Two things I know about Red Lobster: 1. Their cheese biscuits are amazing 2. When my mom went there as a kid and picked out a lobster that she thought was going to be her pet, she was tormented when she saw her new ‘pet’ sitting on her plate, ready to be eaten.
@John R Lol! No, nothing concerning an experience I had with picking out a "pet" lobster. It was her story that caught me off guard! Seriously, I never saw it coming. 😄
@D Zuke So THAT'S why you don't see boxes of kittens in front of the Chinese buffet LOL:) Sorry couldn't resist; my niece would love that joke, she always sends me memes of cats being used in Chinese food... We guys including her husband and Dad all love going to a Chinese buffet and she'll eat there but it's certainly not her favorite or first choice! Later! OL J R: )
Fun fact: Took the company many years to become General Mills. It wasn't too long ago that they were Colonel Mills. Now - they are raking in the dough and are certified MILLSionaires.
We’re blushing and we’re already red! Thank you for sharing our story - and Bill Darden’s affinity for naming restaurants using colors and animals! Red Lobster has certainly grown over the years - and we’re not done yet. There are lots of new and exciting things on the horizon - so we can continue to be where the world goes for seafood, now and for generations.
i worked at two different Red Lobsters in ‘74 and ‘75 while in college. much has definitely changed since then. it was like a “fast food sit down” restaurant. there were no desserts then because we were told if the restaurant had desserts, the customers would stay longer. the philosophy was “ get customers seated and served quickly, get them out so the next customers be seated and served quickly, get them out etc.” the closest thing to desserts was peppermint at the cashier’s stand. there was a cashier you paid on your way out. the menu was limited in comparison to their menus today. the best i remember, the only non-seafood choices were steaks and bone-in fried chicken. instead of cheddar bay biscuits they served hush puppies. the meals came a choice of two side dishes. baked potato or french fries and the choice of coleslaw, applesauce or cottage cheese. a half a dozen shrimp dinner cost 1.59 and a dozen was 2.59. a cup of clam chowder cost 49c. a fish sandwich with coleslaw cost 89c. they offered several specialty platters such as, the “ Mariner’s Platter, Neptune’s Platter, Shore, Combo, and Broiled Fishermen’ Platter to name a few.” Rock Lobster Tail meal cost 6.29. they sold oysters-on-the-half-shell, fried oysters, snapper, catfish, crab cakes and Shrimp Louie. Red Lobster had a policy that it provided low cost quality food. none of the dishes cost more than 10.00 and if there came a time when a meal cost more than 10.00, it would be removed from the menu. lobster was the first over 10.00 but they can’t take it off the menu because it’s called Red Lobster. i believe that was a turning point where they had to revise their business model. the female servers wore white and blue sailor uniforms. they were not allowed to wear dangling earrings in case a baby or toddler grabbed while they were getting them in the seat. they were allowed to clip-one or pierced with a stud type earring. the male servers wore black pants, white shirts, black tie and a red jacket. so definitely a lot has changed.
Oh wow! A comment like this should be pinned, to the top of the page for this video! That is a lot of early info about Red Lobster, I had never heard before.
@John R Oh, ok. I thought you were going to literally explain how to use the word "inexplicable", lol (I'm old, so I'm slow to connecting the dots these days.) I'm part-Chinese & part-Korean (tigers are pretty rampant in the countryside there, too) & I was being a bit playful with my comment. I don't read other comments outside of this thread & mine is old, from months ago & I'm surprised that people are getting around to it more at this time. Thanks for the feedback!
@Willem DaFuckedUp There are literally numerous Chinese restaurants with the name tiger on them, because they're a culturally significant animal for Chinese people in general. OP is just pointing out the obvious.
When I was a kid in the 80s Red Lobster's marketing was almost the only reason my sister and I wanted to go there. We did like the food but it was almost frozen dinner quality back then. My dad absolutely hated taking us because he knew it wasn't that good so it was reserved for when we were exceptionally good or special occasions. The last time I ate there was in 2000 and I was pretty unimpressed. As an 80s kid hooked on TV commercials pretty much told me what I liked.
Growing up in the 1980's, my family went to Red Lobster like twice a month or so. I still love their food! My fav disk is the broiled fisherman platter, or Ultimate Feast! If it is not on the menu, I just ask them to make it for me. And the do every time!
You should consider doing a video on Cheddar's from scratch restaurants. Their food is fantastic, but they're also unknown compared to places like Red Lobster.
Got one right around the corner from where I live in Los Alamitos, CA. It was there before I was even born! Too bad the Pup N Taco didn't last this long🙁
Red Lobster owes you a commission. Went to Quizno's after you had the video, and next week the family will be treated with Red Lobster. Those Lobster Biscuits looked good.
Oblivious: use the website... homie went through all the trouble of creating a website specifically to suss out ideas for subject matter pertaining to his series of mini documentaries... It's a great tool so take advantage of it.
