Red Anchor Seafood — Restaurant in Council Bluffs

We were so wanting to like this place. However...by the time we left, my husband and I said to each other, "Yea, they're gonna tank". We ordered seafood gumbo and clam chowder. The gumbo didn't have much flavor, and the clam chowder was basically salt flavored. We both went with fried baskets, shrimp for me and catfish for my husband. When I first tasted the shrimp breading, I thought that the flavor was good, but it was SO THICK! The shrimp inside was very overcooked and tough. I really got the impression that this is kind of a pretend Cajun place. A bus boy stood behind our booth and talked loudly on his cell phone, two feet from our heads. A server was eating while walking around in the restaurant. After a large party left, the music was switched to very loud, obscenity-filled music, completely inappropriatefor public. This was at about 8:30pm, and there were families with children still in the restaurant. I asked our server if it could be changed, and she went to a woman in a ball cap at the front (who had been present the whoke time we were there). That woman changed the music, and then stood and talked angrily with two other people. Mad that she couldn't play her trashy music? I asked another server if there was a manager present, and she said, "Yes, it's that woman in the ball cap". As we left, said woman in the ball cap was sitting in a chair, leaning against the wall, and surfing on her phone.

I feel like they forgot why they are there - to serve good food in a nice atmosphere. It doesn't seem that complicated. We won't be back, and I'm guessing they won't be there long. Too bad, because it was exciting to see a new restaurant come to...

This was our second time here because it is 3 hours away. First time waitress took time to explain menu, make suggestions, and offer specials. When food came out she asked if we needed her to open bag or if we think we can do it. I suggested to EVERYONE I could how amazing it was. 2nd time we went, on Feb 22 at lunchtime experience was a lot different. Exact same order for the boil and food was good but not great. However when we first walked in guy behind desk was more interested in looking at his phone than seating us. Waiter came over and asked what we wanted to drink, which is fine but no other interaction on that end, so we just ordered water, have no idea what brand sodas they have or anything on beer or mixed drinks or anything. He didnt offer any menu suggestions or ask any questions or anything, just didnt seem to care. Never came to offer a refill on water or anything even though my spice level was supposed to be hot, i guess good thing it wasnt. Never asked how our food was and never offered a box for wifes leftover fries, just took her platter as we were sitting there. I am willing to try again because maybe this time was a bad experience but first time was amazing, I just know i wont make a special trip just to be disappointed. Sad thing is we had budgeted and took with us a certain amount of money for our food, drinks, tip etc and i guess it is a good thing we spent a fifth of what we budgeted for this...

We weren't greeted or welcomed when we entered. The woman literally stared at us and didn't speak. We end up speaking first with the words dine in for 3 please. She then gave us a look and said 2... When there were literally 3 people standing in front of her. No one wanted to take our table I'm guessing because we were of color and being in the service industry for years I know they assume we don't tip. Took a while for them to get a server in our section. They of course forced the only person of color who was also the bartender far across from where we were sitting on our table. I've been in her shoes. She didn't seem to pleased to take our table either but she did her job as a server and did check in on us which better the experience just a little. There's no background music just the noise of everyone around you. The food was terrible. It was over cooked. I could see through the crab legs and you could see slivers of meat. Tiny tiny tiny legs which in my experience of eating seafood very often that was not a pound. Especially with it being overcooked the meat was hardly there. I started to send it back but I decided I would just take the loss, not complain, and just choose not to return. After leaving the location all parties that were with me, including myself threw up everything. We are now all suffering from food poisoning. I will not...