So, how do you guys feel about Red Lobster?

[Midlodemocrat]

Cause I think I might want seafood tonight.








:hide:

[RedStateShame]

1. At that color, it's OK to eat it, I'd say.

Yes, I'm a smartass.

[Katina]

2. never been to one

but any lobster that red is probably inedible. You'd be better off buying & cooking your own seafood.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. I feel their food sucks.

:shrug:

[underpants]

4. Red Lobsters only have one cook

Seriously my brother worked at one not too long ago.

Everything is frozen so they have ONE cook and the rest just do prep work.

That is the corporate model.

BTW their earnings are through the roof. Apparently no one likes to cook at home anymore.

[BigMcLargehuge]

8. and the vast majority of their lobster is warm water

harvested from South America. They can crush local seafood places because their frozen lobster can be had retail for what true offshore lobsterman can sell it wholesale.

[Karenca]

5. NO!

NEVER!:puke:

It's a seafood Olive Garden.

[ForrestGump]

6. Overpriced and very naughty

I don't know if it's been documented -- I got this from as close as you can get to the original source, by virtue of my previous work -- but let me alllege that, allegedly, certain alleged fisheries practices that are illegal have been alleged, allegedly, to allegedly happen with some of the alleged sources of certain alleged items of alleged seafood.

There...that should keep their lawyers off my alleged behind.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

7. I'd rather go to Pub 199 for Lobster.

About the same price and better.

Or if I'm up in CT, there's plenty of clam shacks to stop at around Mystic & Stonington.

[scarlet_owl]

9. I hated working there.

I'm not a seafood fan, so I don't know about the food. The cheese biscuits are yummy, though.

[JVS]

10. Great biscuits

[IsIt1984Yet]

35. Those biscuits ROCK!!

And... I can make them at home - even better! They're quite easy:


RED LOBSTER'S CHEDDAR BISCUIT RECIPE



Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 c Bisquick
1/2 c Shredded sharp cheddar
2/3 c Milk
1/4 c Melted butter
1/4 ts Garlic powder

Mix Bisquick, cheddar and milk into soft dough. Beat
with a wooden spoon for about 30 seconds. Spoon on to
greased cookie sheet. Smooth down tops. (Bisquick
forms sharp hard points otherwise) Bake for 8 to
10 min at 450 degrees.

While baking, melt butter in pan and stir in garlic
powder. Take bisquits from oven when done and brush
butter on tops and serve hot.

[JVS]

37. I am now officially lame, I copied it down on a 3x5 card

I feel old

[IsIt1984Yet]

43. Try it, they're easy and quite good. Excellent with homemade

chili. :9

And... I have a stack of 3x5 cards by my PC, I am old, too. BUT... it's better than the alternative!

[Midlodemocrat]

45. Bisquik actually has the ingredients all put together for you in

a pouch. Really, really easy. Makes terrific dumplings in a hurry also.





(Please, oh, please, oh please, don't tell SO I used Bisquick for dumplings, TIA)

[IsIt1984Yet]

46. Oh... buttermilk instead of regular makes a HUGE difference, too.

I just noticed that the recipe I grabbed from the net said "milk". And... fresh garlic in place of powder helps, too.

[JVS]

55. I'm pissed off that I can only find canned buttermilk

Although the milk selection at stores has grown exponentially from the old days of whole, skim and 2%, buttermilk is no longer to be found in the dairy isle. Instead we have 1%, 1/2%, soy, and all kinds of bullshit. It pisses me off!

[Crowdance]

63. Make your own buttermilk!

Add 1.5 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk. Let is sit there a bit and you have buttermilk. I think it's called clabbering.

[Bill McBlueState]

72. how long is a bit?

Like overnight or for a few minutes?

:dunce:

I can get buttermilk in the store, but only in quarts. I never use more than a cup or two and the rest either ends up expiring, or I have to turn my kitchen into a pancake factory.

