I remember being a kid when Red Lobster was considered fancy, and now it's basically a punchline

@Sigma_Male_Anti_Female

Ай бұрын

Your the only punchline here.

@ericmoses8281

Ай бұрын

​@@Sigma_Male_Anti_Female *You're

@tay2944

Ай бұрын

What years were this because I only remember it being a casual restaurant

@Sigma_Male_Anti_Female

Ай бұрын

@@ericmoses8281 🤓

@Woozlewuzzleable

Ай бұрын

@@Sigma_Male_Anti_Female Why is the internet full of angry people that feel the need to insult strangers?

Biggest issue with Red Lobster is the quality of the food went down and they didn't think people would notice for some reason. People ALWAYS notice eventually. Same thing has happened with places like Applebee's, Chilli's, and lots of other chains.

@dacypher22

Ай бұрын

All of these restaurants like Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Applebees, etc. have all been doing the same thing over the last 30 years. They are preparing more and more of the food in factories and shipping them out in bags to be microwaved to both take more advantage of economy of scale and to reduce the skill (and thus the pay) of kitchen staff. But that catches up with you sooner or later when the quality of your food is today dropping near fast food levels

@PicardoFamily11

Ай бұрын

Yup. Went to a Red Lobster in a pretty big city a year ago after not having been in a long time. Very disappointed with the quality and portions of the food. Everything was disappointing.

@auggie532

Ай бұрын

Agree, I decided to do endless shrimp to celebrate something recently after not going in 5+ years and every single piece of shrimp was either overcooked or tasted like shrimp I could just buy at walmart. Really disappointing.

@ducky19991

Ай бұрын

@@auggie532what did you think would be different about their shrimp vs Walmart bought shrimp? Genuine question

@VX-VAMAEBI78N1-MR-12

Ай бұрын

What about Arby's? Are they still good? Also Long John Silvers -- what do you folks think about them?

The funniest thing about this is that the biggest concern for most consumers about the biggest seafood chain going under is losing access to the biscuits.

@sammyk702

10 күн бұрын

Them cheddar biscuits are 🔥 I'm so glad we can buy em at the store

@MostHighEmperorPalpatine

8 күн бұрын

@@sammyk702 I bet you’d still be able to after the company goes under.

@pshaw8406

7 күн бұрын

And those you can make yourself

@Donnerjkks

5 күн бұрын

Those biscuits were so good.

I’m here three weeks later and red lobster has declared bankruptcy.

Those cheddar bay biscuits slap though

@bobbygermain9635

Ай бұрын

Absolutely!!!

@ChanOliverNash2010

Ай бұрын

That's the only good thing about Red Lobster in my opinion

@zacharythomas8617

Ай бұрын

Pst, there's a black market for them biscuits fresh. See Chicago.

@nebula0024

Ай бұрын

Depending on your location, you can buy boxes of Red Lobster biscuit mix from Costco (maybe other places too). You just need to add water, fresh cheese, butter, and bake them. Super yummy!

@Sig_P229

Ай бұрын

But they started selling them in the store. That makes actual red lobster worthless now

It seems that many places I used to consider “fancy” (Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc.) are proving to decline in quality for the sake of efficiency and profit margins

@bluegrassman3040

Ай бұрын

Lean inventory/manufacturing is the corporate religion these days…

@hifumibestgirl

Ай бұрын

Most restaurants, including those that are privately owned and operated, use ingredients of mediocre quality. I rarely eat out these days because I know that I can prepare high quality, tasty food at home for a lower price.

@ScottCleve33

Ай бұрын

Big box restaurants are over saturated. They all open up around malls, shopping centers and freeway exits. There's just not enough people to keep them all profitable. Especially with the resurgence of local neighborhood bars and pubs. Bars and pubs are no longer places to get drunk with the only food option being bags of chips clipped to a rack or rotisserie hot dogs. Most now are more like restaurants with full kitchens.

@bluegrassman3040

Ай бұрын

@@ScottCleve33 I prefer BBQ places, myself.

@ScottCleve33

Ай бұрын

@@bluegrassman3040 some of the best BBQ places are bars and pubs. I live in the north do we don't have a lot of good ones here. I just think that the chain restaurants are dying a slow death. A few will probably survive but most will not.

I remember as a kid in the early-to-mid 80s, my middle-class family considered Red Lobster to be a fancy place. I think it was because I remember Red Lobster's interior being more dimly-lit than other restaurants as opposed to the glaring fluorescent lights of more downmarket establishments such as fast food, and so in my mind even to this day, the darker a restaurant's interior is, the nicer I perceive it to be. Steak and Ale had similar lighting and so, to me, it was fancy!

@AuLily1

Ай бұрын

I noticed that eating by candlelight of the Advent Wreath at home prompted our children to behave even better at the table. After Christmas I started putting two tapers of the table for them each to make a wish and blow out after dinner.

@CrazyBear65

Ай бұрын

Steak & Ale _was_ a fancy joint. The waitresses wore skirts. I don't like dimly lit joints for food, I like to be able to actually see what I'm eating. Dim lighting is for bars, it's easier on drunk eyeballs.

@southrichmondtofl

Ай бұрын

Steak and Ale was still a fantastic place to eat when it closed near me!

@viktorakhmedov3442

Ай бұрын

Dark restaurants were huge in the 70s and early 80s. I wish they would bring them back. The music was also quiet enough you could actually hear people talk. I miss restaurants with smoking and non-smoking sections even though I never smoked. The smoke just added to the atmosphere. Just the way the dim can lights would shimmer off a big cloud of smoke some sexy lady blew your direction.

@anthonyrowland9072

Ай бұрын

Red Lobster was bougie back then. I never got to go there in it's heyday... Remember when Golden Coral wasn't gross garbage either?

And now bankruptcy has been filed

@HalifaxHercules

7 күн бұрын

Blame that on a Thai based seafood giant, Thai Union Group, and the toxic culture they created.

I’m surprised you didn’t mention the quality of the food. All of these chains that offer lobster, shrimp pastas, etc are charging top dollar and putting out overcooked laughable portions. They typically charge 25+ for a 7 dollar tail and roughly 6 shrimp with a pound of pasta. It isn’t worth the price. When I was younger I remember Red Lobster being packed and enjoying what I ate. The last few times I gave them a chance it was a long wait in an half empty restaurant for overpriced mediocre food.

