We went to Outback yesterday evening. Seeing the bar made us wonder if anyone actually orders cocktails?
We don’t associate a place like Outback with drinking booze. Maybe because we go so early. Often right after work around 5:30 and there’s still traffic when we drive home. It would be like ordering a cocktail at Pizza Hut or Ryans. Just a bit odd. I feel the same way about Applebees. Why have a bar? Is their any demand for it? Maybe these places have a different atmosphere later at night?
I guess we’re outing ourselves. We don’t visit bars. I’ve ordered maybe ten cocktails in my entire life. That it was at computer conferences with colleagues at the hotel’s bar. I much prefer a cold beer.
I see people drinking at those kinds of places all the time. In fact, they’re usually known for their fancy drinks, much more so than ‘hole in the wall’ bars.
Also, I don’t think you can compare ordering cocktails at a Pizza Hut to ordering cocktails at Outback or Applebees which are both “bar and grill” type restaurants.
It’s true, I don’t think people are as likely to go to Outback/Applebees to grab a drink before a movie. They’d probably go to a bar for that. But it’s pretty common to sit at the bar while you wait for your table or sit at the bar and guzzle down drinks while you’re eating.
Why not a restaurant? If the used to advertise cocktails at Marineland, any place should be fair game.
Marineland?? Did you need a drink to calm down after seeing the fish? Or was it just something to keep the old man occupied while the wife and kid took in the shows?
I think you hit on something when you mentioned you don’t go to bars very often. Not being snarky or anything but your question strikes me a bit odd. 5:30 is too early for cocktails?
I’ve been to several Applebees where people are drinking heavily. (at one, they even had karaoke going in the bar.) I don’t see any reason Outback would be any different. I’m puzzled by the OP’s question.
Black Angus used to have the “Square Cow Fun Bar” (remember those?), so not much of a leap to think Ouback would offer such services. I am not sure if it would be a destination, or as **Joey P **stated, it is more of a place to await your table.
Cocktails isn’t something our family ever orders. It doesn’t even occur to us. We have nothing against it. It just seems odd at casual dining. We’re sweet tea and coffee consumers. LOL
I used to order beer at Pizza Hut and Pizza Inn. Gave that up thirty years ago after the DUI laws got so tough. Its not worth the risk.
“With lots of cocktails” is pretty much the only way I’ll eat at a place like Outback or Applebee’s unless someone else is paying. In my experience, the bartenders at those places have been decent.
And I answered cocktails for everyone. I don’t really go to Outback types, but at say a similar type restaurant, if you’re in the mood, go for it.
Actually, I don’t see anything weird or wrong about a drink in the middle of the day with lunch, either. I’ve done that at restaurants that weren’t Outback or Applebees (not chains) but basically not super high end, and it didn’t feel weird.
I agree slightly. If I’m with my kids, I’m having a glass of wine or a beer (or diet coke).
However, if I’m out of town on business (the only time I’d go to one of these places), or grabbing a meal with my wife, I’ll drink a cocktail if I’m in the mood. On the other hand, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a club with music and dancing, regardless of the amount I could be drinking. So, as we so often learn at the SDMB, the world is full of all kinds of people.
I went with drinks for everyone. My wife likes a glass of wine or a margarita with her meal and a Guinness is a thing with a burger while the game is on one of the twevelty-eight big screens.
We aren’t doing a vineyard tasting of lower/midclass eating establishments like some sort of Sonoma Valley wine excursion, but a bottle is nice with an Italian-ish meal or a Bombay Martini is a thing on a Friday happy hour with appetizers.
I’ve ordered maybe ten cocktails in my entire life. That it was at computer conferences with colleagues at the hotel’s bar. I much prefer a cold beer.