Anyone ever actually eaten at a Red Lobster?

If so, how was it?

Funny this topic would show up, because I just ate there yesterday for lunch. I went to the one downtown across from the Post Office.

One thing I noticed was that the garlic cheddar biscuits were not as good as a few years ago. But then again, that could be because of the location??

I had the 30 shrimp deal for $10.99 (though the all you can eat shrimp was $5 more), a coworker had the fried catfish and another the shrimp and lobster caesar salad. The catfish was the biggest disappointment. It was obvious that the oil was not hot enough, because it had this pale yellowish crust on it. It was cornmeal breaded, but still... And he only got one small piece for about $10-$15 (I don't remember how much).

Service was slow too. Probably not going there again... But I will try another location and hope we caught it on an off night

CrazyC,

How was the shrimp?

Hammond

I had half scampi and half fried, but gave the fried ones away...

The scampi was ok... Better than Leona's (don't get me started again). Buttery and garlicky, but other than that, not much of a shrimp flavor...

What I would do for drunken shrimp.... =)

I'm not too ashamed to say I've eaten at Red Lobster many times over the years. While I haven't graced its doors in more than a blue moon, its still the closest seafood restaurant to my home. It's probably the closest seafood restaurant for most Americans. How hard is it to steam crab legs or boil a lobster? My children always seemed to enjoy it despite hating "fish." Over the last twenty some years, I've never had a bad meal at a Red Lobster, just not a fine one.

We that live in a metropolitan and culinary mecca should not forget that for many, Red Lobsters are the Chez Paul's of the neighborhood. Mom and pop restaurants have taken it on the skids big time in the hinterlands of America. Travel the main streets of small towns looking for an interesting bite and too often you're directed back to the mega-gas-C-store-and-emporium right off the expressway you were avoiding in the first place.

Next month, my daughter is turning seventeen, and she will expect a dinner at the Olive Garden (Red Lobster's evil twin). I am sure it will be a valued family memory.

Ramon wrote:My children always seemed to enjoy it despite hating "fish." Over the last twenty some years, I've never had a bad meal at a Red Lobster, just not a fine one.

In a way, I think it's great that your kids "hate fish" but they're okay with Red Lobster. Maybe the commercials convinced them it's okay to eat there. Someday, they'll realize that they've been eating fish for years without realizing it, and they'll discover they actually like fish.

For what it is, I don't think Red Lobster is such a bad place; given the choice between it and places like Chi-Chi's (RIP), TGIF, or Bennigans, I'd definitely go with RL.

Hammond

It's been many years since I've been in a Red Lobster -- probably the Lincolnwood one (if it's still there) for a departmental birthday party or something like that. Before that, it was a family driving trip before we discovered books like "Roadfood" and "Where the Locals Eat."

I can't say I was disappointed in the food either time, except that their prices always seemed to be just a touch higher than made sense for their grade, except for their specials, which always steered you toward the middle-of-the-road dishes. Sure it's not as cheap as Long John Silver's (I keep making that mistake, one of the sure signs of insanity), but I always felt that I could go to Bob Chinn's for close to the same price.

It's interesting that in the last 18 years living near Niles, the Red Lobster is now Periyali, the Ponderosa is now Daori, the Arby's is now Pita Inn, and the Olive Garden became a chinese buffet. So the attrition of the mom-n-pop restaurant is being forestalled on at least one front.

I grew up in Lincolnwood, and I remember 'bout '79 I'd take the money from all the lawns I'd mowed and biked to LJS for "Fish and Chicken (planks) with extra crispies, and a slice of pecan pie." I made friends with a bottle of malt vinegar that same summer.

Ramon wrote:I grew up in Lincolnwood, and I remember 'bout '79 I'd take the money from all the lawns I'd mowed and biked to LJS for "Fish and Chicken (planks) with extra crispies, and a slice of pecan pie." I made friends with a bottle of malt vinegar that same summer.

Ramon,

See, I think there's value in LJS for simply adding vinegar to the American condiment armamentarium. I must say, for simply fried fish, LJS ain't bad. Okay, it's not a good first date place, but it's a good "gotta eat fast and run" place.

Hammond

Ramon wrote:Travel the main streets of small towns looking for an interesting bite and too often you're directed back to the mega-gas-C-store-and-emporium right off the expressway you were avoiding in the first place.

In March, I was in Mississippi with my family. I had the southern-centric roadfood-type book, Southern Belly by John T. Edge (whom I know), which I used as my guide. Rather than rehash my opinion, I will quote myself:

Cathy2, April 15, 2004 wrote:Mendenhall Hotel Revolving Tables - RIP

In my car, I always keep copies of Road Food by Jane and Michael Stern as well as their book Eat Your Way Across the USA. It makes for interesting casual reading in a pinch and a reference when we are out of territory. For our southern trip, I also brought along Southern Belly by John T. Edge of the University of Mississippi at Oxford and lead of the Southern Foodways Alliance. I

Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

David Hammond wrote:For what it is, I don't think Red Lobster is such a bad place; given the choice between it and places like Chi-Chi's (RIP), TGIF, or Bennigans, I'd definitely go with RL.

