Red Lobster

I’ve been here a few times before, but never wrote a review so I figured I’d document this visit that we had today for my sister’s birthday. The ambiance is the same as any Red Lobster, which I find casual and comfortable. There was a group of six of us so we started off with a few appetizers. I gave up cheese for Lent this year, so unfortunately I was unable to partake in some of my usual favorites, but my family enjoyed them for me! The first appetizer was the calamari with vegetables. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of their calamari. It’s not bad, but it’s just not the best I’ve had. The vegetables that come with it fried though are always super yummy! My favorite is the broccoli with a little bit of that ranch. It just melts in your mouth as the flavors mix– yummmm! We also enjoyed the coconut shrimp, which is my husband and my mothers favorite. I lost count of how many biscuits everyone had, because I was devastated I couldn’t enjoy them as well, but I know it was quite a few. They also had the stuffed mushrooms which have been my favorite Red Lobster item since I was little, but just to be safe, I just had a cap without the delicious innards. For entrees, everyone got a little bit of everything, but I’ll only speak for my own. I ordered the pound of snow crab legs with clam chowder and a side of sweet potatoes! When my crab legs came I was pretty sure it was under a pound worth, but as I started eating, I started noticing how deep the bowl really was. It seems like as the years go on Red Lobster crab legs have less meat than previously, which was definitely noticeable this time. The sweet potatoes were the sweetest I’ve ever had– literally I could feel my blood sugar rise, so I brought most of that home. To end the evening, my husband and I shared a warm chocolate chip lava cookie– which was just so decadent. It wasn’t quite as the picture in the menu with the «lava» flowing out, but it was very delightful!!! A few of the servers gave my sister her bananas foster cheesecake with a candle on it and sang to her, which was expected, but still sweet.
Overall, there was no wait on a Sunday afternoon, which was surprising but, in our favor. Monique was our server and she was wonderful– sweet, easy to understand, and quick! I know we’ll go back next year for my sisters birthday again, so hopefully they’ll keep up the good work!

TOTAL GARBAGE FOOD. This place reminds me of Long John Silvers but with fancier table cloth. The food is nasty now, it used to be better. Pretty clear that they are focused more on trying to figure out how to stay in business by trying to charge high prices for your basic deep fried frozen fish and shrimp. Nothing fresh. Terrible service. Stay away!

Endless shrimp! What more can I say?!? Actually ordered the Lobster Pizza. It’s delicious. Also ordered the Salmon New Orleans. Yummy!
Our waiter, Aaron, is simply the BEST! Super nice and polite and professional! Great job!

This is my third time here, good experience. First time the food was over cooked but ever since that initial visit, food has been great. Reliable and everything you can expect from a chain.

Ok I am so so about this experience for so many reasons. The food was amazing and beautifully prepared. But the service was very off. We weren’t greeted even though there were 5+ servers at the door. When we asked for biscuits we were told the oven was off (we came in at 10:30) and then the biscuits were dropped off anyways. Our waitress Ashley was rude and then remembered her customer service skills and was nice in the end. But what really made this a 2 star review was the horrid state of the bathrooms. I went in there only to wash my hands and the stench was horrid. Was told by another customer in the bathroom that only one stall was barely usable and there was no paper towels or air dryer so I was left with wet hands. All in all I wish I had listened to reviews and not eaten here. DO NOT GET THEIR DRINKS. it’s not worth it one bit.

There was a point in time when I wrote the original review, that every restaurant in Bolingbrook we went to, we ended up with horrible service or food. For the most part, each place got a second chance within a year. The exception being this Red Lobster, since the experience was unforgettably horrid. I was hesitant to return, but the lure of never-​ending shrimp was too strong.
Talk about a complete turnaround! We came in twice during the promotion, and walked away happy both visits. Our servers were simply outstanding, keeping up on drink and shrimp refills, and were just all around nice! A manager came by to check on all the tables as well. The food quality was above standard, each shrimp dish as good as the next. My husband, who is not a shellfish fan enjoyed both the fish and chips and the rainbow trout lunch special.
I am glad to put this place back in my rotation, even when they are not having the endless shrimp special!

5 stars food was awesome Susan was our server and she is fantastic!!! Kinda wasn’t sure about doing Bolingbrook since I’ve been eating at downers for as long as I could remember. Just don’t get a mai tai those are very weak. Definitely going back again!

Had a great evening and for a busy Saturday night the service was excellent and our server Susan was amazing. It was so nice to see the servers helping each other out and bring out items for each other’s tables. Great team work, great service, great food!

Waitress was Jaclyne. Service was very friendly, fast and attentive. Kept the glasses full, and checked on us to make sure everything was great. Manager came over to check on us as well. Good Job. Was impressed and will go back.

I have been a regular customer of this Red Lobster for the past 10 years and I have to say that this was the worst dinner experience at RL. The service was not up to par and my crab legs were over cooked. Very disappointing. I will take a hard look to see if I ever come back here again.

Just had the most scrumptious meal at RL made all the more memorable due to our talented and veteran server Deb. She knows her craft big time. Her experience and general «withitness» is a pleasure to observe. In a time where simple competence is appreciated Deb goes «above and beyond» that proverbial «call of duty». She’s efficient, helpful with suggestions, knowledgeable, yet not overly present. She strikes the perfect balance between availability and respecting the customer’s need to dine without the sometimes annoying behavior of over attentiveness.
Obviously this person made quite an impression on both my wife and myself. Red Lobster — you got a great ambassador for your chain of restaurants. Clone her immediately! She’s the best.

