Red Lobster — Restaurant in Virginia

I encountered very pleasant staff during my lunchtime visit in many years. The greeter was quite patient with this old lady as well as the bartender who finished my order and drink. The place wasn’t busy at all (especially the bar area), it was empty. I guess the issues were my fault, I hadn’t been to a Red Lobster in 12 plus years but I just had to use up my $12 gift card balance I was still holding on since then. I ordered a virgin piña colada drink to go with fried shrimp, baked potato and of course those delicious (back then) biscuits. Well, things aren’t like they used to be in the old days - even when ‘to go’. Even the baked potato was still a great size and covered in the good ole salt that allows you to have enough to get through a whole potato without adding more. Once home, it was still hot as were the biscuits and shrimp.

I had not viewed or tasted tested the potato, well, it was rock hard and the great crisp skin had a bad burnt taste though it didn’t look like it. The biscuits had a lot of onion or onion flavor on top, I couldn’t get through more than one bite out of one - allergic to onions and it tasted like it had plenty, raced to down a Benadryl. They never tasted like that before so I never would have thought to ask. I started into that delicious drink, it tasted a bit off but thought it was me due to the length of time it had been since I had one of the Red Lobster delicious virgin pina coladas, but with this one, by the third sip, my muscles started cramping up, joints locked/ ached with sharp pains and then felt the weakness set in. After rocking, rubbing and crying (out loud & alone), I raced to take a second 25 mg Benadryl. Then grabbed my cell and called the Red Lobster location to ask the big question- does the bar use artificial sweetener in their drinks now and not real sugar like past years … answer, after a 2 min hold was yes. Even gave me the amount used - as if that mattered. So this ole lady got to enjoy pleasant employees- that doesn’t happen much these days - but almost killed herself eating a meal tryin to use up an old $12 gift card.

Yep, back to cooking and eating my own meals. Moving forward, my other old but still full gift cards will become gifts. And yes, it’s been 5 hours and I’ve still got swollen eyes and lips and yep, my aching- heck hurting body.

Ok so this is long- the store’s doors still aren’t light nor rigged for accessibility. I fought trying to get inside and when trying to exit, my reach stick fell off the back of my chair when I was fighting to leave. Thankfully a customer heard the commotion from his table and came to help me pick it up and held the second set of doors open so I could exit. It reminded me of why I quit going to that location.

I was sure to park in the widest handicap parking space for my wheelchair accessible van, empty parking lot mind you and a UPS truck found my van to block my ramp door in. Yea, he apologized as he retrieved the package for a manager talking in the parking lot, while I waited (with my food and drink balanced) to get my ramp door to open, enter and leave), but tell me whhhyyyy?!!!! There was a whole lot available for him to...

Hair was found in my friends food and was confirmed by our waiter. The manager refused to refund us our money. my friend and I went to this red lobster location for her birthday. We were sat down and greeted by our server named tawanna who served us for the evening. There was another group of ladies at the table next to us who were waiting on the manager. A man by the name of Steven came and spoke with them. We overheard the conversation regarding hair in their food. He agreed to refund their money after numerous offers of bringing out other food and claiming he had just arrived on duty but that he didn't know where the hair came from because his cooks wear hair nets. Me and my friend debated leaving but figured things happen. We decided to stay and went on with our evening. We both ordered the endless shrimp. Tawanna, our server, was great. Upon one of the last entrees she brought my friend, there was hair on it. We quickly called Tawanna back to the table, and showed her the hair sitting on the shrimp. She apologized, offered to bring out another plate and informed the manager. The manager who came to us was Steven from the prior incident. Steven disrespectfully tried to accuse us of placing hair in our own food because the people before us complained about hair. The strand of hair was no where close to ours and we both had hats on. The Audacity of this man to say, "well, we brought a few plates out already and y'all seemed fine. I refunded the last table because they got one plate, you guys got like 20." I was going to let this go but his statement was Ignorant, extremely unprofessional and downright disrespectful. I don't care if we had 1 plate or 100 plates, hair on someone's food is unsanitary and if you can't service your specials correctly then don't do them. After I made a fuss, he offered to take 20 percent off of our bill because we had over 3 plates of the endless shrimp. This was so shameful, Tawanna the server came back and apologized for him. His attitude and handling of this situation was very insulting to me and my friend on her birthday. I will be following up with corporate regarding this matter and the health department. Just because two tables complain about hair in their food doesn't mean they're lying, it means be a manager and find out what the issue is so you can provide...

I was part of a wedding party of 20 for a noon lunch after the wedding. I realize the servers were busy with another wedding party. The waitress ended up getting help by a young man who did an excellent job. They first took our drink and appetizer orders. One of our guests had to wait quite awhile for her drink. After what seemed to be quite a long time, our entree orders were finally taken. It once again took quite awhile to get our food. We actually asked for more biscuits to tide us over as most had not eaten all day. Once our food came, two of our guests did not receive their food until everyone else was finished. One of the two was the same guest who had to wait on her drink earlier. Both guests ended up having to get their food to go as soon as it arrived to the table as one had to get sleep for work later. I informed the manager about the situation, and he assured the guests who didn't get their meals until time to go he would take care of them. Most of us gave the young man who assisted our waitress tips as he did almost all the work. He was what we call 'Johnny on the Spot'. Anyway, the manager returned to take care of the guests who didn't get their food til time to go. The one lady had an alcoholic drink and admirals feast. The manager informed her he was taking $15 off, but she still had to pay $55. What???? Oh no. I let the bride know, and she was not happy. She spoke with the manager letting him know this was unacceptable. He did something else, but I am not sure as I had to leave ....we had been here 2 hours at this point. My Daughter used to work for Red Lobster as a waitress, and when I told her about what happened, she said that was not how that was supposed to work. She informed me when a meal is forgotten which unfortunately happens once in awhile, the patron is given the meal free of charge. I do hope that's what happened, but again, I had to leave so...