OutCrap steak house

[Dimitri]

Well the other day we went out to use a gift certificate we had received for
Christmas.

We both started with their wedge lettuce salad - with blue cheese - and
someone had said the word Bacon over the top. About the same way a good
bartender says vermouth over an extra dry martini.

For the entre I ordered the 14 ounce rib eye. Not wanting their teriyaki
slathered over the steak the waiter suggested their Tuscan marinated steak.
Never had it thought I would try it.

Before I go farther I need to mention I have been put on a medication that
prevents me from drinking alcohol. So my pre-dinner drink was 1/2 OJ and 1/2
club soda.

Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue. The
smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.

Complain NO
Send the food back - nope
It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
again.

What a rip-off.

Dimitri

[Paul M. Cook]

"Dimitri" <Dimi...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:ke53vd$n9$1...@dont-email.me...

Who marinates a rib-eye? That is a very fine cut of beef and requires no
marinating. A little salt and pepper and then a dab of butter on top when
done - that's all you need.

[sf]

On Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:56:50 -0800, "Dimitri" <Dimi...@prodigy.net>
wrote:

> Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
> IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue. The
> smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.
>
> Complain NO
> Send the food back - nope
> It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
> again.
>
> What a rip-off.

The good news is: It wasn't your dime. However, whoever gave you the
gift certificate sure got ripped off. Sorry. IMO, there are fewer
things worse (of the non-life changing sort) than a disappointing meal
in a restaurant.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

[Julie Bove]

"Dimitri" <Dimi...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:ke53vd$n9$1...@dont-email.me...

Agreed. We only went there once and that was before my husband moved away
to go to his job in NY. For years he has been begging us to eat there and
for years we've said we wouldn't do it because I've never read anything good
about the place. And mostly it's not complaints about the food itself but
the high prices and the lack of service. And now that I've been there, I
very much agree on that.

But we finally agreed to go because he was pulling and attitude and saying
that he felt slighted. This because we combined his birthday celebration
with my dad's (they're less than two weeks apart) and didn't give him a
choice of restaurant.

Of course when we said that we all wanted to try Outback, he began to balk
and didn't seem to want to go there. Sometimes I think it's just a power
struggle thing with him. But we went. I think he had some sort of ribs
which he loved. My parents and I all had burgers, mine with no bun. I had
no real complaints about how the food tasted although I wasn't too thrilled
with the fries but I can't remember now what the problem was there. Just
felt that the amount of food I got was not much for the price I paid.
Parents seemed to like their food. Normally when we dine out, we would have
salads but we didn't get those because the price seemed outrageous.
Daughter had some sort of chicken that she wound up not liking because it
had stuff like sauce and cheese and mushrooms on it. Really it looked very
greasy and gloppy. So I can't blame her.

There was for sure a lack of service. Very slow to wait on us and
eventually did refill our drinks but only after we waited, parched for a
very long time. And slower still to bring the bill. Some of us even stood
up and in the narrow aisle hoping to gain some attention. But due to the
layout of the one we were in, nobody could see us there because nobody was
around.

I also didn't care for the design of the place. It had a dark, dirty, dingy
feel to it. Not my cup of tea to be sure but then chain places rarely are.

[Julie Bove]

"sf" <s...@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:2facg81s50sr45e0i...@4ax.com...

I really wish people would not give gift certificates unless they know that
the person likes the place. Otherwise they may well be wasting their money.

[Pete C.]

Like most chain places, there are some items on the menu that are decent
and a good number that are uninspired crap. Any sort of marinated or
slathered steak would fall under the pure crap category. One of their
filets with just the basic seasoning is a much more reliable selection.
They aren't my first choice for a chain restaurant, but if that's what's
in the area or others in the group want to go there I don't have a
problem finding something reasonable on their menu.

[Ed Pawlowski]

On Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:09:14 -0800, "Paul M. Cook" <pmc...@gte.net>
wrote:

>
>Who marinates a rib-eye? That is a very fine cut of beef and requires no
>marinating. A little salt and pepper and then a dab of butter on top when
>done - that's all you need.
>

Sure, when you buy a good grade of beef. They probably buy from the
lot that also goes to the dog food factory.

[Ed Pawlowski]

On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:03:00 -0800, "Julie Bove"
<juli...@frontier.com> wrote:



>
>I really wish people would not give gift certificates unless they know that
>the person likes the place. Otherwise they may well be wasting their money.
>

But evidently Dimitri has never been there so he did not know if he
liked the place or not. It was a good opportunity to find out though.

[Julie Bove]

"Ed Pawlowski" <e...@snet.net> wrote in message
news:6fmcg8lvfp54vrb0u...@4ax.com...

Well that could be. I hadn't been there either and was given a gift card.
I gave it away.

[Jim Elbrecht]

"Dimitri" <Dimi...@prodigy.net> wrote:

>Well the other day we went out to use a gift certificate we had received for
>Christmas.

-snip-

>
>Before I go farther I need to mention I have been put on a medication that
>prevents me from drinking alcohol. So my pre-dinner drink was 1/2 OJ and 1/2
>club soda.

Don't know why you had to mention that-- but since you did, let me
pick your brain. If I made a pot of spaghetti sauce- say a couple
quarts- and I put a generous splash of wine in there- then simmered it
for an hour or two-- Would it affect you adversely?

I always try to be sure none of my guest have alcohol restrictions--
but I have caught myself a few times putting alcohol into things when
folks who don't partake are eating.

>
>Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
>IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue. The
>smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.
>
>Complain NO
>Send the food back - nope
>It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
>again.

I'm with you there-- I went to one 3-4 years ago. We waited 3
hours in line-- and then got a lousy meal. I can't remember what
it was the kids thought was really good. Fries? Is that the
blooming onion place?

>
>What a rip-off.

Amen-- hope the gift certificate wasn't from your sister-in-law who
*has* to hear that you had a lovely time-- so she'll give you another
one next year.<g>

Jim

[notbob]

On 2013-01-28, Ed Pawlowski <e...@snet.net> wrote:
>
> But evidently Dimitri has never been there so he did not know if he
> liked the place or not. It was a good opportunity to find out though.

I was treated to a dinner at OS, the first in our area. I was
favorably impressed. Enough so, a couple weeks later I treated a
friend to dinner. Same place, same day of week, say time of day, same
order. HUGE difference. My first experience was great, my second
--and last!-- was horrible. Cold veggies, tough overcooked steak,
greasy bread. Hard to believe it was the same place. I've never been
back.

This is in direct conflict with Anderson's Black Angus. Back in the
early 90s, you could go to any ABA in CA and get the identical meal.
I usta crave their lobster dinners. Broiled lobster tail for $17 and
it was cooked perfectly, every time, even at another ABA 200 miles
from home. Later, the golden goose died and ABA doubled the price on
lobster dinners overnight and QC went down the drain.

Two places, differnt beginnings, same end. Such is the reality of
chains.

nb

[Gary]

Jim Elbrecht wrote:
>
> Amen-- hope the gift certificate wasn't from your sister-in-law who
> *has* to hear that you had a lovely time-- so she'll give you another
> one next year.<g>

I used to think that giving money as a gift was cold and uncaring. A gift
certificate seems more thoughtful. I think differently now. If I'm not
sure what someone would like, I send them a check and call it a "universal
gift certificate." Use it where ever you want to and buy something that you
will enjoy. :)

Gary

[George Leppla]

On 1/27/2013 11:56 PM, Dimitri wrote:
> Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
> IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue. The
> smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.
>
> Complain NO
> Send the food back - nope
> It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
> again.
>
> What a rip-off.

