Red Lobster review: Endless shrimp inedible

On Monday evening, May 8, 2023, my husband and I went to the Red Lobster at 1001 East Central Texas Expressway in Killeen Texas. I specifically went due to the Endless Shrimp offer.

There were only about 8 cars in the parking lot, so we knew that we should be able to eat fairly quick. We were immediately seated and were correct, there were very few customers in the restaurant, so we were waited on immediately.

My husband ordered sweet tea and I ordered water. Were informed they were out of sweet tea (unheard of in Texas) but she would make some and get it to him as soon as she could. We knew what we wanted, so we ordered our food when we ordered our drinks. Husband ordered Cod plate and I ordered Endless Shrimp with Shrimp scampi and shrimp skewers. When the food arrived, the shrimp was so overcooked that it was rubbery. Instead of complaining, I just asked the waitress for the fried shrimp, assuming the cooks would know when to take the shrimp out of the fryer. After a long wait I received the fried shrimp. It was actually burnt and fried to the point where it was just a hard disc. It could not be eaten at all. I spoke with the waitress when she came by and actually handed her one of the shrimp so she would understand that the shrimp was not a little overcooked, it was truly burnt. She said "Wow, the cooks are overwhelmed in the kitchen". What do you want to do? How could the cooks be overwhelmed, there were only approximately 4 other tables in the whole restaurant and they had all been served? At that time my husband was done eating and ready to leave and I had not had a meal. I told her to just give us the ticket and we would leave. She said great and provided the bill. Now the waitress saw the shrimp scampi and shrimp skewers shrimp still on the plate and she saw the fried shrimp still on the plate, but I was not offered a discount or any other compensation. This was not the first time that we were disappointed with this particular location. I am hopeful that other locations have better service, management and cooks and I will try one of the other locations but I will never waste my money at the Killeen location again.