Red Lobster

[Skillet49]

I've always enjoyed the food when I go, but I'm from the Midwest so it's not like there are a ton of places to get seafood.

But what really bothers me about Red Lobster are the annoyingly happy waitresses. I mean, I expect that wait staff to be friendly, smile, etc. But it is like they are taking happy pills or something. They always have a ridiculously huge smile and say "Oh I love that!" or some variation like that about anything you order and just seem waaaay to excited to be waiting on you. Seriously, it has happened the last 3 times I went there, and I don't go there very often.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I avoid national chains more than I avoid taco bell and macdonalds

 

[Eos]

I avoid national chains more than I avoid taco bell and macdonalds

I avoid driving a Ford Taurus more than I avoid driving a sedan.

 

[KeithTalent]

I avoid driving a Ford Taurus more than I avoid driving a sedan.

Hahaha.

KT

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Its really good, but overpriced for what you get.

 

[T2urtle]

I just came back from Toronto, they had about 3 red lobsters that I saw. Downtown area. Might be a shorter trip if u really want to try it.
I go when I crave for biscuits, maybe once a year.

Sent from my Nexus One

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I avoid driving a Ford Taurus more than I avoid driving a sedan.

national chain restaurants sorry......distinguishing restaurants with fast food places.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Red Lobster is passable, but there are dozens of other restaurants I'd put above it. It's overpriced chain food, like an Olive Garden for seafood. It's palatable, but it appeals to the lowest common denominator. Better to find a real seafood place.

 

[soulcougher73]

I am not a fan and i love seafood.

 

[zinfamous]

Meh, it was a valid question; I was not ragging on the place. Wanted to know whether to hit the Original Pancake House AND Red Lobster when I head to the states next week, or just the OPH.

KT

It's Waffle House or bust yo.

If you thought it was impossible to re-create the dirty, sleazy, roadside breakfast diner and expand it to a chain, well...look no further than the Waffle House.

 

[KeithTalent]

It's Waffle House or bust yo.

If you thought it was impossible to re-create the dirty, sleazy, roadside breakfast diner and expand it to a chain, well...look no further than the Waffle House.

I've never been to Waffle House. OPH is the shit though.

KT

 

[ElFenix]

Maggiano's is the only one on their list that I recognize as a national chain. Everything else is very much local to Chicago, or near the IL border.

maggiano's is national due to brinker. LEY developed it. LEY held onto the chicago locations, i assume. brinker is mostly famous due to chili's.

outback is owned by OSI, which also owns fleming's bonefish and carrabba's. the original 2 carrabba's are still locally owned here in houston.

red lobster is darden, which also operates olive garden.

 

[railer]

Used to live in a hickville town, and the nicest restaurant there was RL. It was funny because people would actually dress up to go there. And we'd go in normal t-shirt/jeans attire and people would look at us weird. Ignorant hillbillies, I'd sooner dress up to go to Red Robin.

ROFL. Yeah, they're all a bunch of dumb rednecks 'cause you dress like a slob.

At any rate....RL is fine. Obviously if you live or travel somewhere with "real" seafood there are better options, but for 95% of the US and Canada RL is fine. Unless you're a pretentious moron, of course.

 

[RedRooster]

We rarely go to our's here. I prefer The Keg's seafood summers, like they have right now. Much better meals.
RL is ok though, when you have the craving.

 

[murphy55d]

Red Lobster is good if you don't live near the ocean. In which case local seafood places are clearly 1,000x better.

 

[zinfamous]

I've never been to Waffle House. OPH is the shit though.

KT

Let me explain more specifically: Waffle House is terrible.


...but you don't really go there for the food.

 

[irishScott]

It's pretty good. I'd give it a 7/10 as far as seafood places go, largely for the price. Food isn't iron chef perfection, but it's tasty and reasonably priced for seafood.

 

[KeithTalent]

Let me explain more specifically: Waffle House is terrible.


...but you don't really go there for the food.

Hmm, ok; handies in the bathroom? :hmm:

KT

 

[zinfamous]

maggiano's is national due to brinker. LEY developed it. LEY held onto the chicago locations, i assume. brinker is mostly famous due to chili's.

outback is owned by OSI, which also owns fleming's bonefish and carrabba's. the original 2 carrabba's are still locally owned here in houston.

red lobster is darden, which also operates olive garden.

Ah, I see.

so who is responsible for Friday's, Ruby Tuesday, Hoolihan's and Applebee's?

The first three are basically clones of Chili's, and Applebee's is a wretched scumhole.

 

[zinfamous]

Hmm, ok; handies in the bathroom? :hmm:

KT

If that's your flavor, I'm sure it can be arranged.

 

[Gibson486]

Well....they could not even last for a year in MA and NH.....

 

[slayer202]

I'd say it would be a big waste of a meal while on vacation somewhere. I mean, if the decision it between RL and mcdonalds, might as well go to RL, but something local would be better for sure

 

[Eos]

national chain restaurants sorry......distinguishing restaurants with fast food places.

Just breaking balls....

 

[Fritzo]

It's OK. Most of the plates are big platters of fried "x", butter covered "x", or a combination of both. Their fresh catches are a bit pricey.

They have an Admiral's Platter that has something like 1900 calories

 

[sactoking]

Ah, I see.

so who is responsible for Friday's, Ruby Tuesday, Hoolihan's and Applebee's?

The first three are basically clones of Chili's, and Applebee's is a wretched scumhole.

TGI Fridays: Carlson Restaurants Worldwide
Ruby Tuesday: Ruby Tuesday, Inc
Houlihans: Northcott Hospitality
Applebees: DineEquity, Inc