We have been going to Texas Roadhouse recently and we really like it.
http://www.texasroadhouse.com/ Steaks are good, but oddly, one of their
best dishes is the pulled pork.

The local location had a special before Christmas... for every $100 gift
card you bought, they gave you a $30 voucher... good towards any dinner
check. I think that is a significant savings so we bought a few.

George L

[Bob Terwilliger]

George wrote:

> We have been going to Texas Roadhouse recently and we really like it.
> http://www.texasroadhouse.com/ Steaks are good, but oddly, one of their
> best dishes is the pulled pork.

Speaking of roadhouses, I recently ran across this one online, but I haven't
been there yet. It looks like fun, regardless of whether the food is any
good: http://www.dingusmcgees.com/

Bob

[Gary]

Jim Elbrecht wrote:
>
> >Complain NO
> >Send the food back - nope
> >It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
> >again.

I used to like Outback well enough and so did my daughter.
Almost 17 years ago is the last time I went there.
It was my daughter's 16th birthday and she wanted to go there.

Well, she dressed up very nice for her birthday dinner.
Cute black dress and makeup, etc.
The waitress saw her all dressed up and old me and she immediately assumed
that I was some old guy on a date with a young girl. All during the meal,
she was very nice to my daughter and seemed really cold to me. I soon
figured out what she was (wrongly) thinking.

At the end of the meal, we asked for doggie bags for the leftover steaks.
She asked me in a very cold tone, "Will that be 2 bags, SIR, or one bag for
the same house?"

I looked at her and said, "One bag will be fine. I'm the Dad and she's my
daughter. This is her 16th birthday dinner."

Immediately she apologized to me and said that she works as a counselor and
"sees this all the time....old guys after young girls." Geez!

I told her to never assume things but I remained polite and let it go. I
could have complained to the manager and probably gotten a free meal plus
probably got the stupid waitress fired but I didn't. It still left a very
bad taste about the restaurant to me. I've never been back there since and
I will never go there again. Bad memories.

> Is that the blooming onion place?

Outback does sell the blooming onions. They are good but beware....if two
people eat one as an appetizer, you won't be very hungry for the entree
later. They are very filling.

Gary

[Nancy Young]

On 1/28/2013 2:49 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
> "Dimitri" <Dimi...@prodigy.net> wrote in message

>> Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
>> IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue. The
>> smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.
>>
>> Complain NO
>> Send the food back - nope
>> It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
>> again.
>>
>> What a rip-off.

I'm really sorry you had such an awful dinner. I like the place
well enough that I've gone there a few times. I don't rave about
it, but the one nearest to me serves decent food.

> Agreed. We only went there once and that was before my husband moved away
> to go to his job in NY. For years he has been begging us to eat there and
> for years we've said we wouldn't do it because I've never read anything good
> about the place.

"He's" been begging but then "we" wouldn't go? Anyway, if my husband
really wanted to go, we would just go. I can't imagine telling him
Nope, we are not going there, quit begging.

Maybe if it was my child.

nancy

[sf]

On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:29:36 -0800, "Julie Bove"

<juli...@frontier.com> wrote:

>
> "Ed Pawlowski" <e...@snet.net> wrote in message
> news:6fmcg8lvfp54vrb0u...@4ax.com...
> > On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:03:00 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> > <juli...@frontier.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>
> >>I really wish people would not give gift certificates unless they know
> >>that
> >>the person likes the place. Otherwise they may well be wasting their
> >>money.
> >>
> >
> > But evidently Dimitri has never been there so he did not know if he
> > liked the place or not. It was a good opportunity to find out though.
>
> Well that could be. I hadn't been there either and was given a gift card.
> I gave it away.
>

Some people take a chance and try something new every now and then in
the hope they might like it; others stick to the same ole boring same
ole.

[jmcquown]

On 1/28/2013 8:22 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
>> Agreed. We only went there once and that was before my husband moved
>> away
>> to go to his job in NY. For years he has been begging us to eat there
>> and
>> for years we've said we wouldn't do it because I've never read
>> anything good
>> about the place.
>
> "He's" been begging but then "we" wouldn't go? Anyway, if my husband
> really wanted to go, we would just go. I can't imagine telling him
> Nope, we are not going there, quit begging.
>
> Maybe if it was my child.
>
> nancy

Okay, I wasn't going to do this but you hit the nail on the head.

If I had to beg to go to dinner somewhere, for my birthday no less!, and
was told NO by my spouse and kid I'd have taken a job miles away in NY, too.

Jill

[MaryL]

