RED LOBSTER There was a seafood lover in me!
Written: Dec 04 '03 (Updated Mar 14 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: You always know exactly what you are getting.
Cons: Frozen fish is not as good as fresh.
The Bottom Line: We make a couple of stops here a year. It is a different kind of satisfying seafood.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Red Lobster |
I have some wonderful choices in seafood restaurants that are nearby my home. I live on the south shore of Long Island NY in a village that has an area by the name of the Nautical Mile, in Freeport It has nearly twenty seafood restaurants on or around it. My wife and I frequent them often. At these places you get the freshest of seafoods from fresh catch coming in from the bays and ocean or shipped daily from the NY's downtown Fulton Fish Market.
Even with those choices for some reason or other we go out to dinner a few times a year at a Red Lobster that is in a neighboring town of Baldwin on Sunrise Highway..
The ATMOSPHERE
Walking into our Red Lobster answers the first question we have on our minds. "Will there be a wait." If the large open lobby area is empty we will be seated within minutes. More often than not we find standing room only crowd. All the benches on the perimeter are being used and we go up to the hostess, give our name, receive a pager, and shop in the strip mall for a bit.
The waiting area has a lobster tank that is barely visible when crowds are in the room. Also off the lobby are the rest rooms that have always been clean and well stocked.
Update 2004
The restaurant put up a dividing wall in the place and made a sort of lounge are where you can sit and have a drink while waiting to get in. Bar service is very close by.
Now back to the original review.
The main rooms, that are a bit dark, have a nautical theme. The restaurant is divided into three large sections with tables in the middle and booths on the outside walls. There are other booths that help divide the room too.
The tables are generally in good shape for the next round of customers. The floors underneath are clean too.
The STAFF
Though there have been lapses from time to time, I feel one of the strong points of this chain restaurant is a well trained, helpful, and friendly staff. The wait staff come to the table shortly after we are seated, give their name, and do a good job of being attentive to the needs of the clients. They also know their menus well and we have never had the wrong dish or preparation brought to our table.
They do ask for drink orders right away and quickly bring out their famous cheese biscuits. Upon asking they are prompt to keep bringing them on. These are very tasty with a crisp top and moist inside. They are also very habit forming.
The MENU
The Red Lobster, as the name dictates, is primarily a seafood restaurant. They do have options for those who do not care for fish.
It seems to me that the number one item on the menu is shrimp in one form or another.
Appetizers
We always have the coconut shrimp. They are excellent and each one is done perfectly. They also have a pina colada sauce that like a candy treat. I could eat bowlfuls of this white, creamy, sweet and tasty sauce but the prices keep that option down.
They also serve a few other specials. A shared Ultimate Fondue always looks good. It's served in a hollowed out bread loaf. It has a blend of shrimp, crawfish, crabmeat, and cheeses. The Lobster and shrimp stuffed mushrooms look excellent and a tempura battered shrimp with Wasabi horse radish sauce is a great way to open the meal.
I have to say they are creative with their appetizer and entree choices.
Entrees
The Red Lobster in our area does some heavy advertising on TV. They invite you in with their "Make your own creations" dishes and all the shrimp you can eat specials.
Shrimp served in a variety of ways seems to be the main stay. You can get popcorn shrimp, shrimp scampi,shrimp and chicken, shrimp and Lobster salad, beer battered shrimp traditional shrimp, fried shrimp, lemon pepper shrimp, and shrimp Rockefeller over rice.
They have some mixed dishes some that have shrimp too. Here are some samples directly from their menu.
SEAFOOD COMBOS
Dockside Shrimp and Chicken
Broiled shrimp scampi plus a grilled, butterflied chicken breast.
Fried Seafood Platter
Fried popcorn shrimp, fish fillets, clam strips and deviled crab cakes.
Broiled Seafood Platter
Broiled bay scallops, shrimp scampi and crab-stuffed flounder.
Shrimp and Lobster Caesar Salad
Garlic seasoned shrimp, lobster and crawfish topped with Caesar dressing and Romano cheese.
Yes they do serve more than shrimp. An add on that we some times get with our main dish is the Rock Lobster tail. We enjoy it. It's not as sweet or tender as Maine Lobster but does give you that lobster fix when you need it.
