What to eat at Red Lobster? Yes, I'm desperate - No, I'm not kidding
Before anyone reaches out to slap me upside the head, there's an explanation for my question.
I'm from Massachusetts and have been living in NW Arkansas for the past 4 1/2 years. Usually I get home twice a year and stuff myself silly with lobster, clams, etc. But this year, (the Evil Year of Unemployment, I'm calling it), I haven't been able to get home, and it doesn't look like I'll get there for Christmas, either.
So -- I'm dying without seafood, and Red Lobster has been looking better and better to me for the past few weeks. Is there any real lobster there? I was in one once ten years ago and it was a miserable experience (ordered a lobster/pasta dish that was served with some strange reconstituted lobsterish stuff).
But if they have actual live lobsters in tanks, that can't be so bad, right?
(I'm expecting that clams and mussels will be out of the question, as those will have been frozen. Am I right?)
Will I just hate it and be even more homesick?
What are the prices like for live lobsters? I'm sure I'll be shocked. :-(
Is there anyone from New England who has had lobster at a midwest Red Lobster that can give me some advice?
Thanks,
Bonnie
Laughing Goddess
Nov 05, 2003 03:22PM
How about ordering them in the mail? I don't know how much a dinner at Red Lobster costs, but a single good live lobster from Maine via FedEx beats a mediocre lobster dinner. If you run a search from the linked page it comes up with lots of Maine dealers who ship.
Link: http://www.mainelobsterpromo.com/deal...
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was just going to suggest this...
check it out on the web
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You poor thing!! Listen, LG, don't they have a lobster tank and bags of mussels in the grocery store there? Or isn't there a fish market that could get you some? The easiest thing in the world is to steam these at home. Much tastier and cheaper than at Red Lobster. Honestly, when I have to go there (w/ my sweet Grandma), I always fill up on the biscuits and caesar salad! Good luck! Kim
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Oh, you poor thing. While I'm not from New England (I'm from NYC), I spent all my childhood summers in Massachusetts. AND, I've recently moved back to New York after 8 years in INDIANA!!! Oh, forsaken landlocked domain of mullets and REALLY BAD FOOD!!! So, I certainly went to Red Lobster on a few occassions. For me, it wasn't too bad. At least they don't batter everything. I've had ok lobster there, and pretty bad lobster there, and that's about it. As you know, much of the midwest has no comprehension of seafood. If you're really desperate, go. Hey, it beats Capt D's!!! If I had any $$ I'd send you a live one. Good luck!
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"Oh, forsaken landlocked domain of mullets and REALLY BAD FOOD!!!"
ROFLMAO!! Thanks for that -- it's not *quite* that bad here, but pretty close -- *g*
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Order from livelob.com or one of the many purveyors on the web. They will not only send you a lobster(s) in a nice styrofoam shipper but will send you a pot to cook it in and directions.
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Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it.
I'm usually pretty tolerant of chains but had one of the most memorably bad meals at a Red Lobster near SF.
As a New Englander, I was having fried clam withdrawal. All I can say about Red Lobster's clams is "where's the clam?". It was all breading with some stringy little thing in a few of the fried clams.
I didn't get a lobster from the tank, but a lobster tail that was dried out. So even if you pick your lobster straight from the tank, there's a chance of it being cooked badly.
Even if the Lobster does turn out ok, the sides and salads are awful.
The only thing I do like there are those cheddar biscuits but IMO they are not worth the agony of an entire meal at Red Lobster.
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Ok, a discussion about chains today on one of the boards provided a link to a site that has posts about chains. Link to comments about Red Lobster are hilarious.
My favorite was the guy who said that Red Lobster frowned on grabbing a lobster from the tank personally. He was asked to leave.
One diner felt sorry for the lobsters in the tank.
Another favorite quote
"Their coleslaw is great, with fresh cabbages."
I guess other places in town use fake kabbage (you know,like krab).
Someone else raved, especially about the biscuits (except for the few times they were rushed to the table underdone). And there WAS that slight problem that her husband gets sick every time he eats there.
One person loved the shrimp because Red Lobster takes the extra care to devein them.
A vegetarian pleaded not to eat at places like this that eat animals. I am wondering what that person was thinking the meal would be if the word LOBSTER is in the name of the restaurant.
Link: http://www.rateitall.com/showitemria.aspx?itemid=FEF82C26-9D64-4F8D-87E6-852FEA280993
Image: http://www.redlobster.com/i/nav/logo.jpg
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Recently, "--susan" said on Not About Food:
"There are those that refuse anything remotely unfamilar... that are highly resistant to peer pressure. They're probably bonding on a "adult eaters of normal food" message board somewhere, complaining about us and our weird food."
