# Why is Red Lobster Failing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 19, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513 "2014-04-19T22:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/141 "2014-04-22T15:59:38Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > or Outhouse Steakhouse > [@wguy123](#): > > I don’t think that chain has made it to my part of the world. I must say, I am intrigued! 😃 Avoid the creamed corn. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/142 "2014-04-22T16:28:08Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Avoid the creamed corn. And the peanuts… ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/143 "2014-04-22T16:30:29Z")
I wonder if the increasing quality and availability of frozen seafood at grocery stores has anything to do with it? As a kid, there were “fish sticks”, which were rectangular breaded fish pieces that you baked or fried. Not god-awful, but not particularly good either. You could get a very limited selection of fresh (mostly catfish), canned (tuna, salmon, crab and shrimp) and frozen(cod, catfish and shrimp) seafood at your average grocery store. Sometime in the late-80s/early-90s, companies like Gorton’s and Van De Kamp started making a whole variety of frozen fish fillets that you baked or fried, and frozen fish became a much bigger thing. Now, inland in Dallas, I can get fresh salmon, catfish, shrimp, and probably a half-dozen kinds of frozen fish fillets - catfish, tilapia, cod, salmon, swai, etc… and the aforementioned varieties of pre-breaded fillets, nuggets and sticks. It seems to me that if you had a hankering for seafood and didn’t want rectangular fish sticks in 1985, you pretty much had to go to somewhere like Red Lobster, or spend a lot more, if you didn’t live near the coast. Now you can go get it in a box and bake it right up in your own oven for a lot less. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/144 "2014-04-22T16:34:46Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Same with mexican food. I’ve eaten both Chipotle and Taco Bell and honestly they aren’t THAT much of a difference for me, so I tend to just go to Taco Bell cuz…hey…cheaper. Oh, son… you have to go get something else in the Mexican arena- maybe some good enchiladas for dinner, some migas for breakfast, maybe some chilaquiles and fajitas for dinner. Taco Bell & Chipotle, while not really bad, are kind of like comparing Totino’s frozen pizza to the real thing. There’s a lot of upward steps on the Mexican food ladder for you. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/145 "2014-04-22T17:13:50Z")
If I ever consider Applebee’s or Olive Garden a “nice restaurant” someone needs to shoot me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/146 "2014-04-22T19:46:07Z")
I would take them (RL) over in a New York minute if I had the capital funding. I would change the menu to a cafeteria style menu with a cafeteria style waiting line that leads you through a cafeteria experience. If you want something that takes longer like steak take a number and have a seat. I would put in a Boston Whaler salad bar and I would put a attractive hostess with a low cut pirates outfit on to serve you from the salad bar, because I don’t like other people putting their hands in my food. One trip through, one price per plate … extra plate = extra price. Get them in and get them out except on week-end nights make it a date with entertainment like a comedian or ballad singer. If you got the money honey I got the time … anyone want to open a seafood restaurant? This is not a family buffet, yuck! More like a Libby’s with style like they use to have in Houston (maybe they still do) with little kiosks outside the main cafeteria line. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/147 "2014-04-22T20:42:50Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I don’t think that chain has made it to my part of the world. I must say, I am intrigued! 😃 Their motto: We Recycle. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/148 "2014-04-22T20:47:03Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > Well… Paquito’s near here has 100 tequilas and some great handrolled flautas, but is suspiciously short on AM Crunchwraps or Cheesy Gordita Crunches 😉 > > That’s not to speak to or against the merit of running for the Border… just that their “Mexican Pizza is neither Mexican nor Pizza. Discuss.” My point was to be adventurous the first time. Flautas are sure to be much better than you can get at Taco Bell (assuming they sell them.) Second time he can get the enchiladas and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/149 "2014-04-22T20:54:16Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I kind of alluded to it above, but this is part of the problem with me and my lack of elite food tastes. > > I don’t really have the gumption to go to yelp, find a place, get in my car, drive there (by myself no less…maybe in a month when future-mrs-cups comes) and try somewhere. I would rather just go to the places I know that are close to me. Not saying I’m right in my thinking (in fact, I’m probably more wrong) but if I feel this way, how much of 'Merica does too? Depend on where you are, I suppose. I used to travel a lot for business, and if I got too nervous about eating by myself I’d have starved. (I hate room service, and it often wasn’t available.) The kind of restaurants we’re talking about aren’t fancy. They aren’t expensive. You can probably look up the menu on line. I bet lots of people will tell you what you want to eat. Then you can be a man of the world for the future Mrs. Cups. Heck, around here we have a nice storefront place, mostly take out, run by a really nice guy. Good food also. I realize you might not have a place like that near you. Give it a shot. You’ll be glad you did. Or PM me your zip code and I can look for good possibilities near you. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/150 "2014-04-22T21:17:24Z")
