Red Lobster — Restaurant in Gurnee

For The Seafood Lover In You! I know, sounds like their commercial, but that's ok. We stopped in on a Monday night and just as we found on previous visits, they were short on staff. They only seat so many tables per server to keep the customer experience good. No point in filling all the tables and have the customers complain about how long it took to get service. We waited just a short time and when one couple left, we filled their place. Our excellent server, Anthony, took our drink order right away and brought out some of the scrumptious Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Warm, flaky, buttery - yummo! I selected the Ultimate Endless Shrimp Monday Special for $25. The first plate load comes with a choice of 3 shrimp dishes and I opted for Parrot Isle Coconut Shrimp, Garlic Shrimp Scampi and Grilled Shrimp and a Baked Potato Side. My wife ordered the Shrimp and Grits - $19.99 and a House Side Salad - $4.99 with blue cheese dressing. First on the table was my shrimp platter. The Shrimp Scampi is served in a dish with probably 8 shrimp swimming in a lightly garlicky, seasoned butter bath. Excellent! There are maybe 5 Coconut Shrimp grouped on the plate which are shrimp that have been butter flied and coated with savory coconut, then deep fried. Dipped into the Pina Colada flavor sauce make these a tropics taste treat. And you can't go wrong with the Grilled Shrimp. Probably 8 on a skewer, nice grill char and probably butter basted during grilling. I think all the shrimp are in the 26/30 size and had a nice shrimp flavor. Wonderful. Accompanying my shrimp was a nice portion of a rice medley and my baked russet potato with a nice heap of butter and sour cream as I ordered. The rice is tasty. Not overly seasoned and perfect with shrimp. The 3 shrimp dishes I first ordered were really enough, but I had to go endless so I ordered 2 more skewers of the Grilled Shrimp. I had to do it - I left no shrimp uneaten. My wife's House Side Salad arrived first. This is a large salad that can easily be shared by two people. Not even sure what all was in the salad, but it was topped with a generous portion of an excellent blue cheese dressing loaded with real cheese chunks. The Shrimp and Grits were excellent. These are a new offering at Red Lobster. Creamy cheddar cheesy grits topped with shrimp, topped with a Cajun wine sauce and sprinkled with real fried bacon bits. We just took a trip through the south and my wife had shrimp and grits in many places and as she found on our trip, no two places ever make this dish the same. This one was different with the wine sauce and definitely on her favorites list. (Ask for a spoon to eat this.) We both ended up with leftovers to take home and look forward to tomorrow. If you get a chance, asked for Anthony. Great service, professional...

walked in 8/3/2023 about 6pm workers around bar looked and did not say a word. Waitresses passed by did not say someone will be with you. Two other customers walked in got behind us no Host addresses us. 10 minutes later after being noticed my daughter says “Excuse me anyone works here” Bar tender named Allison says no”. A waitress comes out from back three min later was approaching our way. Allison makes a comment waitress says oh okay circles around back to kitchen. Very rude so sad customers now a days have to do all the work to get seated and noticed, One waitress finally noticed the frustration Jolene says sorry we don’t work front but will help you. Finally girl who circled back to kitchen sits us down. I told her it would be nice that any worker seeing customers lined up to notice them say someone will be with you and do something to get us seated. We should not be looked at with no one saying something. They did not know where host was. Waitress who sat us down went to bar to repeat what I had said they laughed like unprofessional little girls. I am 56 years old worked customer service for years we had to be very kind and welcoming. Now workers are not trained right nor managers and customers are treated as if they are doing us a favor. This review most likely will get ignored and workers will cover that unkindness moment that we went through. This needs to change. Allison working the bar is not in High School needs to be in kitchen were she does not deal with customers. Thank you to Jolene for trying to calm the frustration. We left did not order after watching the waitress gather with Allison laughing looking over to us. This was frustrating especially being noticed by employees and not one word. Two Senior citizens in line with us said where is everyone another place short on staff and no one noticing us or maybe noticing but ignoring. YOU NEED TO RETRAIN AND BE KIND TO YOUR CISTOMERS. JOLIENE WOULD PROBABLY THE BEST PERSON TO RETRAIN THESE LITTLE GIRLS. We looked elsewhere to eat rainforest cafe customers walking out for not be noticed and leaving complaints to there Host so sad. Waitress told me bartender name was allison but my daughter saw tag more closer to...

As far as I can remember, Red Lobster has always been America's go-to place for seafood. It was the first seafood restaurant I ate at shortly after my family arrived from Japan when my father got stationed at Great Lakes at the end of '87.

At that time the Red Lobster was in Waukegan when Lakehurst Mall was still around, now it's Fountain Square. From time to time I do enjoy some RL and it's still one of the best venues for seafood for the price.

This one & only location in Lake County serves as the first place I took my girlfriend turned wife back in late summer 2013. My wife comes from a conservative affluent family in Honduras but at the time I didn't feel the need to dine at some high-end steakhouse/seafood venue so Red Lobster it was.

A couple of things I've always loved about this place is the vibe in which I noticed the interior is still pretty much the same since the place opened, no modern upgrades or revamping. The customer service has always remained top notch, been here a few times and have never experienced mediocre or bad service.

The seafood although for the most part is shipped on ice or frozen being we're far from any coast still remains "good" overall for the price. Most of the time I've eaten here or other locations, the Rock Lobster tail is what I mostly go for which is flavorful enough for the price.

Understandably this is a chain that operates at the same level with the likes of Outback, Carrabba's, Bonefish, Longhorn, etc.....the quality of food towards the price is worth it. Yes in the Chicago suburbs there are other seafood venues like Bob Chinn's, Dover Straits, Captain Porky's or Shaw's Crabhouse (been to all) but you're gonna pay significantly more these upscale venues.

In the end, Red Lobster still remains a go-to place for affordable seafood and my wife & I try to get out here when we can. It saddens me to know that quite a few locations across the country have closed their doors for good following the COVID, the unnecessary inflation and minimum wage hike but I hope this lone Lake County location stays open for...