• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Red Lobster

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Red Lobster?

  • Delicious!

  • Disgusting!

  • Only good if you're drunk/high/mentally deficient!

  • You're gonna die, clown!

Results are only viewable after voting.
zinfamous said:
Have you ever been to an Olive Garden?

same restaurant with an augmented menu. expect the same quality.
Click to expand...

I think I went to one in high school; unlimited salad and breadsticks for poor high schoolers was pretty damn awesome. No Olive Gardens here either though, so it's been years since I last tried it.

KT
 
techie81 said:
Used to be the best seafood restaurant but in recent years it has gone down the tubes. But yes the cheese biscuits are the bomb.
Click to expand...

Wut?

please tell me you haven't lived your entire life in the Bay Area while thinking that.

😀

If you grew up in Oklahoma or Kansas or some other godless shithole, I can see where you're coming from. But any coastal town will have 100s of seafood joints that will kill Red Lobster.
 
Here in Florida - the fishing capital of the world - Red Lobster is a freaking joke. It's really old garbage that costs WAY too much. Seriously Publix has fresher seafood because people actually buy it. If I were looking for seafood - Lobster dripping in butter and whatnot, I would actually pass 7 restaurants where I could get Lobster caught that very morning that was alive 5 minutes before it was on my plate. Same goes for various fish. Its totally not worth it.

Now if you live in Ohio - Its the best you are going to get.....
 
Jeraden said:
I remember going occasionally when I was a kid and it wasn't bad. I just went earlier this year for the first time in ages and my god was it horrible. I got some kind of scallop meal, where the scallops were puny, completely overcooked, completely unseasoned, and visually unappetizing (little white blobs, no color on them at all). Was like they boiled them or something.
My wife got some kind of baked fish, that was completely soggy/mushy and disgusting.
Could get better seafood out of the grocery store freezer case and cook in the microwave. Seriously was the worst eating out experience I have had in ages. It's now a running joke in the family about going to Red Lobster for dinner. What's laughable is that there is always a huge line outside. Yeah, I was a sucker and had to wait like half an hour for a table when I went too, but at least I had no idea the food was that bad.
What's sad is right across the street is a Joe's Crab Shack, which is infinitely better in my opinion - I really like their crab pots.
Click to expand...

I don't think I would ever order scallops from a chain restaurant. They are so finicky and really should be slightly under-cooked when they come out of the pan. Most chains where I've had them they ended up being tough and rubbery.

KT
 
KeithTalent said:
This happened to us at The Keg (a crappy chain steak joint) in the suburbs of Vancouver. We dressed in just jeans and t-shirts, just like we would with any other crappy chain joint, but when we got in there everyone was dressed up in their fancy clothes for their big night out, and they stared at us like we were crazy. That's when we knew to avoid dining in the suburbs if at all possible. 😀

KT
Click to expand...

i've experienced similar in addition to a one hour wait at outback steakhouse. 😀
 
KeithTalent said:
I think I went to one in high school; unlimited salad and breadsticks for poor high schoolers was pretty damn awesome. No Olive Gardens here either though, so it's been years since I last tried it.

KT
Click to expand...

they are all part of the same corporate conglomerate of multi national chains, and they are easy to spot driving from town to town, state to state. every thing looks the same inside and out.

it's not exactly a horrible thing, mind you (nice to travel where you haven't been and failing to find something local, find something that you know what to expect.)

For me, the only such place that I like is Outback. They certainly don't make the best steaks anywhere (I can now safely say that I make a better steak at home), but for the price and the tastiness, I love 'em.


Also, places like Maggiano's and Bucca d' Beppo (Italian "family style"--whatever that means. I believe it is a complete American invention by the Lettuce Entertain You people).


Lol, if you want an eye-opening, and possibly bizzare-to-sickening look into the American standard of soulless corporate food service that bleeds ultra synthetic authenticity, start looking into the Lettuce Entertain You people.


