Red Lobster

This location is very consistent. If you've been to red lobster you know what to expect. The only issues I had on my last visit was first being seated (I was part of a somewhat large group so it was to be expected) but was told an initial wait time of 20 minutes that turned into 40 without much updates or reasoning in the moment. My only other issue was with the time and quality of the drinks. It seemed as if only one person was tending the bar, which explained the slow service, but the drinks were not well balanced (two people got a lobster punch but one was much stronger than the other) other than that, my server was patient and helpful.

Let me start by saying that the food was definitely on point. I went this past Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 and ordered the special, steak and lobster. The steak was slightly overcooked ( I ordered medium well, it came out well down) Honestly the flavor was so good, I did not mind it, but the lobster was the true star of the dish, I could not believe how fresh and perfectly cooked it was, the Chef aced it. I would highly consider returning again in hopes it's just as consistent. I also ordered the stuffed mushrooms, again, well made, fresh and cooked perfectly, as well as a side of rice for ny daughter. Our Server Ely was outstanding! He was taking care of the full section, and still managed to be attentive, amicable, courteous and professional. So why only 4 stars? Unfortunately, the drinks/bartender were not up to par (that night) and neither was the female manager on staff. We ordered 2 beers, both of which came with a bit too much foam on the top, so it's ultimately less beer. The beer was fresh and enjoyable, but I did share with Ely my slight disappointment and instantly he offered a round on him, which was much appreciated of course. Close to the end of the meal, I decided to order one more round of beers, and the beers came back with the majority of foam. I really did not want complain, so I drank my beer and asked for the check. My family member was pretty upset and annoyed, so I offered to buy one more for her. Ely offered a to go cup, which was kind of him, however the beer came with so much foam it was like half the cup. My family member was really annoyed at this point bc I was pretty much paying for half empty cups, so I told her to ask the bartender if he can shave off the top, and top it off, which is what he should have been doing all along, but he refused apparently, stating he had already given her two beers for free! No, correction, we ordered 5 beers, and you gave us one beer each on the house, which more accurately was requested by our service and not by him. The manager had become involved (no, there was no scene, just a conversation/debate by the bar) and both the manager and my guest returned to the table. However, it was her tone and overall vibe/presence that was not polite in the least. She focused on the fact that we had already received a beer on the house, at which point it was explained by myself, and the server that we had ordered all our beers, including the one to go, and were not asking for free beer at all, it was a kind gesture to remedy the situation but I Was Paying! It was pretty upsetting, and a bit uncomfortable. Honestly, the way in which Ely spoke to us, the manner in which he handled the issue, and clarified the situation to his manager on our behalf shows that he has the skills, professionalism and work ethic to work with customers/guests on a higher level, and moreover Manage, as opposed to solely serve. This specific establishment should reevaluate how staff are equally trained to find positive solutions, as opposed to focus on loss of inventory..."You get more bees with honey"...and you maintain repeat customers, which are stronger in the long run, than people passing through, and make it a point not to return because of a bad experience. I have not decided if I'd return yet, as I stated the food was great, the Chef should be very proud, and our Server was impeccable. The bartender and the manager that night (around 6pm)... not so much. If I do return, I will post an update on my experience. Sorry for the lengthy explanation, but this specific case/rating/review warranted an explanation beyond the food was good or bad. I'm hoping it's read and addressed because I would very much like to return and, not only feel comfortable, but know that some simple things changed for the better.

The place was crowded and short staff. Our server seemed a bit overwhelmed. However, great management, she stepped in and made sure everything went well. We started with the fried calamari, and for our entres, we each had the endless shrimp. The new item on the menu, the entrees, Rangoon Shrimp, is very good. Crab stuffed shrimp, battered and fried with a fiery Asian sauce. It's very tasty. The shrimp scampi and grilled shrimp kebabs were a bit on the salty side, but squeeze some lemon, and it works out just fine. We skipped dessert to full off the endless shrimp. To drink, I tried the $5 wine special, a Cabrenet. For those who prefer something other than wine, try a $10 margarita Ove all a nice evening.

First time visiting this restaurant in the US and had a great experience. There was a 7-8 mints wait before we were seated. As soon as we sat down, we were handed the menus and in 2-3 mints we received a complimentary basket of cheddar bay biscuit. The biscuits were warm, crispy outside and soft inside. We had ordered the rainbow trout grilled fish and grilled lobster, shrimp and salmon. Both the main courses came with 2 sides which we choose as baked potato, fries, rice. They were out of coleslaw which we wanted as side. The food was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. Definitely will go back.