"Nancy Young" wrote in message
news:51067b7e$0$30421$862e...@ngroups.net...

~~~~~~~~~~~
I had the same reaction. If *anyone* in our family showed a strong desire
(and "begging" surely fits that category) to go to a restaurant, the rest of
us would have gone along with it at least once until we could all judge it
for ourselves. In particular, I would not consider it much of a birthday
gift if I had to beg to go to a particular restaurant. My view always has
been that I try to gifts that I think the recipient wants, not what I want.

MaryL

[sf]

On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:04:41 -0600, George Leppla
<geo...@cruisemaster.com> wrote:

> We have been going to Texas Roadhouse recently and we really like it.
> http://www.texasroadhouse.com/ Steaks are good, but oddly, one of their
> best dishes is the pulled pork.

We found Texas Roadhouse on our recent trip back East and it's pretty
good. Those people really know how to cook a steak and they don't
mess around with terms like rare and medium rare. They tell you the
color and the temperature. I really appreciate that attitude. What I
liked best about it was that bucket of peanuts. Nice touch! There
are none out here, but we have a near equivalent: Cattlemen's.
http://www.beststeakinthewest.com/menu.htm I like their Pete's
Special. It's the right size of meat for me and comes with a beverage
(beer, wine, soft drink, tea or coffee).

[sf]

Check out their calamari. If it's served barely battered, we might
stop by sometime and give it a try. Thanks for mentioning it.

[Janet Bostwick]

On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:21:57 -0500, jmcquown <j_mc...@comcast.net>
wrote:

You caved before I did.
Janet US

[Nancy Young]

On 1/28/2013 11:28 AM, MaryL wrote:
>
>
> "Nancy Young" wrote

>> "He's" been begging but then "we" wouldn't go? Anyway, if my husband
>> really wanted to go, we would just go. I can't imagine telling him
>> Nope, we are not going there, quit begging.

> I had the same reaction. If *anyone* in our family showed a strong
> desire (and "begging" surely fits that category) to go to a restaurant,
> the rest of us would have gone along with it at least once until we
> could all judge it for ourselves.

Really. Even if it was just a matter of them saying I really
want to try this place ... just go. I'm pretty sure sometimes
we go places he'd rather not, but neither of us thinks we are the
final decision maker around here.

It just rubbed me the wrong way.

> In particular, I would not consider
> it much of a birthday gift if I had to beg to go to a particular
> restaurant. My view always has been that I try to gifts that I think
> the recipient wants, not what I want.

Exactly. Especially you'd think the birthday person would get
to choose without having to beg. Then if it's a bad experience,
you delight in See? Told you it sucked, but you just HAD to GO!
Geez.

nancy

[Ophelia]

"Nancy Young" <replyto@inemail> wrote in message
news:5106b47c$0$30310$862e...@ngroups.net...

Semantics maybe? Each to his/her own eh? :)

--
--
http://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

[jmcquown]

LOL I did. But how selfish is that? It was *his* birthday.

Jill

[Janet Bostwick]

On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:59:55 -0500, Susan <su...@nothanks.org> wrote:

>x-no-archive: yes

>
>On 1/28/2013 12:39 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> LOL I did. But how selfish is that? It was *his* birthday.
>>
>

>Really, from all past reports, he's as bad if not worse to them.
>
>Susan
the same reporter tells us how supermarkets specifically buy cheap,
rotten food, most all restaurants and doctors are bad, etc. , etc.,
etc.. He's probably a prince.
Janet US

[meda...@gmail.com]

And if you've ever seen a picture of Julie, you'll also note that the poor man is blind.

[Cheri]

"Janet Bostwick" <nos...@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:ikfdg8hqc08ikklad...@4ax.com...

Or a saint IMO.

Cheri

[Doug Freyburger]

Susan wrote:
>
> Outback took a very serious turn for the worse, including the
> quality/grade of their steaks some years back, after starting off strong
> as a good value. They also shrunk portions of salads and plating and
> service got sloppy.

This appears to vary by location. So far the ones near Chicago remain
good. Probably because of the competition with local places this being
a slaughterhouse city from way back.

At some point all of the Lone Star locations anywhere nearby have
closed. To me that failed to compete with the local places. The
nearest Texas Roadhouse is over an hour away and the last time we were
there it was okay.

[Paul M. Cook]

"Susan" <su...@nothanks.org> wrote in message
news:amnes6...@mid.individual.net...
> x-no-archive: yes
>
> On 1/28/2013 2:09 AM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
>
>> Who marinates a rib-eye? That is a very fine cut of beef and requires no
>> marinating. A little salt and pepper and then a dab of butter on top
>> when
>> done - that's all you need.

>>
>>
>
> Outback took a very serious turn for the worse, including the
> quality/grade of their steaks some years back, after starting off strong
> as a good value. They also shrunk portions of salads and plating and
> service got sloppy.
>

> We won't go back, either, haven't for a few years now.
>
> Susan

I don't waste my time at any of those places including Red Lobster. Nothing
but awful food, and very unhappy staff who take their aggression out on you.

[S Viemeister]

On 1/28/2013 5:12 PM, Susan wrote:

> I live in a village with about 37 restaurants I can walk to or drive to
> in a few minutes... all sorts of price points and ethnicity, and an
> ethnic food mecca about 15 minutes away, so no chains for us as a rule.
>
Sounds like Montclair.

[Julie Bove]

"Gary" <g.ma...@att.net> wrote in message news:51067437...@att.net...
> Jim Elbrecht wrote:
>>
>> Amen-- hope the gift certificate wasn't from your sister-in-law who
>> *has* to hear that you had a lovely time-- so she'll give you another
>> one next year.<g>
>
> I used to think that giving money as a gift was cold and uncaring. A gift
> certificate seems more thoughtful. I think differently now. If I'm not
> sure what someone would like, I send them a check and call it a "universal
> gift certificate." Use it where ever you want to and buy something that
> you
> will enjoy. :)
>
> Gary

[Julie Bove]

I send personalized Visa cards to the kids and teens in my life. Costs
$5.95 extra for this but you get to pick the design on the card and add
their name. Plus it comes in a nice greeting card of your choice, again
personalized inside and they don't charge postage.

[Julie Bove]

"Gary" <g.ma...@att.net> wrote in message news:51067A90...@att.net...

> Jim Elbrecht wrote:
>>
>> >Complain NO
>> >Send the food back - nope
>> >It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
>> >again.
>

> I used to like Outback well enough and so did my daughter.
> Almost 17 years ago is the last time I went there.
> It was my daughter's 16th birthday and she wanted to go there.
>
> Well, she dressed up very nice for her birthday dinner.
> Cute black dress and makeup, etc.
> The waitress saw her all dressed up and old me and she immediately assumed
> that I was some old guy on a date with a young girl. All during the meal,
> she was very nice to my daughter and seemed really cold to me. I soon
> figured out what she was (wrongly) thinking.
>
> At the end of the meal, we asked for doggie bags for the leftover steaks.
> She asked me in a very cold tone, "Will that be 2 bags, SIR, or one bag
> for
> the same house?"
>
> I looked at her and said, "One bag will be fine. I'm the Dad and she's my
> daughter. This is her 16th birthday dinner."
>
> Immediately she apologized to me and said that she works as a counselor
> and
> "sees this all the time....old guys after young girls." Geez!
>
> I told her to never assume things but I remained polite and let it go. I
> could have complained to the manager and probably gotten a free meal plus
> probably got the stupid waitress fired but I didn't. It still left a very
> bad taste about the restaurant to me. I've never been back there since
> and
> I will never go there again. Bad memories.

Had an experience like that myself. My mom had gone out of town and my dad
called and asked if I wanted to go to lunch at Sea Galley. That was a local
seafood chain. I don't eat seafood but they had this HUGE salad bar and it
was all really good stuff so I loved the place for that reason. I can't
remember my age now but I was a young adult. Maybe 19 to very early 20's.

At the table next to us were two of those nosy little old ladies who talk
really loudly but think they are whispering. They were saying the most
horrible things about us and how he had robbed the cradle and stuff. My dad
was seated in such a way that he couldn't see them and he is hard of hearing
so he couldn't hear any of it. But I was seething. And to make matters
worse, in those days we didn't really look anything alike except perhaps for
our hair color but he has been nearly totally bald since I was young so what
little hair he does have isn't really noticable, plus he keeps it very
short. Now that I'm older you can see a bit of a family resemblance, but I
digress.

The thing that ticked me off was that we were just eating lunch. Neither of
us were doing anything that might have suggested in any way that there was
anything romantic going on.
>
>
>> Is that the blooming onion place?
>
> Outback does sell the blooming onions. They are good but beware....if two
> people eat one as an appetizer, you won't be very hungry for the entree
> later. They are very filling.

I never had theirs but I ordered whatever kind of onion thing Chilis has.
It was so greasy I couldn't eat it.

[Julie Bove]

"notbob" <not...@nothome.com> wrote in message
news:slrnkgcsjo...@nbleet.hcc.net...

> On 2013-01-28, Ed Pawlowski <e...@snet.net> wrote:
>>
>> But evidently Dimitri has never been there so he did not know if he
>> liked the place or not. It was a good opportunity to find out though.
>

> I was treated to a dinner at OS, the first in our area. I was
> favorably impressed. Enough so, a couple weeks later I treated a
> friend to dinner. Same place, same day of week, say time of day, same
> order. HUGE difference. My first experience was great, my second
> --and last!-- was horrible. Cold veggies, tough overcooked steak,
> greasy bread. Hard to believe it was the same place. I've never been
> back.
>
> This is in direct conflict with Anderson's Black Angus. Back in the
> early 90s, you could go to any ABA in CA and get the identical meal.
> I usta crave their lobster dinners. Broiled lobster tail for $17 and
> it was cooked perfectly, every time, even at another ABA 200 miles
> from home. Later, the golden goose died and ABA doubled the price on
> lobster dinners overnight and QC went down the drain.
>
> Two places, differnt beginnings, same end. Such is the reality of
> chains.
>
> nb

I've never understood the appeal of Black Angus. Always seemed very
overpriced to me. Plus I'm not a big meat eater and they have limited
options for people like me. Yes, I know they're a steak plus but you'd
think they'd at least give a few nice salad or soup options.

We have a place here called The Keg. Husband and I used to love it. He
could get a huge nice steak, some sort of apps and I could have their lovely
salad bar. But some years ago they got rid of the salad bar, scaled back
their portions and cranked up the prices. We haven't been back. My mom and
her friend still eat there and my mom says the food is good but very
overpriced.

