Review of Outback Steakhouse

I love Outback. It was one of the few places I could go and eat and not worry about being “Glutened”, then there was a change in management. They hired some new staff as well. I never had to test my food because I KNEW the food was safe. A couple of weeks ago we went in with the whole family and I ordered my go to, The Alice Springs Chicken, which is supposed to be gluten free, (period). I ordered a salad, (no chives tomatoes or croutons) with Honey Mustard and a Baked Potato (without chives). I ate almost a quarter of the chicken when my stomach started hurting really bad. I stopped eating it. I thought I was crazy. I took one more bite and confirmed it, what I already knew, it had gluten in it. I was in pain at this point. I didn’t say anything I asked for a To Go box and took it home so I could test it in my Nima. I never used to even take it in Outback because I had never had a problem in there before. By the time I got home I was in excruciating pain. I tested the chicken and it had gluten in it. I called them. i spoke to the Manager. I told them I didn’t want anything from them I just wanted them to know so they could fix whatever happened so it didn’t happen again because I loved eating there. I just wanted to be able to eat there and not get sick. They apologized, she said she had no idea what had happened. It should have been gluten free. She said the waitress noted I had a gluten allergy. That it was cooked properly. She said they even cook the Alice Springs Chicken on tin foil so it isn’t contaminated. (Apparently something didn’t go correctly…) She said another higher manager was going to call me the next day but no one ever did.

We went back a couple of weeks later. I ordered the same thing. I took my Nima with me this time. It tested without any Gluten in it. I was able to eat. I did not get sick. However, it was a different waitress and it was a different night of the week. I am not sure if that is the problem or not, but it seems like the ONLY similarity between the Glutened meals.

We went again On a Monday and two of my items came out wrong. The Alice Springs Chicken tested positive for Gluten. I took the onions off of my salad and ate it anyways. I didn’t send the potato back and I was brought a new one without onions. But, I am currently sitting here in horrible pain because something I ate had gluten in it. It wasn’t the chicken because I didn’t eat it. I didn’t test the salad, dressing, or the baked potato. We had the same waitress that we had the last time it happened and it was the same night of the week. I am sorry for the long post BUT if I am able to save ONE person from going through what I am going through right now then it was worth sitting here and typing all of this up. If you don’t have a NIMA then DO NOT GO EAT HERE. It is not safe enough anymore unfortunately. I’m sorry only gets you so far. They did offer to recook my food but I declined. I didn’t want to waste another capsule because I can’t get anymore right now. She said that she would remove my meal from our ticket then. We did ask if they had cooked the chicken on a piece of tin foil because apparently that is how they keep it gluten free. She said she thought so. If you read all the way to here then take it for what you will but know this. There is a 50/50 shot that you WILL be Glutened. It sucks because it was one a handful of places that was safe to eat. Plus The Alice Springs Chicken was my absolute favorite meal…..If you do go make sure you test your food before you consume it. I ALMOST ate my chicken tonight because the first capsule I used came out inconclusive. I think I put to big of a piece in it. I didn’t want to waste another capsule AND I was STARVING. I am so glad I didn’t.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free