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

Last time i gave red lobster a chance, they served me red clam chowder without informing me when i ordered clam chowder. It gave me a complex, for years i had to make sure i was getting new england clam chowder. Eventually, after being told yes everywhere for years, i no longer felt the need to ask. Talk about messing with kids... Its a seafood joint and they destroyed one of the few things a kid might like. Back then there were no cheddar biscuits i keep hearing about. No biscuit is worth me going there. If i want cheap seafood, california fish grill has my back with a nice ahi plate.

@j.g.3293

Ай бұрын

Red lobster and a lot of Italian places love doing that. They’ll give you a toddlers palm worth of salad shrimp over a mountain of pasta and charge you $20-30 for it

@WeAreASecret

Ай бұрын

@@brandonhoffman4712 You can buy the biscuit mix at most grocery stores now and just make em at home. It's pretty easy to do, no folding or anything required. Just mix in some cold butter chunks, throw it in the oven, and enjoy affordably!

@krisismav

Ай бұрын

The $7 tail is so real. I worked selling seafood for a while and was actually surprised how affordable it was. Just gotta make it yourself, but so worth it for the price. Made my boyfriend and I 2 lobster and scallop pasta dishes for a whopping $23 total (including lemons, herbs, and fixings)

@ShaunHensley

Ай бұрын

You have just described ALL chains and many family owned restaurants

When you increase prices, decrease quality of food and service, decrease portion size, and shift towards a more casual dining room appearance, you are destroying yourself. After our expectedly disappointing meal on Sunday, my girlfriend and I wondered how this company hasn’t declared bankruptcy yet; how timely this video is!

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

Well they have sea cockroach in the name, also their cooked color! Comon kids, lets go get some sea buggs! Lets all go to the, lobby. Lets all go the, lobby. Lets all go the the lobby! And get ourselves a bug...

@Zyzyx442

Ай бұрын

@@brandonhoffman4712 Huh, you're right arthropods are bugs. Been living in denial so I can eat crabs and lobster while looking down on people eating locusts. Oof, what's next fish are bugs too? fck this shit.

@charlottemcbrearty1849

Ай бұрын

​@@brandonhoffman4712funny thing is a hundred years ago lobster was considered trash unfit even for prison food. It's all about marketing.

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

@@charlottemcbrearty1849 actually it was prison food. At least the way i heard it! I trust any marketing department about as much as a psycho with a 🔪. Its one of the reasons i dont have an iphone or any other apple products.

@jayyates1676

Ай бұрын

Colin, you nailed it!

This really follows the iconic Company Man successful video formula: minutes 1-6: small business grows into beloved national staple minute 7: leveraged buyout minutes 8+: endless death spiral

@sor3999

Ай бұрын

Or constantly shifting ownership.

I can remember as a teenager back in the '70s Red Lobster would run coupons in the newspaper once in a while. My mom would cut out the coupon and our family of six would go out to eat somewhere nice. My mom wanted my sibs and I to try good seafood. My sister, though, the picky eater, wouldn't try any fish or seafood - she always ordered chicken something-or-other. We were always encouraged to order the Plentiful Platter where there was an assortment of seafood for us to try.

@KentKaliber

Ай бұрын

WOW those were days! The 70's and 80's were such a fun, vibrant time for FAMILIES! Today? What's a family? Mom glued to her cell phone while the kiddos stare at iPads. I'll pass.

@walterwhite1

24 күн бұрын

@@KentKaliber yes it’s all crap nowadays everything’s gone to shit

Feel like Red Lobster is just the latest walking the path of death of these casual chains (Fridays, OG, Unos, Chilis etc etc) where their basic frozen food and overpriced mid drinks used to be the standard but there's been a reawakening of actual restaurants that offer a higher quality that these chains just can't touch

@dacypher22

Ай бұрын

The entire concept of casual family restaurants is dying. Internet fluency and online reviews now help a quickly growing segment of the population find better, local restaurants for the same or even less money. They are going to have to do something radical to still exist in 20 years.

@TheCaptainSlappy

Ай бұрын

Well...let's find the irony here. McDonald's was the death of regular sit-down food, so now that garbage like Slappy Mac's is walking the death drain spiral, that means someone like Lobster can make a comeback if they split the difference of slightly higher prices, slightly smaller portions, far better food quality, actual humans working at the location that know what a lobster is and how to cook it, along with a focus on quality (location, etc.) and ease of access (as well as Long John's, being unique to themselves as a brand that has recognition). So basically, I am saying anything common sense won't ever occur with Lobster, because once the infestment scammers get ahold of these companies, they always destroy them and make a run for it. People are wisely rolling around to being customers that want better quality, with speed being something they can fidget around and live with, along with not having to work as an employee at a McDonald's to be overcharged for doing the work of a cashier. Walmart is learning the same thing, as people wisely go somewhere else, cheaper, and just skip working for them as an employee/cashier as a customer...just use Amazon or Ebay. Save yourself the time and trip, since it's always in stock, you always know where it is, and you can shop anytime.

@woodduck2178

Ай бұрын

​@@TheCaptainSlappyMcDonald's is still as successful as ever while places like Red Lobster are collapsing. Whatever argument you are trying to make here is just wrong.

@charliezelaya8330

Ай бұрын

I disagree with chilis. They still offer good food, good atmosphere at a good price

@Aliens1337

Ай бұрын

@@TheCaptainSlappyMcDonald’s market cap in the 2000s were $20B. Their market cap is $200B in 2024. You’re in a “McDonald bad” echo chamber. The reality does not reflect your bias.

What happened is they sell those cheddar biscuits at stores that you can freshly bake yourself, so there's no reason to go.

@whiskeybravo91

Ай бұрын

I came here to say this, legit don't think I've been back there since I found out you could buy them at the store, I even found some "cheddar bay coated shrimp" that slaps hard so why bother ever going back lol

@chewycenter

Ай бұрын

I didn't know this But no joke, that could cause a significant drop in traffic.

@SYIBOI

Ай бұрын

Yeah but the frozen ones aren't nearly as good!

@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley

Ай бұрын

​@@SYIBOI At Walmart, I've seen the mixture packets in the bakery aisle, so you just add whatever else is needed (milk or water, butter, etc) and then the packet and there's your batter.

