Red Lobster
reviews and complaints

On November 30, 2017 my family took me to Red Lobster in Cave Spring's Mo. Worst food and experience. It took 30 minutes to get our so called Bloody Mary's because no bartender was working. It took an hour to get our cold food, because as the manager stated there was a large group that was more important, than our table of 4. My Birthday was ruined and a waste of ($105.00). The next day I called to speak to the manager and she acted as we were in the wrong for not complaining at that time and why wouldn't we want to wait another hour for food that should have been of good quality in the first place. Very dissatisfied and disappointed for feeling like my family and I wasted our hard earned money, ruined my Birthday and was only offered a $50.00 gift card.

On March 15, 2017 my wife and I went to a Red lobster, located in Elyria, Ohio.
The occasion was are 36th wedding anniversary. When we entered the restaurant, there were two greeters at the door, along with a third employee. We later discovered that the third employee/greeter was the manager, a white female. I gleefully announce to all, that this was are 36th anniversary. The two greeters talk to us, laughed, jokes and congratulated us. The manager never said a word. We've been to dozens of restaurants over the years, and at the very least, you get a cupcake. Very disappointing... She never even came to the table and wish us a happy 36TH anniversary.

The last time we patronized Red lobster...

Larry B. Jones
[protected]@outlook.com

My name is Jamie Powell. Last night on December 1, 2017 I stopped to have dinner at Red Lobster in West Mifflin Pa. with my boyfriend before we planned to go Christmas shopping for my two children. We had saved everything we could and we both work but don't make a lot of money. All together we managed to save a little over $1500 dollars. We paid our waitress and we left the restaurant. Once we got to the mall to start our Christmas shopping we realized my boyfriend had forgot his wallet on the table at Red Lobster. Immediately I called the restaurant. A girl answered I explained who I was and what happened. She placed me on hold so she could check the table we were sitting at. After a few minutes she got back on the phone and told me yes she found it and we could come pick it up. Unfortunately when we came back a young man who said he was the manager handed us the wallet. But all the Christmas money was gone. I asked him what happened because the girl I talked to who found it said it was exactly where I told her and money was still in it. Devastated we asked to please talk to the girl who answered the phone. He said no thats all that was handed to him and wouldn't investigate his employees. We asked him as the manager to please call the police. He refused and said absolutely not. I can't understand why a manager wouldn't want to help a customer. I know this letter might not help us get the Christmas money back. We aren't bad people and desperately tried to give our kids a good Christmas this year that is impossible to happen now. It took us all year to save that. I read about a homeless man who found $10000 dollars and returned it not taking anything. I can't understand why a person could be so heartless to just take the money especially at Christmas time and when they work hard everyday just like we do. I hope whoever reads this will please find it in your heart to help us. My name is Jamie Powell my phone number is [protected]. And my address is 706 Summit Ave Glassport PA 15045. Please help us and make this right. Something is clearly wrong when a manager refuses to even call for help when a customer asks for it. I pray that God will guide us through this and that corporate red lobster will do everything in their power to investigate this and give us some answers. Thank you.

Last night I had the worst experience dining at your neighborhood location in Meridian MS. Me and some friends drove 35 miles for a birthday dinner. We arrived at the restaurant, was seated immediately and I ordered the full course feast deal that had different sides and a main entree and dessert. I received my food, the soup was cold and the salad had lettuce that was withering and old, but I attempted to not complain due to the fact I felt the main entree would be enough to suffice for my dinner. I received my entree which was shrimp linguini and maybe ate about 3 forks out of it and saw a piece of hair in my sauce. This is the 2nd time in a year I've found hair in my food but the first time I decided to just let it go after the manager was understanding and nice. However, the waitress was called over and took my plate, returned later to ask me did I want another plate made. I responded and told her that I didn't want the pasta ever again due to that same issues twice already. The manager never came over and spoke to me, and the restaurant wasn't busy so she wasn't concerned about a customer who spends their money, and she still didn't come talk to me until I got my ticket and the waitress had charged me for the full dinner. After the manager decided to come check, she explained that since I ate some of my food, she only could discount me $4.00. I tried to explain that the food wasn't worth it and I only complained after I found the hair in my main entree. I figured if the main entree was food, I wouldn't ever complain about a few sides. I told her the salad had bad lettuce and the soup was cold. She did not care, she said she did what she could do. I am very disappointed and dissatisfied with the service I received from the restaurant. I would rather drive 72 miles to another location than visit that one again. I wish the manager cared more but she did not. I paid for my food and left and I told the waitress this was the last time I would be spending my money at their restaurant.