My mother and sister drove down from Elgin and we planned on going to another Red Lobster because the last time I went to the Bolingbrook location, it wasn’t so good (the food was so-​so and the service was slow). Well, we decided to take a gamble and go to Bolingbrook because it was the closest. OMG! The restaurant has really improved dramatically!
I had the lobster topped lobster, which was HEAVENLY!!! Yum! My sister ordered a garden salad with shrimp. She said the shrimp were very fresh and delicious. My mother ordered an iced tea and she said it was the best tea she’s ever had at a Red Lobster (must have been just brewed.) She also raved about her shrimp cocktail. We were all so pleasantly surprised that the food was wonderful, the service was fantastic, and it really wasn’t that expensive. We’ll be back. I usually have to drive to Elgin to do lunch with my mom & sister but now they have a reason to drive down here. Thank you Red Lobster!

Red lobster is always a good option for me… They have the pick two/​three meals where you can choose from pasta, shrimp or meat dishes. This location is not big and the service is good

Worst dinner experience I went here December 2 for my father’s birthday first off we got water and the glasses had not been cleaned properly and so asked for clean glasses the waitress quickly left to get new ones but I swear you would think she would come back with clean glasses. Not!!! Then my food came burnt. For three people $ 85.00 mind you nothing special for dinner no lobster! There was also only two other families there rest of the place was empty. There’s no excuse and I guess it shows why no one goes there anymore. Absolutely ridiculous. If I could’ve I wouldn’t give a star.

My husband and I went to get the crab fest items on the menu. We had a coupon for a free appetizer. We ended up with the crab stuffed mushrooms. Only thing that was not great, luckily free, as the were anemic looking (maybe because they were free). Anyway, the meals were great. Our waitress (Karen L) was one of the very best, so ask for her if you are planning to go. She noticed that the snow crab on my plate was also anemic in how many I had and before she came back, she had another plate of them. I was so impressed. She made sure we had drinks, refills and those great cheddar biscuits. I hope the manager read this review. I will come back just for the service alone.

8pm on Monday and I got seated right away. The waitress came right over and said shed be right with me. I sat for 15 minutes without seeing anyone, got up and left.
The person at the door did wish me a good night. One star for that. Lol.
I’m off to TGIFridays.

We were in town visiting family for the evening (we live 4 hours away) before heading home. There were going to be 13 of us, so we thought ahead and made plans to eat an early dinner at 4 pm. When we all arrived, the manager informed us that there wasn’t enough wait staff (the place had about 8 people eating), so we’d have to wait 30 – 45 minutes. We asked if we could just get a table and some water and bread while waiting; she said no. She insisted that it was better this way and our table would be ready with waters and bread when we sat. So, we waited… and waited… and waited, standing in the entryway while continuing to wait with 10 adults and 3 small children. We were finally seated at 5 pm. The table was bare besides silverware. 2 servers came to the table and divided it in half for drink orders (the place was still over half empty). Drinks arrived at 5:10 pm. Dinner orders were taken about 5:15 pm by the 2 servers. We finally requested bread and it arrived 10 minutes later. We all ordered endless shrimp and it took 4 servers to bring it to our table (restaurant is 50% full now) at 6 pm. I ordered a coffee Nudge and the server said she would be back with it in a few minutes. We flagged our servers down every 15 – 20 minutes for refills on drinks, shrimp, etc. At 7 pm, we flagged the servers down for our check and asked her to cancel my coffee (which she doesn’t remember me ever asking for) so that we could leave. The manager brought it by at 7:15 pm. We paid (including the 18% gratuity included!!) and left, extremely frustrated by the experience. Within an hour, dinner began making a prompt exit. I will never return to this Red Lobster, nor likely any other. I found the manager’s inability to handle a party of 13 at a nearly idle time incomprehensible. The poor service topped it off. Then ending the night with food poisoning?!?

Came here after seeing a commercial about a 4 course feast. I’m not a seafood lover, but occasionally I’ll let my husband have it. So, he got the Admiral’s Feast (Walt’s Favorite Shrimp, bay scallops, clam strips and flounder fried to a golden brown – a plate of fried foods) and I got the Cajun Chicken Linguine, our appetizers: some fried seafood stuffed cheesy mushrooms and I got the creamy potato bacon soup and of course the biscuits. The soup was really good, he said his mushrooms were really good as well. He didn’t really comment on the feast, I imagine they all taste the same … Our waiter was alright, didn’t refill our drinks until we put them on the edge. We got there at 8 and it was jammed packed, waiter said it was because of the special. My linguine was excellent but I was so full from the soup and 2 biscuits that I had just one bite and asked for a container. As soon as we got home I split the meal into 2 containers and already the butter separated from the pasta (that bad thing about having alfredo anything for leftovers). So hubs gets 2 days of alfredo lunch :)

I dunno. I think I’m being generous with 3-​stars, but my family seems to love this place. I guess for me, it’s just a little on the pricey side. Yes, I know it’s seafood, so there is basically no getting around that. I just wish the prices were a little bit lower, or the food a little bit better and I would come here more frequently.
One thing no one can take away from this place is the cheddar biscuits. Good lord, those things are tasty! All in all, it’s a solid choice if you’re in the area.

If nothing else this place is worth a try for the Cheddar Bay Biscuits! Those are the best! I would kill for the recipe! We can usually get right in here when other chain type restaurants are packed. The service is so-​so. I usually get the Cajun Chicken Liguini Alfredo or the Walt’s Shrimp because Iam not a fish lover! Everything here always has great flavor and is relatively inexpensive for a seafood restaurant.