Red Lobster in Sandusky, OH — Restaurant in Perkins Township

Red lobster never ceases to surprise me- every time I go it's a bad experience. Pretty much-overpriced junk. However, last night my son was dying to try it being he loves seafood. So, I decided why not, maybe it will be decent being it's in a touristy area of Sandusky. After driving for a solid 8 hours, my son and I were looking forward to relaxation, nice service, and a decent meal that didn't include a greasy bag. Unfortunately, it was the complete opposite. From the moment we walked in the experience already started off shaky... We waited for the hostess to check us in for 10-15 minutes while she and the entire staff piled over by the bar chatting. Once a tall male customer walked in she instantly came over and served him and his family first- then begin to walk away... I embarrassingly had to holler “miss. Can you please check us in too” “oh. Sure.” she said. While we waited, I begin trying to talk my son into us going elsewhere but he didn't want to and frankly I was too exhausted to drive somewhere else. We get to our table, and each of us had dirty forks and knives, told the waitress and she never brought us new ones, asked for lemon multiple times for my “tap” water and she never brought it to me. She was not attentive, nor listened, and was rude. One time she quickly came up and grabbed our screen thing and gave it to another table without asking us or saying anything... Yet we had nothing but empty tables around us. She finally gave me a refill of my water while I was waiting for my check... And when she asked if we wanted a box I told her no because we did not like our food and won't be eating anymore- we both ordered the ultimate feast, which comes with crab legs, lobster tail, scampi, fried shrimp, and two sides. I ate 3 crab legs- I couldn't stomach them anymore they were chewy and cold, the shell was filled more with water than crab and they tasted “fishy” I took one bite out of my lobster - same as crab, just gross. I ate two shrimp scampi which were chewy and sauteed with the shell still on it... Yuck! I had one bite of the fried shrimp and spit it out, it was seriously disgusting! The only decent thing that I fully ate was the house salad and baked potato. The only thing my son could stomach was his crab and salad... The biscuits weren't even good, they were undercooked/soggy almost... Told the waitress all of this and she could clearly see with her own eyes we ate practically nothing. She says “oh, I'll be right back with the check” and walks away. Returns with a screen for me to pay. Guess what. No discounts etc nothing except her rudeness and quickness to be done with us. Frankly, I feel like she treated us the way she did because she was judging us on how we were dressed. Sweats, yoga pants, and t-shirts. We were driving all day on a road trip. But even if we weren't, who cares how we look? We certainly smelled better than her... She reeked of cigarettes. Red lobster - please hurry up and go out...

It doesn't even deserve a 1 star. Extremely poor Management. When we walked in we should have walked right back out. There were 3 tables sat, 5 couples waiting, other then 3 tables the dining room was completely empty. We were each told it would be at least 20 minutes. I counted 3 waitress, 1 hostess, 1 bartender and a manager. As we waited a man went to the bar he could barely walk but they kept serving him. After waiting 25 minutes they finally sat us. It was like they could only handle 1 or 2 tables per waitress. Which was weird. As we sat waiting the hostess got us biscuits. About 10 minutes later our waitress showed up told us the biscuit were old and had be there all day, not that good. She would get us new ones. We ordered as soon as she came. We got our salads and the dressing tasted like they watered it down and breadcrumbs were stall. At this point we noticed since it was empty that 2 other tables had issues one with food one they completely forget her order. The bartender kept calling the drunk man at the bar honey. The bartender and manager were loudly making fun of him. It was completely unprofessional and rude to hear. We finally got our food after like another 30 minutes. We asked for a box and again waited and waited till we finally asked the hostess for it she said she would get our waitress we waited another 20 minutes till manager came over and was like I can ring you out where is your card. I told her we didn't even get a check. She then tells us they have a party in back our waitress is doing now. Again I asked for a check she was like we have 3 waitress so people will have to wait. Now at this point we started counting the staff we saw there were 3 other waitress that came out of the backroom. So that makes 6. But even if it was only 3 that is on Management. Why would you talk a waitress with tables and put her on a party. The manager was rude when she was like it's to bad u had a bad time. Clearly not cut out for customer service or Management. We will never come back. And I will make sure to tell others to skip it there was way more restaurants that will give better...

The food was cooked "ok". The servers who were not serving me but serving others seemed exceptional.

Our server seemed extremely moody and basically bi-polar. At a chain restaurant that offers the same thing every other Red Lobster offers the service is what decides the experience. (Along with the food, and cleanliness of the restaurant but those should be expected.)

The fact that it felt like I was catching attitude from our server for asking for a few more moments to order was the beginning of my decision of this review. This was highlighted with a few sighs, groans, and huffs. With a returned, are you ready yet?

Please let me remind you that my total dining time was only an hour.

Before receiving my appetizer I had debated telling her thanks for the water I'd like my check and she can enjoy the calamari because I was done here. Or, could you please let that amazing gentleman who is creating a genuine glow at that table wait on us?

But I chose to stay only to experience an exchange of her being nice for a fraction of a second and then right back to attitude.

The fact that I can cook all of these foods my damn self means I expect a half way pleasant experience when I pay for service and a meal. This is where a nice polite person makes or breaks my experience. I'm not asking for much but I'll take not feeling aggressively forced or rushed to order.

Keeping my composure I said please and thank you with every exchange. I must say, I felt like I was paying to be the professional.

That's not ok.

My snow crab legs over cooked, and lobster nearing the rubber texture it should not only compounded my already annoyed status.

However the calamari was cooked perfectly and that is hard to come by. And the other servers were creating buzzes smiles and laughs at their tables, I even over heard a lady said she never expected to have so much "fun" at dinner.

So, I give this restuarant a three star instead of two. It seems there is an off chance you'll have am amazing time, or... the possibility you'll pay to be the couple who is more friendly and effective than their own...