Horrible experience at Red Lobster on 35th Street N.E. (Calgary)

[nicoelh]

Wow, I'm so totally dissatisfied with our experience at the Red Lobster in Calgary on 35th Street N.E. We initially were hoping for Olive Garden, but it was so busy. I should have clued in when the parking lot had hardly any cars at the Red Lobster.

• It really wasn't that busy, but we still had to wait for a table (that's fine, that happens!)
• The greeter finally told us the table was ready, but when we got there, there was stuff on it still. We stood there as she wiped it down. I fetched my own high chair for my 1 year old son.
• We waited ~10 minutes before a server stopped to ask if we'd been helped yet (which we hadn't). She took our drink and food orders and said she'd let our server know.
• No refills on drinks, nothing, until our food came and she noticed that my fiance's glass was empty.
• My lunch seemed to be okay but my fiance had ordered the Chef's Special (or something like that?). It said it would be fried shrimp, grilled shrimp and 2 pieces of fish with french fries. I wish I took a picture of what showed up because it was 4 little grilled shrimp, 4 little fried shrimp and what looked to be 2-bites of thin fish (vs. 2 pieces!). There was maybe about 10-15 fries on the plate.
• He leaned over to me and said that the fish tasted rubbery and the fried shrimp was soggy. I told him to send it back. It took another 10 minutes to finally find a server who took the plate and said she could exchange it for the grilled chicken sandwich (like I had ordered).
• I finished eating (and I'm a slow eater!) and his lunch still hadn't arrived. He finally just asked for the bill. They sent him home with the sandwich (comp'ed), but even when we got home, the lettuce on the sandwich was wilted, with brown rotten ends and the tomatoes didn't look any better.

I think I'll call the manager and write to Red Lobster's headquarters to let them know just how totally dissatisfied we are with our lunch out. I wish we'd kept the money in our pockets and just ate at home.

Anyone else have a bad experience there?

How about suggestions of really great places to eat in Calgary? We're new to the area and would be quite happy to find a place (good-value!) that comes highly recommended.

[monkeyincowtown]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience I personally LOVE the Cactus Club on Barlow and 39th!!! Its a little bit pricey but the food is always AMAZING and always very good service

[kimcool]

For consistency and good value i am fan of Swiss Chalet. Love it or hate it, but I love it.

I also like the Blackfoot truck stop lol. Blackfoot ( aka 17th ave) just off of Deerfoot. seriously. Yes, you have to be willing to enjoy a truck stop lol. But they make soup from scratch and I am headed there right now for a bowl of soup and a club sandwhich. I had a craving for a greasy spoon. They make it with oven roasted turkey. yum. One of the cashiers is in her 80's and I think her sister owns it who is in her 80's or 90's. it's a hidden gem.

Otherwise, I quite like Joey tomatoes, the Keg at 130th and LOVE Kefi for greek (On McLeod Trail, near southland if I recall). Also really like Cravings. love it. You can get an awesome steak sandwhich for about $20 but it is sooo good. ALSO the calamari! yum. But you can get good value there too ie equally awesome daily made soup or salad combo for under $10. love it. and all high quality as it is connected with a major catering company. Amazing little to go desserts to for your home dinner parties

http://www.cravingsmarketrestaurant.com/

I love food in general.

[macgilma]

Perkins on Barlow is ok and so is the Toad and Turtle just off Barlow. There is a White Spot off Barlow and 32nd Avenue. I've never heard good things about Red Lobster so never eat there.

[Angelfingers]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience I personally LOVE the Cactus Club on Barlow and 39th!!! Its a little bit pricey but the food is always AMAZING and always very good service

I really enjoy the food at the Cactus Club, but the last time I was there the service was HORRIBLE!!! The server completly messed up our drink order, which started off the chain reaction of terrible and somewhat lacking service. Luckily the kitchen did a great job with our ravioli because the server didn't even bother to check up on how we were enjoying our meal until AFTER we chowed down on our last bites. The meal was topped off with being charged for her screw-up on the drink order. We had the bill fixed, and we will return - but not for the service, but rather just for the food.