November 14, 2017. My family went out for all you can eat shrimp just after lunch hours. There wasn't anybody in there. The service was terrible. I couldn't get refills on anything, even water. We go there often, that was the worst. I hope you could help me and compensate my family to keep us coming with truly great results
Thank you for your consideration into this matter.
Unhappy customer.
Again thank you.

Reference #TS156346L My check # 14795
On November 17, 2017 Celebrating my twins nieces 9th birthday at 2579 Cobb Parkway location it was about 25 children and 10 adults. And they only give us two waiters . It was horrible the manager set the wait staff up for failure . My food was horrible the shrimp was hard . My waiter Leigh B. Did the best she could she got everyone order right, I feel if we had about four waiters it would have been a great experience. My sister made reservation so the location was aware of how many people will be attending, so there is no reason why this location was not ready . If they were short of staff the manager should on try to call other location to see if they had any staff that will like to look at Cobb Parkway location. The manager set the wait staff up to have a successful night. I feel that the manager made need to take so leadership classes.

Hello me and my husband wanted to celebrate our birthday by going to red lobster one of our favorite restaurants and we was so upset with the food and service..we order multiple things my salad haf hair in it and my husband lobster was over cooked we order more biscuits that we never got and the server barley came to ask how our food was if we need refills on our drinks nothing just rude..the kids at the front joking and talking about the customers as they come in and out ..i couldn't believe it the place was so unprofessional im still in shock..i was so upset the fact i really wanted me and my husband to enjoy ourselves and our bill came to 60 something dollars..the server never asked if we even wanted dessert..ok my rant is over just thought yall should know.

We attended the Williamsport, PA Red Lobster on November 11, 2017. We called in ahead of time for 7 people. When we arrived we told Eddie the hostess that there was only 5. He repeated it back. Then on multiple occasions told us that our party of 5 was coming up. 20, 0000 people later he said, "You're a party of 7." And we said, "We are a party of 5 and we told you that." And he acted surprised! And when we looked at him, this psycho [censor] tips his head to the side and smiles! And said "Good thing your party is next then!"

I was a new hire with the red lobster company. I had a very difficult time with the staff. Over all I was a very good server making the establishment over $15, 000 in the two months that I was there. My sales were up my liquor sales were up, and my add on's were up. However I was viciously bullied by Willie Esterling, he would clear my order screen if I rung in a table. Which made it really difficult to bring the food for guests in a timely manner. I was told on numerous occasions that we were 86 Salmon, Broccoli, and snow crab legs. This was really disheartening to experience as a lot of the major meals have these items illustrated in the Red Lobster menu. The line cooks are selling marijuana to the staff, as well as the staff using and holding drugs while serving guests. When I went to the GM to explain what I was experiencing I was told that they would look into it, however nothing was ever done. Last week Willie Esterling ordered in a mozzarella cheese stick that was sitting in the window for at least a hour. Noone claimed it, and other servers were already tasting from it. When I decided to get one Willie saw me and asked me to leave the premises. I was then fired for eating a burnt mozzarella cheese stick out the window. I was told $9, 000 a month is lost in food that wasn't sold, so whenever a manager witnesses someone eating food that isn't a paid it is a terminal offense. I honestly feel like this Red lobster needs a serious investigation, with the removal of certain managers who are doing this to people. I was two months in learning from what I saw other Servers do. It is not right. Servers were ordering food for them selves during the endless shrimp, and telling me if I was hungry just ring in a refill order and keep it for yourself. Yet they are still employed. I was singled out, and discriminated against because of my religion, and background.