I live in Tampa FL. I work for Bar Harbor Seafood Co. and I deliver live lobster from Maine for Red Lobster almost every day. They are very carefully with the quality of their products. I think they are going to succeed more than before. I love your videos. Regards from Tampa Bay FL. 😎👍
Do you do smaller regional companies? I'd be interested in hearing the history of Cincinnati are Skyline or GoldStar and maybe even talk about the friendly feude between them. I know everyone here would love it!
I thought about making it part of that series but the rise again is a little questionable, it all gets a little blurry in the last few years so I didn't want to make it seem like it was the focus of the video.
I really enjoyed this video (probably way too much). In 1982 I frequently dined at a French restaurant in Houston, Texas (no judgement) called (You guessed it) "The Green Frog" (of course in French)!! I do remember that period of time when Red Lobster went into decline. In fact, they closed the only seafood restaurant near my home in the Dallas Fort Worth area for miles and miles back in the late 1980s (early 1990s).
Company Man, I have some suggested topics you should cover in future videos. Suggestions: TikTok - Why They're Successful General Mills - Bigger Than You Know The Decline of MySpace...What Happened? Marvel - The Rise and Fall...And Rise Again The Decline of Atari...What Happened? The Decline of Midway Games...What Happened?
Red Lobster in the 80's was amazing, great food, good portions, at reasonable prices. Red Lobster now, is small portions, everything is fried or drown in garlic butter, it's expensive, and where the hell is my treasure chest at the end of the meal?
When I moved to Florida, I figured that was the end of my dining at Red Lobster. Wirth all the other local, fresh seafood places around I would be eating at them I found out quickly that most of the locals where just tourist traps serving way overpriced food. The biscuits and clam chowder are also hard to stay away from.
I’m 48 years old now but I remember in my teens and 20s that red lobster was a pretty big hit in Austin Texas, but I myself only like to visit it now once in a blue moon. I do however love their sister restaurants of Olive Garden and Longhorn steakhouse!!!
I worked at Red Lobs from 2004 to 2010, while Darden still owned the company. It was the recession starting in 2008 that really hit the brand in the head. Overpriced frozen seafood was something families couldn't afford, which is why sales declined, but the gahdamn biscuits.... the bane of my existence....is most definitely the one reason they have stayed in business. You cant greet a table without the guests asking about them before you even get to introducing yourself! Also that should tell you about the customers that come in. Cheap asses that want endless shrimp and all the biscuits and even though you got a weeks worth of cardio walking back and forth to that one needy table for an hour, leave you a 10 percent tip
Who remembers the chain that was a direct competitor to Red Lobster in the late 90s/early 2000s? Their logo was crude drawing of the outline of a fish, using the colors red, yellow, and blue/green.
The only time I went to Red Lobster was when an Army Recruiter took me there (I didn't join). I had no biscuits. I now live in California and have seafood regularly.
I live in Bartow Florida, which is right next to Lakeland. I never knew every time I passed the Lakeland Red Lobster I was looking at the very first one.
I have eaten st Red Lobster twice in the last ten years. Both times I ordered a lobster. Both times the meal was inedible. The meat was way overcooked it, meaning it was very firm, bland, rubbery. I can only guess the reasons the lobster meat came out like that, first, the prepared plate had been sitting under heat lamps for much longer than what is reasonable. Another guess is the lobsters killed and butchered in a factory then individually packaged lobster tail are shipped to each restaurant, and both times the packaging was compromised leaving its contents to dry out, start to turn. There is no way all the lobster tails are served in such a condition. It seems that many people enjoy their meals at Red Lobster, and I believe them if they do. Both experiences were at the same location, a few years apart. I'm sure it's specific to this one location.
video was good. I like some of the changes. The few fun facts that were summarized and listed I found useful. I ate at Red Lobster this evening and it was delightful. I have always liked there food regardless of ownership. Staff was on point. even the carpets get cleaned every two weeks.
Orange tiger: Chinese food Red lobster: sea food Green frog: American eats I live red lobster... Their pasta and cheese sticks in particular... I have a sea food allergy so having those items on the menu has made me a regular customer!
I live in Maine, I think we had a Red Lobster for about 15 seconds before they were like whoops, our mistake, carry on, and promptly closed. So I sadly can't comment on Red Lobster, but I WILL say that once I started seeing their biscuit mix in the grocery stores (which is literally just bisquick with old bay seasoning, powdered cheese, butter and parsley) I def gave it the side eye. Why bother selling one of your biggest draws in the grocery store? It would be like if Pizza Hut just started selling frozen Stuffed Crusts in the frozen food section.
Dardens first restaurant was in Waycross Georgia, known as the Green Frog. There are images of the business that I could have provided. Menus as well. The location is an office building now lol
Haha watched like 50 of your vids on a binge after finding your channel. Wish I could back and like em all without growing through the process.. there seems to be plenty more to like going forward
It’s still too expensive in my opinion, I can go to some of the nicest non chain restaurants in town for the same price or less for much better. But back in the day, before they upped the prices and started doing lots of non seafood they were my favorite place to go out to
I'd love it if you did a video on York Steak House (later renamed to just York's for it's final 2 years). It was another General Mills concept and I worked there in HS and my Freshman year in college until it closed down in 1989. Still one independently owned in Columbus, OH though.
