this post was submitted on 24 May 2024
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I have never thought of Red Lobster as particularly 'affordable', nor 'beloved' as the article repeatedly insists.
I'm not taking sides at all, I'm sure the facts behind the article stand for themselves, but it feels like an attempt to be a sob story when a beleaguered and overpriced restaurant chain goes under - even if it was drowned.
It's peak "middle class fancy" to me. It's not cheap, has not been for a while. But it's the kind of place you could bring three kids and feel fancy, yet not totally blow the budget. It's not "fine dining" but it's a cosplay for a large demographic
I think it had more of an image of affordable classiness in the early 90's. My family couldn't really afford to eat out much back then, but I feel like eating at chain food places that had waiters was more of a rarity.
Hell, back then wendys and pizza hut were considered a sit down restaurant for the family.
I've never been and I've lived in the Midwest for most of my life. The few times I've loved seafood was when it was fresh.
When I was poor, I thought it was fancy, when I was well off I tried it a few times. Now I know it's the Applebee's of sea food.
Boomers love it. The younger generations really don't frequent it.
I've eaten at red lobster maybe once? But I'm from Seattle so if I want good seafood I'd just got to any dozen of the local redturants that buy local.
The problem where I live is that there aren’t any other options for seafood-focused restaurants, and the fanciest of local regular restaurants are similarly priced ($100-150 for two) or cheaper while also serving much better food. The few places that are “higher tier” than that are weird old people bars that have giant spread-eagle nude paintings on the walls and their food is always disappointing.
There’s nothing wrong with properly frozen seafood, so at the rate we went to Red Lobster, maybe twice per year, we’re better off satisfying our seafood cravings by buying at the store and preparing it at home. It will taste better at about 1/3 the price. We can spend our “fancy date” money at a local restaurant and have consistently better experiences all around.
TBH I’m looking forward to Red Lobster not being an option anymore. Support your local restaurants.