago and felt like it had really changed back then. :( They've got too much really good competition to be screwing around now.

You would also think that the OB would have given the Fire Department a break on what they charged for a Take-Out fee.!
 

daylily

no longer CalvertNewbie
Serving sizes should go down, portions are to big in most places. It's why we are a fat nation.

I don't disagree with you, you definitely have a good point. But I don't think the prices should go up as the serving sizes go down.

You would also think that the OB would have given the Fire Department a break on what they charged for a Take-Out fee.!

Yes, you would think they'd do that. I've never heard of charging gratuity on take out. I think if they call corporate, they'll get gift cards along with an apology. That's ridiculous.
 

Lurk

Happy Creepy Ass Cracka
You would also think that the OB would have given the Fire Department a break on what they charged for a Take-Out fee.!

A $40 tip at 18% of the bill means they bill was almost $200. If 6% of the $200 is tax, the food portion was about $180. (Round it down to $165 to make up for doing the math in your head). The printed menu usually states that parties of 8 or more automatically gets the 18% gratuity (but it's not on the online menu But it might say so on the checkout page. So how many firefighters ordered OB that night?
 

struggler44

A Salute to all on Watch
A $40 tip at 18% of the bill means they bill was almost $200. If 6% of the $200 is tax, the food portion was about $180. (Round it down to $165 to make up for doing the math in your head). The printed menu usually states that parties of 8 or more automatically gets the 18% gratuity (but it's not on the online menu But it might say so on the checkout page. So how many firefighters ordered OB that night?

1, I was really hungry and what I didn't plan to eat I was going freeze............
 

Otter

Nothing to see here
A $40 tip at 18% of the bill means they bill was almost $200. If 6% of the $200 is tax, the food portion was about $180. (Round it down to $165 to make up for doing the math in your head). The printed menu usually states that parties of 8 or more automatically gets the 18% gratuity (but it's not on the online menu But it might say so on the checkout page. So how many firefighters ordered OB that night?

Bill was probably around 230-235 to get an 'almost' $40.00 gratuity. But I have NEVER heard of tacking gratuities to carryout orders.
 

HoosierDaddy

In a flyover state
Bill was probably around 230-235 to get an 'almost' $40.00 gratuity. But I have NEVER heard of tacking gratuities to carryout orders.


Don't know if OB brings the food to your automobile or if you have to come in an get it. If there were 10 or 12 dinners to package and wrap, someone had to do nearly as much as if they had a party of 8 at the table. But if this was a large order, someone should get a tip, don't you think?
 

thurley42

HY;FR
Don't know if OB brings the food to your automobile or if you have to come in an get it. If there were 10 or 12 dinners to package and wrap, someone had to do nearly as much as if they had a party of 8 at the table. But if this was a large order, someone should get a tip, don't you think?

:yeahthat: I always put a couple of bucks on the tab when I pick it up.....If I'm going to sit in my car and make a staffer deliver it to me then they deserve it..

IMO
 

Otter

Nothing to see here
Don't know if OB brings the food to your automobile or if you have to come in an get it. If there were 10 or 12 dinners to package and wrap, someone had to do nearly as much as if they had a party of 8 at the table. But if this was a large order, someone should get a tip, don't you think?

It's carry-out and it should be left to the disgression of the customer as to the tip, not automatically tacked on because it's a large order. Just to be clear, I get carry-out at Outback on occasion and I do tip..usually 10%, not 18-20% as if I was being waited on. And yes, they do bring it to your car.

Would you tip 18-20% in the restaurant if the waiter/waitress brought a bag with your salad, bread, entree to your table and let you fend for yourself?
 

lovinmaryland

Well-Known Member
It's carry-out and it should be left to the disgression of the customer as to the tip, not automatically tacked on because it's a large order. Just to be clear, I get carry-out at Outback on occasion and I do tip..usually 10%, not 18-20% as if I was being waited on. And yes, they do bring it to your car.

Would you tip 18-20% in the restaurant if the waiter/waitress brought a bag with your salad, bread, entree to your table and let you fend for yourself?
I gotta agree w/ this. I have ordered from OB to go before and usually gave/give the runner like $3 depending on what I ordered.

My cousin used to work at the OB in La Plata and this was his position. Thats all he did was take the orders, bag them up, take the $, and bringm out. Its not like the waitresses who are already waiting on tables are also having to package the to go stuff.
Why in the world do people order steak to go?

I was thinking the same thing :lol:
 

Merlin99

Visualize whirled peas
PREMO Member
Don't know if OB brings the food to your automobile or if you have to come in an get it. If there were 10 or 12 dinners to package and wrap, someone had to do nearly as much as if they had a party of 8 at the table. But if this was a large order, someone should get a tip, don't you think?
A tip is a gratuity (cash gift), if it's mandatory then it's become a service charge. I know it's just a semantic difference, but if I'm giving a gift I want it to be voluntary.
 

lovinmaryland

Well-Known Member
Because they wanted a steak.....but want to go home???

I usually order curbside when I've been out all day and don't feel like dealing with cooking/cleaning...

I guess if you live close it wouldnt be that bad. I just live 20 or so minutes away so I normally have to reheat my food when I get home and reheated steak is just no gouda!
 

DooDoo1402

The fear of Smell
A tip is a gratuity (cash gift), if it's mandatory then it's become a service charge. I know it's just a semantic difference, but if I'm giving a gift I want it to be voluntary.

I agree somewhat. There's enough people that believe a good tip is a reward for a job well done. Those successful waiters/waitresses are typically the most friendly, efficient and entertaining. And I think we all want to encourage that. But putting flat gratuity on a bill isn't a reward.

I normally stay around the normal 15%plus... but it certainly will decrease with lousy service. Just like in my profession. I get a bonus if I exceed in my duties. If I don't exceed or excel, I get zilch!
 

thurley42

HY;FR
I guess if you live close it wouldnt be that bad. I just live 20 or so minutes away so I normally have to reheat my food when I get home and reheated steak is just no gouda!

I live down in Dameron so it's probably the same time for me....but I get my steak rare, and enjoy it with little to no heat....I cook my own steaks just past insanity.:killingme
 

ItalianScallion

Harley Rider
:yeahthat: Once at the California outback the service we were getting was bad and I ordered grilled shrimp for my 4 year old w/ no spicy seasonings. Needless to say some how that get reversed and they put on what tasted like straight cayenne pepper. So we ended up taking the little one to chik fil a after Outback. Sent an email the next day about our experience and within a few days I got some gift cards and a note from the owner.
:confused: You got bad service and an incorrect order, so they give you free gift cards to come back and take another shot at the same? :confused:

I haven't been to any Outback in over 6 months because I feel they are no longer a "preferred" place to eat. As I've said earlier: If their portions were the same, I'd be back (even with higher prices) but with higher prices AND smaller portions...ain't gonna happen again. Do they think that an infrequent customer is something less than a lost one? :shrug:
I guess if you live close it wouldnt be that bad. I just live 20 or so minutes away so I normally have to reheat my food when I get home and reheated steak is just no gouda!
ANY takeout order is a crap shoot. You can check to see if everything is in the bag but you can't check steak or burgers for doneness...
 
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