Melinda Vander Vieran is racist and prejudice against black co-workers at Red Lobster! In 1994 to 1995 Melinda Vander Vieran cost black co-workers to walk out and quit their jobs at Red Lobster Brown Deer (Milwaukee) Wisconsin. Sue Stinefast-Grabowski fired Red Lobster manager Justin Matherine in 1994 and hired new manager Melinda Vander Vieran. Melinda does not want no black co-worker to make it through Red Lobster. She cost Rennard Cotton, Antoine (Uno) Bluntson, Dwight Williams their jobs at Red Lobster. Melinda Vander Vieran got fired for stealing money at Red Lobster in 1995. Melinda was greedy and had to steal money from Red Lobster. Melinda does not deserve to be restaurant manager at Red Lobster and She doesn't deserve to work at Red Lobster! Melinda is bad for business, restaurant management and bad for Red Lobster!

I arranged a dinner for my mother's 74th birthday dinner on September 23rd. I called ahead around 4:30pm regarding our 16 party dinner. I let them know we were celebrating a birthday. We arrived at 6pm expecting to be seated at 6:30pm or a few minutes later. When we arrived, we were told there were two large parties and we would have to wait about 45 minutes to be seated. We found seats and began to wait patiently. After an hour, I approached the hostess regarding our table and she mentioned they were not sure when we would be seated. She said the two larger parties were not done as of yet, although it looked like they were wrapping up soon. I asked to talked to the manager. He came over only to explain that this matter was caused by the "endless shrimp" promotion. The two large parties were sitting / eating for now over two hours. At about 7:45pm, keep in mind we all arrived at 6:00pm, 5 members of our party became so hungry that they left to go to the 7/11 next door for snacks and decided not to return. It was now past 8pm, I'm there with my elderly mom and 10 members of my family, kids and adults age ranging from 10 to 74. The parties are still enjoy endless shrimp until about 8:30m when they decided they had enough shrimp and left. It was an excruciating experience. The worst ever. We stayed because my mother's favorite restaurant is Red Lobster. Not once during that enormously long wait, did anyone of your staff came over and offered us something to drink. I asked for water for my mother. Not once, did anyone offered a biscuit to tie us over until dinner. Please think to implement that in the future. It would go a long way. Finally, we were seated at 8:45 pm and the two waitresses did their best to serve us quickly. The manager didn't come over at once to check on us. I was even more amazed that your restaurant did not offer us a couple appetizers as a token of appreciation for our business...our patience. Please do not let others go through this. End that promotion or implement some courtesy services to keep your customers happy while they wait for unexpectedly long periods of time. I'm requesting a gift certification to take my mom back to your restaurant with my family (not the extended, they will not return) for a dinner. She deserves that...we all do. I appreciate your attention and consideration. I'm hoping you will make this right. Thanks! [name removed] My number is [removed] My address is [removed]

My husband and I ate lunch on November 4, 2017 for our anniversary. We used 2 gift cards I'd gotten after undergoing surgery for cancer. Our server deducted one gift card for $25 and claimed the other card value of $50 did not work. He gave us back the wrong card so when I went to use it today the balance was $0.00. So our server took our $50 gift card and we are out that money. I would appreciate something being done so that we get our $50 gift card back. I have receipts for everything for documenting proof.