Hammond

Agree.

good news: the fresh broiled/grilled fish is reliably fresh, as Red Lobster buys and flies its own fish.

Bad news: last visit two years ago in Orlando, request for cooking salmon rare was denied on legal/liability lines.

good news: in addition to a fresh piece of fish, you can get a healthy cocktail, mostly decent steamed broccoli, and a simple baked potato. Those are my RL strategic choices.

The bake-off cheese biscuits, though--they should be deemed chow anathema.

LJS is a great first date place if you bring scented candles and Southern Comfort.If you are with the right person.I think I went to Red Lobster once over 15 years ago.

hattyn wrote:LJS is a great first date place if you bring scented candles and Southern Comfort.If you are with the right person.I think I went to Red Lobster once over 15 years ago.

hattyn,

SC at LJS? Is this speculation or remembrance of things past?

Hammond

It is a beautiful dream.

I was in Peoria last Saturday night and the MIL wanted to go to Red Lobster, she's in assisted living now so going out is a big deal to her. I had a mix and match dish which had scampi, stuffed crab, broiled shrimp and fried shimp, all pretty good. My SO had theSalmom New Orleans which had a rich sauce of shrimp and spices, and MIL had the 3 way shrimp. The meals were good, the service was pleasant and efficient and with wine, it wasn't all that expensive. The RL in Peoria is always packed, we went at 5:15 and had to wait 20 minutes for a table. In the smaller market areas, RL is the place to go, last Saturday was one of the area school's homecoming dance night and there were quite a few very dressed up young people, out for their night on the town.

I would like rto know if anyone has ever had Lobster at Red Lobster. It's a pretty simple dish, really. As long as they don't over stram/broil it, it could be OK.

stevez wrote:I would like rto know if anyone has ever had Lobster at Red Lobster. It's a pretty simple dish, really. As long as they don't over stram/broil it, it could be OK.

I have, I didn't consider it spectacular. I doubt if I would order one again IF I ever went back.

Every now and then we go to R.L. I think it really depends on which R.L. you go to--the Joliet one has learned not to overcook everything and the fish there can be pretty good. They have a new fish and chip item on the menu, which is very good. So good , in fact, that it is far better than most of the Friday Fish specials in this area.

We eat at Red Lobster with some regularity. My youngest daughter (a very picky eater) enjoys it and my oldest son thinks their popcorn shrimp is great. As others have said, it not bad - it's just not great. I don't think I have ever had a meal at Red Lobster that was unenjoyable. The food is decent. My youngest goes to college in a small town in northwest Georgia and, so far, Red Lobster is one of the two places in town that I am willing to eat in again.

this thread reminded me of a great restaurant review of RL that appeared a few years ago in The Stranger, which is one of Seattle's free weeklies.

http://www.thestranger.com/2000-05-18/chow.html

The phrase "stiff with kitchen mistakes" has never left my memory.

For some reason, my boss loves the RL. Whenever he buys us lunch, it's the RL. I have never had the lobster there, but have seen them unpacking them and putting them in the tank. Do they really use the ones from the tank? Or are they just for decor?

I have had some kind of "fish steamed in a parchment bag" thing that was not too bad, but everything else I have had is soaked in butter. And the biscuits.. my god, they are deep-fried, I swear...

One of the news stations here had an "expose" of sorts on RL, about a woman who was allergic to crawfish and ordered some kind of pasta dish with lobster. She had an allergic reaction. Because it was not lobster, it was crawfish! Cheap bastards! They justified it by saying that "sometimes" they add crawfish to the lobster dishes for "flavor". Whatever...

My boss also loves all chain restaurants... Chillis, TGIF, anything predictable. Here is a hilarious post (scroll down a bit) on chain restaurantsas training ground for children's dining manners.. [/i]

Well I have to admit that I'm a RL fan, at least for lunch. They have a combo deal that, if I remember, is $7. You can choose between a bunch of different entrees, but I always choose the scampi. And since it's a combo deal, I get scampi and scampi. Along with that you get the rolls (hey, I like them), salad and a baked potato. You just can't beat it for the price.

I have had the lobster tail but never the full lobster. I try to get there at least once a year during their lobsterfest because they usually have a 24oz. lobster tail. It's hard to ruin a lobster tail and for the price, it's great.

It's not fine dining, no argument there. But it's not like Sizzler for lobster either.