@xtremeyoylecake

Ай бұрын

Yeah :( Those were the whole reason I liked Red Lobster

Company just filed for bankruptcy today. I’m sure another investor will buy it again. Their cheddar biscuits were amazing, but seafood was lacking.

I know exactly what happened. I used to take my family to Red Lobster. I loved the biscuits. Service went to crap. 30 minute wait times to get order taken. No refreshing of drinks. Once you order, it took an hour to get cold food.

@penepoynter9057

Ай бұрын

Same thing happened to us at Texas Road House. Took for ever to get our food and then my wifes meal was cold as was my mash potatoes. We fussed at the manager and he took my wifes meal off the check ( she didn't eat it) and he apologized, but it was terrible and we have not been back.

@BuB2181

22 күн бұрын

Wait times are so high now bc management doesn't staff for business. We get 1 employee to run the whole kitchen, from prep to plate 1 employee, no raises bc they lost all that money. Garbage corporation.

@SubZer00fucksgiven

11 күн бұрын

They don't allow much staff to work bc either. It's pretty impossible to serve a lunch shift with 3 line ppl

My dad refuses to go to Red Lobster. Not because of anything they did; my grandma racked up a $100 bill once 20 years ago and he refuses to go back out of spite

@CollinMacQuarrie

Ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@Sandi-ke9mi

Ай бұрын

That sounds like something my father would’ve done. They must’ve been of the same generation, lol. 🙌🏻😂

@MarsMellow84

Ай бұрын

Sounds like something my dad would do 😂

@yeetyboigottem

Ай бұрын

someone explain???

@charlottemcbrearty1849

Ай бұрын

​@yeetyboigottem it's really not that hard to rack up a massive bill there depending on what you order but it's not like the prices aren't right there on the menu. Fresh fish might just say "market price" as it's subject to seasonal availability but you can just ask.

As a former manager of our local Red Lobster, the split from Darden was initially viewed as a huge boone. Darden had always leveraged Chef Mike (thats a microwave) as much as possible, and after the change in leadership we were able to put in boiler stations, saute stations, and really made the food fesh and higher quality. However putting all these upgrades in all the stores, re-training entire kitchen staff and management, and the errors that happened after the change caused a huge hit to the company.

@freethebirds3578

Ай бұрын

Darden was boycotted, but it wasn't a loud, obnoxious protest. Darden is a corporate sponsor of Planned Parenthood, and many people decided to go somewhere else with the after-church lunch bunch. I was happy when Darden sold Red Lobster, but it turned out we still don't want to go there.

@emghee2510

Ай бұрын

I wonder why company man didn't hit on this point. Maybe it's not public knowledge? I went to Red Lobster maybe 17-18 years ago when I was still a kid with my parents. Aside from the biscuits (which are overrated imho), the food was really bland and looked 100% microwaved. For what it was, it was expensive even back then. I looooove seafood but NEVER saw Red Lobster as an option. The RL I went to the first and last time was shut down and is now a Korean BBQ restaurant and cocktail lounge. 😂

@timhazeltine3256

Ай бұрын

​@@freethebirds3578Yes, I know what you mean about boycotting. I boycott Cracker Barrel for their ra--cm

@boballmendinger3799

Ай бұрын

In the 80's I loved Red Lobster, particularly the Admiral's Feast and the Neptune platter. The last two times I've eaten there in Columbus OH, the food was awful. I have no desire to go back.

@sor3999

Ай бұрын

@@freethebirds3578 Highly doubt it was anything direct. Probably a Chik Fil-A thing where it was a donor of a donor of a donor. Following that logic, we're all guilty of war crimes.

Red Lobster is one of those places where when you leave, you say, "That's the last time go to that place". It's been terrible for the past 20 years. A friend told me that the food is basically all pre-made (like hospital dinners) and then microwaved when ordered.

@Ninnjette-

Ай бұрын

I love Red Lobster, I just get crab legs. They always bring me little cups of vinegar if I ask, I love it. We don’t get to go much though, unfortunately.

@thomcarr7021

Ай бұрын

@@Ninnjette- There aren't many things easier to make than crab legs. You can even make their rolls at home. And it's just as good if not better for less than half.

@Ninnjette-

Ай бұрын

@thomcarr7021 I know how to make them lol You just boil them, not everyone can get them. I live in the country near the appalachian mountains, we have a grocery store here that has them frozen but they are not good and they are $33 for a cluster.. Yeah a cluster. I can go to Red Lobster, and get 3 clusters for $22 and someone does it for me. We just don't get to go there much, because it's 50 minutes away.

@thomcarr7021

Ай бұрын

@@Ninnjette- If you drive 50m to Red Lobster, that shows there's something wrong with you.

@isaacscott1063

Ай бұрын

That’s exactly what I said last summer

Growing up in rural South Dakota in the 80s and 90s, a trip to town for Red Lobster was a huge deal. It's sad to see what's happening.

My most recent trip to Red Lobster was in August of last year. The short version of my story: they hadn't had any crab crackers since March so my mom couldn't eat her meal. The margarita I got was salty, like, they put salt in the drink. There was a fight in the kitchen that got physical, and the one cook walked out. There were no regular waiters. The only employees there were a bartender and the manager, who both had to wait tables and make the food.

@BlueJay6441

Ай бұрын

Wow, that is really bad

@prairiedoggy1

Ай бұрын

Uh, they usually put salt on the rim of a Margarita glass…".

@SharpAssKnittingNeedles

Ай бұрын

Mostly sounds like a standard retail food operation 😂 they were prolly all coked outta their minds. But I am genuinely curious why the crab crackers are so vital 🤔 what is a crab cracker?

@Kevin-yh9yt

Ай бұрын

@@SharpAssKnittingNeedles A metal device that.....wait...youre kidding, right?

@SharpAssKnittingNeedles

Ай бұрын

@@Kevin-yh9yt I thought she meant crab-flavored crackers 😂 thank you for reminding me of the tool to open the bugs' carapaces. Good lerd English is a terrible language 🤣

I remember back to business school, and all the case studies we would do on business failures, like these videos (which I love) so much time and effort and analysis is put into everything EXCEPT the most simple, obvious, in-your-face explanation... THE FOOD JUST SUCKS! You don't need marketing studies, cash infusions, rebranding, changes in leadership, you just need to make the food not suck.

@c0rnd0g_19

Ай бұрын

Exactly. Nobody wants your fried/microwaved BS anymore. We can tell.