This used to be one of our favorite places, until the prices started going up and the service and quality went down. We haven't been in several years now.
Interesting that olive garden and RL are under the same ownership. Our local ones are like 500 yards from each other, but it's obvious the olive garden does way better. I think like you said it's been that way from the beginning. I think of RL as being a bit more expensive, and I really love the olive garden Alfredo and breadsticks. Come to think of it, I really like the cheddar biscuits too so they have that in common. I've been to longhorn before too and that was really good from what I remember. So, good job general mills lol.
People want to whinge about olive garden and red lobster but I love it. Yes, in not getting the best most authentic experience or ingredients but I can get a good meal for cheap there.
Ate at the Gainesville, FL Red Lobster in the late 90’s. The biscuits, delicious! The seafood, disgusting. Never been back and would never go back. There are too many non-chain seafood restaurants in my area where the fish tastes fresh and not like it’s been out of water, trucked across the country, and no longer moist, tender, and delicious by the time it hits your plate.
Never gone to a Red Lobster, but I have wanted to for a while. It's just that I'm a poor college student and can't eat out often and the closest one is further away than most other places I could go. Maybe now I'll go soon.
My Mom loves “Red Lobster!” She declares she could eat there everyday, and enjoys the cheddar garlic biscuits . I like the New England Clam Chowder, I eat there because it’s easy to find one, and I trust the reputation of the food quality. I did notice a stalemate at some point, when the menu didn’t seem to appeal to customers, and many lobsters suffered. It’s a guarantee, though, that every Mother’s Day, the restaurant will be filled, to waiting, by customers who want to treat their Moms and family on that celebrated occasion. Don’t care for Olive Garden. Went there once, and never again. I prefer not to have my entrees, pastas, and salads drowning and smothered in questionable cream sauces. My stomach can’t identify the ingredients of the mixes, and it rebels, badly!
Now you’re gonna have to do another video on Red Lobster, titled “The Decline of Red Lobster…What Happened?” due to their recent announcement that they will file Chapter 11.
McDonald’s recently got rid of their one dollar menu. I think the cheapest you can order from McDonald’s now from their value menu is three dollars. You should talk about that in a McDonald’s video. Not as the main topic but it would be interesting to throw in.
On a related note, can you do a video about Joe's Crab Shack? I think that's the only other family-friendly seafood place I can think of off the top of my head. My mom took me there as a kid for my birthday once in the mid-90's: the play-area was really fun and the servers were all friendly and energetic (plus the aesthetic was fun), but the sea-food was less than fresh, and we all got food-poisoning (also, my popcorn shirp, while spoiled, also came to the table still half-frozen). We've never gone again (well, I've been vegan for a decde now, but my omnivorous family has never returned either) xD
When you get employed by Olive garden in the training videos they teach you the history of darden restaurants and bill darden. I thought it was pretty interesting
I was a bus boy for Gary's Duck Inn in 1987. The bartenders would make me drinks every night. Long Island Iced Tea was pretty potent for a 16 year old.
Met the girl who was to be my wife for 31 years in 1987. First place we ate was Red Lobster. It moved years ago but the building is still there. I can still see the spot we parked in. I grew up where at the table we'd get something off each others plates sometimes. I did that to her. She always said it surprised her but didn't bother her. She did it too from then on lol. 31 years with that amazing soulmate. She passed unexpectedly just this Jan 3 2019. Got our memories. Wish I had her. Side note...in 87 and eating in Red Lobster I thought they were a high class seafood place. I was used to Captain Ds so a seafood place with alcohol to drink?..Sweet :)...We both had a pina colada...me with alcohol and her without. Memories.
I'm very sorry for your loss. My wife's and Mine first date was a Red Lobster. We both had fried Shrimp, I had coffee, she had diet coke. We talked a lot, don't remember what we said though. Proposed to her there. As of the 10th of this month, we've been married for 24 years. For that location, don't go there anymore, service has went down hill. However the memories are forever.
I know your pain. Lost my partner too, 10 years ago. Met someone else, moved on. Red Lobster was considered by everyone I knew back in the day to be pretty fancy. Dinner there was a treat,
Or some knowledge. This is likely part of the reason the restaurant succeeded. Moral crusaders will shower companies who back up their beliefs with praise and business.
I was a line cook at Red Lobster and I loved it there: the work, my fellow employees, my managers, and of course all the free/discounted food I got to eat.
@@companyman114 I like the strange facts myself. But I have to admit, I've never eaten at Red Lobster. Or Green Frog. Or Pink Pig. Though I think that would be an awesome name.
You would eventually die from CHEDDAR BAY BISCUIT SYNDROME, or CBBS. Symptoms include: weighing 400 pounds, angry shits, smelling like Old Bay, and diabetes.