[Julie Bove]

"sf" <s...@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:3t8dg85tsktf9ikat...@4ax.com...

Cattlemens is my husband's favorite restaurant. I've never been there
though because their food doesn't appeal to me.

[meda...@gmail.com]

Are you sure they weren't making fun of your dad for taking his pet pig to lunch?

[Julie Bove]

"Nancy Young" <replyto@inemail> wrote in message

news:51067b7e$0$30421$862e...@ngroups.net...
> On 1/28/2013 2:49 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
>> "Dimitri" <Dimi...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
>
>>> Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
>>> IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue. The
>>> smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.
>>>

>>> Complain NO
>>> Send the food back - nope
>>> It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
>>> again.
>>>

>>> What a rip-off.
>
> I'm really sorry you had such an awful dinner. I like the place
> well enough that I've gone there a few times. I don't rave about
> it, but the one nearest to me serves decent food.
>

>> Agreed. We only went there once and that was before my husband moved
>> away
>> to go to his job in NY. For years he has been begging us to eat there
>> and
>> for years we've said we wouldn't do it because I've never read anything
>> good
>> about the place.
>
> "He's" been begging but then "we" wouldn't go? Anyway, if my husband
> really wanted to go, we would just go. I can't imagine telling him Nope,
> we are not going there, quit begging.
>
> Maybe if it was my child.

So you would go to a place that had nothing that you wanted to eat? Or
could eat? And had nothing your child could eat? For years, literally the
only thing they had that my daughter could eat was a hamburger patty and a
salad. And when she was younger, she didn't like salad. They had no kind
of starch dish she could eat. The baked potatoes have margarine on the
outside and the fries contain wheat. It was only after she outgrew her
wheat intolerance that I finally agreed to do it. And it was just as I
suspected. He didn't *really* want to go there. He just knew that we
*didn't* want to go there so he made a big stink about it.

He does the same thing with Azteca which for some reason my family loves.
But then they seem to love really bland, tasteless food. My brother and my
mom dislike the Mexican restaurant that *we* love because they don't like
their sauces. And that's the exact reason why we like it! We also like
that they don't give overly huge portions, unless of course you order one of
the few dishes they offer that do come in huge portions. They usually do
have a special that is quite large.

The reason we don't like Azteca is that it seems that much of the food comes
frozen and is reheated. We got the fajitas once. The meat was tough and
the vegetables were cooked to mush. The only part we could eat was the
beans and rice. And now rice in Mexican places is often off limits to me
because it contains chicken broth. I didn't even ask in this place because
the wait staff is clueless as to what is in their food. And they tend to
bring the wrong food time and time again. But now they offer "white" rice
on their menu. I foolishly assumed this would be plain white rice. But
when it came, it had the taste to me of Minute Rice and they had thrown in
some frozen mixed vegetables. It was a gummy, bad tasting mess. The Rancho
or Ranchero or whatever they called them beans were pretty good though. So
I ordered those the next time and the white rice and this time it was as
though they just threw some random frozen veggies in. Still inedible. But
my husband just raves about their food and always wants to go there because
he knows we don't. And he garners sympathy from people by telling them
about how oppressed he is because we won't go where he wants. And it's not
as if he never goes there because we often have to go there for family
dinners.

[Julie Bove]

"jmcquown" <j_mc...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:amnmt7...@mid.individual.net...

> On 1/28/2013 8:22 AM, Nancy Young wrote:

>>> Agreed. We only went there once and that was before my husband moved
>>> away
>>> to go to his job in NY. For years he has been begging us to eat there
>>> and
>>> for years we've said we wouldn't do it because I've never read
>>> anything good
>>> about the place.
>>
>> "He's" been begging but then "we" wouldn't go? Anyway, if my husband
>> really wanted to go, we would just go. I can't imagine telling him
>> Nope, we are not going there, quit begging.
>>
>> Maybe if it was my child.
>>

>> nancy
>
> Okay, I wasn't going to do this but you hit the nail on the head.
>
> If I had to beg to go to dinner somewhere, for my birthday no less!, and
> was told NO by my spouse and kid I'd have taken a job miles away in NY,
> too.
>
> Jill

But he really *didn't* want to go there. He just heard me comment that I
*didn't* want to go there. That's the only reason he said he did. When I
finally agreed to go there, he *didn't* want to go. It's a sick little
power trip thing that he plays. And I'm not playing into it.

[Julie Bove]

"jmcquown" <j_mc...@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:amnrfb...@mid.individual.net...

For your birthday would you pick a place where you knew other people didn't
want to go? I don't. I try to pick a place where everyone in the family
can eat, even if they don't have something that I particularly like. I
often have to just make do with a hamburger patty and fries or a baked
potato just because these are safe foods for me to eat. I eat at my
favorite Mexican restaurant almost once a week. I won't pick that for my
birthday choice any more because I know that my brother hates the place.

It was not just me who did not allow him to pick the place. Because he was
deliberately picking places where he knew the rest of my family did not want
to go. What good is it for us to sit there picking at a green salad while
he eats a meal? That would just give him the satisfaction of ticking us all
off which is what he wanted to do. Plus it wasn't just *his* birthday we
were celebrating. There are two other birthdays that fall during that two
week period. So my mom tried to pick a place where everyone could get
something they could eat. His beef was that we had combined the birthdays.
But... We had to do that for a reason. We all have differing schedules and
there would be no way we could all get together three times during that two
week period. Each birthday person did get their choice of cake and ice
cream.

[Julie Bove]

"Susan" <su...@nothanks.org> wrote in message

news:amnsju...@mid.individual.net...

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> On 1/28/2013 12:39 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>

>> LOL I did. But how selfish is that? It was *his* birthday.
>>
>

> Really, from all past reports, he's as bad if not worse to them.

*nods* And I don't even post it all here. Nobody would want to hear it.

[Julie Bove]

"MaryL" <stan...@invalid.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:amnn9v...@mid.individual.net...
>
>
> "Nancy Young" wrote in message

> news:51067b7e$0$30421$862e...@ngroups.net...
>
> On 1/28/2013 2:49 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
>> "Dimitri" <Dimi...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
>
>>> Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
>>> IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue. The
>>> smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.
>>>
>>> Complain NO
>>> Send the food back - nope
>>> It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
>>> again.
>>>
>>> What a rip-off.
>
> I'm really sorry you had such an awful dinner. I like the place
> well enough that I've gone there a few times. I don't rave about
> it, but the one nearest to me serves decent food.
>

>> Agreed. We only went there once and that was before my husband moved
>> away
>> to go to his job in NY. For years he has been begging us to eat there
>> and
>> for years we've said we wouldn't do it because I've never read anything
>> good
>> about the place.
>
> "He's" been begging but then "we" wouldn't go? Anyway, if my husband
> really wanted to go, we would just go. I can't imagine telling him
> Nope, we are not going there, quit begging.
>
> Maybe if it was my child.
>
> nancy
>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~

> I had the same reaction. If *anyone* in our family showed a strong desire
> (and "begging" surely fits that category) to go to a restaurant, the rest
> of us would have gone along with it at least once until we could all judge

> it for ourselves. In particular, I would not consider it much of a

> birthday gift if I had to beg to go to a particular restaurant. My view
> always has been that I try to gifts that I think the recipient wants, not
> what I want.
>

> MaryL

Seriously? So if you knew that a person only wanted to go to a place
because they knew that the rest of the family did not, you would just go
there, sit there and not eat and let them have their meal? Okay then.

[Julie Bove]

"Susan" <su...@nothanks.org> wrote in message

news:amo1k5...@mid.individual.net...
> x-no-archive: yes

>
> On 1/28/2013 2:09 PM, Doug Freyburger wrote:
>
>> This appears to vary by location. So far the ones near Chicago remain
>> good. Probably because of the competition with local places this being
>> a slaughterhouse city from way back.
>>
>

> The food forum I mostly participate on has folks all over the U.S.
> discussing how bad Outback has become the past several years.

Yes. I frequently look up online reviews of places. I have never ever seen
a good reviews of *any* of the Outbacks in this area. Mostly it is
complaints about the lack of service. And that's exactly what we saw.

[Julie Bove]

"Susan" <su...@nothanks.org> wrote in message

news:amobdp...@mid.individual.net...
> x-no-archive: yes

>
> On 1/28/2013 4:51 PM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
>
>> I don't waste my time at any of those places including Red Lobster.
>> Nothing
>> but awful food, and very unhappy staff who take their aggression out on
>> you.
>>
>>
>

> I typically avoid chains entirely and I've been in a Red Lobster once,
> back in the 70s and walked out, but Outback was fun and the food was a
> good deal many years back and we'd occasionally go as a family. The
> service was really friendly and accommodating, too.
>
> I still go to Seasons52 with MIL weekly for lunch because she loves the
> little desserts though it's not what I would choose otherwise, but it's
> very nice as chain restos go. One thing I've noticed is that the crowds
> at some of these places are really pleasant at lunch, but rowdier and full
> of kids at dinner, so that's a complete no go if going out with her at
> dinner, which is rare now. I like Legal Seafood, too, just not at dinner;
> lunch is all classy service and quiet with decent food, but the Legal we
> went to was turned into Seasons52 by the same group.

>
> I live in a village with about 37 restaurants I can walk to or drive to in
> a few minutes... all sorts of price points and ethnicity, and an ethnic
> food mecca about 15 minutes away, so no chains for us as a rule.
>

> Susan

The one that really gets me is Applebees! I know people who love that place
and even rave about how great the food is. I have heard from several people
who used to work there that most of the food comes to them already made and
frozen. If I want to eat a frozen meal (which I don't), I might as well
eat that at home. And I see nothing appealing on the menu at all.