@mairhart

Ай бұрын

Making the food not suck requires changing the menu, drastically upgrading the food sourcing and the kitchen equipment, and hiring better chefs, all of which are costly unless you raise prices that are already too high.

@tate6809

Ай бұрын

@@mairhart You're right, maybe it's best they stick with overpriced garbage, its working fine so far, right? (sarcasm)

@WarriorofCathar

29 күн бұрын

​@@mairhartwhy do you think the food sucked? It didn't magically happen. No one flipped a switch from good to shit. It sucked because they cut costs, corners and quality. The menu may have stayed the same but what they served definitely changed and not for the better.

@mairhart

28 күн бұрын

@@WarriorofCathar Precisely. My point was that it's very difficult and costly to make food "not suck" once it reaches the suck point -- and I agree there is no chance that Red Lobster will turn anything around. They have never shown the desire or the massive financial commitment.

Former Olive Garden employee here. Everything you said is true. We were also owned by Darden for the longest time, during my years of service. I miss those times!

it's crazy to consider how rapid the decline in quality was for my local Red Lobster. We used to go constantly (every other week) up until around 6 years ago. Since my last dining experience, I wouldn't step foot in there. Dirty dishes, long waits, bad customer service and poor food quality leaving a literal bad taste in my mouth.

It’s really interesting. When I was younger, it was one of the most fancy restaurants in our town. It was the best place to go on a fancy date. I actually had quite a few dates there. But I think that Fancy dining places that were more affordable started to get more casual. And people didn’t really see it as a fancy place anymore.

@shaynewheeler9249

13 күн бұрын

😢😮😢😢😢😢

@jocelynsmyth6604

Күн бұрын

I think that's part of the problem too - people used to want to maybe go somewhere a little nicer, as a treat. I'm Canadian, so culturally we're a bit different than Americans, but if I'm budgeting for a treat and want something nicer, I don't want to be in an overly casual, loud, slobby place, which happened to a lot of the Red Lobsters

The best part of every Wednesday: Watching a Company Man video

@SimuLord

Ай бұрын

It's the halftime show of the workweek. 20 hours down, 20 to go.

A few years ago, I was at a small town in northern Ohio on a small trip and a friend of mine suggested that we go to their local Red Lobster. Not long after I ate there, I started to feel really lethargic and then I started vomiting and was sick for the next several days. If there’s anything certain in my life, it’s that I will NEVER go to Red Lobster again.

@SueP-D

25 күн бұрын

I was waiting for this comment. I have known SO MANY PEOPLE that have gotten food poisoning there. One time a friend told me she and her husband were going to go to Red Lobster that evening for dinner. I said, “you mean Diarrhea Lobster?” And…. you guessed it - they both ended up with food poisoning. 😂

@CentralKentuckyElevators

25 күн бұрын

@@SueP-D The one in Marion near the Warren G. Harding museum?

@SueP-D

25 күн бұрын

@@CentralKentuckyElevators It wasn’t even in Ohio! I believe it’s ALL Red Lobsters 😅 This was one in North Carolina back in the 90s. A long time ago, yes, but enough of my friends got sick there that I wasn’t going to chance it! We have one near me (I’m in California now) and every time I drive by it I chuckle and say “no way!” 😂.

I think an additional problem (at least in costal communities) is that there’s usually a better local place at both the higher end and the lower. I can name 3 different places in my town that I’d go to before I’d go to Red Lobster (and I don’t even really like seafood!)

@rokusho6667

7 күн бұрын

I’m in the PNW and can get lobster tail for as much as 9.99 and as little as 4.50 a tail. And it’s easy to make in an oven. Why would I ever go to red lobster for frozen lobster that feeds one for the same price I could host a dinner for.

in an age where companies are expected to have infinite growth and just staying at one, respectable size is considered "failing", the idea of the company staying itself to serve its existing customer base is unfortunately very unlikely, even if it's most likely the best outcome and the one least likely to put them out of business

@Canleaf08

Ай бұрын

infinite growth is not that possible anymore, it is bound to ressources.

@devonwilliams5738

Ай бұрын

There's so many companies that could probably do just that and remain in business for decades, if not centuries.

@sor3999

Ай бұрын

If you require infinite growth, then that's just a Ponzi/pyramid scheme.

@FullLengthInterstates

Ай бұрын

​@@devonwilliams5738 not if they're beholden to external shareholders and have a fiduciary duty to spend profits on growth/ dividends/ buybacks. if its a private company with the goal of living forever they could simply hoard cash to get through tough times.

@ScottCleve33

Ай бұрын

There's an over saturation of these chain restaurants around every mall, shopping center and freeway exit. There's not enough people to keep them profitable. Meanwhile bars and pubs are no longer places to get drunk. Most are now closer to home, have a full kitchen and have just as good a food at a better price.

Honestly my perspective is as a Mainer. There's no Red Lobster here, for the same reason that McDonalds' terrible idea of "McLobster Rolls" was never sold here. In this state specifically anything you want from a Red Lobster you can get from a local seafood shack for half the price sitting on a gorgeous view by the coast. We'd probably find it offensive to be serves frozen african lobster tails when 20 minutes down the coast you could get the whole bug caught same day

@JL-sm6cg

Ай бұрын

I remember the McLobster Roll. I had one, but laughed my ass off that this would only happen in Maine. Lol

@telecatsermaster

Ай бұрын

I hear ya, but imagine you live in a land-locked state….. like idaho or north dakota…. Red lobster would be different for you then…..

@bjkarana

Ай бұрын

Ayuh, there's just no apples to apples comparison between the frozen "meh" that Red Lobster sells and fresh-off-the-boat catch of the day.

@DavidLLambertmobile

Ай бұрын

I live in Orlando.gov which has Darden Restaurants, Red Lobster HQ 🦞 . Red Lobster the chain isn't "bad" but the business, chain did a "re fresh" remodel in the 2010s. 2014 2015 era. Was it good? 🤷🏻‍♂️ I think RL uses way too much butter 🧈.

@samwill7259

Ай бұрын

@@bjkarana I tend to balk at any method of cooking lobster more complex than "Boil it and throw it at me."

Raise prices, reduce costs (reduce quality) and increase/change marketing campaign. These are only things Darden knows how to do.

