Red Lobster

We went in earlier tonight to celebrate my Dad’s birthday. At the beginning they asked if it was a special occasion and once they were in the know, each of the staff (manager, hostess and waitress) made sure to wish him a happy birthday. Our waitress (blanking on her exact name, started with an M) was incredibly attentive and sweet. She was respectful and even personable. Our food was delicious and the overall experience was great. We had not been to this restaurant in over 10 years and would definitely return, especially with the staff of tonight!

There is something about a franchise restaurant that makes you suspicious. Will it be like every other one under that name? Will it remind you of the good times or bad times at other spots with the same logo on the wall? We hadn't been in a Red Lobster for years and frankly wondered if this experience would be good or bad. It turned out to be good. The food was very well presented and tasty while the service was excellent. The sever took care to make it a pleasant visit. Be sure to check the menu for new dishes if, like us, you've been away from Red Lobster for a while. And ask for extra cheddar biscuits to take home. They even have a special bag just for them.

We went on a Sunday around 6pm. The wait to be seated was 50 minutes and it was pretty accurate. It took another hour or so to get our food after ordering. The food was good and our server kept checking on us but it's obvious they are understaffed. Many empty tables and there is a sign that they are hiring. The ambiance is kind of quiet. We got some dirty looks from other customers for speaking louder than a whisper.

This was the worst experience I’ve ever had with any Red Lobster location. I ordered two meals for take out. I showed up at the expected ready time, but the food wasn’t ready yet. Not a big deal as I don’t mind waiting a little bit. They weren’t very busy so I figured it wouldn’t take much longer. About another 15 minutes later, my food came out. I got home (10 minute drive) and the quality of food was horrible. The steak was so dry and tough that I didn’t even eat it. It also had an unusually gamey taste which I found to be odd for “fresh” beef. The scallops were over cooked and tough like rubber. The burger was very dry as well. To say the least, I have never been this disappointed with Red Lobster before. $75 wasn’t worth it.