Everything is glopped up with some sort of bad looking sauce. I think the
appeal of the place is that it is cheap.

[meda...@gmail.com]

I imagine a lot of his problems relate to certain, ahem, choices he's made in life. Fat ugly wife. Fat ugly daughter. Both borderline psychotic about food.

[Mark Thorson]

That's never stopped you before.

[Julie Bove]

"sf" <s...@geemail.com> wrote in message

news:7g8dg8p3hfusdnmm9...@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:29:36 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> <juli...@frontier.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Ed Pawlowski" <e...@snet.net> wrote in message
>> news:6fmcg8lvfp54vrb0u...@4ax.com...
>> > On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:03:00 -0800, "Julie Bove"
>> > <juli...@frontier.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >>
>> >>I really wish people would not give gift certificates unless they know
>> >>that
>> >>the person likes the place. Otherwise they may well be wasting their
>> >>money.

>> >>
>> >
>> > But evidently Dimitri has never been there so he did not know if he
>> > liked the place or not. It was a good opportunity to find out though.
>>

>> Well that could be. I hadn't been there either and was given a gift
>> card.
>> I gave it away.
>>
> Some people take a chance and try something new every now and then in
> the hope they might like it; others stick to the same ole boring same
> ole.

Yes but I had seen the menu and already knew there was nothing I wanted to
eat. The person who gave it to me was from my dentist's office. They were
trying to appease me after having screwed up my crown for yet the third
time. They had either that or a Starbucks card. Which I didn't want
either. I was like... No. Just please let me go home and forget about
this nightmare! I was so ticked off at their insistence that I take the
Outback card and maybe just go there for a drink (I don't drink) that I
could not wait to get rid of it. And then wouldn't you know I had a hard
time getting rid of it! Nobody wanted the thing because they couldn't stand
the place either! I finally had one of the receptionists at the dance
studio say that her college aged son would probably take it. And he did. I
didn't even know him! I just wanted to get rid of the thing.

I didn't know it at the time but our local food bank takes restaurant gift
cards. So if something like this ever happens again, I'll just put it in
the donation bin.

[Andrew Tillinghast]

i think this just proves that a lot of people just don't know what
good ffod really is.

[notbob]

On 2013-01-29, jay <nom...@food.com> wrote:

> customer. We should have just gone to McDonalds.

Yikes! Now, that's harsh. 8|

nb

[Julie Bove]

Sadly I think this is true. One person who raved about Applebees and also
Azteca also raved about PF Changs. Because of this I never really wanted to
try PF Changs.

I must say that I am not a super big fan of Chinese food and really only
like a few dishes that I've tried. But what I did like was the more
authentic stuff and not the Americanized versions. And from what I've seen
of the PF Changs menu, it is Americanized stuff.

I guess I could see it if we lived in an area where there was nothing to
choose from but chain places. But we don't. So it just makes no sense to
me.

[Bryan]

On Sunday, January 27, 2013 11:56:50 PM UTC-6, Dimitri wrote:
> Well the other day we went out to use a gift certificate we had received for
>
> Christmas.
>
>
>
> We both started with their wedge lettuce salad - with blue cheese - and
>
> someone had said the word Bacon over the top. About the same way a good
>
> bartender says vermouth over an extra dry martini.
>
>
>
> For the entre I ordered the 14 ounce rib eye. Not wanting their teriyaki
>
> slathered over the steak the waiter suggested their Tuscan marinated steak.
>
> Never had it thought I would try it.
>
>
>
> Before I go farther I need to mention I have been put on a medication that
>
> prevents me from drinking alcohol. So my pre-dinner drink was 1/2 OJ and 1/2
>
> club soda.

>
>
>
> Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
>
> IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue. The
>
> smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.
>
>
>
> Complain NO
>
> Send the food back - nope
>
> It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
>
> again.
>
>
>
> What a rip-off.
>

I've never eaten at an Outback, but 22 years ago, I used to run a crew that cleaned restaurants in the middle of the night. Some of the kitchens were gross. One seafood restaurant made one of my crew vomit. The one place whose kitchen was the cleanest was an Outback.
>
> Dimitri

--Bryan

[merryb]

On Jan 28, 3:37 pm, "Julie Bove" <julieb...@frontier.com> wrote:
> "jmcquown" <j_mcqu...@comcast.net> wrote in message

Sounds like a fun game:(

[merryb]

On Jan 28, 4:11 pm, jay <nom...@food.com> wrote:
> In article <ke53vd$n...@dont-email.me>,

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  "Dimitri" <Dimitr...@prodigy.net> wrote:
> > Well the other day we went out to use a gift certificate we had received for
> > Christmas.
>
> > We both started with their wedge lettuce salad - with blue cheese - and
> > someone had said the word Bacon over the top. About the same way a good
> > bartender says vermouth over an extra dry martini.
>
> > For the entre I ordered the 14 ounce rib eye. Not wanting their teriyaki
> > slathered over the steak the waiter suggested their Tuscan marinated steak.
> > Never had it thought I would try it.
>
> > Before I go farther I need to mention I have been put on a medication that
> > prevents me from drinking alcohol. So my pre-dinner drink was 1/2 OJ and 1/2
> > club soda.
>
> > Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
> > IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue.  The
> > smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.
>
> > Complain NO
> > Send the food back - nope
> > It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
> > again.
>
> > What a rip-off.
>

> > Dimitri
>
> Yes it's nasty.  Went to the one in Las Vegas some few years back out of
> late night desperation since it was about the only place we could get in
> with no reservation.  Wonder why?  It's hard to believe that they can
> keep the doors open because they surely never experience a repeat

> customer.  We should have just gone to McDonalds.
>

> jay

There is an In & Out in Vegas!

[Bryan]

On Monday, January 28, 2013 5:55:28 PM UTC-6, Julie Bove wrote:
>
>
> The one that really gets me is Applebees!

Applebee's is truly bad, but I can easily trump that. O'Charley's. They are the Arby's of table service chains. Heck, their food might even be worse than Arby's.

--Bryan

[sf]

On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:19:15 -0800 (PST), Bryan
<bryang...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I've never eaten at an Outback,

Me either, but I remember a long gone poster used to say she liked
their lamb chops and I was thinking that's what I'd order if I ever
went to one.

[Julie Bove]

merryb wrote:
>
> Sounds like a fun game:(

Not really which is why we refused to play into it. This isn't the first
time he has done this. Seems to be a family trait. One of his parents is
exactly the same way. The other parent referred to this as "being
difficult".

I don't really get the game playing thing. I know that I did stuff like
this when I was a kid because I found it kind of interesting that I could
manipulate people in this way. Perhaps all kids do this to some extent. I
don't know. But I outgrew it years ago. While it was interesting for a
while, it wasn't really much fun.

[Julie Bove]

I have only heard of O'Charley's. We don't have them here. I haven't eaten
at Arby's for many years. Last time I did was during a cross country move
and I only had a salad. I can't remember what I got for my daughter but she
wouldn't eat it. And my husband didn't eat anything.

But I do remember eating there a lot as a child. I always thought the meat
was weird. I don't know if it was the meat or the bread or what but it had
a very sweet taste to it. My parents were very fond of what they called
their "Horsey sauce". Then I don't know what changed but my parents stopped
eating there totally. Even though my nephew's girlfriend worked there for
many years. She and my nephew did eat there quite a bit only because they
got free food but they only ate one thing and it was some sort of chicken
thing. I don't remember what it was. And no doubt it was some sort of
special order.

[Julie Bove]

Susan wrote:
> x-no-archive: yes

>
> On 1/28/2013 7:11 PM, jay wrote:
>
>> Yes it's nasty. Went to the one in Las Vegas some few years back
>> out of late night desperation since it was about the only place we
>> could get in with no reservation. Wonder why? It's hard to believe
>> that they can keep the doors open because they surely never
>> experience a repeat customer. We should have just gone to McDonalds.
>>
>>

> In their early years here, the typical wait was at least 45 minutes to
> an hour.

I don't get it. We have a place here called Claim Jumper. I know they are
a chain but I don't know if they are all over the country. We ate in there
once, maybe twice. I couldn't see the appeal of the food. But... There
again, I think people like it because it is cheap and they give big
portions. You have to wait there a very long time for a table too.

[Cheryl]

On 1/28/2013 11:32 AM, sf wrote:

> We found Texas Roadhouse on our recent trip back East and it's pretty
> good. Those people really know how to cook a steak and they don't
> mess around with terms like rare and medium rare. They tell you the
> color and the temperature. I really appreciate that attitude. What I
> liked best about it was that bucket of peanuts. Nice touch! There
> are none out here, but we have a near equivalent: Cattlemen's.
> http://www.beststeakinthewest.com/menu.htm I like their Pete's
> Special. It's the right size of meat for me and comes with a beverage
> (beer, wine, soft drink, tea or coffee).

Is that the place where people throw the peanut shells on the floor?
Texas Roadhouse?

[sf]

On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:42:36 -0500, Cheryl <jlhs...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

I think so. The floor was clean when we were there, so you can't
prove it by me. They even give us a "discard" bucket, so maybe the
practice has been changed (if they ever did it at all). BTW: their
peanuts are very good. They gave us a bag as a good bye gift.

[Julie Bove]

"Cheryl" <jlhs...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5107290e$0$20983$c3e8da3$1cbc...@news.astraweb.com...

Yes. I don't know about you but such a place is not appealing to me at all.

[bigwheel]

Dimitri;1807932 Wrote:
>
> It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
> again. What a rip-off. Dimitri

Hearty thanks for the candid review. I knew there was some reason I have
never darkened the door of that place..and now I know why. I even won a
nice Outback fifty buck gift card one time and wound up giving it to
some of the kin as a Christmas present seems like. I figgered fifty
bucks prob need another coupla hundred to go with..lol.




--
bigwheel

[Curtis Martin]

Our company had to paint at a "closed" Golden Corral, it was the most
filthy, smelly, They had 6 pest control company's in there in one day.
When I see their TV ads I just want to #####!!! Every one I have
"visited" but not eated were filthy. (This is in ND) I'm so tired of
bad food, I usually don't eat it and ask for my money back. Curtis

[MaryL]

"Julie Bove" wrote in message news:ke72tm$j4q$1...@dont-email.me...