Red Lobster was definitely a premium, fancy dining experience from my perspective growing up. Went again in 2018 for the first time in a solid decade and was terribly disappointed 🤮

@Lewi1Life

27 күн бұрын

Prices went up and food went drastically down. Feels stupid going in for biscuits and nothing else 🤣

I ate at a ton of suburban chain sit-down restaurants in the 90s. Back then, if you were in your early 20s, you could even take a date there without it being the lamest thing imaginable. Fast forward to 2014, when my then-girlfriend and I ended up at Olive Garden on a Sunday afternoon and she joked "Is this what our relationship has come to?" I said "Yup. Two people in their 30s at Olive Garden. We've officially become boring." I think Red Lobster suffers that same problem of perception among younger people.

@SimuLord

Ай бұрын

@@MBKindell I learned in 2009 that I make a terrible husband. I learned this from my ex-wife's divorce lawyer. Once was one time too many.

@sor3999

Ай бұрын

I think it is less about younger people, but they are more prone to trend chasing. The restaurant business is all about the newest and trendiest place to go: overhyped places on Instagram usually. Your ex's comment pretty much validates that. If you are an older millennial, you sometimes just want a change of pace or try something new. For Gen Z, Red Lobster might as well be new to them.

CEO of 10 years “retires “ New CEO starts and almost immediately quits to work for Denny’s. Takes a YEAR to find another new CEO. Ya. This has been building for a while.

@charlockprime

Ай бұрын

When you quit ANYTHING to go work for Denny's, you know something's up. 🤣

@ZMCFERON

Ай бұрын

When 3 am parking lot gang violence is better than a seafood joint, something got messed up

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

I quit a Dennys once, they wouldnt bring the bill, so we left 1 by 1 over about 5 minutes. That was back when a grand slam was still $1.99! Dennys tries to be too fancy for me now. They need to stop refurbishing themselves and lower prices. When i go to dennys i want to feel like i stepped into a used car lot and know im gonna get a steal of a deal!

@horseathalt7308

Ай бұрын

@@brandonhoffman4712 "1.99 are you outta your mind!" Still love that ad...

The covid killed RL in my town. It used to be packed every night, and now you struggle to know if it's even open because there are no cars in the parking lot. I haven't eaten at RL in probably a decade. Feels like every "sit down" corporate chain restaurant has gone downhill for the sake of profits rather than happy employees who make happy customers.

I was a kid, my family went there as a treat! I still go there now and then. Well, my city still has all of ours: Cincinnati.

I used to love going to Red Lobster when I was a kid in the 70s/80s. But, now it's been over 30 years since the last time I was there. I think it's mostly because it's rather expensive for what you get. And I make the Cheddar Bay Biscuits myself at home.

@Laz3rCat95

Ай бұрын

They sell the mix for it in grocery stores too.

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

Overgrown sea bugs... Meh. The sea can keep those foul beasts. I used to consider them a delicacy, until i saw them for what they really are. I vastly prefer evolved dinosaur, in fact ima go brine my chicken right now! Ill still eat crab though. Since life keeps evolving into crabs, its like tasting the final form! "So long, and thanks for all the fish" - the dolphins in hitchikers guide to the galaxy

I quit going when it wasn't a good value anymore. Use to get the Ultimate Feast for about $25-$29 and it was 3 very large plates of food just pack to the edges. Last time I went their was the late 2000's and I order this as I always do. It was over $30 and only one plate, smaller, that wasn't very packed at all.... I could see the bottom of the plate in several places. When I left, I went across the street to a Taco Bell to get a 5 Layer Burrito to get filled up.

@Applezauxe

Ай бұрын

it's $40 now 😭 and you can't get CYO anymore

@stephaniern33

Ай бұрын

It's 46 near me

@knightwing1800

Ай бұрын

Shrink-flation

This is awkward. I was going to Red Lobster for dinner today, but the store we were going to was shut down due to the bankruptcy. So we instead decided to go to a different restaurant that we really loved the bread at: Olive Garden

Red Lobster used to be a fun place to go. The local restaurant in my area, though, is very "tired." The physical building is worn and has lost any luster. The parking lot and grounds are not well maintained. They renovated inside several years ago, but the look and atmosphere seem stuck in the early 2000s, there's no energy from workers or customers. Quite honestly, it seems like many people are there for the cheddar bay biscuits, and after that, they plod through the process of ordering and eating a ho-hum dinner. Really quite sad. I'm not a regular customer anymore.

@CollinMacQuarrie

Ай бұрын

I agree; it is the same here in Owensboro Kentucky.

My mother had a bad experience at Red Lobster over a decade ago...the family hasn't been back since. Don't upset the mom or your business will fail. My mom even learned how to make the biscuits so us boys would stop asking to eat there. Moms are great ❤

Wow.. you nailed this one. Three weeks after the video posts they are on the brink!

Honestly, Red Lobster has been kind of like the best "comfort food" type of business to go to. It's dependable, reliable, the food has almost always been good and cooked to order. Every time I've been there the staff has always been great. It would make me very sad to see this place close. I know that typically a business has to change to stay relevant and keep people coming back, but for me knowing what to expect when I go there is one of the main reasons I go.

@naomitims4521

14 күн бұрын

I have the exact feelings about it. I mean when I go there I know I’m not getting 5 star cuisine but basic straight forward inexpensive tasty seafood. I’ve always liked it and would be sad to see it go.

@vulcanraven9701

4 күн бұрын

Same. The crab linguini alfredo & biscuits are very good. I've never had an entree or appetizer that i considered bad either. Hopefully they remain open

I went to Red Lobster about a month ago. For the quality of the food it was way overpriced. I even think I heard one of the waitress talking about the place shutting down

@ebonimom6964

Ай бұрын

I didn't know this was a nationwide issue. Last few times I went, food quality was very poor. I assumed it was just lazy cooks slacking. I didn't know that was the new norm

"Boy pull up your pants this isn't Red Lobster"

@AngelCakez

Ай бұрын

I read that in Grandpa Brandon Roger's voice lol

@TheOldFartGamer

Ай бұрын

excuse my ignorance can you explain that joke?

@KGBSpyGeorgeCostanza

Ай бұрын

@@AngelCakez lmao glad somebody got that reference

@KGBSpyGeorgeCostanza

Ай бұрын

@@TheOldFartGamer it's a joke from a funny youtuber who makes skits, and that joke just means how red lobster is a place full of dirty people ya know

@nine9sixSPS

Ай бұрын

I don't know the material, but that's hilarious.

