It's a fine day on LTHForum when we're accused both of only liking fancy-schmancy joints, and of loving Red Lobster.

i like the big mac!!!.... :runs away:

In all of my 33 years I've never eaten at a Red Lobster.

I watched an episode of the Boondocks on Adult Swim and someone had to explain the "Don't feed her the cheddar biscuits, grandpa!" line to me.

After reading this post I think me and the mellon-hubby need to head to Lincolnwood this weekend...

As a kid I think I ate at the very first RL in Orlando. We got free deserts because our parents agreed to some kind of survey. I can remember my dad telling the other dad these guys are going to make a fortune if they can bring this to Chicago.

My mom likes RL so we go a few times a year. For what they are good at it. My only complaint would be the pressure the wait staff is on to up sell. Can be a little annoying.

MBK wrote:i like the big mac!!!.... :runs away:

you waited a year to post that??

...i've since reformed my opinion of RL... i went another time or so after the last time i posted. ordered lobster.. it was way overcooked... i guess they can screw up live lobster. and another time, they didn't have a single bottle of white wine chilled. the waitress acted like this was normal. she brought us a thing of ice but uhh, 20 minutes later it was still only moderately cold. ..now that i'm back in the heart of the city again i hopefully won't have to worry about eating at RL for a long time.

sorry! i didn't look at the year

Mike G wrote: icthyias mrspaulsfishtickius.

A true one response Google search phrase

Mike G wrote:I kind of remember a moment when lobster prices shot through the roof and my parents made a conscious decision to stop buying it or having it in restaurants ... Of course, the most common fish at that time was icthyias mrspaulsfishtickius.

Oh boy, Mike G, you and I had very different parents, and very different childhoods. My parents did not make a conscious decision to stop eating lobster, so much as they had a conscious awareness that they might never in their lives be able to afford to eat lobster.

Meanwhile... fish sticks? Every Friday night, Lent or no Lent, unless tuna fish casserole made a cameo appearance.

My mom was sophisticated. We got frozen flounder, which she grilled under the broiler until it was brown on each side. I vaguely remember fish sticks, which I am sure my mom didn't like and my dad and I did, though I don't know for sure if she served them to us or we got them elsewhere.

When we went out special, to the fish place, it was Seafood Shanty (which I remember being not terrible, plus my grandmother always got coupons because she listened to some radio show and would write in...) ANYWAY, my dad would look at the menu and say what our price limit was that week. I'm pretty sure we mostly got the fried platter since that's what my dad liked best I'm not sure if there were both Seafood Shanty and Red Lobster. This was on the east coast. And I am certain we never had the lobster!

I definitely remember going on a date in the mid-to-late 80s and having lobster at a place like Charley's Other Brother or something, and it was a huge sale, and only $9 a person.

And once again...I just wanna thank everybody for continuin' to keep it ®eal.

NPR: When Fancy Critics Hit T.G.I. Friday's
New York Times: Déjà Vu Dining

About Red Lobster, NYT Reviewer M.H. Reed wrote:The dining room is unexpectedly sophisticated. No bright yellows and oranges startle the eyes here; instead, there are soft upholstered banquettes and mellow lighting in a luxury of space — a subdued harbor feel without the phony weathering. Even the restrooms were clean and tidy despite a good-size crowd.

In addition to RL, the Times article covers

• Outback Steakhouse
• The Cheesecake Factory
• Bertucci's
• Chili's Grill and Bar
• Olive Garden
• T.G.I. Friday's
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro
• Applebee's

You know, it's interesting (these reviews are fascinating reading, Joe) it's not that I hate any one of these chains in particular (well, except for Chili's at this point) it's that they differ so little from one to the other. I mean, you could, on several separate occasions, go to any mall in the US, eat your appetizer, "signature" drink, entree, and dessert in 4 different restaurants and no matter how you mix it up, have essentially the same experience.

I think anyone who travels periodically develops a hatred of these places for that reason - after your fifth or sixth meal or so, you want an appetizer that isn't in some way onion rings, potato skins, buffalo chicken, or nuveau egg roll. You want a drink that isn't some overly-sweet slushy. You want a steak that comes from a cow and isn't covered in sticky cheese sauce - or seafood that isn't swimming in "garlic butter." And you want a dessert whose base includes non dehydrated-rehydrated eggs and actual butter.

Not to say the food is inedible or the atmosphere is intolerable, but I think that's what the title of this thread really suggests. It reminds me of that scene in A Wrinkle In Time where all the kids are bouncing basketballs and skipping rope in absolute unison.

germuska wrote:New York Times: Déjà Vu Dining

In addition to RL, the Times article covers

• Outback Steakhouse
• The Cheesecake Factory
• Bertucci's
• Chili's Grill and Bar
• Olive Garden
• T.G.I. Friday's
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro
• Applebee's

Are you sure Olive Garden is in that article?

