"Jacques L' Autre" (jacklauterdale)
09/15/2014 at 10:04 • Filed to: None
1
14|
"Jacques L' Autre" (jacklauterdale)
09/15/2014 at 10:04 • Filed to: None | 1
| 14 |
I live next to an Outback. You know, the Australian Applebees? Now, I've been to Outback a handful of times in my life, and while okay it never really blew me away. What I'm saying is it's definitely not my first choice for food, or second choice, or even in the top ten. This Outback though is packed every damn night. People parking on the grass packed, and I don't get it. I've had a Bloomin' Onion before, they're not great, even when they're free.
Have an Outback for your time.
Brian Silvestro
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:08 |
|
I HATE Outback, but the one near where I live is, like yours, packed every night, and I don't know why.
Alfalfa
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:10 |
|
I like Outback, but not nearly as much as all the people who pack them every evening. As a result, I very rarely go. Hell it's been so long, maybe it isn't even as good as I remember.
macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
09/15/2014 at 10:11 |
|
If I can't get a combined six pounds of animal meat plus two potato sides and a deep fried onion for 30 bucks, this isn't America.
mcseanerson
> Alfalfa
09/15/2014 at 10:14 |
|
I wonder who keeps packing the parking lot because everyone I know says they're mediocre.
crowmolly
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:15 |
|
It's cheap, a step up from McDonalds/Wendy's, and you can get a beer.
Entry level table service. That's it.
nucciOMG
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:16 |
|
My girlfriend's parents love that place- and basically only go to Outback. I think it's terrible. But as they've said many times: The food is always the same.
4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:23 |
|
Reading this without knowing what Outback is, nor the american Applebees, whilst staring at a Legacy Outback, has led me to think this was a mind fuck jigsaw puzzle post full of bad grammar. As it turns out (as I am now learn'ed), I am in complete agreement just by looking at their product shots online. Some of that stuff looks AWFUL.
banjo cat ghost of oppo past
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:23 |
|
Better than B-double-dubs aka Buffalo Wild Wings.
I go in there for my Broncos games because they are the only ones in town with enough TV's to show em, (in the east) and when they ask me if I want to order anything, after a thorough look at the menu I'm just like "....nah, man. I'm good with the beer."
CalzoneGolem
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:24 |
|
I've had a Bloomin' Onion before, they're not great, even when they're free.
U WOT M8?!
.jdb.
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:27 |
|
I think at least part of it is an economy of scale thing. Let's say you're a table-service place that has a similar price point for their meals. YOU HAVE: Flexibility to use a variety of local and national suppliers, adapt your menu to local tastes, and make operational changes to your restaurant to make it succeed. THEY HAVE: Massive national agreements with massive suppliers to get incredibly low prices on food. Well-researched, documented, time-proven operational procedures. Deep capital to allow them to risk a "loss leader" promotion (e.g. "We'll lose money on the $10 sirloin deal, but we'll probably get it back on alcohol and appetizers") A huge national advertising budget ("Frank's Eats" doesn't have the opportunity to, say, advertise during the Super Bowl).
Outback is soulless and corporate, the food is (in my experience) often oversalted and overprocessed and not exciting or amazing. But — as others have said — it's a known quantity. And with their massive advertising budget and sizeable base of customers who have come to enjoy it, they don't have to work very hard to fill the parking lot on a Saturday night.
(NB: Applies to Chilis, Applebees, Olive Garden, Joe's Crab Shack, etc etc etc)
TheCraigy
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:40 |
|
Outback used to be amazing... perhaps 10 years ago? Then it seems like they got cheaper steaks.
and 100 more
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:44 |
|
I call Outback, Applebees, Chili's and similar restaurants, "LCDs", because they are the lowest common denominator of restaurant (not including fast-food establishments). Because its easier than thinking, or taking a risk on the shady Mexican place that everyone tells you is phenomenal, but you're too scared to try. The food is usually sub-par, but consistent; the waitstaff is usually clueless, but 20, cute, and perky. You go into any Outback anywhere, and you know exactly what you're getting.
Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 10:53 |
|
Every casual dining place seems to be packed around me, no matter how bad the food is. I can almost certainly make anything they have better for far cheaper.
The only place I frequent on a regular basis is Buffalo Wild Wings, and that's only during football season. Their food isn't very good, and its on the expensive side. But they're the best place to watch a game.
BarryDanger
> Jacques L' Autre
09/15/2014 at 11:24 |
|
But there's free bread there