Perhaps the [rising price of fish](http://www.cnbc.com/id/100826432)is impacting them as well. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/151 "2014-04-23T02:10:13Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Perhaps the [rising price of fish](http://www.cnbc.com/id/100826432)is impacting them as well. > > Regards, > Shodan Thank you for bring that to our attention Shodan … I read it and they blamed China Oh no not another thing to blame China for :smack: Then they went on to say that: > [@](#): > > The cost of tuna – one of the most heavily traded fish species – has risen 12 per cent in the past year, to reach a record high, on strong demand from makers of sashimi and sushi, as well as from the canned tuna industry. This has coincided with smaller catches. > > Shrimp, another heavily traded species, has risen in price by 22 per cent over the same period as supplies have been hit by disease in southeast Asia, as well as by a fall in wild harvests. > > Salmon prices, meanwhile, have surged 27 per cent – but remain well below their record highs. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/152 "2014-04-23T13:13:40Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > Thank you for bring that to our attention Shodan … I read it and they blamed China > Oh no not another thing to blame China for :smack: > > Then they went on to say that: Tuna? Like Chicken of the Sea? But…like…is it fish? Or Chicken? ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/153 "2014-04-23T14:17:49Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > And the peanuts… And _that_ is almost certainly not fudge. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/154 "2014-04-24T12:13:14Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > I would change the menu to a cafeteria style menu with a cafeteria style waiting line that leads you through a cafeteria experience. > > I would put in a Boston Whaler salad bar and I would put a attractive hostess with a low cut pirates outfit on to serve you from the salad bar, because I don’t like other people putting their hands in my food. > > Get them in and get them out except on week-end nights make it a date with entertainment like a comedian or ballad singer. > > If you got the money honey I got the time … anyone want to open a seafood restaurant? You kind of read my mind. Not necessarily the cafeteria aspect, but I like that too. I was thinking they should revamp into something kitschy-swank. Think 1950’s resort/lounge. Cute chubby guy in a shiny suit playing the piano. Maybe do more of an a la carte/tapas thing if not the cafeteria style. I go to RL a few times a year now, since we moved to East BF, Indiana. We’ve “done” the local restaurants, quirky and otherwise, and still do. They try, bless their hearts. Sometimes I just want a big plate of garlic butter shrimp and nostalgia. The kids like it, too. I’m old enough to have gone to RL before a high school formal, and enjoyed myself. (Plus they had a reputation of not carding. Heh. The daquiris used to be pretty good.) Anyway, I’d like to see the chain not die. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/155 "2014-04-24T13:30:32Z")
I just want to let everyone know that for my birthday my brother got be a $50 giftcard to RL. I had to chuckle because literally the first thing I thought of was this thread 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/156 "2014-04-24T19:09:00Z")
This thread made me remember [an event many years ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=721739)that might have had something to do with Red Lobster and its lack of recent success. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/157 "2014-04-24T19:11:26Z")
We used to eat at Red Lobster all the time but rarely due anymore. In short, way too expensive for what you get. They want to charge gourmet restaurant prices for middle-of-the-road food. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/158 "2014-04-24T19:28:13Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > This thread made me remember [an event many years ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=721739)that might have had something to do with Red Lobster and its lack of recent success. Everyone, go read his story, now. ---
**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/159 "2014-04-24T19:41:54Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Not the kind to shrimp back, I’ve eaten there for the halibut. I cod tuna you out for that joke but that’d be shellfish. Sorry, salmon haddock do it. back on topic, not much else to add. bad food and high prices ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513/160 "2014-05-16T13:42:03Z")
[http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/darden-to-sell-red-lobster-for-2-1-billion/?\_php=true&\_type=blogs&\_r=0](http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/darden-to-sell-red-lobster-for-2-1-billion/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0) The parent company (Darden) that owns the Red Lobster chain is selling it for $2.1 billion to a private equity firm. I guess it still has some value. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-red-lobster-failing/686513.md?page=9)