Red Zone Cafe — Restaurant in Lubbock

Update August 1, 2023

I’m a long-time customer of Red Zone Cafe; it has been one of my favorite Lubbock eateries since before Covid. I eat there on average at least once a week. Food is consistently good as is the service for the most part.

However, I think some of their pricing policies are borderline exploitive. Today I ordered the double meat hamburger combo, which comes with a drink. This combo is already $10 without any cheese (which they’re getting a whopping dollar a slice for now). So you’re looking at $12 plus tax plus tip for a freaking double cheese burger combo. They are frequently short on normal drink glasses. In the past I’ve had waitresses serve my drink in a styrofoam cup (large) instead of a glass, this without asking me if I wanted it that way or saying anything else before it was served. I actually prefer a normal glass but the styrofoam cup is OK too. I always assumed that would NOT affect the price. However, today I happened to hear the dinners next to me ask the waitress about their drink order and the waitress said it would be $0.40 extra for a to-go cup; I didn’t think much of it but subconsciously must have assumed they were not ordering a combo that comes with a drink. Shortly after my drink was served in a pee-wee plastic glass (the kind you expect to see for a small water). I remarked to the waitress about the small glass and she said they were out of regular glasses. I said how about a styrofoam cup? She brought me an another Diet Coke in a large styrofoam cup. I assumed there would be no change in the price of my combo because TO MY KNOWLEDGE they never had been before. I got to thinking about it for a sec and when I saw the waitress again I asked her about it. She said there indeed would be a 40 cent up-charge. I told her to take the damn styrofoam cup back and I’d get by with the pee-wee cup! I wonder if in the past when I’ve had my drink served in a styrofoam cup I’ve been up-charged without knowing it, or whether this is a new policy, or what? Obviously 40 cents is no big deal in itself; it’s the principle of the thing. Being nickel and dimed (quite possibly without knowing it) at every turn is insulting! Also, if they can’t keep enough normal glasses clean to serve a soda properly they shouldn’t be charging extra for a styrofoam cup used instead! I’ll remain a loyal customer because of all the positives of dining at the Red Zone Cafe, but this experience certainly tarnished that relationship to a degree.

Update 09/27/24: There have been a number of changes at this restaurant since my last review, mostly good. They no longer try to upcharge the combo dinners that include a beverage by deceptively substituting an unrequested “to go cup” instead of the standard plastic glass. Now you get an itemized check from the waitress before paying. In the past you never got any detail before or after paying as to exactly what you were paying for. However, they still “nickel and dime” when they can. I was charged a $1.50 for a small pouch of sour cream and 30 cents for onions on top of my enchilada special; almost certain there was no charge for this in the past. Still, overall an...

Wednesday 05/08/2024-7:00am

Culinary Catastrophe! Only in the Morning shift are my hashbrowns... actually  trashbrowns!! Appearing as if that is where they came from. And exactly where they are going!

In the evening shift I am never served trashbrowns! They need to fix this in the mornings. It hasn't ever been like this and has just recently developed! Or I could say "underdeveloped!" In the recent Mornings the hashbrowns served at Red Zone stand as a testament to the depths of culinary despair. This so-called 'breakfast staple' arrived at my table in a lukewarm puddle of grease, their exterior barely browned and their interiors a sickly shade of pale yellow.

As my fork pierced the flaccid mass, I was met with a resistance that belied their uncooked state. The potato shreds, still firm and grainy, offered no resistance to my utensil, crumbling into a mushy mess. The lack of seasoning was equally appalling, rendering the hashbrowns an insipid and unappetizing affair.

To add insult to injury, the hashbrowns were served with a generous dollop of an unappetizing, appeal! Even smothering them in ketchup could not hide the raw potato flavor that permeated every bite.

The consequences of consuming uncooked hashbrowns are well-documented. Potatoes contain a compound called solanine, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea when ingested in large quantities. While the amount of solanine in a single serving of uncooked hashbrowns is unlikely to cause serious harm, it is nonetheless a concern that should not be taken lightly.

The obvious fact is that whom ever is to be cooking these Hashbrowns, has to be inexperienced and new to the morning crew. The head kitchen cheif whom is to be overseeing the crew surely isn't overlooking this issue. The wait staff serving customers this issue have a responsibility and duty to the customers. They must inforn the head chief of this issue. As customers we have the right to have complaints without prejudice. Change starts with our voice and expressing our opinions to the wait staff. Also in reviews but Im sure our reviews are unnoticed by company staff. And to serve such an awful dish to customers is a negligence. If this continues It will be clear to me that they prioritize profit over the health and well-being of their patrons. And I will no longer be a part of the profit as I am a regular patron!!

I urge all morning diners to avoid the morning trashbrowns until this is resolved!

Rating: For Morning Trashbrowns 5/5

• For Evening...

12/22/21 9:00-9:30am -2 stars Hair was on plate, food was delivered first time without toast after that it was brought to table with a gray hair that was not mine. Server was asked 4 different times for honey, and Splenda. Table was not clean and had to be wiped. This has been one of the terrible times here. Manager was not present at table. No discount on meal. 😒 the front counter did say sorry 😞 and got me Splenda and honey. Waitress did not ask about how many in my party 😐 then waited 8 minutes before giving the other party coffee. 🙄 they were not even busy.

10/29/19 8:32am-5 stars It was not so crowded. The waitress put in my eggs for over medium (when I requested over medium well) but I still loved my breakfast cooked to perfection as always love Texas toast cooked here. My guest also enjoyed her breakfast. Staff friendly courteous silverware and restrooms were clean. I like that I can order extra eggs and add it to the combo. They have Splenda, regular sugar, and the pink sugar packets, and honey available for their coffee. My guest prefers honey which is always brought to the table which is nice. Menus were clean also. The orders are usually always cooked great as long as written correctly by waitresses. I always enjoy breakfast here.

In-between here I have had several breakfast call in orders I loved all my pickup orders and they were ready within 8-12 minutes.

7/10/19 10:15am eggs cooked to perfection. Staff excellent. However no free working wifi compared to many past visits.waitress was amazing very respectful and remember that I regularly eat here.

6/29/18 10:20am-10:45am Food was excellent. ...