Since I’m an at-home chef most of the time, let me throw my two cents on Red Lobster and fast casual dining. I used to eat at Red Lobster a long time ago, but honestly it’s easier to cook my favorite seafood dishes at home and comes out much better than anything Red Lobster could ever make. I’d rather spend the money buying fresh seafood than paying for it at Red Lobster, and that’s really why I don’t even eat out anymore, I’d rather spend the money I’d waste on eating out at the grocery store and just make it myself. With all that’s going on in the restaurant business, high prices, smaller portions, wait staff demanding higher tips that cost as much as the meal you order now(seriously?), going out is just simply not a pleasurable, fun experience anymore. It’s costly and aggravating, and I want nothing to do with it. Trust me when I say learning to cook at home and on a higher level than restaurants, you won’t look back to places like Red Lobster, they’ll just be in the rear view mirror and get further and further away, you might remember it from time to time, but in the end I think Red Lobster will just be a distant memory.

I'm nearly 70 and have been a small eater all my life. The last time I ate at Red Lobster I grabbed a snack on my way home. Servings were so small I didn't get enough to feel my hunger was far from satisfied.

Red Lobster restaurants are very dependent upon who’s running each particular location. There are some really good ones out there.

@DavidLLambertmobile

Ай бұрын

I'd say that is based on a number of factors: community, mgmt, education-personality of staff, vendors-sources.

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

Meh. Havent been there in so long my bad experience is basically a long lost memory. Ill go ahead and keep it that way.

@petershen6924

Ай бұрын

I went to the Red Lobster in Japan, excellent food and service. But the ones in U.S. are horrible and expensive.

@jujuu1339

Ай бұрын

Unfortunately mine has a big GRADE C sanitary inspection sign + a risk of fire notice.

@Bishounen

Ай бұрын

@@petershen6924 going to a red lobster in japan is kinda pointless though like there's literally every other option for seafood

The last Red Lobster left remotely near me only serves the unlimited shrimp only on mondays now and instead of being $19.95, like it was five months ago, now it is $27.95. That is a huge price increase.

@catw6998

Ай бұрын

Only 5 months ago, it went up that much? That sucks.

@Already100

Ай бұрын

Yeah, just imagine the huge quantity increase that dumps and into peoples bellies😂🎉😅

@Philippinesbound42

Ай бұрын

Last time I went it was 14.99. In 2021. It wasn’t worth that price then. Shrimp isn’t that expensive

@IliadDreyfus-js9oe

Ай бұрын

That's government spending ruining your money, vote better or stfu

@Applezauxe

Ай бұрын

it was endless everyday for a YEAR it was originally only on mondays. the price increase is from fat fucks who stayed for hours. - red lobster employee

Red Lobster, Chili's and a lot of the similar chains haven't understood the market in a long time.

It is important to note that Golden Gate made stores sell the land they were on, which added a ton of new debt in the form of lease payments

I don't blame Company Man for fixating on those Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

@AnalyticalMenace

Ай бұрын

It's honestly the best thing they've got going for them. Their "seafood" is about as authentic as the "Italian" food is at Olive Garden.

@phoenix5054

Ай бұрын

Pfp thief! Jk. I think you're like the 6th or so person I see sharing this.

I think your predictable experience is a good summary. I got to Red Lobster once or twice per year. But it's like $175 for my family to go. It's unreal how expensive it is. Couple that with the menu is like always the same shy of a dish or two and it's just sort of "yeah that was good but I don't want to go back". Seems like everything is deep fried or soaked in butter too. Like others have said, I'd rather just make the biscuits at home from the official mix which is surprisingly faithful to the restaurant version

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

I havent been there in so long i dont remember biscuits, not sure they had them in the 90's...

@emghee2510

Ай бұрын

​@@brandonhoffman4712they're not that great. I don't know why people love that slop.

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

@@emghee2510 ahh okay. It does give me ideas on making my own cheesy garlig bread. 95% sure it would taste better too. I recently mastered home made mac and cheese. Its so easy! I do 50/50 extra sharp white cheddar and gruyere (pronounced gru-yeree or gru-yeray) making the roux is the trickiest part and is still ez/pz. Melt the butter, toss in the flour 1:1 ratio. Stir for a minute until it smells good, if it smells bad you went too far, but i never have. Stir in milk, stir continually until it feels thick like a sauce. Remove from heat, add cheese, salt, and pepper. I add fresh nutmeg and any one of my crazy chili powders like hebanero, scotch bonnet, or moruga scorpion powder (from sonoran spice company). My one recommendation would be to not try and brown the butter, it will make things weird, i put in the flower as soon as the butter is melted. If you prep your ingredients, you can start the sauce when you drop the noodles in the water, it will all finish around the same time. If you need time after straining noodles, add a little olive oil to them. Ingredients for 1 serving (sized for a side dish) 1oz cheddar 1oz gruyere 1tbsp butter 1tbsp flour 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup macaroni To taste: Salt Fresh cracked pepper (i stand by a 4 pepper meddley) fresh pepper is a game changer in the kitchen. Nutmeg Chili powder (from 0-crazy hot, you choose) paprika can add a sweetness if desired, test as you like. I do 2 servings if its all im eating. Wanna go nuts? Try making bacon too! Make it crispy and form into bacon bits, then use 1Tbsp bacon grease instead of butter! You could call it the baconator of mac and cheese!

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

Ohh and costco is the only place i would buy the gruyere on the norm. $10/lb @ costco, $20/lb or so outside costco. Its insane cheese though! It has become my favorite cracker cheese. Its the kind of cheese that has those tiny hard crystalized tasty bits, which ive found out are protiens. Its similar to cheddar in hardness, maybe a tiny bit harder, and has a noticeable funk to it. The ima give you bad breath, but your gonna like it kind of thing. It adds a dynamic in the mac and cheese that really elevates it. Though my family still likes a full cheddar mac and cheese too.

30 years ago, when I was a patrolman with the Florida Marine Patrol, I was stunned with Red Lobsters menu, but served, in some cases, the food you get is not the item you believe you ordered. When I ordered scallops, its was not scallops. But scallops was not the only mystery food.