[Crowdance]

73. 30 to 40 minutes ought to do it. n/t

[jpgray]

11. Flava Flav endorsed

[JVS]

22. seriously?

Flava-flav greatly influences my consumption patterns

[jpgray]

23. Not officially, but it's a place he likes to go to. BOYEEEEE

[JVS]

24. Yeeeeeaaaahhhhhh boyyyyeeeee!

[LeftyMom]

12. They sell Canadian seafood which is being boycotted due to the seal hunt

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/redlobster

It would be better for you to go to a local place that's boycott compliant, serving something fresh and local and benefiting yoru local economy.

Need I mention that Darden (the co that owns RL and Olive Garden) is a Republican donor? http://www.buyblue.org/node/757/view/summary

[Midlodemocrat]

13. Psst. LM

I was kidding. I hate that place and won't go there for a myriad of reasons, including the one you posted.

I was playing because when I started a thread about chicken pot pie at Cracker Barrel, everyone went batshit crazy.

But, FWIW, it WAS delicious.

:bounce:

[LeftyMom]

21. Oh, I'm still waking up* so my sarcasm detector isn't really working.

*The kid spent the night at his Dad's and I got to sleep in. Yay! :woohoo:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

14. It's fucking horrible.

Go to Legal Seafood. Prices aren't much higher, but the quality is far and away better.

[Midlodemocrat]

15. Hello? I live in VIRGINIA.

So, I'll just go to the Bonefish Grille.



:P

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. Never actually been there.

I have heard it's good, but never can be too sure these days. I can, however, vouch for Legal's. :-)

[Midlodemocrat]

17. Legal's is outstanding. I always eat there when we are in MA.

Bonefish is also outstanding. Very, very fresh food and top of the line service. Pricey, though, but worth it.

The teenager who is living with us (daughter's friend, long story) got a job waiting tables there and she makes at least $100 a night for 4-5 hours.

[Katina]

18. surprisingly for a chain it is really good

they have this calamari appetizer with asian sauce that is terrific.

[Midlodemocrat]

20. Another great chain with delicious calamari is PF Chang's.

Absolutely delicious food. We always order an array of appetizers. Incredibly good. Service is great, too and the passion fruit iced tea is to die for.

[Zomby Woof]

31. PF Chang's is horribly overpriced for what you get

I say this because good Chinese food is plentiful in Los Angeles, and they really can't compete with the better quality at lower prices and bigger portions from indie Chinese places.

(I also have never had better calamari as I had in Spain, so I am also picky there)

But! You have every right to eat where you want and spend how you see fit, just so there is no mistaking my intent, lol. :D

[Midlodemocrat]

33. We don't have a lot of choices here.

There are a couple of really good local places, but I absolutely love PFChang's lettuce wraps and the ahi tuna.

[Zomby Woof]

38. I admit

I was lording my infinite dining choices over you. It's The Lounge Way, ya know! ;-) :D

[Midlodemocrat]

44. Sure, rub my nose in it.

:P

There are some incredible restaurants in downtown Richmond, as you probably know, but it's hard with the kids.

As a matter of fact, when Philip Morris was moving here from NY a few years ago, USA today did a 'side by side' comparison, (of course, we came out WAY ahead in the cost of housing department) and one of the things they compared was the plethora of restaurants in both locations.

Richmond actually had almost as many types of restaurants, (not number, obviously) as NYC! Go figure. We even have an Ethiopian restaurant and a Nigerian one!

If I didn't have such PITA kids with so many activities, I could enjoy those places.

[Zomby Woof]

51. Richmond is a pit

They need to get the memo: The Civil War ended in 1865. And this coming from a history graduate with an interest in the subject!

I have a friend there who works for PM, and her house is the only place in Richmond I ate at. :P

[Midlodemocrat]

52. What about Amici's, or La Grotta?

Those are excellent restaurants. Plus, there's a Morton's here now. I haven't been, but my steak eating friends love it.

