Red Lobster — Restaurant in Salem

hi my name is Elizabeth B I am a united states navel veteran. I was stationed at nas oceana in VA beach, VA and belonged to - Strike Fighter Squadron 87, VFA-87 'Golden Warriors'. I was an airmen. Today I have been treated horribly by the staff at this location. before I headed to the restaurant, I called and confirmed the veterans day special and was told I would get a voucher for shrimp and fries in a beverage and it could be used now or later on. I was pretty excited about this. When I arrived at the location I went in and there was a very nice young lady who told me about the voucher again And also verified my military status. she said that I could go sit at the bar and use my voucher there and that my voucher was good for a shrimp and fries and beverage. so I sat at the bar for about 10 minutes before the gentleman who was bartending even get acknowledged I was sitting there. When he came over to the bar he said can I help you I said I'd like to use this voucher and he said okay okay well first I need to proof of service. I said really because I just showed her my proof of service why do I need to show it again you guys are 10 ft from each other at which time I pulled all my phone and showed him my DD214. he seems satisfied he wouldn't put the order in he never asked me if I'd like something to drink or beverage or anything. When the food came out My kids had been texting me about being dropped off early at home from marching in the veterans Day parade in Albany and so I was needing to leave sooner than I thought so I asked for to go box and a dish and everything in a bag I got everything ready to go and then the gentleman from the bar brought over my BILL!!! TO MY SURPRISE IT IS 17.99$ I OWE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT HE SAID SORRY THAT'S HOW MUCH IT COSTS. I SAID OKAY WELL I NEED TO GO TO MY CAR THEN AND GET MY WALLET. he said what as I was walking towards the door I said I need to get my wallet sir I don't have any cash on me at which time another young lady from the bar area decide to come around the bar and tell me what are you doing very rudely just like the gentleman and she proceeded to follow me out the front door of the restaurant in a very threatening manner. And let me remind you I did not eat any food except for one cheddar biscuit. I did not have any of the food with me It was at the bar. I didn't even get a drink with my meal like the voucher says. this was all around a horrible horrible experience. I'm sure neither of those individuals would have talked to some 60-70-year-old man who says they were a veteran wouldn't ask them for proof of service. and most definitely would not have followed one of them out of the door in such a threatening way. I just want to know why I don't deserve the same treatment as any other veteran how am I different. is it because your employees profile and judge.

I am disgusted and appalled at the way I was treated and tricked and lied to for what reason I don't know I did not go back in that restaurant. And they followed me out of the parking lot trying to write my plate number down for what reason I don't know because I didn't...

We went yesterday (9/13) about 430pm. I'm giving this visit a 3*.

We were seated and our server was Roxanne.

She brought us menus and asked us what we wanted to drink. My BF asked for a Sprite and I asked for a water. She repeated our Sprite and water order back but yet she brought us 2 waters and said she would give us a few minutes to decide on what we were ordering. (1st Mistake. She didn't listen to what we ordered.) Our regular waiter Azael stopped by to check on us and we noted that she didnt listen to our drinks. He went and got a Sprite for my BF and butter for our biscuits.

Once we placed our order she went and got biscuits and my Caeser Salad. Once our food arrived she handed the wrong orders to us and one of the sides was missing.

She brought us the missing side and then left. She did stop by and ask to see if we wanted more. I asked for the Honey Sriracha and he asked for more Scampi. Once the food showed up I asked about the coconut shrimp. She sid advise the have it and wanted to get some. I advised not now I was good but didnt ask if my BF wanted more shrimp.

She finally came back and he was able to order more shrimp. I asked for 1 refill of scampi because I was starting to get full. She brought us our food and refilled my BFs Sprite.

Roxanne went by our table table 2 - 3 more times didnt check on us. She seemed to check on other tables more often than us. No refill of biscuits. Ever. Only got the 1 basket in the beginning. I asked for a box after i ordered a shrimp linguini. My BF said he watched her walk from the kitchen with 2 baskets of biscuits a d out to go box. Drop the box off and that's when we decided to leave. My BF wanted more food but she didnt seem to care to order is more food. My BF paid the bill and I boxed up my food.

While I took the survey thing and stated on it we were not happy, my bf went to use the bathroom and our regular waiter asked how was everything, He told Azael about what happen and the came back to the table. Shortly before we left the service manager David came up and talked to us about how our service went. We told him everything that happen. We did advise him that Jordan awesome food runner. Very nice and polite. She asked to take our empty dishes after she brought us our refill orders. We asked to tip her directly. David allowed us to. David made it right and provided us our next meal to be on them to apologized for the service experience we had. He said he felt embarrassed about it and said he sees us in there alot and hopes we will come back.

We will be back but i would like to advise that Roxanne to get more training or be coached on listening to her guests and checking on all her tables equally.

(This was also...

I have not been to red lobster in years, and I was a bit hesitant to come, even though my last visits were very positive, I have never had a negative experience at a red lobster, but I am always hesitant when I am going to be spending a decent chunk of change on dinner

A side note first: I noticed that a lot of the issues people are complaining about could have been resolved with talking to the manager. I have worked in customer service for years, if you don't bring it up to the manager, it will never ever change, and all you did was complain online instead of helping the issue by telling the person who could fix it and rectify it in the future (every restaurant runs out of food some times).

As for my own visit, I honestly have not had better service other than at a 5 star restaurant in Ajijic Mexico called Tangos, and our server was just as attentive, but not overly present just the same as the servers were in Tangost. Our server Lisa was amazing, I cannot say enough good things about her, she made sure our water stayed filled without asking, and without even making her presence overly known, I never noticed she was filling it. She checked back in, but not too often to see if we liked our food. We never felt rushed, and she was very friendly and made appropriate jokes as well as being very knowledgeable about the food.

I cannot vouch for the rest of the staff other than the Manager Rod whom was also very friendly and nice when we talked to him to tell him about Lisa's amazing service, but Lisa and Rod were truly awesome, and Red Lobster is smart if they keep them around and use them to train the rest of the staff. :)

Our food was great, we had the Langostino Artichoke Dip and it was very tasty and hot. My food was very tasty I had the "Lobster Lovers Dream" and my husband has "Dueling Lobsters", I tasted his food as well and his was just as good as mine. Everything was very fresh and well made, I have no complaints at all.

This is by far one of the best experiences I have had at any restaurant, and I hope if I come back I get Lisa again cause she was truly the best waitress I have ever had the luck to be waited upon...