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Photo: Elizabeth Hait, AOL
Our fast-casual, best of the menu culinary trek continues: First it was Applebee's for appetizers, then Outback Steakhouse for Outback Favorites, then TGI Friday's for Sizzling Skillets. Our most recent adventure was at Red Lobster, to find out which was their best shrimp dish.
Menu Overview: There are 5 main courses in the "Shrimp" section, including Walt's Favorite Shrimp (breaded butterflied shrimp), Crunchy Popcorn Shrimp (fried breaded bite-size shrimp), Shrimp Linguine Alfredo (shrimp in garlic-parmesan cream sauce served over linguine), Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp (fried coconut-breaded butterflied shrimp with a "piña colada" sauce) and Shrimp Your Way (you choose a 2- or 3-item combination plate -- shrimp scampi available in this dish).
Find out our Shrimp Winner, Runner-up, and Loser after the jump.
Elizabeth Hait, AOL
The Winner: Shrimp Your Way Shrimp Scampi*
Sautéed shrimp served in garlicky melted butter -- what's not to like? Yes, a gratin dish of melted butter is not the kind of thing you want to eat every day, but it's okay to give yourself a once-in-awhile treat. The shrimp were nicely cooked -- not mushy, not hard -- and the butter goes a long way toward keeping them moist. This dish does have a big garlic flavor; everyone in our group is a garlic fan, but if you're not, watch out. And gluten-free folks, you win too: This is one of the few shrimp dishes you can eat!
*Full disclosure: Shrimp Your Way is a 2- or 3-item "combo" dish, so we had to choose another shrimp preparation in addition to the scampi. Instead of making it a double scampi order, we went rogue and asked for the Garlic Grilled Jumbo Shrimp from the Wood-Fire Grill section of the menu. This was actually our favorite shrimp preparation of the night -- the shrimp were juicy, the flavor of the shrimp was distinguishable and was complemented by the smoky grill flavor. A shining example that less is more. It couldn't officially qualify as our favorite, however, since it was not part of the Shrimp menu section we were judging.
Elizabeth Hait, AOL
The Runner-up: Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp
If you like coconut and don't mind a slightly sweeter shrimp preparation, this is the dish for you. The jumbo-size shrimp definitely fare better during the frying process than their smaller counterparts -- they stay relatively firm and juicy. And the shredded coconut mixed into the batter actually lightens up the breading overall (leaden breading was the downfall of some of the other shrimp dishes). We absolutely could not abide by the piña colada sauce, however, which we mistakenly thought was tartar sauce (shocking surprise in the mouth). One of our testers summed it up perfectly: "This tastes like a Yankee Candle smells."
Elizabeth Hait, AOL
The Loser: Shrimp Linguini Alfredo
There wasn't a person at our table who would say no to pasta with a creamy, cheesey sauce, but this one was completely unacceptable. It was a gluey, gummy, congealed mess from the moment it was set on the table. The shrimp were mealy, the pasta itself flabby. It was as if the entire dish had been cooked hours ago and been sitting under heat lamps.
Also on the "loser" list are most of the side dishes. The fries were rock hard and oily, the mashed potatoes were like paste. The rice pilaf and baked potato are the safest bets. Even the plain steamed broccoli was sad -- those poor florets had seen better days.
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2-17-2011 @5:24PM Glenn said... This is jmo so don't shoot the messenger! But I worked at a Red Lobster in Indianapolis for a very short while. It was the most disgusting place I have ever seen. I used to like Red Lobster before working there, but after that, I will never eat at a Red Lobster again! The kitchen was so disgustingly dirty and the majority of the staff didn't wear gloves and would just pick up food and throw it on plates with their bare hands. Salads were made w/out gloves and w/in an hour of starting a shift, the floor of the kitchen was so gross w/food, etc., you'd have to really watch where you were walking or you'd fall on your butt! The cooks hardly ever wore anything on their heads and the managers didn't really seem to care! With that being sad, and I'm not 'dogging' neighborhoods, but it wasn't the nicest neighborhood in town so I tried to use that excuse for the place! I do hope ALL Red Lobsters are not that way, but after you go through an experience like that, well, kind of turns you off to all of them.
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2-17-2011 @5:14PM KEC said... I just ate at Red Lobster here in Pensacola last Sunday. I had the peppercorn sirloin with shrimp alfredo & it was perfect! I guess you just have to be careful which one you're in?
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2-17-2011 @5:31PM B. J. Swales said... The 3-seafood combo of shrimp, crab and lobster is wonderful, and my favorite and too much for me to eat in one setting. Have to take home the balance. One can't go wrong with this one. Yummy!!!!!!