We have two outdoor CA type malls, one in Short Pump and one in Stony Point. They both have a ton of great restaurants, like Fleming's, PFChang's, Brio Tuscan, CA Pizza Kitchen.

Things are looking up here in the Old Dominion.


(because of all the New Yorkers moving in)

[KamaAina]

71. Don't look now, but Legal may be gaining on you

I was quite surprised, nay, taken aback to see one in Baltimore's Inner Harbor on my recent (June) visit.

That's quite a bit more than halfway from Boston to Richmond... (cue Jaws theme) da dum.. da dum.. da dum...

[RebelOne]

19. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I like Red Lobster. n/t

[Broken_Hero]

25. over priced, badly...

I prefer Golden Corral myself...its a buffet, they got steak, and fried shrimp, cost...8.99 a plate...for that same thing at Red Lobster at least 15 bucks plus, and you don't get full(at least I don't)...

[AirmensMom]

26. Too expensive.

And definitely not worth the money, IMO.

[BigMama50]

27. Never been there

Hear they use frozen fish.

[Zomby Woof]

28. I don't like them

I love seafood, but prefer it much fresher when possible.

That being said, I HAVE NO PROBLEM with you or anyone else who enjoys it. :-)

[Midlodemocrat]

34. LOL. You are too funny.

I don't go there either, I was just messing. Not when we have a Bonefish Grille right down the street.

They do have killer cheddar biscuits, though.

[Zomby Woof]

36. I first tried Red Lobster in 1975

They opened one on Independence Blvd in Va Beach. I don't recall if I ever had them after that, but it would have been the early 80's at the latest. Our seafood restaurant of choice in Va Beach was Fass Brothers - it was relatively inexpensive and had decent shrimp. I have no idea if they exist anymore.

There was a good bar at the oceanfront where I did raw oyster and beer sliders when I was in college. :P Can't remember that either!

[Midlodemocrat]

49. My first one was in 1978.

I was visiting my best friend's grandparents in Crewe, VA, a little, teeny rural VA town and they wanted to 'take a trip' to Richmond. So we went to Red Lobster on the Midlothian Turnpike and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I loved seafood, but there wasn't anything like this in CT, only some independent places that I certainly couldn't afford and my parents weren't interested in.

I'll never forget it.

I went about 5 years ago for lunch to the one that opened near me, it was pretty awful. Save for the biscuits.

[Zomby Woof]

64. I have been to Crewe, LOL!

When I was in 8th grade, I went on a field trip expedition for science class, to mine some amethyst from a tiny open pit off one of the back roads in the woods. In this dark red clay, in a pit maybe 6 or 7 feet deep, there were these beautiful veins of amethyst, and we chiselled out quite a bit that day.

Our science teacher drove some of us in his truck, and he had us listen to a local radio call-in show called "Coffee Chat". People used it as a kind of live classified ad/trading post show. It was a hoot! People wanting to trade in furniture for a typewriter or something, lol. It was Ebay, prehistoric internets.

This was back in 1980. :-)

[Midlodemocrat]

65. Morefield Mines! I know that place well!

I actually got a beautifl piece of amethyst there once that I had made into a necklace. 2 full carats.


My kids LOVED it, especially when they were younger. All that getting dirty and washing off the stones.

Interesting place, that's for sure.

[Zomby Woof]

68. I don't think it had a name then!

LOL... it was just a hidden patch off the road. Guess commerce was inevitable. :-)

I bet we're the only two DUers who have ever heard of Crewe, VA. :bounce:

[Kire]

29. Fire Engine Red?

I'd rather eat a pink one.

[Deja Q]

30. Well, if the Lobster's red, he's boiling over about something...

Must be the health care... I talked to the chef and he said there was nothing he could do; if the water got any cooler it wouldn't be properly cooked and people would get food poisoning, die, then sue...