@@moncorp1 we tried everything. The large stuffed lobster was overcooked. With a fake stuffing. And it cost 89 dollars! Plus tax. We didn't tip. Service was bad.😩😩😩😤😤😥😥😥😣
@@andrewodinson3726 you're wrong! They weigh your Lobster!! You pick it from the tank up front. Some are Bigger! Some are even 3 pounds! So of course you pay more! Even 130 dollars. For a big one
![[TH] FS vs BME - VCT Ascension Pacific - Lower Bracket Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnygqsR2Fig/mqdefault.jpg)
Two things I know about Red Lobster:
1. Their cheese biscuits are amazing
2. When my mom went there as a kid and picked out a lobster that she thought was going to be her pet, she was tormented when she saw her new ‘pet’ sitting on her plate, ready to be eaten.
D Zuke mmmm tasty
@D Zuke hilarious
Lolol! Your poor mama! I was equally horrified and laughing with tears running down face...that one caught me completely off guard!
@John R Lol! No, nothing concerning an experience I had with picking out a "pet" lobster. It was her story that caught me off guard! Seriously, I never saw it coming. 😄
@D Zuke So THAT'S why you don't see boxes of kittens in front of the Chinese buffet LOL:) Sorry couldn't resist; my niece would love that joke, she always sends me memes of cats being used in Chinese food... We guys including her husband and Dad all love going to a Chinese buffet and she'll eat there but it's certainly not her favorite or first choice! Later! OL J R: )
General Mills was just a huge, diverse company"
hey man, they don't call it Specific Mills
Fair point.
Fun fact: Took the company many years to become General Mills. It wasn't too long ago that they were Colonel Mills. Now - they are raking in the dough and are certified MILLSionaires.
Brian Ahern ggcfxxxfff
Brian Ahern nice
Dad jokes ON POINT!
We’re blushing and we’re already red! Thank you for sharing our story - and Bill Darden’s affinity for naming restaurants using colors and animals! Red Lobster has certainly grown over the years - and we’re not done yet. There are lots of new and exciting things on the horizon - so we can continue to be where the world goes for seafood, now and for generations.
Oh wow it's the legit company
Hello lobster!
I have a suggestion... can you install a drive through that only sells 5 gallon buckets of cheddar bay biscuits?
About to head to red lobster in a few minutes!
Hey red lobster
i worked at two different Red Lobsters in ‘74 and ‘75 while in college. much has definitely changed since then.
it was like a “fast food sit down” restaurant. there were no desserts then because we were told if the restaurant had desserts, the customers would stay longer. the philosophy was “ get customers seated and served quickly, get them out so the next customers be seated and served quickly, get them out etc.” the closest thing to desserts was peppermint at the cashier’s stand. there was a cashier you paid on your way out.
the menu was limited in comparison to their menus today. the best i remember, the only non-seafood choices were steaks and bone-in fried chicken. instead of cheddar bay biscuits they served hush puppies. the meals came a choice of two side dishes. baked potato or french fries and the choice of coleslaw, applesauce or cottage cheese.
a half a dozen shrimp dinner cost 1.59 and a dozen was 2.59. a cup of clam chowder cost 49c. a fish sandwich with coleslaw cost 89c. they offered several specialty platters such as, the “ Mariner’s Platter, Neptune’s Platter, Shore, Combo, and Broiled Fishermen’ Platter to name a few.” Rock Lobster Tail meal cost 6.29. they sold oysters-on-the-half-shell, fried oysters, snapper, catfish, crab cakes and Shrimp Louie.
Red Lobster had a policy that it provided low cost quality food. none of the dishes cost more than 10.00 and if there came a time when a meal cost more than 10.00, it would be removed from the menu. lobster was the first over 10.00 but they can’t take it off the menu because it’s called Red Lobster. i believe that was a turning point where they had to revise their business model.
the female servers wore white and blue sailor uniforms. they were not allowed to wear dangling earrings in case a baby or toddler grabbed while they were getting them in the seat. they were allowed to clip-one or pierced with a stud type earring.
the male servers wore black pants, white shirts, black tie and a red jacket.
so definitely a lot has changed.
Oh wow! A comment like this should be pinned, to the top of the page for this video! That is a lot of early info about Red Lobster, I had never heard before.
For some inexplicable reason, I imagined the Orange Tiger being a Chinese restaurant like Panda Express.
There's the Ginger Tiger...Which yes, is chinese food.
well orange chicken is a chinese food and tigers live in asia
@John R How to use it correctly?
@John R Oh, ok. I thought you were going to literally explain how to use the word "inexplicable", lol (I'm old, so I'm slow to connecting the dots these days.) I'm part-Chinese & part-Korean (tigers are pretty rampant in the countryside there, too) & I was being a bit playful with my comment. I don't read other comments outside of this thread & mine is old, from months ago & I'm surprised that people are getting around to it more at this time. Thanks for the feedback!
@Willem DaFuckedUp There are literally numerous Chinese restaurants with the name tiger on them, because they're a culturally significant animal for Chinese people in general. OP is just pointing out the obvious.
The one fact he didn't find interesting blew my mind. I had no idea they invented popcorn shrimp.
