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| - After sampling many chain restaurants, I know that not all chains are created equally, even if they operate under the same name. I've stopped by Red Lobster restaurants in other towns and have been overwhelmed by delightful, positive experiences, so I thought I'd give the local one a try.
When I went on a weekend night packed with other customers, I was concerned about wait time but fortunately my party was seated almost immediately. With so many patrons vying for the attention of their servers, we were overlooked and felt we got the cold shoulder because of our age (a young college group).
The interior is old and ragged, which conveniently fits the "shipwreck" theme. We were pushed into a dark corner (intended to be "romantic lighting," I think), but I could still make out the wear on our seats and the carpet.
For dinner, I ordered one of their "daily catches" and had it cooked on the grill. The fish was bland, unmemorable, and did not justify the cost; the only flavor came from the lemon that I judiciously squeezed on top. As for my side dish, I was horrified by my broccoli. It had been cooked beyond redemption, with each bud shriveled and blackened. The saving grace of the meal was the biscuits (crunchy outside, hot and buttery inside), which have been consistently good between all of the Red Lobsters I have visited.
At the end of the meal, the bill for my boyfriend and I came out to about $40 (including tip). Not a happy customer.
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