:hide:

[Cannikin]

32. Its the Olive Garden of seafood

:evilgrin:

[Karenca]

42. We think the same---

I said the same thing in post #5 !

[Blue-Jay]

53. FTW!

hahahaha!

[MissB]

39. Deadly.

'Course, I'm allergic to shellfish.

[Rabrrrrrr]

40. I've never had bad food there; but I've never had inspiring food, either.

Every now and again, especially when in the midwest, it's about as good as one can get.

it's like Olive Garden - it's good enough to eat, and certainly even enjoyable, but never "wow"ing or creative or much more than a chain restaurant, though a higher-end one.

I can live without it.

[Deja Q]

41. Glad I'm not interested in the marines...

[CC]

47. Just got back from

Lafayette Inn. All you can eat steamed crabs, shrimp sampler appetizer, ice cold beer for the SO and frozen margarita's for me. A well deserved break after ripping out and now renovating the kitchen during the hottest week of the summer so far.

[Guava Jelly]

48. they support rush

http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/staticpages/index.php?page=20040610174241193

[Taverner]

50. It's OK....for chain fish I prefer "The Fish Market"

But Red Lobster is OK....

[pitohui]

54. then by all means avoid red lobster

i'm not sure if slave-raised shrimp farms in china really qualify as the "sea"

[MoseyWalker]

56. I LLLIIIIKKKKEEE it

I shove all the great flavored food in my mouth so fast that I have to take a shower afterwards to get rid of the residues on my face, hands and hair.

Well worth it.

[MissMillie]

57. If you're looking for seafood, why go to Red Lobster?

ah... I see you're hiding....

nevermind

[MoseyWalker]

58. I go to Red Lobster

because my only other choice is Long John's. And I have to travel to get to Red Lobster!

Yuck.

I don't live by the sea, or even by a sea, or near a sea, or remotely close to a sea.

I love seafood!

My choices are limited.

[pitohui]

61. but...that is not seafood

that is farmed

to be seafood it needs to come from the sea not from a farm in china or mississippi

the sea is this REALLY big body of water, not a controlled farm

and the stuff from the sea tastes different, trust me

it may be that you don't love seafood, you love the fakes, and that's fine

but please don't call farm-raised chinese "crawfish" or "shrimp" seafood -- they are not and they are not on a par w. real seafood

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

67. I couldn't live there.

I need to be close to real seafood.

[KFC]

59. I've got a Red Lobster right here

They call me Big Red. Even named some gum after it.

[spacelady]

60. We live on the Gulf (Mobile, AL) & go figure, there is a 2 hour wait for

Red Lobster on Friday Nights!!!?111!

[KamaAina]

70. Hell, people used to drive an hour and a half from NOLA for Red Lobster

Yeah you right: naturally the humongous chain knew better than to try and compete in a city known far and wide for its fresh local seafood, BUT New Orleanians were still exposed to Red Lobster's nonstop advertising.

More than a few of them found it appetizing enough to drive out to the nearest Red Lobster location -- in Gulfport, Miss.

One wonders if that location has reopened, and if not, how far people are now willing to go in order to get the frozen stuff... :eyes:

edit: spelling

[spacelady]

75. GGAAAAHHHH!!!! That is all.

[TrogL]

62. Just don't

That's not lobster they're serving. It's long pig.

[Radio_Lady]

66. Every time I've been there, I've been disappointed.

We don't eat there any more.

PS. Their TV commercials look yummy, but the food just isn't...

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

76. Well, that just about sums up how much they suck...

because you eat at the Olive Garden. :P Sorry, couldn't resist. I hate both places.

[DinahMoeHum]

69. There's always a fucking line outside the one near my home

even on weekdays and at lunch.

When I learned through word-of-mouth that the food wasn't too good, I've stopped wanting to go.

So fuck 'em.

:evilfrown:

[Metta]

74. They're a *heavily* red donating company. We've stopped going there.

... don't remember the exact figures. I seem to remember they were shockingly high.