Red Lobster Success Story

[gymnastjlf]

Hi all,

Sunday I went to Red Lobster for my dad's birthday. Now, as we know, Red Lobster as a whole is NOT celiac-friendly. But my dad had gift certificates for Red Lobster, and he's a seafood fanatic. So a couple days prior, I called the restaurant (Middletown NY). I spoke with the manager, Ellen. She was pretty sure that all the seasonings had gluten, but she checked, and sure enough all had wheat listed except for one (garden seasoning?) which had no ingredients listed. So we assumed that it contained wheat as well. She couldn't be certain about the buttery blend, as it contained natural and artificial flavors.

She recommended that I get fresh fish, specifying no butter and no seasonings, cooked in a clean pan. Same on the vegetables (no butter/seasonings). When I spoke to her on the phone, she said that a baked potato would be fine as well.

Getting to the restaurant, when we sat down, I explained to our server that I had spoken with Ellen, and she hurried off to get Ellen who assured me she would oversee the preparation of my meal personally. A few minutes after placing our order, Ellen came back over to the table, explaining that the outsides of the baked potatoes are coated in the buttery blend. Not knowing the extent of my "allergy," she didn't know if I still wanted the potato. She offered to substitute extra vegetables instead, an offer I gladly took her up on!

With a little pepper and lemon juice, I had a very good meal at Red Lobster in Middletown NY. I had an awful experience at another Red Lobster in the past, so I was very excited to receive such excellent care and concern from Ellen. For anyone in the area, I highly recommend it!

[linz7997]

if only the cheesy garlic biscuits were gluten free!!!!!

[mle-ii]

if only the cheesy garlic biscuits were gluten free!!!!!

Oh man! Don't remind me. They have got to be filled with crack or something they are... were so darn addictive.

[kabowman]

I have great experiences at our local Red Lobster - never have any problems, even when I go when they are busy.

[penguin]

For their cheddar bay biscuits, use your favorite gluten-free biscuit mix, and add:

1/2 cup cheddar cheese -- shredded

1/4 cup margarine or butter -- melted

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 tsp. parsley

(these are the gluten version directions):

Preheat oven to 450. Mix baking mix, milk and cheese until soft dough forms; beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 min. or until golden brown. Mix margarine and garlic powder; brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

Open Original Shared Link

That's taken from a copycat recipe that uses bisquick (2c.) and milk (2/3c) as well. It would probably be adjusting, but it's entirely possible to make them at home!!!

[mle-ii]

For their cheddar bay biscuits, use your favorite gluten-free biscuit mix, and add:

1/2 cup cheddar cheese -- shredded

1/4 cup margarine or butter -- melted

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 tsp. parsley

(these are the gluten version directions):

Preheat oven to 450. Mix baking mix, milk and cheese until soft dough forms; beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 min. or until golden brown. Mix margarine and garlic powder; brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

Open Original Shared Link

That's taken from a copycat recipe that uses bisquick (2c.) and milk (2/3c) as well. It would probably be adjusting, but it's entirely possible to make them at home!!!

Whew, well since there's dairy I can just ignore that I saw this. *sigh*

[gf4life]

Sunday I went to Red Lobster for my dad's birthday. Now, as we know, Red Lobster as a whole is NOT celiac-friendly. But my dad had gift certificates for Red Lobster, and he's a seafood fanatic. So a couple days prior, I called the restaurant (Middletown NY). I spoke with the manager, Ellen. She was pretty sure that all the seasonings had gluten, but she checked, and sure enough all had wheat listed except for one (garden seasoning?) which had no ingredients listed. So we assumed that it contained wheat as well. She couldn't be certain about the buttery blend, as it contained natural and artificial flavors.

She recommended that I get fresh fish, specifying no butter and no seasonings, cooked in a clean pan. Same on the vegetables (no butter/seasonings). When I spoke to her on the phone, she said that a baked potato would be fine as well.

Getting to the restaurant, when we sat down, I explained to our server that I had spoken with Ellen, and she hurried off to get Ellen who assured me she would oversee the preparation of my meal personally. A few minutes after placing our order, Ellen came back over to the table, explaining that the outsides of the baked potatoes are coated in the buttery blend. Not knowing the extent of my "allergy," she didn't know if I still wanted the potato. She offered to substitute extra vegetables instead, an offer I gladly took her up on!

With a little pepper and lemon juice, I had a very good meal at Red Lobster in Middletown NY. I had an awful experience at another Red Lobster in the past, so I was very excited to receive such excellent care and concern from Ellen. For anyone in the area, I highly recommend it!

This is amusing, at least to me. I came on here intending to comment on my horrible meal I had at Red Lobster. I also had very good wait staff/managers at the Red Lobsters in both Visalia, CA and San Jose, CA and they told me the same about the seasonings/baked potato/etc. In fact I had the exact same meal as you with the lemon peppered fresh fish and steamed veggies with no seasonings...but unlike you I hated the meal both times. It was so bland and tasteless and I will not go back. Yes, I want my meal gluten free, but I also want some flavor! Every year we get gift certificates for Red Lobster from my BIL, but now I just have my husband eat there alone anytime he has to travel without us or I pass the gift certificates on to others. It is depressing to go there and smell all the yummy food and not have an adequate meal to eat. I much prefer Outback where I can have a very tasty gluten free meal, and even dessert if I choose to have it. Of course I would go and not complain either if I was there to support my dad on his birthday!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Whew, well since there's dairy I can just ignore that I saw this. *sigh*

No! Just substitute gluten-free margarine or shortening for the butter!

[gf4life]

It's the cheese! I can make garlic biscuits, but there is no adequate (and for me soy free) dairy free cheese substitute that tastes even remotely like cheddar cheese! That is the worse part about being dairy free. I can live with out milk thanks to Almond Breeze and Vance's DariFree, but cheese is irreplacable...