When I was a kid in the 80s Red Lobster's marketing was almost the only reason my sister and I wanted to go there. We did like the food but it was almost frozen dinner quality back then. My dad absolutely hated taking us because he knew it wasn't that good so it was reserved for when we were exceptionally good or special occasions. The last time I ate there was in 2000 and I was pretty unimpressed. As an 80s kid hooked on TV commercials pretty much told me what I liked.
Growing up in the 1980's, my family went to Red Lobster like twice a month or so. I still love their food! My fav disk is the broiled fisherman platter, or Ultimate Feast! If it is not on the menu, I just ask them to make it for me. And the do every time!
TBH Orange Tiger sounds like a good name for a Chinese restaurant.
Jonathan Lentz It sure was
There’s probably some Chinese restaurant named that
em yea letmeget a orange tiger lo mein.
u want real tiger?
yee
THATS WHAT I SAID
He refused to segregate his costumers?
*I love him.*
Youre such a good person!
I'm honestly shocked that they don't boast about that more, but maybe they don't wanna seem like they focus on race as much as tech companies do...
That was positive...especially during the era.
Chas Rhew not as good as the red lobster founder aha
Ugly Bastard - Rapper tech companies focus on race?
Red Lobster is SO popular where I live that you need a reservation to get in, & you have to park somewhere else because they're always full.
You should consider doing a video on Cheddar's from scratch restaurants. Their food is fantastic, but they're also unknown compared to places like Red Lobster.
What about what happened to the Sizzler?!?!
Got one right around the corner from where I live in Los Alamitos, CA. It was there before I was even born! Too bad the Pup N Taco didn't last this long🙁
@Rob De Armas
We still have one here under the original name "Western Sizzler"
in the Southeast. Always busy.
No one:
Company man: hehe “pink pig” funny color and animal
would be a good name for a bbq restaruant
Or a strip club featuring chubby girls
LedosKell r/cursedcomments
They have a ride here in Atlanta at Lenox Mall called The Pink Pig... it's only around during certain times a year.
Red Lobster owes you a commission. Went to Quizno's after you had the video, and next week the family will be treated with Red Lobster. Those Lobster Biscuits looked good.
That fact they coined “popcorn shrimp” is 🔥 😂
How about 'The Rise and Fall of SIzzler'?
wtf is that
resting sad face ikr
Yes, sizzler!!
I agree with this vote lets make it happen.
What the hell is sizzler
Do the rise and fall of kfc and rise again in other countries
Oblivious: use the website... homie went through all the trouble of creating a website specifically to suss out ideas for subject matter pertaining to his series of mini documentaries... It's a great tool so take advantage of it.
Especially England
Cheeki Breeki in China kfc is actually good
In china they serve frikin duck burritos
KFC in other countries just taste good
I live in Tampa FL. I work for Bar Harbor Seafood Co. and I deliver live lobster from Maine for Red Lobster almost every day. They are very carefully with the quality of their products. I think they are going to succeed more than before. I love your videos. Regards from Tampa Bay FL. 😎👍
Do you do smaller regional companies? I'd be interested in hearing the history of Cincinnati are Skyline or GoldStar and maybe even talk about the friendly feude between them. I know everyone here would love it!
*Plot Twist:* The logo of the Red Lobster is actually just Mr. Krabs after he died from heart attack.
Mr. Friendship more likely chance is that it’s Larry, he lived like Larry too hard
This was more of a rise, fall, rise video. Also I don't see how you don't follow this up with an Olive Garden video.
Because he has his own life and can do whatever he wants.
That's why.
I thought about making it part of that series but the rise again is a little questionable, it all gets a little blurry in the last few years so I didn't want to make it seem like it was the focus of the video.
It’s been 2 days he can’t make a video every day
I really enjoyed this video (probably way too much). In 1982 I frequently dined at a French restaurant in Houston, Texas (no judgement) called (You guessed it) "The Green Frog" (of course in French)!! I do remember that period of time when Red Lobster went into decline. In fact, they closed the only seafood restaurant near my home in the Dallas Fort Worth area for miles and miles back in the late 1980s (early 1990s).
In all fairness, my brother started his diner at 19 and he’s still open 4 years later and going strong.
I'm curious if the increase in customers is related to a rise in general seafood sales. It's perceived as being healthier than red meat
Company Man, I have some suggested topics you should cover in future videos.
Suggestions:
TikTok - Why They're Successful
General Mills - Bigger Than You Know
The Decline of MySpace...What Happened?
Marvel - The Rise and Fall...And Rise Again
The Decline of Atari...What Happened?
The Decline of Midway Games...What Happened?
Red Lobster in the 80's was amazing, great food, good portions, at reasonable prices. Red Lobster now, is small portions, everything is fried or drown in garlic butter, it's expensive, and where the hell is my treasure chest at the end of the meal?
"An even five"
I am glad someone else says this.
I'm glad u said it I didnt notice he said this I had to go back now that's funny
1:53 looks like someone had diarehea on a perfectly good lobster
Average American: "Lets go to Red Lobster for dinner."
Alaskan: "That's what I caught this morning."