Cogito wrote:Are you sure Olive Garden is in that article?

Yep:

Olive Garden
By JOANNE STARKEY

YOU’VE probably heard the slogan: “When you’re here, you’re family.” We were literally family, three generations out to put the Olive Garden to the test in Massapequa, N.Y. Could this chain that sets the standard for Italian restaurants in some parts of the country compete in the New York metropolitan area, with its wealth of good Italian places? The answer was a qualified yes.
…

My bad. I missed it cause the title is on the bottom of the page. Thanks.

What gets me is the tone of gobsmacked surprise in most of these reviews, and the carefully conveyed impression that most of the reviewers were visiting these chain outlets for the first time.

Thousands of people eat at these chains, which are spread coast to coast. You have to wonder about the qualifications of critics who are so out of touch with what most Americans eat.

Mhays' criticism is quite valid.

For the record, I have eaten in multiple locations of all of these chains except Bertucci's. The local restaurants of that name are not part of the national chain reviewed.

LAZ wrote:What gets me is the tone of gobsmacked surprise in most of these reviews, and the carefully conveyed impression that most of the reviewers were visiting these chain outlets for the first time.

Thousands of people eat at these chains, which are spread coast to coast. You have to wonder about the qualifications of critics who are so out of touch with what most Americans eat.

My guess is that the reviewers have been there before, and the "carefully conveyed impression" of generous bemusement (which you are right to note, and right to find aggravating) is pure bourgeois snobbery, NYT branch.

Most of those reviews hit on why I don't particularly care for chains - main dishes are either too bland or the accompanying sauce is way too sweet. The reviewers don't mention how salty most of the dishes are, either. Also, a good dose of acidity could help many of the dishes to prevent them from being one note flavors.

Up thread Mhays said: it's that they differ so little from one to the other.

For some people, my Uncle John, 82 who still drives from Chicago to Orlando, that is what they are looking for. They know what/where they can eat without a tummy or potty problem, and will search out places they know and trust.

I have not reached that point in my life, but I do understand his point of view.

I think mhays hit it on the nail with this quote:

I think anyone who travels periodically develops a hatred of these places for that reason - after your fifth or sixth meal or so, you want an appetizer that isn't in some way onion rings, potato skins, buffalo chicken, or nuveau egg roll. You want a drink that isn't some overly-sweet slushy. You want a steak that comes from a cow and isn't covered in sticky cheese sauce - or seafood that isn't swimming in "garlic butter."

This is the biggest problem I've encountered with chain restaurants. They all have variations on the same things. And most of the time, what you get is just -- OK. Not outstanding. Even when they're trying to do something interesting (i.e., Friday's has the Food Network cookoff menu), the results are usually just ... OK.

It's funny about Red Lobster, though. I'd never been in one until I was in college. I'd never actually eaten real seafood until I was in college (by that I mean lobster, and crab legs -- we'd eaten our fair share of North woods crappie and bluegill.) My first experience in a Red Lobster was my friend bringing me there to pick up a bag of cheddar biscuits.

My next experience didn't come until years later, when we were visiting my husband's family and my two sister-in-laws, who worked at the RL. The experience was ... all right. I can't say I was overly impressed. On the other hand, I was raised under the impression that Red Lobster was fine dining ... so maybe my expectations were a little high.

This post kind of makes me want to go to an RL and have some crab legs. If I could go to Hooters and get a consistently good order of crab legs, I don't see how RL could screw that up. Plus, I have a real craving for those cheddar biscuits again.

jimmya wrote:They know what/where they can eat without a tummy or potty problem, and will search out places they know and trust.

I do understand this - however, it would be nice if the different chains distinguished themselves from one another, especially the ones that allege an association with a specific cuisine.

YMMV, but on the occasions where I was stuck eating this stuff for weeks on end, my main complant is how indigestible it all was...I mean, we just had the full Bejing Duck special at Sun Wah, with a side of fried chicken skin and another side of assorted BBQ - and despite the intentional richness of that meal, I found it five times more digestible than my last unpleasant "healthy" meal at Chili's.

Working in S Florida for the summer. Land of strip malls and chain restaurants... some of the most generic food prized by Americanustouristas. On my way home from work I pass no intriguing mom and pop places. My life consists of driving by Applebees, Wendy's, TGIF, Roadhouse Grill, Flannigans, Chili's, Hooters, Red Lobster et al...

