Red Lobster

[jennyj]

I miss Red Lobster and was wondering if anyone has eaten there and what they had????

[gointribal]

  jennyj said:

I miss Red Lobster and was wondering if anyone has eaten there and what they had????

I ate there last sunday and I had a salad (no dressing), baked potato and the oven baked flounder (its a lunch special). I didn't get sick and I don't remember feeling ill after, but there might have been gluten in the spices on the fish (it tasted like seasoning salt)

[jkmunchkin]

I've heard the seasoning spices are questionable there. Over the summer my inlaws wanted to go there and I got steamed lobster, and a baked potato. I figured it wasn't going to get any safer than a steamed lobster.

No problems.

[ianm]

I've never had any problems and they have always been accomodating.

[zansu]

It will probably depend on your local restaurant. The corporate "help" people were so rude when I asked for information that I swore to never go back. But then, since going gluten-free, I've lived near a Bonefish (gluten-free menu!!) and now another seafood place that has gluten-free menu (Mitchell's).

[gymnastjlf]

  gointribal said:

I ate there last sunday and I had a salad (no dressing), baked potato and the oven baked flounder (its a lunch special). I didn't get sick and I don't remember feeling ill after, but there might have been gluten in the spices on the fish (it tasted like seasoning salt)

As of August, the seasonings DID contain gluten. I believe it said wheat right on the ingredient label. THese are the seasonings that are put on the steamed veggies and seafood. If you get everything plain, it's okay. Be careful of the buttery spread as well. They don't use plain old butter, it has seasonings in it, AND they sometimes coat teh outside of the baked potatoes with it!

The restaurant I went to however was very accomodating, the manager oversaw the preparation herself, making sure everything was plain and gluten-free! Sounds plain, but still a very tasty meal.

[ladybugpumpkin]

I ate there and got a salad w/out croutons, a baked potato w/butter and sour cream, and steamed crab legs. I didn't have any problems. And before I went gluten-free, I HATED those biscuits anyway...so it didn't even bother me that everyone else was eating them in front of me. Hope this helps!

[jennyj]

Thanks for all the responses. I am going to try it out soon.

[lovegrov]

The word on RL has always been to avoid all the seasonings, which is why I don't go there. Plain fish and seafood (well, maybe crab legs with butter)?? I can make it a heck of a lot better at home and a lot cheaper. Or I go to a non-chain.

But, if you do go, you need to test how cooperative they are. I've heard some places treat you great and others don't much seem to care. If they don't seem to care, I'd walk.

richard

[Rikki Tikki]

I went to Red Lobster in Chico California and they told me they didn't have anything that was gluten free

[Sweetfudge]

lovegrov, how do you do seafood? crabs for example? I love them, but would love it even more if I could easily and cheaply make them...never tried.

Also, for the RL people, what do they have that is good for non-seafood people? lol weird Q i know...my husband hates seafood, but I love it!

[lovegrov]

Sweetfudg,

I do seafood so many ways. The snow crab legs I can get at the store I just heat up by steaming and eat them with melted butter, lemon and salt. Same with blue crabs, which here are limited to mid-summer to late fall. Shrimp can be steamed, BBQed, boiled and even fried (I use Zatarain's fish fry). And you can use all sorts of sauces. I usually steam oysters and just eat them with a cocktail sauce. I usually bake fish or fry it without oil.

You can find all kinds of recipes online but if there's something more specific you want let me know.

richard

[dragonmom]

Many grocery stores will steam your lobsters for you , maybe they would do crabs too.

[confused]

Has anyone ate their more recenlty and been fine.

Im thinking of jsut meeting my mom in the city and everyone is taking my aunt out for her birthday to red lobster, and i was wondering what i could get that i would be fine with. I was going to call ahead and see how accodomating they are, this will be the first time i have ate out since going gluten and casein free, so im kinda nervous. Exepcially since I will be 4 hours away from home.

paula

[Guhlia]

I called them a few months ago and was told by corporate to absolutely NOT eat there that they couldn't prepare anything safely. I don't know if this was just a strong CYA statement or what, but I won't give them my business after that remark.

[happygirl]

I would get something plain, with no seasonings, cooked in a clean dish, with no sauce.

[mandasmom]

  Guhlia said:

I called them a few months ago and was told by corporate to absolutely NOT eat there that they couldn't prepare anything safely. I don't know if this was just a strong CYA statement or what, but I won't give them my business after that remark.

I have eaten at red lobster twice since gluten-free--I eat out often--both times I was really sick afterwards..I eat out alot and am pretty good at identifying safte places with safe food..I will never eat at Red Lobster again. I would eat before you go--keep everyone company and nibble on a protien bar...

[skinnyasparagus]

I was extremely impressed at the results I received at Red Lobster since everyone on the forum seemed so bias in opinions. When I informed the waitress of my intolerance to anything wheat, gluten, or bread related items, she went into the back and called out the manager. He came out armed with all the labels of the spices and indicated some of those which didn't contain gluten. One of those was the Cajun spice mix which is ironic since I *love* spicy food. Honestly, all it contains is garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and black pepper.

So I simply ordered the flounder with cajun spices which was slightly crispy so I think it was pan seared or something along those lines. With my fish, I ordered a double side of broccoli that was steamed and a salad. For the broccoli I put some lemon juice, salt and pepper on top - yum!

Now for the salad, when the waitress brought it out she said, "I opened a new bag of salad and used clean tongs that didn't touch any croutons what so ever. That's okay, right?" I stared at her and wanted to kiss her. For a dressing, I ordered vinegar and oil and seasoned it lightly with salt and pepper.

So, as you can imagine, I had no reaction at all even though I had a near heart attack at Subway earlier with a bread crumb; that only gave me a few patches of hives and a little bit of discomfort.

But for me Red Lobster is A+ in my book until proven otherwise.

[CaraLouise]

I have had really good luck at the Red Lobster in Oklahoma City. Some are better then others! Glad you had a wonderful meal, usually I get the steamed crab and a baked potato and double veggies! YUM!

[suepooh4]

  jennyj said:

I miss Red Lobster and was wondering if anyone has eaten there and what they had????

Hi,

Whenever my husband and I go there he usually gets lobster or crablegs or even their shirmp scampi is ok he gets a baked potato or garlic mashed and salad, no crutons and we bring our salad dressing from home (put it in my purse or in his jacket pocket).

Sue