We visited the Outback Steakhouse in Vero Beach Sunday to do a lunch review, as we felt that a lot of our Sebastian readers would drive to Vero Beach to eat there.
The steakhouse is conveniently located near the Indian River Mall, several shopping plazas and the AMC Movie Theater.
We were seated immediately, and we sensed that things were beginning to go south quickly. Two tables nearby were complaining about how their steaks were cooked. The manager and a waitress were addressing both tables simultaneously as we sat down.
We waited about 15 minutes before a waitress came over and got our drink order. After that, the service was prompt.
One thing that bothered me was the floor, it was greasy, and people were slipping in two different areas. I had to catch myself from slipping on the way back from the washroom. A greasy floor to me means a “dirty” restaurant and potentially very dangerous.
We ordered a Bloomin’ Onion as our appetizer. I feel that this Outback original is always a good option. We enjoyed the bloom onion; it was cooked perfectly.
I ordered the Grass-fed Burger for $13.99. It is a 100% grass-fed beef patty topped with aged cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a herb aioli. I ordered the burger well-done and selected french fries as my side.
The burger had a beautiful presentation, but when I bit into it, it was very rare. It was not cooked to order, and then I clearly understood why other customers were complaining. I did not send it back because we did not want to draw attention to ourselves since we were doing a review.
The dressing they used on the burger was a mess. The bun was soggy, and it was hard to enjoy it. It was just one big sloppy mess for a $13.99 burger. I recommend asking for the dressing on the side and not on the burger.
My wife ordered the Alice Springs Chicken Quesadillas appetizer for her meal. It consisted of fresh grilled chicken breast, sauteed mushrooms, bacon, melted cheeses, and a honey mustard sauce for dipping. It tasted fine but did not sit very well with her stomach.
Our waitress, Amber, was very friendly and prompt. We had no complaints about her service.
The fault with this restaurant lies in the kitchen, as we and the other tables around us all had issues with their food not being cooked as ordered.
Outback advertises multiple ways of preparing meats throughout their menu, but they have a hard time cooking it properly at this restaurant.
Hours:
- Mon-Thu: 11:00 AM-10:00 PM
- Fri-Sat: 11:00 AM-11:00 PM
- Sun: 11:00 AM-9:00 PM
Outback Steakhouse in Vero Beach is located at 6040 Elon Lane. It’s on 20th Street across from the Indian River Mall.