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2-17-2011 @5:30PM superchef said... Agree 100%
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2-17-2011 @5:35PM superchef said... Agree 100%. I mean with the person who wrote "Red Lobster is not for the people who likes seafood".
2-17-2011 @5:40PM John said... Thank God I live in New England and can get fresh, REAL seafood! Nothing beats a Maine lobster with a side of steamers w/ melted butter!!!
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2-17-2011 @7:00PM Robert Griffin said... I have to agree with you. I lived in Rhode Island for a while and learned to apprricate east coast seafood and clam Bakes.
2-17-2011 @5:43PM Keith said... Not sure about the shrimp at Red Lobsster, but if you are in the Clearwater, Florida area you have to try Frenchy's. They have the best coconut crusted shrimp I have ever eaten. Also has the benifit of being on the beach with all it has to offer.
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2-17-2011 @5:46PM Stephanie said... Red Lobster is hardly the spot to go looking for a good gourmet seafood dish! My fiance used to work at a Red Lobsters here in Sacramento, CA, and I can tell you that he came home so sick to his stomach from seeing the crap they served as food...He is so happy to be a real Chef for a real restaurant now, as am I!
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2-17-2011 @10:14PM Shar said... When I think of Red Lobster and Olive Garden, I think of high-priced fast food. If I'm going to spend that much for dinner, I prefer to go where they cook fresh food.
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2-17-2011 @5:59PM Mark said... I love sea food and I used to love Red Lobster but the Newnan GA Red Lobster food is awful. The cheese biscuits are good but the shrimp is always over cooked and drowned in butter and garlic. The fish was soggy too. Some food taste way too salty . I usually say three strikes you are out but I actually gave then five tries in two years. I probably will never eat at another Red Lobster . Captain Ds have them beat with a better price.
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2-17-2011 @6:04PM Jim said... Red Lobster sucks compared to what it used to be. Back in the late 70's and early 80's On my first date with a girl we would go to the movies and have dinner at Red Lobster. My girlfriend (now wife) became such regulars that most of the wattresses knew us by name and the hostesses always jumped us to the front of the list for a table. We never go there anymore. The food has gotten worse tasting and smaller portions and the wait staff is rude, slow, and inconsiderate. The last time we went there was several years ago because they were actually having an all you can eat crab legs event. My best friend who weighed in at 230 and his wife (not much smaller) and myself (155lbs) and my wife smaller decided to go. My friend and I made a bet on who could eat the most. I love crab legs. He made it through 8 sets of legs including the claws, the big sissy. I put down 12 sets including the claws. My wife and his wife were peeling the legs for me so all I had to do was dip them in butter and enjoy. They never had an all you can eat crab leg fest since then but I damn sure got my moneys worth out of them that night.
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2-18-2011 @9:25AM Joe Turner said... Earl :
Hey , you are a Redneck Pig. Go home and have that venison sausage you like to brag about.
2-18-2011 @6:51PM Cj McGurk said... Here in North Little Rock, Arkansas, The wait staff was Great!!!, everything extra we asked for(more napkins, etc. ) we got in a hurry. The kitchen was mediocre, both the shrimp and the lobster were small and overdone. The management SUCKED. They wouldn't take a reservation for a large party. During the nearly 2-hour wait for table(s) 6 of the 16 in our party left. Ain't goin back there.
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2-21-2011 @12:26PM Ken said... Yeah they shoud inconvenience 4 other parties so they can accomodate a party of 16 on a weekend night? These restaurants are not able to accomodate large parties. Also a large party order cripples the kitchen staff and requires 2 servers to be designated just to your table. Look at it from the other side.
2-17-2011 @6:14PM Bill said... Their rolls are to die for and the calimari isn't bad either.
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2-17-2011 @6:19PM Mark said... Our local Red Lobster food is too salty , too garlicky, too soggy with butter ,and the shrimp over cooked. I gave them five chances in two years. Most of the time the service was not that good . I wo uld rather eat at a fast food place because most have better food and a better price.
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2-17-2011 @6:24PM Tam said... Just went to Red Lobster in Tucson on Valentine's Day. Great as usual. We hit RL at least 2x a yr. and have never been dissappointed. Disagree with the writer's take on the coconut shrimp dipping sauce. We think it's delicious! Food snobs who write these articles expect way too much when they hit these type of restaurants. Good food, good price not 4 star! Get over yourselves!
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2-17-2011 @6:26PM peggy fult438 said... not as good as it used to be nor the wait staff.
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2-17-2011 @6:43PM Robert S. Griffin Sr. said... Why would you come here with bible quotes when people are trying to read other's account about food?
That is why people get turned off about religion, people like you want to force your beliefs in on everybody no matter what.. I am sure there is a web site you can go to and quote script all day to people who have "CHOSEN TO READ IT" at that site.
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