For years, The Outback Steakhouse in Charlottesville’s Albemarle Square was our go-to restaurant. The service with rare exception was excellent and the food consistently good. More often than not, we skipped the waiting with the buzzer in your pocket deal (there was always a waiting line) and squeezed in at the bar. The bartender was Charlottesville’s finest. He was quick with drinks and water and took our order when we were ready and made sure things were first-rate.
Then, in late 2011, Outback moved down the road, still on 29 North, but to a newer and larger location in Seminole Square, the site of the old Cheeseburger in Paradise.
We were disappointed because the old Outback was just around the corner from our house and we had made lots of friends at that restaurant. But, a few weeks after the Grand Opening, we paid them a visit, and left hugely disappointed. The service was awful.
I later talked to the manager of Outback and he said that his bosses forced the move. They wanted a larger market share, and while they got a bigger restaurant with more tables, there were not enough available top-notch waiters and cooks to support the move. We tried there again a few months later, and again, we weren’t impressed and found other restaurants that suited us better.
This week, after literally several years between visits, we decided to try again. The service was much better this time.
For one, the staff was reduced to about half because they have closed half the restaurant down so I assume they retained the top servers. And even though every other table was closed, the restaurant was still less than full. It amazes me that so many people are doing takeout. I don’t mind a takeout for a pizza or a burger, but if you order an appetizer, a salad and an entrée, your dinner will be cold by the time you get to it.
Still, Outback seemed to be a doing a booming business from their curb-side pick-up.
I decided to skip an appetizer (those Bloomin’ Onions” have more calories than a pie factory) and I ordered a House Salad and a Standing Rib Roast Beef Sandwich. Both were excellent. The salad (as is Outback’s custom) was served in a chilled bowl. It was fresh and crisp and delightful. The Roast Beef Sandwich was also very good. I loved their French Onion dipping sauce.
Nancy ordered a Bone-in Strip Steak, but it was a little tough and under-cooked near the bone. That’s the problem with a bone-in cut, if the center of the steak is cooked to your liking, the area near the bone will be not quite as done.
But overall, we were satisfied. I will be curious when the restaurant returns to full capacity if they will then have enough qualified waiters and cooks. We’ll see.
The Outback is located at 1101 Seminole Trail. Call them at 975-4329 to order take-out or to check for reservations.