Sunday, October 6, 2013

Outback Jacks - Redemption Episode


A while back, we went to Outback Jacks as one of our first date nights, and we did not like it.  Well, I didn't like it.  The service was slow and the food was average and the prices too high for what you got.

However, much like Tosh.0 (google it) we believe in redemption, and went back to Outback Jacks.  Truthfully, we've been there a few times since… but we usually go to the Glenelg restaurant, not O'Connell Street.  The Glenelg Outback Jacks has been on the money awesome each time we went there (which was probably twice) so we were feeling confident about the restaurant in general (even though I'm pretty sure they're franchises but whatever).

Unfortunately, I have no good news to report.  Have you ever been to the cinemas and seen a movie that was so bad you were tempted to walk out because you didn't want to be stuck in the dark room with a terrible movie any longer?  Well, this date night was the restaurant version of that.  

It started off fine.  We walked in and got a seat very, very easily.  So easy, not because we had a reservation, but because the place had hardly any people in it.  They have table service now which is great, no more waiting in ridiculous long lines to order.  And it was super speedy ordering too because they had what looked to be 10 x too many people working.  That's cool - I'm not going to complain about fast service!  And while I'm not one to get all judgey about a restaurants decor… there's some big TVs around the place, which gave it kind of a Cafe Primo feel.  I don't have anything against Cafe Primo, but you know what I mean right?  

Anyway, Paul ordered the chicken and ribs and I got the nachos.  I didn't realise how bad nachos could be.  I counted about 4 beans, it was a thrown together mess and they used some tomato sauce that tasted metallic and sweet and just weird.  The whole thing together was just gross.  I had a few bites and then left it.  For the first time ever, I wanted to ask for my money back.  Paul's chicken and ribs was a joke.  The tiniest chicken breast steak and ribs that looked as though they were slapped on the plate with minimum preparation and apparently tasted just that way too.

It didn't leave me feeling inspired.  I didn't walk away going oh my goodness I wish I could cook a meal like that at home, or better yet, that was so amazing I don't even want to try to make that at home because it was so good I probably couldn't.  I didn't feel satisfied, I felt unclean and gross.  I know that sounds like its maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but I assure you it isn't.  It didn't taste fresh and there was no pride to the meal.  I know, I know.  I ordered nachos, how much "pride" can go into that?  But it was a world of difference at the Glenelg one.  At Glenelg it was presented neater, it tasted better, I didn't feel so scungy eating it, it made me mmm and ahhh and it made my tastebuds happy. 

Outback Jacks O'Connell Street, you and I are never, ever, ever, getting back together.

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