rant: fine dining

[jim]

I think it was haltz that gave advice on those places ... stick with the hamburger.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Red Lobster moving away from servers?

http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post ... ad7018081a

This company stands for everything we should hate about corporations. They're not cutting out the service, they're just trying to cut servers' tips out in order to make their restaurant more appealing. Same [expletive], but without the tip it's cheaper, so the corporation makes more money but the little guy (server) pays the price.

[Freed Roger]

Red Lobster moving away from servers?

http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post ... ad7018081a

This company stands for everything we should hate about corporations. They're not cutting out the service, they're just trying to cut servers' tips out in order to make their restaurant more appealing. Same [expletive], but without the tip it's cheaper, so the corporation makes more money but the little guy (server) pays the price.

from the article:

One way the chain is cutting costs, though, is that diners get only one Cheddar Bay biscuit each instead of a basket of them, the newspaper says.

paging jim.

And that pic from applebees above is great for a diet. Lost my appetite.

[tlombard]

I almost wonder if that is a way to test the idea of opening up a sort of Red Lobster spin-off and not necessarily completely change the Red Lobster model.

No matter what, the one cheddar biscuit per person is no good. I go to Red Lobster maybe once a year but those things are awesome. I used to have a recipe to make those things at home that was really cheap and easy but I lost it somewhere over the years.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I don't really care about the food. Well, it sucks ass, that's why I don't like it. But, this transcends [expletive] food and goes straight to corporate greed. Instead of finding a way to put out a better product to increase their business, they're going to find a lower costs by essentially telling consumers not to tip.

[jim]

If you ask me Red Lobster shouldn't make any of these changes. Hey - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[cardsfansince82]

But, this transcends [expletive] food and goes straight to corporate greed. Instead of finding a way to put out a better product to increase their business, they're going to find a lower costs by essentially telling consumers not to tip.

That's not really accurate. Finding a way to put out a better product and increase business is exactly what they are doing, IMO.

Right now that sort of upscale fast food $8-12 segment is on fire. People want something better tasting and better for them than any of the major fast food chains. Less horse meat and pubes too. But they don't want the time and expense (bigger meals plus tips) of sit down restaurants. Chipotle and Five Guys and a bunch of other places in that range are making a killing. Most people would rather make their own drink and carry their food than overpay for food that isnt any better.

People that continue to work at Red Lobster will probably make less money overall, but most of that comes from customers. It will actually cost the company more since they now have to pay at least minimum wage rather than the reduced rate you can pay people that get tips. They are assuming they will get enough added business to offset the cost and they are probably right. About the only thing I disagree with in that article is the part where it's mostly counter service/self service but they still bring the food to your table. But I've had food brought out to me at chipotle/five guys/etc and didn't really feel obligated to tip.

Like tlombard said, this probably ends up being spun off as a separate restaurant, but offering the option of smaller cheaper meals with no tipping is likely a good move. You can still allow jim to gorge himself on biscuits for $20 too.

[docellis]

Red Lobster calls the new service "Seaside Express" and is testing it in two locations near Orlando, Fla., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

So it isn't (yet) changing the format of the restaurant, they are just test marketing a lunch express thing. I have no interest. But I also have no interest in those biscuits, so I'm not the target market.

I WOULD be interested in a tip free, all you can eat king crab leg buffet type thing. But the casinos offer that, so that isn't an untapped market.

I have been intoxicated by the Joe's Crab Shack steam pot commercials. I finally tried Joe's Crab Shack a few months ago and it was disgusting. I don't like salt. I couldn't eat a thing. The bf likes salt. And he couldn't finish his "steam pot" because it was so salty. What is so hard to understand: Seafood tastes perfect without salt.

[Diddy]

We ate at my wife's grandparents on Sunday. I'm not much if a salt person myself. I took one bite of her grandmas mashed potatoes and literally spit them back out they were so salty, I'm on my wife's [expletive] list now.

[heyzeus]

I have never in my life eaten at a Red Lobster...or Long John Silver. Or taco bell. I'm not too good for these things, I just never really wanted to go to 'em.