Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower)

Feb 11, 18 6:53

Post #1 of 41 Views: 1894

Recall we had this discussion several months back about what is and what isn't "premium mediocre" these days.

My sister -- who I just did a very, very big solid for -- announced she was treated the wife and I to "someplace nice to eat" and then stated Red Lobster. Me being filled with tact and diplomacy, the words "premium mediocre" immediately issued forth from my gaping maw. At which point my sister rolled her eyes and stomped off, muttering something about "know-it-all-a$$holes" under her breath. ;-)

So: Premium mediocre or not? Or is it less even than that? LOL!

(disclosure: After multiple decades in the naval service of our country, and spending more time IN the ocean than is healthy, I can't even stand the smell of seafood... or the sea, even. So how do I get out of this one? Hahahahaha!)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 6:59

Post #2 of 41 Views: 1887

Why did you need to provide your sister with a stool sample?

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 7:00

Post #3 of 41 Views: 1886

I think it would be a stretch to bestow the title of "premium" anything to Red Lobster.

Long Chile was a silly place.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 7:01

Post #4 of 41 Views: 1881

Depends where you are in the country, if you are on the coast in a generally upper scale - clear not. If middle of xxxxxx where it is the only seafood and everything is just chains, then it can be a step up.

Would you ever call the cooks in Red Lobster a "chef" that pretty much answers the question.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [mv2005] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 7:09

Post #5 of 41 Views: 1870

mv2005 wrote:

Why did you need to provide your sister with a stool sample?

Hahahahahaha! She always complains that I'm giving her sh*t, for a fact. ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [keepriding] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 7:12

Post #6 of 41 Views: 1864

keepriding wrote:

Depends where you are in the country, if you are on the coast in a generally upper scale - clear not. If middle of xxxxxx where it is the only seafood and everything is just chains, then it can be a step up.

Would you ever call the cooks in Red Lobster a "chef" that pretty much answers the question.

Oh, we're flat in the middle of Flyover Country and that place is about the only notable seafood joint around, except for a few small establishments near the Detroit River. ;-)

And you're right about the chef thing. Most them at Red Lobster would probably answer to something like "Prisoner 297351!" Hahahaha!

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 7:49

Post #7 of 41 Views: 1826

Let's put it this way. If I had customers in town I am sure they would be quite disappointed if I took them to Red Lobster. I might take them to Panera, but not Red Lobster.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [rick_pcfl] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 8:00

Post #8 of 41 Views: 1813

rick_pcfl wrote:

Let's put it this way. If I had customers in town I am sure they would be quite disappointed if I took them to Red Lobster. I might take them to Panera, but not Red Lobster.

Sooooo... that's a maybe? ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 8:17

Post #9 of 41 Views: 1793

Sound like your tact wasn't effective for the sister, one other approach would have been to say thank you and tell her you can't do seafood and suggest somewhere else. I've found family and friends take us to their favorite restaurants and I don't always like the food. It's the gesture of them trying to do something nice that matters, heck if they are in a financial hardship I'll ask for my favorite, pepperoni and jalapeño pizza (Chicago style).

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 8:20

Post #10 of 41 Views: 1790

Maybe premium mediocre for a restaurant but doesn't even rank that for a seafood joint.

I still have a gift card lying around somewhere from 3 years ago for red lobster.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 8:40

Post #11 of 41 Views: 1770

Not sure this is about Red Lobster, maybe more of you just being rude? Who cares what level the restaurant is that she offered to take you to (unless she is loaded and Joe Muer is her everday affair) be thankful.

Just Triing
Triathlete since 9:56:39 AM EST Aug 20, 2006.
Be kind English is my 2nd language. My primary language is Dave it's a unique evolution of English.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 8:43

Post #12 of 41 Views: 1768

Casual lunch. Ms. Tostig and I sometimes meet at Red Lobster. Certainly meets expectations.

"Nice" dinner. Plenty of other places to try, but it meets the Premium Mediocre expectation.

"Human existence is based upon two pillars: Compassion and knowledge. Compassion without knowledge is ineffective; Knowledge without compassion is inhuman." Victor Weisskopf.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 9:38

Post #13 of 41 Views: 1739

Literally as I was reading your post a Red Lobster commercial came on. If their food looked liked the commercial it would be above premium mediocre. As it is I think it may be premium crappy.

