Outback Steakhouse
$$ • Restaurant, Steakhouse
Most Recent Reviews
Terrible service. Waited 20 minutes just to get drinks. Left and went the Green Turtle which was much better and has gluten free options.
They apparently don’t have separate burners and cooktops but they wipe the cook top down in between and I told them how the littlest cross contamination can affect me and they made sure to do my steak away from anything that had gluten. My stomach felt pretty much normal so they did a good job I think. I’m also still fresh into to gluten flush out so may not be the same for everyone.
Very accommodating to my celiac needs. Food was delicious.
Photos
More Reviews
They know what they're doing and understand about cross-contamination. Also have a more extensive gluten-free selection than most chain restaurants. Staff is courteous and knowledgeable. I go back here whenever I'm in the area.
Reviews of this Chain
I have a severe gluten allergy, and I’m thankful that Outback offers a gluten-free menu. I've dined here several times when Andy was the owner and never had any issues. However, since he left, the restaurant’s quality has significantly declined. On October 19th, my friends and I visited for lunch. I requested a gluten-free menu from the host, and when we were seated, I immediately informed our waitress about my severe gluten allergy. She assured me there would be no issues.
I ordered strictly from the gluten-free menu: grilled shrimp (no seasoning), a Caesar salad (no croutons), and a sweet potato. When the Caesar salad arrived, I noticed crouton pieces in it—this is a major issue for someone with a severe gluten allergy. Thankfully, I hadn’t eaten any yet, but our waitress didn’t return for a long time, so I had to watch my friends eat their appetizers and salads while I waited.
When the waitress finally returned, she didn’t seem to treat the issue seriously at all. Then, the shrimp arrived—ice cold and mushy. It was unpleasant. I had to ask the manager for a discount due to the nearly gluten-contaminated salad and the cold, unappetizing shrimp. Needless to say, I won’t be returning. If I could give zero stars, I would.
Successfully ate gluten free.
I had a disappointing experience at Outback Steakhouse, particularly as someone with celiac disease who relies on restaurants to handle dietary restrictions carefully. Outback even offers a gluten-free menu, so you’d think they would be extra cautious—but that wasn’t the case.
I ordered a gluten-free salad, only to find croutons mixed in after I had already taken a bite. This kind of oversight is unacceptable and could cause serious health issues and potentially painful outcomes later tonight for me. Having a gluten-free menu means nothing if staff aren’t diligent about cross-contamination.
On top of that, my steak, ordered medium rare, arrived rare and barely cooked. It was also excessively peppery, which overpowered the flavor.
While the staff did check in with me when I raised my concerns, their response left me feeling frustrated. They seemed unsure why I was so upset and asked questions that didn’t help address the situation. It felt like there was a lack of understanding about the seriousness of gluten intolerance and celiac disease.
Outback’s lack of attention to food safety, even with a dedicated gluten-free menu, and the overall handling of my concerns made this visit a disappointment. I hope they can take steps to improve because this experience did not meet expectations.
Perhaps the best San Diego Outback location? Fries here are gf (some locations fries aren’t) and staff is accommodating and knowledgeable.
Make sure if you get the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under to omit the whip cream
Before arriving at the restaurant I called and spoke to the manager Matt he let me know what options I had for my allergies. He told me to let him know when I arrived. He personally managed my food and I had a great experience