I've had the blacked salmon at the RL. It was good. Both the salmon or trout can be blackened, broiled or grilled.
Flounder is on the menu and the blackened catfish is excellent. That is probably my favorite entree there.
I have never had the snow crab legs but I see people sitting down in front of huge plates of these things. I don't know if they are anything like Alaskan king crab legs that are a bit to salty for my taste.
Of course the Red Lobster does serve Maine Lobster. I can't get myself to order one there. Sorry but I only eat them on the shore and preferably outside.
The pricing at the Red Lobster is varied. You can get a few items at under ten dollars and some of the combos and lobsters can get up a bit in price. When you add on a few appetizers the bill can take a sudden jump.
Just a reminder for you land lubbers, they have a 12 oz New York cut strip steak and a few assorted chicken dishes.
A kids menu with chicken fingers, burgers, pasta and cheese stix and popcorn shrimp come with with a soda and ice cream
Liquid Refreshment
One thing I must say is that the Red Lobster makes a consistently outstanding Margarita. That IS one of the reasons we go there, a big reason. They also have one with a side car of Gran Manier. Excellent!!
Update March 2005
My wife and I went to this same Red Lobster in Baldwin Long Island once again. Our drink experience was terrible. I have noted time and again about the consistantly good Margaritas. Not that night. First they brought a shortened version because we asked not to have too much ice. Right away we were told they put in less because they didn't add ice. This has never happened to me anywhere! Now I can understand a particular bartender may make something a bit different. But what happened next was uncalled for.
Then the waitress took it back when we refused them. She came back a moment later saying she straightened things out with the manager and bar tender and she returned with full drinks. I tasted it. It was simply watered down. I know my Margaritas. The real killer is that this comes with a side car of Gran Manier. Someone had actually taken a bit out of each of the glasses before they returned the drinks to us. This was outrageous! We refused the drinks and needless to say our dining experience fell short of the usual. My wife did not want my making an issue of the matter that night as we were trying to have a fun and upbeat evening. We will not be returning to this particular restaurant again.
Back to the original reivew.
If you like wines they do have a selection of twenty or so offerings of Pinot Grigio, White Zinfandels, Merlot's, and Chardonnay's.
In beer they are quite simple with what they have in the house. A few Buds, Millers, Coors, Corona, Heineken, and Sam Adams is about it. Odoul's is always there too.
Soft drinks rally around Coke products and they also have iced tea and Lemonade. Coolers or smoothies, I forget what they call them, but they have those frosted drinks too.
Desserts
We rarely have dessert at the Red Lobster. Nothing really grabbed us. Key Lime pie, a chocolate cake, and some cheesecakes just about round out their selection.
Final Assessments
The decor is OK
The place is clean ((It had a bit of an unpleasant odor March 2005)
The staff is very helpful, friendly, and knowledgable
The tasty and habit forming biscuits are very good and free
The appetizers are good, coconut shrimp great!
The have a good assortment and selection of fish dishes.
The menu offerings are prepared in a very consistent manor.
The food is presented well.
The Margaritas are EXCELLENT!! (As of march 2005 they are NOT)
Beers ok
Desserts are uninspired.
We go (no longer since our March 2005 experience)in the wintertime when the marine area restaurants, where we live are not up to their usual fare and we have less choise. I can't rave about the place but at the same time I know I'm going to get good service and all selections are consistently cooked as expected. I will also get my perfect Margarita!
There is a seafood lover in me and the Red Lobster gives me my fix when needed.
More chain eateries by popsrocks
Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Wendy's
OUTBACK Restaurant / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / McDonald's / Checkers Burgers / Red Lobster
The White Castle / TGI Friday's / Charlie Browns / Burger King / Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips /
Friendly's / Cold Stone Creamery / Dunkin' Donuts / Krispy Kreme / Ralph's Famous Ices
Freeport's Nautical Mile
Rachel's Waterside Grill
Cafe By the Sea Dining and wonderful desserts. Some fun entertainment too!
Otto's Sea Grill Fine dining or partying on the canal
Ralph's Famous Italian IcesThey are on Freeport's Nautical Mile and elsewhere across the Island
Recommended:
No
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