~~~~~~~
I seriously would go at least once if a member of my family wanted to try a
place. However, this time you said "because they knew that the rest of the
family did not" want to go there. If someone truly wants to go someplace
just to annoy others, then that is incredibly selfish and I certainly would
not enable them by going there. But if they wanted to try a place because
they really wanted to eat there, then I would want to accommodate them. And
I would not just sit there and not eat--there surely would be *something* at
any restaurant that the rest could eat. After trying it one time, then I
think the family as a group could decide if it was worth trying again. We
can't always find restaurants that everyone likes (and you and Angela have
some specific likes and needs), but it surely is worth trying to find places
that are acceptable to everyone. You did mention a birthday in your
original message. That is one time when I think the birthday person should
have absolute choice.

MaryL

[Julie Bove]

"MaryL" <stan...@invalid.yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:amovrf...@mid.individual.net...

But he *didn't* want to try the place. He had been there before. He only
wanted to go there because the rest of the family did not. It was a power
struggle thing. He was also angry because his birthday was combined with
others. But again, we didn't have much choice there.

You might say there would be *something* a person could eat. But that
simply is not true with all restaurants. I am totally unwilling to pay for
one of those overpriced salads but I'm not. Would you be willing top pay $9
for a plate of greens? Because that's what I'd have to do. I can't have
the pecans or the blue cheese. How about $15 for a wedge of iceberg lettuce
with grape tomatoes, red onions and bacon? No? Me either. Because I can't
have the rest of that salad either. I do see now that they have what they
call a signature side salad for $3.50 with a meal. I don't think that was
an option when we ate there. But as it was, the $10 for my burger patty
with lettuce, tomato, onion and some crappy fries was overpriced in my book.
It was seriously no better than what I could get at a fast food place.