High price, food is edible but nothing anyone ever craves.

I'm beginning to think that we are much more fucked than I thought.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [BCtriguy1] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 9:58

Post #14 of 41 Views: 1721

BCtriguy1 wrote:

I think it would be a stretch to bestow the title of "premium" anything to Red Lobster.

+1

Red Lobster is to "premium" mediocre seafood as Olive Garden is to "premium" mediocre italian

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 10:01

Post #15 of 41 Views: 1719

Years ago, Mrs. MOP and I were watching a PBS documentary on some impoverished, rust-belt town during hard times and one of the interviewees said something to the effect of "We have a Red Lobster. What more could you want?" In her mind, it clearly set the bar for fine dining and living -- anything better was just overly-expensive pretentiousness.

It's become a standing inside joke for us ever since. Trying to choose a restaurant? "There's a Red Lobster. What more could you want?" Traveling through someplace our eloquent leader might describe in colorfully disparaging terms? "Oh, I dunno. It's not so bad. Look, there's a Red Lobster. What more could you want?" Or, "Wow, this place *really* sucks -- it doesn't even have a Red Lobster."

"100% of the people who confuse correlation and causation end up dying."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 10:15

Post #16 of 41 Views: 1701

I suppose she wouldn't find this funny yet.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [scorpio516] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 10:59

Post #17 of 41 Views: 1669

scorpio516 wrote:

BCtriguy1 wrote:

I think it would be a stretch to bestow the title of "premium" anything to Red Lobster.

+1

Red Lobster is to "premium" mediocre seafood as Olive Garden is to "premium" mediocre italian

I see Red Lobster as the Swiss Chalet of seafood. And I would take the Olive Garden over either of them.

A false humanity is used to impose its opposite, by people whose cruelty is equalled only by their arrogance

Post deleted by spudone [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 11:42

Post #18 of 41 Views: 1645

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 11:51

Post #19 of 41 Views: 1633

Red Lobster reminds me of this classic Simpsons scene:

Long Chile was a silly place.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [Chri55] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 11:54

Post #20 of 41 Views: 1629

Chri55 wrote:

scorpio516 wrote:

BCtriguy1 wrote:

I think it would be a stretch to bestow the title of "premium" anything to Red Lobster.

+1

Red Lobster is to "premium" mediocre seafood as Olive Garden is to "premium" mediocre italian

I see Red Lobster as the Swiss Chalet of seafood. And I would take the Olive Garden over either of them.

Our American friends don’t know what Swiss Chalet is.

How does Danny Hart sit down with balls that big?

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 11:58

Post #21 of 41 Views: 1624

JSA holds his annual general meetings there, ask him.

Me personally, I would say it is far less than premium mediocre.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [BLeP] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 12:05

Post #22 of 41 Views: 1615

BLeP wrote:

Chri55 wrote:

scorpio516 wrote:

BCtriguy1 wrote:

I think it would be a stretch to bestow the title of "premium" anything to Red Lobster.

+1

Red Lobster is to "premium" mediocre seafood as Olive Garden is to "premium" mediocre italian

I see Red Lobster as the Swiss Chalet of seafood. And I would take the Olive Garden over either of them.

Our American friends don’t know what Swiss Chalet is.

I guess it is a uniquely Canadian experience.

A false humanity is used to impose its opposite, by people whose cruelty is equalled only by their arrogance

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 12:07

Post #23 of 41 Views: 1614

I've been to Red Lobster twice - it was garbage both times. I've never been to a restaurant that cooks lobster properly.

I also live a 10 min drive from a wharf where fisherman land their catches (best lobster in the world) and can buy them directly from them for cheap so maybe my view is slightly biased. :)

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [BLeP] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 12:17

Post #24 of 41 Views: 1608

BLeP wrote:

Chri55 wrote:

scorpio516 wrote:

BCtriguy1 wrote:

I think it would be a stretch to bestow the title of "premium" anything to Red Lobster.

+1

Red Lobster is to "premium" mediocre seafood as Olive Garden is to "premium" mediocre italian

I see Red Lobster as the Swiss Chalet of seafood. And I would take the Olive Garden over either of them.

Our American friends don’t know what Swiss Chalet is.