Cheryl Burrell

My husband and I went to Red Lobster on our anniversary, September 27, 2017 and had the absolute worst experience ever. I ordered a meal with crab and could not even get a small fork to eat the crab with even after asking over 4 times. We had completely finished our entire meal, except for the crab which was cold by then. The manager truly did not care and this was on a Wednesday and they were not even busy. I emailed you about our experience. I can't believe no one has even take the time to respond to me at all. I even gave you the information from the receipt. I thought you all had a better reputation than this but I'm really disappointed in Red Lobster. You were always my favorite restaurant to go to, but I must admit, I haven't been back since and probably will never go back after the lack of concern I have received from you all. I guess I would rather spend a little bit more money knowing I will get better service at a different seafood restaurant. Obviously between the corporate office and the local management I cannot believe the "Oh. well" attitude. It would be nice to hear from somebody.

Hello,

I was at the Red Lobster on Sunday the 29th. I order a lobster bisque bowl and some appetizers. When I was half way eating my soup I found a piece of plastic. I told the waitress and she explain to me that they come in a bag and it looks like when they cut it open a piece fell on the soup. She said she will have the manager come and talk to me. He came over and apologized and said he will take the item off my ticket. Well, when I got the bill they charged be $6.99 instead of $9.99 for the inconvenience.! I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to argue since my friend who was with me was not feeling well. I think I should have not paid for that item at all. I don't even know if I will go back again. thank you

I took my family to dinner last night and was very disappointed. After 30 minutes of waiting to be seated, 20 minutes to be served (we all ordered all you can eat shrimp). When we wanted more shrimp it took 20 minutes for a small portion and we were only able to order one portion at a time. So it turns out unlimited shrimp is actually limited, by portion and the time in between orders.. some deal 😞

I just want to say that today, October 28th, I ate at red lobster in Jackson Tn and it was so cold in there me and my wife couldn't enjoy our meal. My wife had to put her gloves on and people sitting around us was also talking about how cold it was in the building. I overheard a waitress say something about she don't want it warm in there because she will get hot while she works. I looked at the thermostat that was behind my booth and it showed 59 degrees in the building, when I left it was 60 degrees. That's a little cold when you want to sit and relax for a lunch.

It was my 55 birthday!-myself and the entire family went out to dine!-we went go the one in valley stream-thinking it would be cleaner, have fresher food!-better service! We were disgusted to say thr least! The food was cold!-and the wait was ridiculous! The drinks came after the meal was almost gone!-I have always loved red lobster especially for my birthday meal!' what happened!

My wife and I went to our local Red Lobster in Aurora Illinois for our date night celebrating 23 years of marriage. After we got seated Mike was our server and he was also the bartender. After we got our drinks he came back to our table once after the manager was called over. I called the manager over because we got our food and the shrimp was raw. Which I took a picture of. The service was terrible and the food was raw and our drinks were never refilled. I have never been so disappointed from a restaurant before. The manager didn't seem very sympathetic over our situation and my car server just ignored us all night long.

Me and my friend arrive at v3Red Lobster and we were seated after we were seated I waitress never came back for another 20 minutes during that time another waitress was nice enough to get our drinks we explain can we please speak with a manager because it has been 20 minutes and we still have not been able to order our food arrive when the manager a ride we explain to the manager that the service has been very unsatisfied and that no one should have to wait 20 minutes just to put in an order for their food the manager tried to explain that the young waitress was helping another table but but that same table the manager was referring to the party was leaving once we were seated so we can understand why we had to wait so long just to place I order so we left because the service was very unprofessional and very unsatisfied. So me and my friend decided to get Red Lobster another try and went back the next week and during that time we were seated again and still no waitress never came and took out order. And we set there for over 20 minutes I politely got up and explain to the manager and he tried to say he was sorry but I explained to him this is the second incident since we've been here and I don't think Red Lobster value their customers

My husband and I arrived with the Hostess greeting us. She asked if we wanted a table or sit at the bar. She said it was a 10 to 15 min wait. But there were plenty of seats available as we walked towards the bathroom in the back. The bathroom was HORRIBLE!. There were overflowing trash bins, the 1st stall had tissue on the floor toilet unflushed so was the next stall.