In a particular bleak 24 hr period last wk, I broke my food snob cherry twice within 24 hrs. Red Lobster called to me @ 9 45 pm while driving back to my hotel after a 14 hr day. 15 min to get something to eat before most places close or face drive thru bullshit I couldn't begin to consider.

But here I was considering going somewhere I've purposely avoided my entire life. I've never even been to Denny's. My choice. But I was out of choices. I figured I'd play it safe and order a lobster. It's not terribly difficult to cook one correctly and the fact that they've done it 1000's of times prior to my visit made it the least difficult choice.

It was very good. Nothing to really test the kitchen but I was happy with it. The salad was decent and the cheese biscuits were good as well. I avoid these type of generic chains like the plague but I must say, in the pinch it was more than acceptable.

The very next evening I was trying not to be the one man out my group of co workers to stand on my usual ceremony and joined them for a Friday nite after work drink @ shudder the thought, Hooter's, another place I've never set foot in. I must be mellowing with age to even consider it, let alone go. The food was as I figured it would be. Barely mediocre. The vibe was even worse. Loud frat house sports meets hormone enraged 20 somethings, although there was a fair share of families as well. Bringing up baby amongst the t&a. I get it's appeal, it's just not for me.

While I might consider going back to a Red Lobster, I doubt very hardily that I'll ever eat @ Hooter's again. There's something about a restaurant that's focus isn't on the food that I have a hard time with. Usually the better the view, the worse the food. How true.

Can't wait to return to civilization. This is wearing thin quickly. As soon as the fire marshal allows me into my own place, hopefully any day now, all this will be a memory.

I have had lobster in Maine, Seattle (maybe it was crab there) and in Florida....once you have had the best it is hard to go to RL. I also think RL is overpriced.

Might I make a recommendation that anyone on this board might enjoy Stewart O'Nan's 2007 novella, Last Night at the Lobster. It's the story of a manager working his last day at a Red Lobster off the interstate in Connecticut that is scheduled to close.

Here's a quote from something called Bookmarks Magazine:
"In his 10th novel, Stewart O’Nan proves once again why he’s the "bard of the working class" by exploring how the closing of one chain restaurant profoundly affects many lives. Last Night at the Lobster may be a small story, dealing with the mundane details of restaurant life, but O’Nan’s complex characters provide a service—an everyday feat that many American novels ignore. Almost all critics praised the novel as a triumph in realism. O’Nan has certainly written bigger, more plot-driven stories before, but Lobster shows off his "pitch perfect ear for life in late 20th century America" to great effect (San Francisco Chronicle). It’s a "Zen koan of a book" (Los Angeles Times), and not to be missed—especially if you’ve served your share of scampi in life."

It's a great, great book.

We all know the difference between good and bad food, in fact I make a career with that knowledge. What I was saying was that in a pinch, I found it better than I thought it might be and more than acceptable given the circumstances.

I avoid the chains whenever possible, with two exceptions. I will sneak into an Olive Garden for one of their AYCE soup-salad-bread sticks luncheons, which is usually pretty decent, and occasionally I'll hit a RL if I'm jonesing for some seafood as it's on my beaten path. But other than that, no thanks.

Ok, I know I'm a food snob, and I'm ok with that.

I just don't get why people like the breadsticks at Olive Garden. To me, they're nothing more than the bag o' breadsticks that one used to buy at the Jewel to reheat at home. To me, they taste like puffy lint tubes. And not in a good way. I also find the soup at OG too salty. And the pasta oversauced. And the habit of referring to Zinfandel as "red Zinfandel" as opposed to the more obvious and popular white Zinfandel particularly galling.

tcdup wrote:Ok, I know I'm a food snob, and I'm ok with that.

I just don't get why people like the breadsticks at Olive Garden. To me, they're nothing more than the bag o' breadsticks that one used to buy at the Jewel to reheat at home. To me, they taste like puffy lint tubes. And not in a good way. I also find the soup at OG too salty. And the pasta oversauced. And the habit of referring to Zinfandel as "red Zinfandel" as opposed to the more obvious and popular white Zinfandel particularly galling.

I suggest you avoid Olive Gardens then. I have not noticed that their soups are over-salted. The salad is fine. Considering that for similar money you get a major helping of fat and sugars at any of the typical "value-meal" spots, I think it is a good alternative.

Although this was posted on the LinkTH thread, it seems worth sharing here:
I am a host at the Olive Garden, a series of four panel cartoons that overall are pretty funny, and not purely sarcastic digs on OG.

tcdup wrote:...the breadsticks at Olive Garden....taste like puffy lint tubes. And not in a good way.

This is one of my favorite quotes ever.