This,

And Swiss chalet sucks.

St Hubert is 10x better.

Maurice

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [DavHamm] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 12:24

Post #25 of 41 Views: 1601

DavHamm wrote:

Not sure this is about Red Lobster, maybe more of you just being rude? Who cares what level the restaurant is that she offered to take you to (unless she is loaded and Joe Muer is her everday affair) be thankful.

Three things:

1. You don't know my sister. ;-)

2. This is a tag-on to the premium mediocre thread we had a few months ago.

3. Don't be such a scold. It don't look good on you. LOL!

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [MOP_Mike] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 12:25

Post #26 of 41 Views: 827

MOP_Mike wrote:

Years ago, Mrs. MOP and I were watching a PBS documentary on some impoverished, rust-belt town during hard times and one of the interviewees said something to the effect of "We have a Red Lobster. What more could you want?" In her mind, it clearly set the bar for fine dining and living -- anything better was just overly-expensive pretentiousness.

It's become a standing inside joke for us ever since. Trying to choose a restaurant? "There's a Red Lobster. What more could you want?" Traveling through someplace our eloquent leader might describe in colorfully disparaging terms? "Oh, I dunno. It's not so bad. Look, there's a Red Lobster. What more could you want?" Or, "Wow, this place *really* sucks -- it doesn't even have a Red Lobster."

Hahahahahahaha! That's awesome! I'm gonna steal that. ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [spudone] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 12:27

Post #27 of 41 Views: 825

spudone wrote:

All I can think of is BK, age 6:

Oh, that was me all the way. ;-)

Also, I have every Calvin and Hobbes compilation ever published. They're great. :-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [rick_pcfl] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 12:33

Post #28 of 41 Views: 818

rick_pcfl wrote:

Let's put it this way. If I had customers in town I am sure they would be quite disappointed if I took them to Red Lobster. I might take them to Panera, but not Red Lobster.

Isn't Panera known for hosting board meetings? It must be a premium establishment.

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [Bumble Bee] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 12:36

Post #29 of 41 Views: 816

Bumble Bee wrote:

rick_pcfl wrote:

Let's put it this way. If I had customers in town I am sure they would be quite disappointed if I took them to Red Lobster. I might take them to Panera, but not Red Lobster.

Isn't Panera known for hosting board meetings? It must be a premium establishment.

We need a ruling from JSA on this. I'm sure he patronizes both establishments regularly. ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [mauricemaher] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 13:00

Post #30 of 41 Views: 804

mauricemaher wrote:

BLeP wrote:

Chri55 wrote:

scorpio516 wrote:

BCtriguy1 wrote:

I think it would be a stretch to bestow the title of "premium" anything to Red Lobster.

+1

Red Lobster is to "premium" mediocre seafood as Olive Garden is to "premium" mediocre italian

I see Red Lobster as the Swiss Chalet of seafood. And I would take the Olive Garden over either of them.

Our American friends don’t know what Swiss Chalet is.

This,

And Swiss chalet sucks.

St Hubert is 10x better.

Maurice

They are both pretty mediocre.

How does Danny Hart sit down with balls that big?

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [BLeP] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 13:21

Post #31 of 41 Views: 791

BLeP wrote:

mauricemaher wrote:

BLeP wrote:

Chri55 wrote:

scorpio516 wrote:

BCtriguy1 wrote:

I think it would be a stretch to bestow the title of "premium" anything to Red Lobster.

+1

Red Lobster is to "premium" mediocre seafood as Olive Garden is to "premium" mediocre italian

I see Red Lobster as the Swiss Chalet of seafood. And I would take the Olive Garden over either of them.

Our American friends don’t know what Swiss Chalet is.

This,

And Swiss chalet sucks.

St Hubert is 10x better.

Maurice

They are both pretty mediocre.

St Hubert clearly has the best gravy on the planet.

That is scientific and beyond anecdote, this clearly places them in the premium platinum category.

Maurice

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 13:31

Post #32 of 41 Views: 783

I don't know what it's rating should be (premium whatever), but there are a gazillion online recipes trying to copy their cheddar biscuits, so just go, fill up on delicious cheesy buttery biscuits and then have some mediocre fried shrimp and call it a night.

Slowguy

(insert pithy phrase here...)