The rest of my family has eaten at Outback and didn't like it. They didn't
like it for the very reasons that my daughter and I didn't like it. Bad
food, overpriced food and lack of service. Although my parents did say that
they didn't mind the food when we went there last but they did think it was
overpriced. And of course, husband was angry that we *made* him go there.
Because of course when we all agreed to go there, he didn't *want* to do it.
We've all known him long enough to know that this was what his game was and
he readily admitted to it.

[Cheryl]

On 1/28/2013 11:00 PM, MaryL wrote:

> I seriously would go at least once if a member of my family wanted to
> try a place. However, this time you said "because they knew that the
> rest of the family did not" want to go there. If someone truly wants to
> go someplace just to annoy others, then that is incredibly selfish and I
> certainly would not enable them by going there. But if they wanted to
> try a place because they really wanted to eat there, then I would want
> to accommodate them. And I would not just sit there and not eat--there
> surely would be *something* at any restaurant that the rest could eat.
> After trying it one time, then I think the family as a group could
> decide if it was worth trying again. We can't always find restaurants
> that everyone likes (and you and Angela have some specific likes and
> needs), but it surely is worth trying to find places that are acceptable
> to everyone. You did mention a birthday in your original message. That
> is one time when I think the birthday person should have absolute choice.

As you see now Mary, there's always more to the story than the
long-winded stories she already writes. It's a waste of time to even
respond to these wild posts. I don't bother anymore. Not just because
it makes me look bad to tease her, but because it just isn't worth the
space. I like Julie for the most part, but her stories are bizarre.
Maybe it's just the story teller. Some can tell coherent stories, some
can't. I know I can't.

[Cheryl]

On 1/28/2013 6:07 PM, Julie Bove wrote:

> I send personalized Visa cards to the kids and teens in my life. Costs
> $5.95 extra for this but you get to pick the design on the card and add
> their name. Plus it comes in a nice greeting card of your choice, again
> personalized inside and they don't charge postage.

Just make sure you tell them that they have an expiration date.

[Cheryl]

On 1/28/2013 7:19 PM, Bryan wrote:

> I've never eaten at an Outback, but 22 years ago, I used to run a
> crew that cleaned restaurants in the middle of the night. Some of
> the kitchens were gross. One seafood restaurant made one of my crew
> vomit. The one place whose kitchen was the cleanest was an Outback.

I imagine chain restaurants have the most exposure to health
inspections. I like Outback. Yes, they always have a long wait but I've
never been dissatisfied other than getting their curbside service. I
won't do that again; everything was cold. I don't get how someone here,
can't remember who, complained about their bread. They serve small
loaves of pumpernickel. Not greasy at all.

[Julie Bove]

"Cheryl" <jlhs...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:5107636c$0$1245$c3e8da3$fdf4...@news.astraweb.com...

I don't know if they do or not.

[Cheryl]

They do. Check it.

[Julie Bove]

"Cheryl" <jlhs...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:51076ced$0$7698$c3e8da3$12bc...@news.astraweb.com...

Thanks!

"Expiration
Your Card will expire no sooner than five (5) years from the date of
purchase. The funds on the Card expire when the Card expires. You will not
be able to use your Card after the expiration date."

I know at least one person I give this to uses hers right away because she
loves to shop!

[Julie Bove]

"Janet" <H...@invalid.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.2b71b24b8...@news.eternal-september.org...
> In article <ke72tm$j4q$1...@dont-email.me>, juli...@frontier.com says...

>
>> Seriously? So if you knew that a person only wanted to go to a place
>> because they knew that the rest of the family did not, you would just go
>> there, sit there and not eat and let them have their meal? Okay then.
>

> How many here do you imagine would ever be in that situation?
>
> You are deluded if you think that the repulsive social dynamic of your
> home life, is common or normal.
>
> Janet UK.

I never said that it was. Did I? No.

[Nancy Young]

On 1/28/2013 11:00 PM, MaryL wrote:>
>

> "Julie Bove" wrote in message news:ke72tm$j4q$1...@dont-email.me...

> "MaryL" <stan...@invalid.yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:amnn9v...@mid.individual.net...

>> "Nancy Young" wrote in message

>>>> Agreed. We only went there once and that was before my husband moved
>>>> away
>>>> to go to his job in NY. For years he has been begging us to eat
>>>> there and
>>>> for years we've said we wouldn't do it because I've never read
>>>> anything good about the place.
>>
>> "He's" been begging but then "we" wouldn't go? Anyway, if my husband
>> really wanted to go, we would just go. I can't imagine telling him
>> Nope, we are not going there, quit begging.

>>> I had the same reaction. If *anyone* in our family showed a strong
>>> desire (and "begging" surely fits that category) to go to a
>>> restaurant, the rest of us would have gone along with it at least
>once
>>> until we could all judge it for ourselves.

>> Seriously? So if you knew that a person only wanted to go to a place
>> because they knew that the rest of the family did not, you would just go
>> there, sit there and not eat and let them have their meal? Okay >then.
>

> ~~~~~~~

> I seriously would go at least once if a member of my family wanted to
> try a place. However, this time you said "because they knew that the
> rest of the family did not" want to go there. If someone truly wants
>to
> go someplace just to annoy others, then that is incredibly selfish and I
> certainly would not enable them by going there. But if they wanted >to
> try a place because they really wanted to eat there, then I would >want
> to accommodate them.

Because it's your family or your friend. It's what people do.

>And I would not just sit there and not eat--there
> surely would be *something* at any restaurant that the rest could >eat.

Even the idea that that's what you'd do, just sit there and not order
something, just let the (obviously) clown who picked the place sit there
and eat alone, that tells you everything you need to know.

If I was her husband, I'd go by myself and sit at the bar to eat
with strangers. They're friendlier than his family.

> After trying it one time, then I think the family as a group could
> decide if it was worth trying again. We can't always find >restaurants
> that everyone likes (and you and Angela have some specific likes and
> needs), but it surely is worth trying to find places that are
>acceptable
> to everyone. You did mention a birthday in your original message.
>That
> is one time when I think the birthday person should have absolute
>choice.

That jut seems so ... reasonable! And nice! Heh.

nancy

[jmcquown]

There are a few places like that. A number of years ago while on a trip
with John we went to such a place. (I can't remember the name but I'm
pretty sure it wasn't Texas Roadhouse.) Well, I slipped on one of those
peanut shells and went down hard. Ouch! They filled out an "incident
report". They were in full CYA mode. I heard from them (it was
probably a rep from their liability insurance carrier) a week or so
later. Just checking on you, yada yada. Yeah, more like just checking
to make sure I wasn't planning to sue. Encouraging people to throw
peanut shells on the floor might have seemed cutesy at one point but it
really is a stupid idea.

