[pooh]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

No, I don't have anything against Darden for selling.

Restaurants fail all the time. As the Polar Bear said, that's capitalism. Even the Golden Corral on 441 is closed and that was a better deal (value for the money) for consumers than Red Lobster. Apparently, no one worried about the employees enough to keep eating there.

This is capitalism! It's all about competition and may the best man win. There's a high turnover of restaurants. Restaurants come and go in The Villages. What happened to the employees? They have to sharpen their survival skills. What happened to the employees at Darden?

Notice that restaurants don't bother asking us what we like or don't like. Wendy's used to have a suggestion box years ago but not anymore. Who else has one? None that I know of. Some will take suggestions by phone; lot's of luck with that. How can they improve and stay in business if they are blind to what we want?

Are you a chef? Are you familiar with how a restaurant works, prices meals?
Darden has an upscale restaurant, The Capital Grille...seems to be doing well for the company. The company seems to prefer the more upscale type of dining establishment and Red Lobster was not that type of restaurant. More lower cost type of dining with people looking for not necessarily expensive foods, just good tasting foods at a reasonable cost. Foods in the chain's upscale restaurants cost more, for the restaurants to purchase and for the customer to enjoy.
The new owners of Red Lobster have decided to provide a bit more upscale dining experience for their patrons. Will it be so upscale that it becomes unaffordable for many? Who knows. Some more expensive restaurants purchase locally grown produce, locally raised
beef, pork, lamb, chicken. There may also buy fish from speciality sellers, providing the type of fresh fish many prefer. This I know first hand, VPL.

Will the employees from the old Red Lobster chain keep their jobs? Hopefully, but I can't say they will. There will be new menus, new attitudes, and employees retained had better adapt and adjust to the new management. It will be up to the executive chef and the restaurant general manager to make sure the business is run in a way to keep it successful and a secure working place for all who are employed by the company.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Why do I hope they fail? Because their plan is to change the public's perception of quality by raising prices. Also, they are going to use a round dish instead of an oblong dish. The round dish looks to be a little smaller and they plan to pile the food higher to make it look like more food for the money.



Deceive, deceive, deceive, this is what restaurants do best. That's their plan for turning the business around. So I hope they fail.

If you don't like the food or their actions...just don't go. I don't understand the negativity.

[buggyone]

Basically, a silly thread idea of "hoping they will fail".

Personally, the idea of re-inventing Red Lobster does not make sense by doing away with promos and specials and of using smaller plates for the same amount of food just does not seem the way to call yourself an upscale restaurant.

To me, the only good thing at Red Lobster are the cheese biscuits and they are delicious.

I have not chosen Red Lobster to eat at in The Villages but have gone with friends a few times. I will continue that same trend. If friends choose to eat there and invite me, I will go.

Why get so upset at a restaurant's idea of re-invention to post a thread of "hoping they fail"? Just don't go and leave it at that.

I personally think the idea of Gator's Dockside advertising their 1% surcharge for ACA costs is absurd. I won't go there. 'Nuff said.

[DougB]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Why do I hope they fail? Because their plan is to change the public's perception of quality by raising prices. Also, they are going to use a round dish instead of an oblong dish. The round dish looks to be a little smaller and they plan to pile the food higher to make it look like more food for the money.

Deceive, deceive, deceive, this is what restaurants do best. That's their plan for turning the business around. So I hope they fail.

C'mon, I know you don't eat at Red Lobster anyway.

[John_W]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

.15 cents? I think the least expensive I ever had was at White Castle - 4 for a dollar. The very first McDonald's I ever saw offered a complete meal for one dollar, if you can call it a meal. It consisted of a hamburger, French fries and a soft drink. With all the salt, starch, grease and sugar, what's not to like?

First time I ate at McDonalds was about 1962 in St. Petersburg and burgers were 15cents and fries were 19cents. That's when you sat outside on a concrete picnic table and ordered your food from a window and they had golden arches on each side of the building.



I've been eating at Red Lobster since 1972 when I was stationed in Savannah, Georgia. The chain has changed a lot from those days. Then it was one big room, brightly lit, blue painted wood walls and red vinyl booths. Crab Legs were usually about $7.99 for the dinner. It's always been one of my favorite places to get lunch. For $10 I can pick two shrimps (breaded & scampi) baked potato and cole slaw. They have the best cole slaw anywhere. Also I liked the grilled chicken with rice pilaf and a shrimp side.

[yabbadu]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Why do I hope they fail? Because their plan is to change the public's perception of quality by raising prices. Also, they are going to use a round dish instead of an oblong dish. The round dish looks to be a little smaller and they plan to pile the food higher to make it look like more food for the money.

Deceive, deceive, deceive, this is what restaurants do best. That's their plan for turning the business around. So I hope they fail.

Bitter, Bitter, Bitter!!!

[Avista]

My husband and I had a very nice lunch at Red Lobster only yesterday. Today we were still talking about how good the food was.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by Avista

My husband and I had a very nice lunch at Red Lobster only yesterday. Today we were still talking about how good the food was.

I love Red Lobster ! Love the coconut shrimp !

[Jaggy]

I quit going to eat there once I found I could make the cheese biscuits from a box- It was on sale at Sam's.. the biscuits were usually the only reason to go to Red Lobster.

[DigitalGranny]

I go for the crab legs. Are there good ones elsewhere in a TV?

[Vic&Judy]

It's called "marketing;" I hope they continue to employ people.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by DigitalGranny

I go for the crab legs. Are there good ones elsewhere in a TV?

Alfies out on 25 has really good ones. 2 lbs of crab legs and 2 sides for, I think, for 23.00. Very good. Had them a few times !

[Northstar]

"I Seafood Differently", I think their food is just fine.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Boy! This post is a treasure trove! Where should I begin?

Better ingredients? How will we know if the ingredients are better? The article I read in the Daily Sun didn't say anything about better ingredients. It sounds like a safe way to justify higher prices. I'm skeptical.

I agree about the prices. They didn't say they would raise the prices but they said they will do away with the specials like 2 for $25. That's the same as raising prices.

They might not go out of business. But if and when their plan fails, they will have to rethink what they are doing and come up with a better plan. Although, they will never admit to a failed plan. Maybe they are hoping that a better economy will come to the rescue

That was not a treasure trove of anything. It was a repeat of what was said on the national news and in two newspapers, quoting from the CEO. I don't read the Daily Sun.

I guess you wouldn't know if the ingredients are better if you don't eat there. Any of the rest of us who shop for ingredients and cook will recognize a good ingredient from a poor one.

[asianthree]

Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed..I do like the cheese biscuit