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [slowguy] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 13:47

Post #33 of 41 Views: 771

slowguy wrote:

I don't know what it's rating should be (premium whatever), but there are a gazillion online recipes trying to copy their cheddar biscuits, so just go, fill up on delicious cheesy buttery biscuits and then have some mediocre fried shrimp and call it a night.

Meh, you can buy the biscuits at Costco.

How does Danny Hart sit down with balls that big?

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [BLeP] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 13:47

Post #34 of 41 Views: 770

BLeP wrote:

slowguy wrote:

I don't know what it's rating should be (premium whatever), but there are a gazillion online recipes trying to copy their cheddar biscuits, so just go, fill up on delicious cheesy buttery biscuits and then have some mediocre fried shrimp and call it a night.

Meh, you can buy the biscuits at Costco.

Yeah, or he can get them for free when his sister takes him for dinner.

Slowguy

(insert pithy phrase here...)

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [slowguy] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 14:12

Post #35 of 41 Views: 755

slowguy wrote:

BLeP wrote:

slowguy wrote:

I don't know what it's rating should be (premium whatever), but there are a gazillion online recipes trying to copy their cheddar biscuits, so just go, fill up on delicious cheesy buttery biscuits and then have some mediocre fried shrimp and call it a night.

Meh, you can buy the biscuits at Costco.

Yeah, or he can get them for free when his sister takes him for dinner.

Or he can man up and tell his sister that Red robster is shit and that he deserves better. Then go buy Costco biscuits.

How does Danny Hart sit down with balls that big?

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [BLeP] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 14:22

Post #36 of 41 Views: 750

BLeP wrote:

slowguy wrote:

BLeP wrote:

slowguy wrote:

I don't know what it's rating should be (premium whatever), but there are a gazillion online recipes trying to copy their cheddar biscuits, so just go, fill up on delicious cheesy buttery biscuits and then have some mediocre fried shrimp and call it a night.

Meh, you can buy the biscuits at Costco.

Yeah, or he can get them for free when his sister takes him for dinner.

Or he can man up and tell his sister that Red robster is shit and that he deserves better. Then go buy Costco biscuits.

I like that plan! ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 15:25

Post #37 of 41 Views: 727

I seem to have missed the very important premium mediocre thread. Link please?

Two comments about (Red) lobster
1. My brother and several of his Maine born-and-bred friends now live in Salt Lake City. They hit Red Lobster once a year for the all-you-can-eat shrimp.
2. I had lobster traps one summer. That was a lot of fun.

maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [Dr. Tigerchik] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 16:06

Post #38 of 41 Views: 711

I seem to have missed the very important premium mediocre thread. Link please?

---

Fine, I'll help out the premium lazy who can't type "premium mediocre" into the premium ST search function

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...%20mediocre#p6405761

Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [Dr. Tigerchik] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 18:11

Post #39 of 41 Views: 678

Dr. Tigerchik wrote:

I seem to have missed the very important premium mediocre thread. Link please?

Two comments about (Red) lobster
1. My brother and several of his Maine born-and-bred friends now live in Salt Lake City. They hit Red Lobster once a year for the all-you-can-eat shrimp.
2. I had lobster traps one summer. That was a lot of fun.

I spent some time in Newport, RI, a premium town where I got a premium Navy education (Mr. Slowguy's been there, too... he knows the place). That place had some fresh-caught seafood, literally, available right off the wharves at what passed for downtown. It was also where I first heard the word "quahog" (pronounced "KO-hog"), which is a hard-shell clam that's a local delicacy up that way. Not for me, naturally, but for practically everyone else there. ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [Dr. Tigerchik] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 18:17

Post #40 of 41 Views: 672

Dr. Tigerchik wrote:

I seem to have missed the very important premium mediocre thread. Link please?

Two comments about (Red) lobster
1. My brother and several of his Maine born-and-bred friends now live in Salt Lake City. They hit Red Lobster once a year for the all-you-can-eat shrimp.
2. I had lobster traps one summer. That was a lot of fun.

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR

Re: Ruling on Red Lobster? Premium Mediocre or Not? (Or Something Lower) [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]

Feb 11, 18 18:32

Post #41 of 41 Views: 666

Just order a steak and let the womens live in their ignorant rubbery and greasy seafood bliss.

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