Jill

[MaryL]

"Cheryl" wrote in message
news:51076330$0$1245$c3e8da3$fdf4...@news.astraweb.com...

~~~~~~~~~~~
You're right. I need to learn to never respond to her posts. I have said
this before, then let myself get caught up in it.

I hope you're feeling better, Cheryl. I know this is a difficult time for
you.

MaryL

[Ophelia]

"MaryL" <stan...@invalid.yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:amq2p1...@mid.individual.net...

>
>
> "Cheryl" wrote in message
> news:51076330$0$1245$c3e8da3$fdf4...@news.astraweb.com...
>
> On 1/28/2013 11:00 PM, MaryL wrote:
>
>> I seriously would go at least once if a member of my family wanted to
>> try a place. However, this time you said "because they knew that the
>> rest of the family did not" want to go there. If someone truly wants to
>> go someplace just to annoy others, then that is incredibly selfish and I
>> certainly would not enable them by going there. But if they wanted to
>> try a place because they really wanted to eat there, then I would want
>> to accommodate them. And I would not just sit there and not eat--there
>> surely would be *something* at any restaurant that the rest could eat.
>> After trying it one time, then I think the family as a group could
>> decide if it was worth trying again. We can't always find restaurants
>> that everyone likes (and you and Angela have some specific likes and
>> needs), but it surely is worth trying to find places that are acceptable
>> to everyone. You did mention a birthday in your original message. That
>> is one time when I think the birthday person should have absolute choice.
>
> As you see now Mary, there's always more to the story than the
> long-winded stories she already writes. It's a waste of time to even
> respond to these wild posts. I don't bother anymore. Not just because
> it makes me look bad to tease her, but because it just isn't worth the
> space. I like Julie for the most part, but her stories are bizarre.
> Maybe it's just the story teller. Some can tell coherent stories, some
> can't. I know I can't.

Then why bother to read them? Nobody is forcing you.

> ~~~~~~~~~~~
> You're right. I need to learn to never respond to her posts. I have said
> this before, then let myself get caught up in it.

Then why bother to read them? Nobody is forcing you.

--
--
http://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

[Kalmia]

I'll cast my vote against Outback. Ate there once, and never again. I ordered one of the few non-steak entrees -- I'm not a steak lover -- and it was mediocre. My companion ordered a steak and pronounced it loathsome.
We thought we'd try the place, as it was about the only choice in that town - but were disappointed. One more chain crossed off the list.

[pavane]

"Kalmia" <tween...@mypacks.net> wrote in message
news:7e10ff4a-53a5-4dcc...@googlegroups.com...

"Loathsome" is a wonderful descriptor, one I don't remember having seen in
food discussions. I picture a miserably tough gristly piece of meat
slithering out of the restroom, sliming its way across the floor and sliding
up the
side of your table and onto companion's plate. Now that image is gonna come
up every time I pass an Outback...

pavane

[Ophelia]

"pavane" <pav...@ease.org> wrote in message
news:wSRNs.363723$OJ2.1...@en-nntp-11.dc1.easynews.com...

lol
--
--
http://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

[William]

On Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:56:50 -0800, "Dimitri" <Dimi...@prodigy.net>
wrote:

>Well the other day we went out to use a gift certificate we had received for
>Christmas.
>
>We both started with their wedge lettuce salad - with blue cheese - and
>someone had said the word Bacon over the top. About the same way a good
>bartender says vermouth over an extra dry martini.
>
>For the entre I ordered the 14 ounce rib eye. Not wanting their teriyaki
>slathered over the steak the waiter suggested their Tuscan marinated steak.
>Never had it thought I would try it.
>
>Before I go farther I need to mention I have been put on a medication that
>prevents me from drinking alcohol. So my pre-dinner drink was 1/2 OJ and 1/2
>club soda.

>
>Well the steak and the garlic smashed potatoes came. The marinated steak
>IMHO was uneatable. It was so salty it actually burned my tongue. The
>smashed potatoes were runny with little or no flavor.
>
>Complain NO
>Send the food back - nope
>It will however be a cold day in Hell if I ever set foot in an outback
>again.
>
>What a rip-off.
>

>Dimitri

I must take issue with you Dimitri, The Outback Steakhouses in the
Charlotte area serve delicious steaks. The crapo steakhouse is
Morton's. Their steaks are five times the price of Outback and always
burned!

William

[MaryL]

"Ophelia" wrote in message news:ke8ktd$vcf$2...@dont-email.me...

~~~~~~~~~
That's true, and I do read read only a "sampling" of hers (and some others).
I did not say that she does not have a right to post all those details; I
only said that *I* need to learn never to respond to her posts.

MaryL

[Dimitri]

"Susan" <su...@nothanks.org> wrote in message
news:amoihg...@mid.individual.net...
> x-no-archive: yes
>
> On 1/28/2013 7:11 PM, jay wrote:
>
>> Yes it's nasty. Went to the one in Las Vegas some few years back out of
>> late night desperation since it was about the only place we could get in
>> with no reservation. Wonder why? It's hard to believe that they can
>> keep the doors open because they surely never experience a repeat
>> customer. We should have just gone to McDonalds.
>>
>>
> In their early years here, the typical wait was at least 45 minutes to an
> hour.
>
> Susan

It must be similar today. I called ahead for their "call ahead seating"
number at 4:00 PM (when they open) for a 6:00 reservation. I arrived
promptly at 6:00 and was seated promptly at 6:30. That should have been a
clue.

Dimitri

[bigwheel]

Gary;
Well, she dressed up very nice for her birthday dinner. Cute black dress and makeup, etc.Gary[/QUOTE Wrote:
>
>
> Highly humorous scenario. I have a very pretty little blonde lady friend
> in her 40's but looks about 16 if you didnt know any better. She has a
> little Catholic School girl uniform plaid skirt..white blouse..black
> patent penny loafer shoes etc. She put her hair up in pigtails and may
> even have some leftover teeth hardware. She gets rigged out and they go
> out to eat at the restaurants and start smooching around on each other.
> He has nearly got lynched a few times. Some folks get their kicks in
> strange ways huh?




--
bigwheel

[Bryan]

That *is* awfully funny. "What a country!" --Y. Smirnoff
>
> --
>
> bigwheel

--Bryan

[Farm1]

"Dimitri" <Dimi...@prodigy.net> wrote in message

> wedge lettuce salad - with blue cheese -

> their teriyaki their Tuscan marinated steak.

Any place called "Outback Steakhouse" and which offers those things has
obviously never been closer to Australia than a National Geographic picture.
Why would you even expected good food at such a place?

[meda...@gmail.com]

How about you just fuck off, you third world savage?

[projectile vomit chick]

On Jan 28, 10:32 am, sf <s...@geemail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:04:41 -0600, George Leppla
>
> <geo...@cruisemaster.com> wrote:
> > We have been going to Texas Roadhouse recently and we really like it.
> >http://www.texasroadhouse.com/ Steaks are good, but oddly, one of their
> > best dishes is the pulled pork.

>
> We found Texas Roadhouse on our recent trip back East and it's pretty
> good.  Those people really know how to cook a steak and they don't
> mess around with terms like rare and medium rare.  They tell you the
> color and the temperature.  I really appreciate that attitude.  What I
> liked best about it was that bucket of peanuts.  Nice touch!  There

> are none out here, but we have a near equivalent: Cattlemen's.http://www.beststeakinthewest.com/menu.htm I like their Pete's

> Special.  It's the right size of meat for me and comes with a beverage
> (beer, wine, soft drink, tea or coffee).

Just goes to show what a clueless nerd you are about beef if you think
that Texas Roadhouse serves up a good slab of meat. They "don't mess
around with terms like rare and medium rare" because the bulk of their
patrons have room-temperature I.Q.'s and can only deal with "color and
temperature". Glad they could cater to your intellect. And you like
pawing through the bucket of peanuts that other people (with fingers
that have been God-knows-where) have been rifling through, then ya'll
throw the shells on the floor? What a classless bitch.

[projectile vomit chick]

On Jan 29, 7:38 am, jmcquown <j_mcqu...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> There are a few places like that.  A number of years ago while on a trip
> with John we went to such a place.

Just wondering why all of a sudden you have to mention the married
part-time "boyfriend" in every single post.