@monkeystank5241

26 күн бұрын

Follow up, I requested the manager and advised him that what I ordered is not scallops. He told me this is what they send him when he orders. I asked if he is seriously sticking to that story. He didn't charge me for my meal proving his guilt.

Red Lobster used to be more of an upscale place and in recent years, the type of people that go there are pretty trashy and treat it like a chuckie cheez buffet. Food is still fine but service needs to step it up a little.

My husband and I go to our local Red Lobster a few times a year, and although we like the food, we can't help noticing the gradual decrease of customers over the last several years and the climbing prices. We visited two Saturdays ago and there were hardly any customers there; they used to have crowds of people waiting for tables! Our location has been around for decades; I would hate to see it close.

Not enough Cheddar Biscuits for this conversation.

@MentalLiberation

Ай бұрын

And they wonder why there's a decline....

We went to a Red Lobster in Florida not too long ago and wow... the carpet was worn, the furniture was beat, clearly not enough staff, and we had to keep changing our order because items we were requesting weren't in stock that day.

Red Lobster was always a treat as a kid, it's where we'd ask to go for birthdays. I still enjoy it now and then, there aren't any good seafood places around here. Plus yes, the biscuits.

Doesn't surprise me. The quality and portion size has decreased dramatically, the prices have nearly doubled. Turns out customers are smarter than you think.

Red Lobster was the place our family would go to "celebrate" we werent poor but not quite upper middle so it did seem fancy. My mom mentioned the menu and rising prices changed

My wife and I ate at RL about 2 weeks ago. The portions were smaller and the service was fair. I was recovering from two surgeries and that was my daily wish. May not go back anytime soon. Very disappointed.

Been working at red lobster for years, and being the only 1 in town, we always have good business

I'll say this much. Red Lobster is the first restaurant I pass when leaving Huntsman in SLC every few weeks. I'm not usually hungry after treatment but that Wednesday steak and lobster dinner is my high point when traveling to Utah. It's a lot of protein and easy to eat in the hotel. Cancer sucks but Red Lobster helps me through it 😂

@penepoynter9057

Ай бұрын

Cancer does suck

One of the many major restaurants I've never once been to. I personally LOVE dine-in restaurants man. They're my favorites by far, and I can't quite describe or put my finger on what it is about the experience that is so satisfying and wonderful to enjoy. But I truly do love it.

I remember seeing so many commercials as a kid. It didn't last in my province aka British Columbia, Canada. My mom knew one existed and it closed down and it was too far away for us to even try it out. Never been and still haven't

I haven’t eaten at a Red Lobster in almost 30 years. No desire to break that streak.

@DavidLLambertmobile

Ай бұрын

You're not missing much! 🦞 . The chain had a re-fresh, upgrade in mid 2015 or so. Staff went to all black ⚫️, new menu designs, new features. I myself rarely ate at RL. Maybe during AYCE 🍤 deals.

@brandonhoffman4712

Ай бұрын

I dont know how long its been for me. At least 20-25 though. Red chowder... GFY.

@jumboJetPilot

Ай бұрын

About 25 or so years for me. I thought it was terrible and so I haven’t been back.

@droe1021

Ай бұрын

Red Lobster Cal Ripken.

red lobster in the 90s...top tier Red lobster now....Captain D's

@anthonyrowland9072

Ай бұрын

Captain D's slaps tho.

@myishenhaines1706

Ай бұрын

I went there a lot in the 90s!

@lpwienert7358

Ай бұрын

Captain D's isn't captain D's anymore...fish nuggets. Smdh

@thelastnotary

Ай бұрын

@@lpwienert7358 Captain D's is now just like Gortons fish sticks

Coming back here two weeks later after my local Red Lobster closed ( I never did get to use my reward and it's expiring in three days and I don't have time to drive 50 miles to my nearest one within that time frame) and paying closer attention to what's led to their decline according to this video. Sounds like basically Golden Gate Capital added a ton of debt that has crippled the company and Red Lobster hasn't been able to successfully bring in enough profits to offset that debt. Endless Shrimp was supposed to be that offset but it ended up hurting the company even more, which leads us to this impending bankruptcy. I guess we can just hope and pray that this works for them and that the bankruptcy doesn't turn into a full-blown liquidation. That would be one extremely sad day.

I absolutely love this channel. It has it all. It's informative, entertaining, and I love the wholesome, real narration you provide. I hate the stupid A.I. narration that plagues KZread these days. Also, your videos are always just the right length. Not too long, not too brief, just informative at a breezy pace. Keep up the fantastic work, Company Man.

My wife and I went to RL for dinner once almost 30 years ago. We thought the price was high, the food disappointing, and the service underwhelming. That was our first and last time at that restaurant.

I think Red Lobster should play into the idea that people think this is a fancy restaurant and make it have more opulence but keep the appeal of why everyone loves it. Red Lobster is one of the few chains that I thoroughly enjoy because the food has quality to it.

Every time I go by a Red Lobster the parking lot is packed. Hard to believe they’re doing this poorly.

Perfect timing. I watched this and two weeks later the Red Lobster in my town closed with a days notice

Just an anecdote, but the last time I was there, we waited 30 minutes for our wait person to even hand us a menu. The place was basically empty; she wasn't busy. She would walk right by us without even glancing in our direction. That was about 6 years ago, and I've never been back.

@sampetrie340

Ай бұрын

I had the same experience at the Tallahassee Red Lobster, except I didn’t get as far as being seated. Waited at the front desk for several minutes in a mostly empty restaurant while being seen but ignored by staff. I walked away.

@CrazyBear65

Ай бұрын

I would've gotten up and walked the hell out after the second time she ignored me.

I used to eat at Red Lobster in my youth in the 80's/90's... loved that place and I miss it sometimes.

@chiquita683

Ай бұрын

Sizzlers slapped in the 80s and 90s

@charlockprime

Ай бұрын

It was an entirely different experience, back then.

@DavidLLambertmobile

Ай бұрын

I'm 53. RL as a casual dining chain 1980s 1990s was MUCH different. Food was made by staff, chef 👨🏼‍🍳 not dumped out of a frozen bag & into a kitchen microwave. Portions were decent size. Waiters, staff were friendly, well trained.

I know our local Red Lobster (central IL) has staffing issues because my mom and I went for lunch once, and we were told that we would have to wait to be seated until the other waitress got there and clocked in. We waited for 10-15 mins and then decided to go elsewhere.