[monkeyincowtown]

^ that's too bad about the service! I've never encountered that there, but I guess even if I did, I would still go too since I love the food and I'm out to eat afterall btw I've had the ravioli there too and it was divine!!!

[nicoelh]

Thanks for the restaurant suggestions. We'll definitely be taking our business elsewhere, and we do like White Spot, Swiss Chalet, etc. May have to check out the truck stop!! :D

[leo82]

LivingSocial.com has a list of 365 things to do in Calgary and among them are some really really good places to eat.

Here are a list of favs of mine
Breakfast
Dairy Lane Cafe
319 19th Street NW
403 283 2497

Monday to Friday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Weekends: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

Bumpys Cafe
1040 - 8th Street SW
403 265-0244

Belmont Diner Omlettes
2008 33rd Ave. S.W. (Marda Loop)
242-6782
Mon - Fri 7AM - 3PM
Sat, Sun, Hols 7AM - 4

Lunch
Holy Grill Panini's
827 10 Avenue SW
403-261-9759
M - F 7:30 - 4pm
Sat 10am - 4pm
Sun Closed

Tubby Dogs
103 1022 17Ave SW
403 244 0694
Sun-Thu 11:30AM - Late
Fri - Sat 11:30AM - 1AM Rest Service
Fri - Sat 1AM - 4AM Window Service

Le Chien Chaud Gourmet Hot Dogs
#3 2015 4 Street SW
403 229 3641
Mon - Sat: 11 am - 8 pm
Sun: 12 noon - 5 pm

Best Viet Bun
Touch of Ginger

Dinner
Big Fish
1112 Edmonton Trail NE
403 277 3403

Monday-Thursday: 11:30a - 10p

Friday: 11:30a - 11p

Saturday: 10a - 11p

(brunch served 10a - 2p)

Sunday: 9a - 2p and 5p - 10p

(brunch served 9a - 2p)

Famoso Neapolitan
#105 2303 4th Street SW
403-455-3839
Mon-Sun: 11am - 11pm

Vin Room
‎
2310-4th St SW
403 457-5522

NOtaBLE <-OMG I LOVE THIS PLACE!! AND CHEF NOBLE WAS ON IRON CHEF!! WENT HERE YESTERDAY!! *See attached pic
4611 Bowness Road NW
403.288.4372
Mondayclosed Tuesday11:30am - 10pm Wednesday11:30am - 10pm Thursday11:30am - 11pm Friday11:30am - 11pm Saturday10am - 11pm Sunday10am - 9pm

Jacqueline Suzanne’s Bistro Brunch & Dinner
1219 9th Ave SE
403 266-1005

SUSHI
TOWA on 4st
WA's on Center St & 16Ave
Shikiji just down the street from Wa's (opp side of 16ave)

Desserts
Choklat
1327A 9th Avenue SE
403 457 1419
Open 10:00am - 6:00pm Daily

Spoon Me
#100 1130 Kensington Rd. NW
403.453.2101
Mon - Thurs: 11am - 10pm
Fri - Sat: 11am - midnight
No Spooning on Sunday
Full-screen
Manuel Latruwe Bakery
1333 - 1 Street SE
403. 261.1092

Tuesday 7:30am to 5:00pm
Wednesday7:30am to 5:00pm
Thursday7:30am to 6:00pm
Friday 7:30am to 6:00pm
Saturday 7:30am to 5:00pm

The District Deep Fried Bacon Bucket
607 11Ave SW
403 233 2433

Bumpy's Muffins
1040 - 8th Street SW
403.265.0244
Monday-Friday: 6:30am to 5:00pm
Saturday: 7:30am to 4:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am to 3:30pm
Holidays: Closed

Cruff's House of Cream Puffs
2312A – 4th Street SW
403-453-1134
Tue - Sun 10AM - 7:30PM Closed Mon