Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews — Restaurant in Lacey

Last night my girlfriend and myself were running errands and we decided to drop into this Red Robin. We used to go to the one by the mall but we’ve been having a problem with that RR making us sick. Our experience last night was so poor that I almost wish we went to the other RR. When we arrived there was a cluster of about three workers and a customer by the entrance. One employee was hanging onto the door and didn’t even notice us until my girlfriend pulled on the door. We were not greeted and instead just whispered at as the other workers attended to the other customer. We were seated and left alone right away. The table we were say at was incredibly wobbly, along with my chair. We hopped a table over(they were connected so weren’t moving the length of the dining area.) Upon sitting the first thing my girlfriend noticed was how cold it was. And it was freezing. Next the floors were disgusting. There was papers, fries, straw wrappers, crayons, just little bits of debris everywhere. We were finally approached by our server who decided that during this introductory conversation that now was the best time to start rearranging tables and chairs. We never learned her name. She took our drink orders, and then my girlfriend mentioned that it was pretty chilly in our area and inquired about a possible draft or the heat to be turned up slightly. We were left alone and decided on what to order. Someone else brought our beverages. My girlfriend asked for lemon with her water and it was forgotten so she asked again for it. Another customer was sat beside us. They were led to this table with the very dirty floor, and even the table. As they were seated they were having their table cleared. It was a little baffling to say the least. They ordered their drinks and appetizer before our food order was taken. We ordered our food and begun the waiting game. Another table was sat by us. Both of these new tables were sat, had drinks, and had food before we had food. When our meals finally arrived, my girlfriend noted that her veggie burger didn’t have avocado slices on it like it should. She asked the server if there was a way she could get those slices now, on the side. They were brought out a few minutes later. While my girlfriend and I were trying to enjoy our meal we could see, and very clearly hear, everything going on in the kitchen. It felt less like a restaurant and more like a place for young people to come and hang out. There was yelling, shrieking, loud abundance of laughing, while everyone it seemed on staff was piled into the kitchen. My girlfriend and I have worked customer service and food service for a long time. There is a difference between having fun on the job and having everything taken care of too, and having fun and neglecting your job. This was evidence of the later. We even had issues with the bill with charges, not our own, put on our bill. It was adjusted and we paid and left. We both agreed we won’t be coming back and that maybe Red Robin is just dying a slow death. The service we received last night wasn’t great, and the cleanliness of the place wasn’t great either. What, for me, was most unsettling, was the staffs attitude. Instead of sitting up front, leaning on the door and chatting, maybe take care of your dining area so it’s clean for guests? As I said, we have both worked in these industries, but not having a clean space for guests is beyond...

Went in at 430 on a Sunday evening. Sat in the waiting area for 12 mins without being greeted at all. Finally someone came out and sat another table and didn’t even say a word to us. We waited another 10 mins before being greated at all. Then we sat at a table for 16 mins before our rude server came to get our drink order but by this time we all knew what we wanted. (4 adults and 3 toddlers). Had allowed us to put drinks and apps in and finally came back another 10 mins later. We then waited for another 20 mins for him to come take our dinner order and got cold appetizers which the guy (Michael) put 2 inches from my 14 month old to grab (annoying / why would you do that.) she could have been burned. (If the food was hot, lucky for us it wasn’t). We waited another 30 mins for food with empty drink cups and no check ins and were considering leaving by this point. Our food came out and again put right in front of my 14 month old (food was cold yet again). I’m almost 8 months pregnant and requested everything on my burger well done (burger, bacon & egg for safety reasons) it was not well done for ANY of the burger. I removed the slime egg and asked for well cooked bacon to which he brought me back out the same condition of bacon. He decided not to notice that 3 out of 4 adults were not eating their food because it was undercooked/ had dietary restrictions. I told him I was unable to eat the burger due to it being undercooked and would only be eating the fry’s to which he responded “okay” and walked away. Still no refills or asking how anyone else’s food was. My husband hates cheese and asked for no cheese and they clearly scrapped it off his burger and still sent it out which you could still see on the burger and he took one bite and spit it out. After sitting there for nearly 30 more mins I. Pulled a manager aside and explained everything to him and he just voided our bill and we left. Manager was cool but still very unimpressed at the whole experience. We used to love Red Robin but this experience with the host staff and our server, Michael was so so bad we won’t be back anytime soon. And from reading other reviews it seems like this same scenario has happened to others. Seems like the only one who cares is the manager I spoke to. And I was really craving that burger. I’m...

My wife and I have a complex relationship with Red Robin. Years ago, when we lived near Seattle, we used to frequent the Resmond branch. My wife and I loved their salads, and the kids were big fans of the burgers and meaty fries.

One day we went to the restaurant and we're told that the menu changed. The Southwest Chicken Salad we loved so much disappeared off the menu. We had some burgers and fries, and wrote Red Robin off our lists.

We discussed it, and were astonished how a successful joint takes the most attractive item on the menu (for us, admittedly). It was strange, and did not sound like a sound business decision (see the words game?).

For at least five years we didn't even consider Red Robin anymore. Like it went out of business.

Until yesterday. We went for a drive, passed by a Red Robin branch, and started discussing that bad decision on their part. Then we decided to do something we've never done. We looked them up and took a quick look at the menu. SURPRISE! A great surprise in fact. Our salads were back. We drove home and checked in to our local Red Robin.

Our good old Southwest Chicken Salad was there! Perhaps even better. Big, with everything you can imagine. Lettuce, tomatoes, corn, avocado, grilled chicken, tortillas, and wonderful dressing. It was great. We couldn't finish it. We took it home and enjoyed it again in the evening.

I worked in corporates most of my career. I remember clearly that once in a while, a newly appointed VP showed up and decided to make a dent in the business model, in this case, the menu.

Admittedly, some VPs were extremely successful. Some less so. It seems to me that that's exactly what happened here. Thankfully, either we weren't the only ones voting with their feet, or the numbers were not as good? Who knows? Bottom line, Red Robin is back in the list of joints we can go for lunch and dinner, with or without the kids.

Welcome back Red Robin! Next time a new VP shows up and wants to change your business model or THE MENU, please run the numbers, review a few more times, ask customers. Beware, for some of us, one slip might be...