Outback + Six Legs

Well, well, well…
[Ry] and I headed on out to Outback for dinner tonight, as I was really craving steak. The dinner was fairly uneventful, but right as Ry and I had finished with our dinners (what we were going to eat of them anyway) a six-legged friend scurried onto the table. It was a cockroach. Now, as fate would have it, just as we killed the little bugger our waitress came to the table. We informed her that we were being invaded by cockroaches, and showed her the scout. She apologized profusely, cleaned up the carcass of our little friend, and went to get a manager.

The manager assured us that this was not a common thing (of course, I could’ve told her that… I’ve eaten there quite a bit… and this is a first) and said that their company guaranteed them to be bug free. I’m not sure if this is their pest control company, or the Outback Mothership, or what… but dinner was paid for… and they encouraged us to take dessert to go, which we did. Now, some folks might stomp their feet, scream, and promise never to go back to another Outback again as long as they live. Not me. Gross as you may think they are… they’ve probably scurried across every surface in your kitchen (especially if you live in the south, where there’s a movement to give them voting rights) and they just don’t bother me. Besides… who can argue with free appetizer, steak, and dessert? Not me, that’s for sure.

Insects and rodents have got to be one of the top fears of restaurant owners and managers, mainly because of the stigma… but the manager and waitress at this particular Outback handled the situation well. And yes, we did still leave a tip, despite the fact that we didn’t pay anything for the meal.