Don't get me wrong--some of those restaurants are quite good--Wildfire grill in Chicago, for one. I'm shocked to discover that it is one of theirs, actually, But it is fantastic.
 
gophins72 said:
i've experienced similar in addition to a one hour wait at outback steakhouse. 😀
Click to expand...
I really miss our Outback Steakhouse. 🙁

I am not sure what they are like in the states, but here it was a very clean, well run establishment. Prompt service and great waitstaff made it a special night out for my GF and me. We had a great menu selection and the food was always great. We never dressed fancy but still above average.

I liked the Mad Max burger and the Aussie cheese fries. Susan liked the salmon and ribs. The pork chops were great too.
 
Red Lobster is where the elderly go to die, and there are plenty of the restaurants in Canada. Went to 2 different ones in Calgary alone, and several in the GTA. The fish can be good, but I don't care for lobster.
 
Firebot said:
Red Lobster is where the elderly go to die, and there are plenty of the restaurants in Canada. Went to 2 different ones in Calgary alone, and several in the GTA. The fish can be good, but I don't care for lobster.
Click to expand...
I would rather get fish'n'chips at Archies than go to Red Lobster.
 
Red Lobster is a total joke around my area (NJ/NY). Though some people I met at Rutgers that came from the south considered it the 'fancy seafood' restaurant where they lived.

I can't believe anyone actually eats at that place...

Edit: LOL @ Outback as well. There is one right near my house that is always packed for some damned reason... we always make a joke about that place and then go eat at one of the 3 local restaurants in the same shopping center that are cheaper, better, quieter, fresher etc...

I mean really chains for the most part are awful. Cheesecake factory rules though.
 
Last edited:
Iron Woode said:
I really miss our Outback Steakhouse. 🙁

I am not sure what they are like in the states, but here it was a very clean, well run establishment. Prompt service and great waitstaff made it a special night out for my GF and me. We had a great menu selection and the food was always great. We never dressed fancy but still above average.

I liked the Mad Max burger and the Aussie cheese fries. Susan liked the salmon and ribs. The pork chops were great too.
Click to expand...

the keg is considered higher end here than outback, but lower end than an authentic steakhouse. that's the nice (and i suppose not so nice) thing about the united states, it will cater to your tastes and wallet, lol.
 
Iron Woode said:
I really miss our Outback Steakhouse. 🙁

I am not sure what they are like in the states, but here it was a very clean, well run establishment. Prompt service and great waitstaff made it a special night out for my GF and me. We had a great menu selection and the food was always great. We never dressed fancy but still above average.

I liked the Mad Max burger and the Aussie cheese fries. Susan liked the salmon and ribs. The pork chops were great too.
Click to expand...

I love Outback. Your description is pretty much like the one's around here--clean, well-run, about as far as you can get from a place like Applebee's, hehe.

I always liked the coconut shrimp, Alice Spring's chicken, the OB special, naturally, and some of them offer and make a fine prime rib and rack 'o lamb.
 
Firebot said:
Red Lobster is where the elderly go to die, and there are plenty of the restaurants in Canada. Went to 2 different ones in Calgary alone, and several in the GTA. The fish can be good, but I don't care for lobster.
Click to expand...

Sweet, can I have their stuff?

Insomniator said:
Red Lobster is a total joke around my area (NJ/NY). Though some people I met at Rutgers that came from the south considered it the 'fancy seafood' restaurant where they lived.

I can't believe anyone actually eats at that place...

Edit: LOL @ Outback as well. There is one right near my house that is always packed for some damned reason... we always make a joke about that place and then go eat at one of the 3 local restaurants in the same shopping center that are cheaper, better, quieter, fresher etc...

I mean really chains for the most part are awful. Cheesecake factory rules though.
Click to expand...

I freaking hate Cheesecake Factory; went their once and waited in their stupid ass manufactured lines for their crappy food. HATE that place and will never, ever return.