As a lifelong Mainer, we used to have RL locations, but by the late 90s they were all gone. Because we are the ultimate lobster state and we know what real good seafood is supposed to taste like. And I love it!

I’m so glad Company Man made an episode about Red Lobster. I haven’t been there since having a completely TERRIBLE service maybe 10 years ago, so this entire franchise six feet under to me.

@nicholaslogan6840

Ай бұрын

Not going to a chain restaurant over bad service is like not going to the gas station because the prices were too high

@dominic64tblightning24

Ай бұрын

​@@nicholaslogan6840how?

@klax001

Ай бұрын

Holding a grudge for over a decade because you had a bad waitress at a single location 😂

@christopherthibeault7502

Ай бұрын

@@klax001 I know, right? Sometimes, it happens. While you don't get a second chance at making a first impression, it's not like the first impression is the only impression that ever was.

@DavidLLambertmobile

Ай бұрын

I'm 53 & would eat at Orlando.gov area RLs maybe 2x a year. Orlando FL has the main corp HQ. 🦞 is decent but for the $, I'd prefer to eat in a local place, local owned that a big chain.

Last year Red Lobster had a pretty decent ad campaign and the thought they might have last ever Lobster deals is sad. Speaking of Bankruptcy the 99 cents only store actually showed a closing soon sale ad recently.

Podcasters and stand-up comedians describe certain places they are taken to to demonstrate to the audience how someone really was dismissive of them and how they were a very low priority. Red lobster has earned its way into the list of their go-to places to name drop.

I knew “bottomless buckets of crab” wasn’t going to end well

@jenbunny1984

29 күн бұрын

😂😂😂

I hope they stick around. I always saw their ads on TV when I was a kid, but never got to go. Now that I'm an adult, I've only been there a couple times and still have more of their menu to explore!

I worked at RL during the later Darden years and I’ve gotta say they were a great company to work for. From the time I walked in to the time I walked out I really enjoyed my 2.5 years there. And we were a test restaurant so I’d frequently get to enjoy new menu options. Not a bad gig for a 25 year old looking for a change. Lol

My girl and I went into the Colrain Ohio Red Lobster last Saturday. We stood at the host station for over ten minutes, every visible employee saw us, made eye contact, and not one greeted or acknowledged us. We just decided to go elsewhere, and won't be back. (Went to McAllister's, had a great dinner :)

Great video as always. I'm 46 and when I was a kid, red lobster was considered high class dining. My son enjoyed eating there but whenever I was in their restaurant I always felt like it was the same. Like they never modernized the restaurant or the menu. But you're right on those cheddar bay biscuits, delicious!!!

Have been going to red lobster off and on for many years, usually always for shrimpfest. Everything is true, it's the same experience each time, and I love it each time.

I still love their biscuits; fun fact, you can get Red Lobster biscuit mix at the grocery store. Their to-go at my location has been better lately than what I remember when I tried it once many years before curonah.

Chains are dying due to stagnation and the lack of people subscribing to cable TV where commercials lived.

Once I realized shoprite had lobster way cheaper I could make at home. It was a rap. The biscuits too. Game over

KZread gave me an ad for Red Lobster on a video on why Red Lobster sucks. Hilarious

@kurtw6922

Ай бұрын

But you HAVE heard of them!

@djtks2119

Ай бұрын

@@kurtw6922 they used AI music in the video apparently. Let’s not celebrate this as even a small win.

@emghee2510

Ай бұрын

This is the universe trying to tell you to stay dafuq away. 😂

@donkeysaurusrex7881

Ай бұрын

Red Lobster doesn’t suck.

@djtks2119

Ай бұрын

@@donkeysaurusrex7881 they microwave half their meals. Lobster is boiled, mashed potatoes are microwaved

The decline of Red Lobsters caught me off guard, didn’t go there much myself but my parents like it, I guess others didn’t go there much either.

@jokerpilled2535

Ай бұрын

It’s too expensive

@charlottemcbrearty1849

Ай бұрын

I love the chain but it's pretty much always been like a once or twice a year special occasion kind of place for me. It was popular and packed when I was a kid but now it's usually understaffed and half empty. I don't think the food is very different though many people here disagree. Regardless of quality it is rather expensive. But I think the bigger ticket items like the Admiral's Feast are indeed $50 worth of food and more than I can eat.

@sor3999

Ай бұрын

@@charlottemcbrearty1849 The video just described them losing millions on an a shrimp deal. I highly doubt you'll find a place with comparable prices unless they want to go bankrupt too.

Red Lobster is my favorite chain restaurant. The location I go to has not slipped like some other locations have apparently.

I live in a town where it’s a running joke at this point that we’ll get a Red Lobster soon because there’s been non stop rumors of us getting one for at least the 20 years I’ve lived here. My family makes the pilgrimage to a red lobster that’s 45 minutes away in the near by city for the yearly unlimited shrimp special. And cheddar bay biscuits are the GOAT of restaurant appetizer bread.

I got sick as a kid from Red Lobster and didn't go for a long time. Gave it a try 15 years later and had the ABSOLUTE WORST SERVICE I have ever had and vowed never to go back in my life.

@ryanthompsonthompson820

Ай бұрын

Their service is horrible.

@bonzie321

Ай бұрын

@@ryanthompsonthompson820 service is horrible everywhere since the "plandemic".

@eatatjoes6751

Ай бұрын

@@granadahills1017 The irony of this statement isn’t lost on me.

@Incipidone

Ай бұрын

That is most large restaurant chains. And tipping culture is also at fault

All the restaurants around the Charlotte area feel run down and dingee, even before covid. They also, more often than not, have had bad service over the past decade. Also, nothing seems fresh other than the biscuits. So it's not shocking they are struggling

@DavidLLambertmobile

Ай бұрын

RL is based in Orlando.gov . The main office is in Orlando city hall, 🏛.

The first Red Lobster was on Memorial Blvd in my hometown of Lakeland, FL. It's not still open but the building still stands and it's a bait and tackle shop on Lake Parker

They’ve officially filed for bankruptcy today 😮

It always was and always will be my favorite restaurant ever!!! Thank you for covering this brother!!!

When I was a kid and our family was pretty low income, we would go to Red Lobster once in a great while. In my late teens, my father and I got violently ill after we ate there and we've never been back. It's been well over 30 years.