Red Lobster Restaurant Locations: Does anyone know?

This has been driving me crazy for ages!

For years I have seen Red Lobster commercials broadcast across the border from the USA and as a self confessed seafood (lobster/prawn/scallop/crab) addict it really irked (yes I said "irked") me to learn that here in BC we have NO Red Lobster restaurants...

Yes you can get in your car and drive to Bellingham or Seattle or Lynnwood, WA or jump on a plane and fly to Calgary but that seems a bit over the top to get 'all you can eat shrimp', y'know? Should you really need to get a passport to go for dinner? :confused:

Being a bit of an entrepreneur and seeing real potential for a location here, I even considered buying a franchise, but that was another dead end... the company does not franchise... it owns all locations and they put them where they want to...:rant:

So all this said, does anyone know why Red Lobster decided in their infinite wisdom not to put a location here? Any suggestions how to get their attention and get them to consider one? How about an online petition? :shrug:

Wow, this (slightly tongue in cheek) rant has made me hungry... can someone mail me a lobster or two? :lol:

Thanks for reading... Happy New Year!

~Trev

Have you tried Red Lobster yet? I know the commercials make their food look sooooo good, but I have to admit to you that I don't really care for it, and I am a seafood fanatic! Anything that I have tried there is very greasy or overcooked. I've tried a couple of restaurants in my area, also one across the border in Minnesota - all the same. I was so stoked about going to Red Loster when I first moved here (cause I'm originally from BC and I know what you're talking about :) ), but I wasn't too happy the first time. I chalked it up to bad cooks in that one location. But then I tried another, and another, same everywhere. Maybe someone else has had better luck than I have with RL?
:) If you want to petition for a restaurant, try for the Olive Garden! Yum! :)

Just my humble opinion

There is a Red Lobster in Kitchener! Sorry it's in Ontario though!

I know there is one in Peterborough, Ontario too. But the real questions is, why would you want a Red Lobster when you live in BC? There must have a ton of restaurants that serve great sea food, even if you aren't directly in a coastal city.

Go Jays: Yes I have been there *once* ... while on business in Calgary for a couple of days a friend brought me to Red Lobster knowing I had never been there and had always wanted to try it... while not the very best seafood I've ever had, it was pretty good for the money and I was impressed enough to try to find out why the chain refused to put a location here...

Psycho: Why want a Red Lobster when we have so many seafood places here in a coastal city? Probably the same reason they have McDonalds in a place like Alberta where they raise some of the best cattle in the world for beef... sometimes you don't feel like "Filet Mignon" but have a craving for a nice affordable hamburger! ;)

Seriously though while we DO have some good seafood places here it is brutally expensive for anything good and the prices are nowhere even close to Red Lobster...

All that and it's really annoying to watch their commercials all the time but not be able to go there for dinner when you're in the mood for their latest special! ;)

I guess it just escapes me why BC is literally surrounded by Red Lobster's (Alberta and Washington) yet they won't put one here when it's such a strong niche and so many "instant customers" who have watched their commercials for years would love to check it out too... weird corporate strategy! :(

~Trev

It's like all the olive garden ads that I see on tv, and we have none in Ontario!!! Drives me nuts.

I feel your pain... we do have a Red Lobster here, but we've never been, it's too expensive!
But I feel the same way you do about Swiss Chalet!!! We don't have one! We did years ago, but it was in a very bad location, so they just pulled out and didn't relocate.
Oh, I heart Swiss Chalet!

no swiss chalet? oh wow, we have so many and yes I love it. :love4:

Red lobster is..alright. My bf doesn't eat/like seafood so we won't be going there anytime soon.

Well, the best part of Red Lobster has to be the cheese buns. Back a couple of decades ago when I was in school (eeek, I`m old!), we used to go for the lunch specials - soup, salad & cheese buns for $5. Yummy!

I have a friend who`s allergic to seafood who comes with me on occasion to have the roast chicken & of course the cheese buns. :P

& I too miss the Olive Garden. Especially the chocolate chip cheesecake. :shade:

Yrs ago, there was an amazing seafood restaurant near my parents, but now Red Lobster is about it (not that I`m complaining). Of course, the only thing I like on the menu are the fish & chips and the roast chicken (yes, it`s a sacrilege, but I`m only there for the cheese buns).

Have I mentioned how obsessed I am by those buns??? :P

LOL I have ask that question many times.. If they can have them back east why not BC.. I would drive to the coast for some..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Andit

Well, the best part of Red Lobster has to be the cheese buns. Back a couple of decades ago when I was in school (eeek, I`m old!), we used to go for the lunch specials - soup, salad & cheese buns for $5. Yummy!

Have I mentioned how obsessed I am by those buns??? :P

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There are a few recipes online for the Red Lobster Cheese Buns. :) I know that a few years ago you could also buy pre-made mix for them in the US. Dont know how well they compare, I've never been to a Red Lobster (I hate seafood -even the smell! LOL). But the mix was good!!! :)

Try this site if you want to try and make some: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1945...241206,00.html

HTH :)

Their food looks way better on tv then it tastes, its like a kfc but for seafood, and really expensive!

A well run mom and pop seafood restaurant would be so much better with fresh fish and seafoods rather then over processed red lobster.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sally888

Their food looks way better on tv then it tastes, its like a kfc but for seafood, and really expensive!

A well run mom and pop seafood restaurant would be so much better with fresh fish and seafoods rather then over processed red lobster.

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I couldn't agree more. :)

[QUOTE=Andit;1603105]Well, the best part of Red Lobster has to be the cheese buns. Back a couple of decades ago when I was in school (eeek, I`m old!), we used to go for the lunch specials - soup, salad & cheese buns for $5. Yummy!

I have a friend who`s allergic to seafood who comes with me on occasion to have the roast chicken & of course the cheese buns. :P

& I too miss the Olive Garden. Especially the chocolate chip cheesecake. :shade:

Yrs ago, there was an amazing seafood restaurant near my parents, but now Red Lobster is about it (not that I`m complaining). Of course, the only thing I like on the menu are the fish & chips and the roast chicken (yes, it`s a sacrilege, but I`m only there for the cheese buns).

Want to know how to make those buns, Andi?

Red Lobster Buns

Grab a box of Bisquick and make it up just the way it reads on the box.
Grate some medium or old cheddar and dump into the batter aong with a shake or two of onion powder.
Actually...it's better to mix it into the dry ingredients first, to separate them all.
Then plop the stuff onto a baking sheet.
Bake according to the directions.
Meanwhile prepare garlic butter in whichever way you please.
(garlic powder in butter is just fine)
When you take them out of the oven, immediately douse them with all over the garlic butter. Voila! RedMobster Buns!
Enjoy!

And ITA about RedLobster....looks better on tv.
Now what I want here is an Olive Garden and a Chili's!
My DH and I went to one in Orlando and we ordered an appy, drinks (two "frilly" ones for me), 2 entrees, and one mega dessert to split and it was under $30!!!!!
Our DD's girlfriend manages the OliveGarden in Langley...she's a sweetie!

[quote=Andit;1603105Have I mentioned how obsessed I am by those buns??? :P[/quote]
Me too! Hate the seafood but when I go I have salad and lots of buns LOL
Try the recipes for them online. A lady I know makes them and they are pretty much the same. She got the recipe from a "companys coming" book. Mmm... cheese buns!