I usually think about Maine when it comes to catching lobsters; Alaska more for Cod and Snow Crab Legs (Thank You Deadliest Catch!)
I thought I was crazy seeing similarities between Olive Garden and Red Lobster thank you for making me feel sane again
When I moved to Florida, I figured that was the end of my dining at Red Lobster. Wirth all the other local, fresh seafood places around I would be eating at them I found out quickly that most of the locals where just tourist traps serving way overpriced food. The biscuits and clam chowder are also hard to stay away from.
Red Lobster: "We'll lob Cheerios at you until you're red in the face!"
I’m 48 years old now but I remember in my teens and 20s that red lobster was a pretty big hit in Austin Texas, but I myself only like to visit it now once in a blue moon. I do however love their sister restaurants of Olive Garden and Longhorn steakhouse!!!
I go to RL during all you can eat shrimp on Sundays and sit at the bar to watch football. Life is good!
I worked at Red Lobs from 2004 to 2010, while Darden still owned the company. It was the recession starting in 2008 that really hit the brand in the head. Overpriced frozen seafood was something families couldn't afford, which is why sales declined, but the gahdamn biscuits.... the bane of my existence....is most definitely the one reason they have stayed in business. You cant greet a table without the guests asking about them before you even get to introducing yourself! Also that should tell you about the customers that come in. Cheap asses that want endless shrimp and all the biscuits and even though you got a weeks worth of cardio walking back and forth to that one needy table for an hour, leave you a 10 percent tip
Having left the US years ago, this made me _really_ miss Olive Garden, and even Red Lobster, which I probably haven't been to in 25 years...
Who remembers the chain that was a direct competitor to Red Lobster in the late 90s/early 2000s? Their logo was crude drawing of the outline of a fish, using the colors red, yellow, and blue/green.
Our Red Lobster in Sumter SC is very new and the best restaurant in town. Always a great dinner.
I started working at red lobster in late 1995, it was my first job. I made so many GD biscuits. Still make them on occasion
The only time I went to Red Lobster was when an Army Recruiter took me there (I didn't join). I had no biscuits. I now live in California and have seafood regularly.
That Seaside Shrimp Trio is on point!
I live in Bartow Florida, which is right next to Lakeland. I never knew every time I passed the Lakeland Red Lobster I was looking at the very first one.
Last time I went to RL, the service was so slow, I got out of three and went to another place instead. That’s 2 years ago, and never went back.
There's a pizza chain called Red Elephant. Hattiesburg, MS used to have a restaurant called the Plaid Rhino.
I'm just glad I'm not the only one that thinks about Cheddar Bay Biscuits when they hear Red Lobster. 🦞🦞😄
I have eaten st Red Lobster twice in the last ten years. Both times I ordered a lobster. Both times the meal was inedible. The meat was way overcooked it, meaning it was very firm, bland, rubbery. I can only guess the reasons the lobster meat came out like that, first, the prepared plate had been sitting under heat lamps for much longer than what is reasonable. Another guess is the lobsters killed and butchered in a factory then individually packaged lobster tail are shipped to each restaurant, and both times the packaging was compromised leaving its contents to dry out, start to turn. There is no way all the lobster tails are served in such a condition. It seems that many people enjoy their meals at Red Lobster, and I believe them if they do. Both experiences were at the same location, a few years apart. I'm sure it's specific to this one location.
Did they even have a live lobster tank...probably not...I never saw one...
"...an even five."
🤨
SO glad you mentioned beyoncé because i was thinking about it the whole time
“The Gray Elephant” would slap as a restraint name
video was good. I like some of the changes. The few fun facts that were summarized and listed I found useful. I ate at Red Lobster this evening and it was delightful. I have always liked there food regardless of ownership. Staff was on point. even the carpets get cleaned every two weeks.
Orange tiger: Chinese food
Red lobster: sea food
Green frog: American eats
I live red lobster... Their pasta and cheese sticks in particular... I have a sea food allergy so having those items on the menu has made me a regular customer!
I live in Maine, I think we had a Red Lobster for about 15 seconds before they were like whoops, our mistake, carry on, and promptly closed. So I sadly can't comment on Red Lobster, but I WILL say that once I started seeing their biscuit mix in the grocery stores (which is literally just bisquick with old bay seasoning, powdered cheese, butter and parsley) I def gave it the side eye. Why bother selling one of your biggest draws in the grocery store? It would be like if Pizza Hut just started selling frozen Stuffed Crusts in the frozen food section.
Dardens first restaurant was in Waycross Georgia, known as the Green Frog. There are images of the business that I could have provided. Menus as well. The location is an office building now lol
My friends and I used to hit up the Red Lobster on Fridays for the crab leg special.
Haha watched like 50 of your vids on a binge after finding your channel. Wish I could back and like em all without growing through the process.. there seems to be plenty more to like going forward
Glad you like them!
My city doesn't have a Red Lobster or an Olive Garden, but the next city over does. Their Red Lobster closed, but their Olive Garden is always packed.
