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Red Lobster

Red Lobster review: table turning 4

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Author of the review
5:16 am EST
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As a server I really have little control of how long a guest will sit at a table. At lunch we are expected to turn tables in 39 mins. Which means the guest sits, orders, eats, pays and leaves within 39 mins. At dinner time we are expected to turn tables in 49 mins and are verbally persecuted and made to feel incompetent in our jobs if we can't do that. I've experienced this at 3 different darden restaurants so I know its everywhere. I'm sorry but 49 minutes is an unrealistic goal. As a server I go out to eat a lot and i spend at least an hour if not 75-90 mins at dinnertime. If we have high ticket times we are given less shifts and the worst shifts and sections. Our guests feel rushed like herded caddle in and out of our restaurant. I've seen many complaints about guests feeling this way and darden doesn't care. This company is losing a large part of its customer base because its so "corporate". We are becoming more chinsky in our portion sizes and charging for everything. As servers we have lost almost all ability to be flexible with guests as we have such strict rules and guidelines. This company cares more about its profits than its employees or guests.

For ex. A guest wrote on the tip line of the credit card slip...fifteen dollars as opposed to $15.00 and I was not allowed to receive the tip...because the guest could possibly call and dispute it and Red lobster could lose money. So I have to lose out on hard earned money. Also Tips where the customer does not sign on the correct line are also taken away.

[censored].

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James Averill
, US
Apr 29, 2018 3:41 pm EDT

We dined at your RL restaurant in Eugene, OR at the Valley River Center on 4-27-18 @4:30 PM. Several of us ordered the Ultimate Feast which included crab legs. The waiter, Jim, was snotty and in a bad mood-didn't greet us, frowned throughout, and spent most of his time talking to some friends a few tables away about their personal lives. When our food finally arrived it was cold and the crab legs were so skinny it was like cracking shell on nothing but shell with a splinter of meat that even the crab forks couldn't grab). These meals are not cheap and we expected better from RL. Service-wise as well.

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The Olive Garden Server
Orlando, US
Apr 12, 2014 11:47 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I am a server for Olive Garden in the Orlando are and am on Suspension... because a customer said i wasnt attentive enough to his table ~ which is difficult to do on a busy weekend ! Some customers think the universe revolves around their table.

Sorry customers... there are other guests in the restaurant that also need our EQUAL ATTENTION !

Our turn around time for the cooks tonight was 40 Minutes YES... FORTY MINUTES and it get thrown on the servers back. even when we cant control the cook time and the customer gets bored and upset !

Get over yourselves and think about OUR frustration too... you are NOT the center of my universe

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Jacimo
Conyers, US
Sep 16, 2011 9:31 pm EDT

I was in Managment for Red Lobster when they were owned by General Mills and Bill Darden ran the company. The corporate philosphy was GUEST, EMPLOYEE, INVESTOR. After Mr. Darden retired there was an endless procession of idots as "President". In 1995 General Mills got sick of the BS and did a spin off, then we get Darden Restaurants Inc. The Upper Management that remained on found new and creative ways to screw the Guest and Employees. The New Philosophy became Investor, Investor Investor. I will not eat at any of their joints

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Roger Holman
Vine Grove, US
Jan 18, 2009 11:18 am EST

My wife and I had a day pland we tuck two of our children with us, we spent sixty dollers or more. or server was never at our table, the crab had verry little meat, the outher food had set at the window so long it was all cold. if we needed service we had to ask who ever walked by us. I had only ate at a redLobster one before, a long time ago. it was so good I couldnt wait to go this time, but our vist to the Elizabethtown KY. restaurant was a waist of our time and our money. I said as going out the door, I would never Come back. I want to know what was the deal, It made our outting a very unplasent one. It was a pland treat for us. I would like to know is all Redlobster service and food like this every day " cost very high, poor service, over cooked crab, and cold food. I remember It was the best I have had a long time ago.