KT
 
zinfamous said:
they are all part of the same corporate conglomerate of multi national chains, and they are easy to spot driving from town to town, state to state. every thing looks the same inside and out.

it's not exactly a horrible thing, mind you (nice to travel where you haven't been and failing to find something local, find something that you know what to expect.)

For me, the only such place that I like is Outback. They certainly don't make the best steaks anywhere (I can now safely say that I make a better steak at home), but for the price and the tastiness, I love 'em.


Also, places like Maggiano's and Bucca d' Beppo (Italian "family style"--whatever that means. I believe it is a complete American invention by the Lettuce Entertain You people).


Lol, if you want an eye-opening, and possibly bizzare-to-sickening look into the American standard of soulless corporate food service that bleeds ultra synthetic authenticity, start looking into the Lettuce Entertain You people.


Don't get me wrong--some of those restaurants are quite good--Wildfire grill in Chicago, for one. I'm shocked to discover that it is one of theirs, actually, But it is fantastic.
Click to expand...

Good to know. Never heard of that Lettuce Entertain You; sounds insane! D:

KT
 
zinfamous said:
they are all part of the same corporate conglomerate of multi national chains, and they are easy to spot driving from town to town, state to state. every thing looks the same inside and out.

it's not exactly a horrible thing, mind you (nice to travel where you haven't been and failing to find something local, find something that you know what to expect.)

For me, the only such place that I like is Outback. They certainly don't make the best steaks anywhere (I can now safely say that I make a better steak at home), but for the price and the tastiness, I love 'em.


Also, places like Maggiano's and Bucca d' Beppo (Italian "family style"--whatever that means. I believe it is a complete American invention by the Lettuce Entertain You people).


Lol, if you want an eye-opening, and possibly bizzare-to-sickening look into the American standard of soulless corporate food service that bleeds ultra synthetic authenticity, start looking into the Lettuce Entertain You people.


Don't get me wrong--some of those restaurants are quite good--Wildfire grill in Chicago, for one. I'm shocked to discover that it is one of theirs, actually, But it is fantastic.
Click to expand...

The only one on that list that I've been to is Maggiano's and while it never struck me as a real family run chain their food is quite good. Love their lasagna.
 
KeithTalent said:
Not that I'm aware of; I've never seen one in Canada. :hmm:

KT
Click to expand...

There used to be one here in Victoria many years ago. It was terrible, and couldn't compete with the local seafood restaurants so it closed the doors after a year or two.

RL does a great job of filming their commercials, but the food does not measure up.
 
Insomniator said:
Red Lobster is a total joke around my area (NJ/NY). Though some people I met at Rutgers that came from the south considered it the 'fancy seafood' restaurant where they lived.

I can't believe anyone actually eats at that place...

Edit: LOL @ Outback as well. There is one right near my house that is always packed for some damned reason... we always make a joke about that place and then go eat at one of the 3 local restaurants in the same shopping center that are cheaper, better, quieter, fresher etc...

I mean really chains for the most part are awful. Cheesecake factory rules though.
Click to expand...


weird that you laugh at Outback then praise Cheesecake Factory. 😀 They are no different. But I like CF, too. the menu is huge and bizarre--you can find anything on there. But it is much more expensive than Outback.

and like I mentioned earlier, I like a place like Outback not because there are much better local places around (and honestly in comparison, they probably aren't much cheaper than Outback--likely more expensive), it's a good place when traveling and you need to stop off the highway and hit the closest soulless strip mall and have the typical offerings to choose from. I would probably do Outback over most others that you expect to find in such places.
 
its just OK imo. you will probably be better off at any decently reviewed local seafood place, BUT, that generally comes at a premium. so its OK food at OK value (for seafood).
 
its not gourmet seafood and its not disgusting.

Its mediocre seafood with lots of butter, cream and fat.

If you want fresh grilled fish you are going to the wrong place.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top