It’s still too expensive in my opinion, I can go to some of the nicest non chain restaurants in town for the same price or less for much better. But back in the day, before they upped the prices and started doing lots of non seafood they were my favorite place to go out to
I'd love it if you did a video on York Steak House (later renamed to just York's for it's final 2 years). It was another General Mills concept and I worked there in HS and my Freshman year in college until it closed down in 1989. Still one independently owned in Columbus, OH though.
Red Lobster only got more overpriced to the point it's not even worth going to. Biscuits are good, but the price kills it.
I love Red Lobster, but they all closed in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. The local fresh seafood was too much competition.
This used to be one of our favorite places, until the prices started going up and the service and quality went down. We haven't been in several years now.
Interesting that olive garden and RL are under the same ownership. Our local ones are like 500 yards from each other, but it's obvious the olive garden does way better. I think like you said it's been that way from the beginning. I think of RL as being a bit more expensive, and I really love the olive garden Alfredo and breadsticks. Come to think of it, I really like the cheddar biscuits too so they have that in common.
I've been to longhorn before too and that was really good from what I remember. So, good job general mills lol.
Were*
This video had been recommended to me more then any other video so I finally clicked it.. even through already watch this 😄
People want to whinge about olive garden and red lobster but I love it. Yes, in not getting the best most authentic experience or ingredients but I can get a good meal for cheap there.
Respect to Bill Darden in the 60s dude. Desegregating before it was hip.
Like Red Lobster, the practice of naming with color continues with Olive Garden, olive is a color.
Pink pig bbq have a nice ring to it.
Sale small pull pork sandwich and called them lil oinks
Good business idea wish I thought of it.
Ate at the Gainesville, FL Red Lobster in the late 90’s. The biscuits, delicious! The seafood, disgusting. Never been back and would never go back. There are too many non-chain seafood restaurants in my area where the fish tastes fresh and not like it’s been out of water, trucked across the country, and no longer moist, tender, and delicious by the time it hits your plate.
This episode needs an update! 😊
I aint never ate at red lobster but those cheddar bay biscuits you can buy on store shelves their deleshious.
Do Outback Steakhouse. I saw the one just north of the Golden Gate Bridge evaporate. I went there for Bloomin Onion Fixation.
We have The Red Pig restaurant in Johnson City, TN 😂🤙🏻
Red Lobster has competition? That's news to me. ;-)
I have always thought Red Lobster was the only solution for seafood in the flyover states.
Never gone to a Red Lobster, but I have wanted to for a while. It's just that I'm a poor college student and can't eat out often and the closest one is further away than most other places I could go. Maybe now I'll go soon.
Born and raised 27 years in Lakeland and had no idea red lobster started here
My Mom loves “Red Lobster!” She declares she could eat there everyday, and enjoys the cheddar garlic biscuits . I like the New England Clam Chowder, I eat there because it’s easy to find one, and I trust the reputation of the food quality. I did notice a stalemate at some point, when the menu didn’t seem to appeal to customers, and many lobsters suffered. It’s a guarantee, though, that every Mother’s Day, the restaurant will be filled, to waiting, by customers who want to treat their Moms and family on that celebrated occasion.
Don’t care for Olive Garden. Went there once, and never again. I prefer not to have my entrees, pastas, and salads drowning and smothered in questionable cream sauces. My stomach can’t identify the ingredients of the mixes, and it rebels, badly!
Now you’re gonna have to do another video on Red Lobster, titled “The Decline of Red Lobster…What Happened?” due to their recent announcement that they will file Chapter 11.
I stopped going there for a long time. Prices were too high and the portions were shrinking
Calling Red Lobster seafood is like calling Olive Garden italian...
Holy shit 🤯 I had no idea the first one was opened in Lakeland! I grew up there 🤣
Fun fact the original red lobster in Lakeland Florida is still there
McDonald’s recently got rid of their one dollar menu. I think the cheapest you can order from McDonald’s now from their value menu is three dollars. You should talk about that in a McDonald’s video. Not as the main topic but it would be interesting to throw in.
Very refreshing to hear the exact opposite of Denny's or Publix's views on race
On a related note, can you do a video about Joe's Crab Shack? I think that's the only other family-friendly seafood place I can think of off the top of my head. My mom took me there as a kid for my birthday once in the mid-90's: the play-area was really fun and the servers were all friendly and energetic (plus the aesthetic was fun), but the sea-food was less than fresh, and we all got food-poisoning (also, my popcorn shirp, while spoiled, also came to the table still half-frozen). We've never gone again (well, I've been vegan for a decde now, but my omnivorous family has never returned either) xD
When you get employed by Olive garden in the training videos they teach you the history of darden restaurants and bill darden. I thought it was pretty interesting
I was a bus boy for Gary's Duck Inn in 1987. The bartenders would make me drinks every night. Long Island Iced Tea was pretty potent for a 16 year old.
Would you ever do Long John Silvers? I don’t see them around as much.