I think we've found that website. For example:
"Cheesecake Factory is the best all-around restaurant that I have ever eaten at. Best deserts, best salads, best appetizers, best entrees, best of the best!"
Link: http://www.chowhound.com/boards/notfo...
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I especially appreciate that "best deserts" line, as in, "Chesscake Factory is a culinary desert."
That was what she meant, right? :-0
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What could be bad about a fry, indeed!!
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I have nothing to say but thank you for giving that link to the red lobster board, one of the funniest things i have read in a while. That link made my day.
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I agree; great link.
The two predominant themes of the opinions on that board are:
1. The cheese biscuits are great.
2. A disturbing percentage of their customers seem to get sick.
Having said that, my alte kocker father likes the trout at RL. And he does know seafood. So, get the trout.
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I like the people who think the food is too filling.
Um, eat less of it.
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My husband worked for a restaurant/hotel magazine many years ago and this story was a classic. It seems somebody decided that a Red Lobster would go great in New Hampshire and he had a press opening.. The owner asked one of the members of the press what he thought of the food..only the way a honest New Hamshire man would...he told the man it was crap and tossed his plate down.. Red Lobster never opened in New Hampsire..there is supposedly one in Rhode Island...
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I wish that we here in Philly had opportunities for more of that, what with the recent cheesesteak-ation of fast food. [sigh]
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Honey, there is a freakin' Red Lobster in Portland, MAINE! And people go there! It's actually in S.Portland, next to the mall.
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I just checked the Red Lobster web site and their store locator does not show any locations in Maine, New Hampsire or Massachusetts. The closest one that they show to Portland is in Queensbury New York
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I am not sure if it is still there but I know that there definitely was one a few years ago in Waterville, ME.
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You must be desperate- Im from Texas/Lousiana so my family also eats alot of seafood, red Lobster YUK. Other than the lobsters in the tank - which I doubt they know how to cook properly, the use lots of "fake" lobster bits for their pasta dishes, and of course years ago the introduced the Longostino or "rock lobster" I think it would just make you more homesick-theres bound to be a seafood place SOMEWHERE in your area- better yet, tell all the family you want a ticket home for your c'mas gift this year (:
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We feel for you, we really do. Instead of wasting your money on something truly awful, there are several good places that will ship you a lobster dinner for a few dollars more. There may be a minimum, perhaps someone will go in on it with you. Here's one of the many sites.
Link: http://www.trentonbridgelobster.com/c...
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You know, I did think of posting this on the "not about food" board. *g*
Well, given everyone's responses that even a boiled lobster would be bad at RL, I'm going to take your advice and do mail order instead -- I'm going to try the one that sends the lobster pot with the order.
I've told this story before, but my parents and I once went to a RL in southern Mass (can't remember the town, but it was near the RI border -- North Dartmouth, maybe?) We had never heard of it, didn't know of its bad reputation. Mum and I both ordered lobster pasta dishes and they were both horrible. When the waitress saw that we weren't eating, she asked us if we wanted our orders put up in to-go boxes and we both said no. I told her, "No, I know I won't eat it -- I wouldn't give it to the cats," because God knows what that 'lobster' was really made of. The manager took both orders off the bill.
Glad to hear they're no longer in Massachusetts.
Thank you everyone for your suggestions, and thank you for saving me from making a bad decision!! Another reason to love Chowhound.
Bonnie
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I'm a Florida Native (yes, I'm the ONE that you've heard about). I have had the fortune (or folly) to live all over, and have been forced to eat at the likes of Dead Blobster out of desperation, relative poverty, mindlessness of companions, what have you.
I have eaten at Dead Blobsters in Florida (several cities), Indiana, Virginia and Oklahoma. I can honestly say that I HAVE had an excellent meal there. But, that was the exception.
Honey, if you're living in Arkansas, you can't be too very far from Loo-ziana (where I have also lived). They LOVE their seafood in Loo-ziana. If you shoot over the border, you should at least be able to get some high quality frozen seafood at a normal grocery store and make yourself a meal that will start to address your cravings.
I really enjoyed reading this thread. I especially enjoyed the comments of the repatriated NYCer who had lived in Indiana. Every spring, my husband and I make a pilgrimage to southern Indiana to Stalk The Wild Morel. We are always amazed at the absolute lack of culinary options at the grocery store. This April, we wanted to fix veal liver with onions and sage and (as a separate meal)oxtail. Those cuts of BEEF were too exotic! Frozen beef liver was the best we could find (no thank you). Not a single joint of oxtail to be found, with all of that beef on the hoof . . .
Beatrice
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