Never liked Red Lobster.... But LOVED Joe's Crab Shack! 😭 They're all gone in my area~
Met the girl who was to be my wife for 31 years in 1987. First place we ate was Red Lobster. It moved years ago but the building is still there. I can still see the spot we parked in. I grew up where at the table we'd get something off each others plates sometimes. I did that to her. She always said it surprised her but didn't bother her. She did it too from then on lol. 31 years with that amazing soulmate. She passed unexpectedly just this Jan 3 2019. Got our memories. Wish I had her.
Side note...in 87 and eating in Red Lobster I thought they were a high class seafood place. I was used to Captain Ds so a seafood place with alcohol to drink?..Sweet :)...We both had a pina colada...me with alcohol and her without. Memories.
I'm very sorry for your loss.
My wife's and Mine first date was a Red Lobster. We both had fried Shrimp, I had coffee, she had diet coke. We talked a lot, don't remember what we said though. Proposed to her there. As of the 10th of this month, we've been married for 24 years.
For that location, don't go there anymore, service has went down hill. However the memories are forever.
Daehawk Awwwww :)
I know your pain. Lost my partner too, 10 years ago. Met someone else, moved on. Red Lobster was considered by everyone I knew back in the day to be pretty fancy. Dinner there was a treat,
I'm sorry for your loss. "it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved before..." Greetings from the UK..
A great story young man! You both loved a life times worth.
Just pointing out Olive is a color as well , “Olive Garden”
"Longhorn" is still a description and a noun lol
Daniel Cruz it’s not a color tho 😒
Olives are a food too
and garden isn't an animal 🙃
Okami no... it’s not.... a plant is “alive” but it’s not a part of the animalia family
Not segregating in late 1930s Georgia? Now that took some balls.
Preoximerias it took some big “claws” to do that. 🦞
So much respect for Bill Darden. A fantastic person.
I always loved progressive people from way back in the day.
@@beau-tiful1443 real progressive people and not "meet my demands or im offended" progressive people
Or some knowledge. This is likely part of the reason the restaurant succeeded. Moral crusaders will shower companies who back up their beliefs with praise and business.
Green Frog opens at a difficult time.
Green Frog: "Its not easy being green"
LOL 😁
Sticky Sweet Bahahaha
Sticky Sweet omg that was funny as hell lmao
red lobster does not even bother to fed their workers. they would rather throw the food in the garbage, no thanks
Chaplain Bob Walker B. Th. U mean... like most restaurants? The workers are still paid tho...
Olive is a color. So in a way he kept the color and the noun scheme. Olive Garden.
Darden wasn't involved in the creation of Olive Garden though.
@Adam Porter
But he was working for General Mills at the time so perhaps he did suggest the name!
😂😂
I wonder if Darden owns sweet frogs? lol
it's work better if it was a vegan restaurant specializing in salads.
But I see where you're coming from!
That explains why there’s an Olive Garden and a Red Lobster right next to each other in the town I live in.
Yeah I noticed that too in LA it's the same.
Same with a couple of places in Illinois
Ohio calling and validating it's that way here too.
They do that in a lot of towns!
Same here
I was a line cook at Red Lobster and I loved it there: the work, my fellow employees, my managers, and of course all the free/discounted food I got to eat.
I was a line cook there too in high school and college 99-02. Made good money, friends and enjoyed the discounted food too.
So why did you leave?
You must live in an enchanted place. Everywhere I've ever lived, restaurant jobs suck.
@@bigscarysteve I love restaurant work. I might be weird.
Well, I found the green frog fact pretty entertaining as well.
I knew I wouldn't be alone.
Natrivv my little sister was listening in and burst out laughing by that
Love the profile pic as well 😌
@@companyman114 I like the strange facts myself. But I have to admit, I've never eaten at Red Lobster. Or Green Frog. Or Pink Pig. Though I think that would be an awesome name.
They should bring it back as "Restaurant Pepe".
Bible: Man can not live on bread alone
Me at Red Lobster: WATCH ME
I worked at Red Lobster. Even the employees lived off of the damn Cheddar Bay Biscuits. LOL
Is that a challenge?!
Lol
Bible: Man can not live on bread alone
Red Lobster: Hold my cheddar biscuit.
You would eventually die from CHEDDAR BAY BISCUIT SYNDROME, or CBBS.
Symptoms include: weighing 400 pounds, angry shits, smelling like Old Bay, and diabetes.
I worked there as a cook in the late 90's. Cleanest kitchen I've ever worked in. I feel safe going to any location
But the food is crap😣😤💩💩
@@captainamericaamerica8090 ~ Depends on what you get.
@@moncorp1 we tried everything. The large stuffed lobster was overcooked. With a fake stuffing. And it cost 89 dollars! Plus tax. We didn't tip. Service was bad.😩😩😩😤😤😥😥😥😣
@@captainamericaamerica8090 You sure you're talking about Red Lobster? I've never seen a stuffed lobster on the menu, nor anything above $40.
@@andrewodinson3726 you're wrong! They weigh your Lobster!! You pick it from the tank up front. Some are Bigger! Some are even 3 pounds! So of course you pay more! Even 130 dollars. For a big one