Red Lobster Menu Question
 

Hello All,

This is my first time here. I just started Atkins on 12/08. I think I totally blew it today, by accident. We went to Red Lobster for lunch and I thought I'd order something other than plain fish for a change. They have a dish called the Outerbanks Sampler which consists of broiled shrimp, broiled tiny scallops, deviled crab, and covered with Monterey Jack cheese. Because of the cheese, I said "Oh, I can have this", never thinking about what might be in "deviled crab".

Anybody have any idea of how "bad" I was???

Thanks. :)

Hmmm... deviled crab.... ok, I did a quick search for you, and most recipes for deviled crab call for breadcrumbs. Soooo.... in the future I'd avoid it, but don't beat yourself up over the slip! :D

mmmmmm...red lobster is soooo good, even without that bread. i get the scallop and lobster tail skewers with . its so good for atkins.

I always get the Crableg's and butter... w/ a nice side salad and ranch dressing...

I wouldn't be to upset w/ yourself... i'm sure there couldn't have been that much breadcrumbs in the deviled crab.... plus you balanced it out w/ lots of protien.. you should be just fine....

Good luck...

I wrote to Red Lobster on Email about your question (re: the deviled crab)... this was their LAME response:

<<Thank you for your interest in Red Lobster; it is always a pleasure to hear from our guests.


We are sorry we are not able to provide nutritional information, as our chefs are continuously creating and customizing recipes for our menu. I encourage you to speak with the manager about specific menu suggestions that may best meet your needs.


Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.


Sincerely,



Arlene
Manager>>


How terrible!! I can't even believe that they think that would suffice in this day and age. I'm writing back to them to express my dissatisfaction in their "answer."

A better answer might have been:

We have absolutely no idea what is in any of our recipes, nor do we care so long as you spend your hard-earned $$ at our restaurant. :)

Thanks for jumping on the bandwagon, but don't make yourself crazy over this. I like RL in spite of their non-answer. It was really my stupidity to order the deviled crab in the first place. I DO know better!

Filmlass23, I do not think that was such a bad answer, afterall cooks need to be creative like any other artist. That is why Red Lobster is soooo good in the first place. By asking the manager it helps you to know what that particular restaurant does and it makes it easier for that restaurant to accomodate you, personally.

I'm really not going ape over this, but I really think that response isn't justifiable.

Chain restaurants like Red Lobster have "home kitchens" where recipes are developed. A lot of the food we eat in QSR's are pre-packaged, frozen, and then MICROWAVED at locations and then served for $14. I don't know how Red Lobster does their seafood... (lord knows I haven't been since 1992... they served a lobster half-cooked to me in MAINE -- and after a few years, the location shut down b/c why do Mainers really need a Red Lobster??)

Red Lobster definitely has a home kitchen -- when they developed the deviled crab dish, they knew EXACTLY how much of what was going into that recipe... it has to be replicated at 1,000s of locations! There is no creativity going into any of the dishes at these QSRs' individual locations. The way that Bob the Chef at the Akron Red Lobster makes deviled crab is no different than the way Phil the chef at the Tallahassee Red Lobster prepares his deviled crab.

There should be base information available. That way, if a restaurant-goer sees that the dish is particularly high in carbs or fat and does not want it, they can just avoid the dish altogether.

That's my two cents. :)

Never heard of deviled crab but I am obsessed with the Crab legs......mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

firmlass23 - I agree with you and think it would have been a whole lot more honest to just state that it is "proprietary" information. Not like you were asking for the exact recipe or anything, but some places get really paranoid if someone asks what ingredients are being used in a particular dish. I also think not giving someone nutritional information on request is rotten. Nutritional information is NOT giving you the ingredient list nor should it be considered proprietary.

Anyway, I still like Red Lobster and will visit our local one the next time my mom is visiting me.

shortstuff

Just try your best. It has to be really hard starting Atkins during the holidays.
I am sure it wasn't that many extra carbs.
Not like the kind we were eating pre-Atkins.

FoxySoli, deviled crab probably has breadcrumbs in it (I think it's probably the same stuff they put in the stuffed shrimp, stuffed filet of sole, etc.). But don't get yourself all worked up over eating it. A) It's the holidays, so give yourself a break! and B) It was just that once, now you know better!

Last time I was at Red Lobster, I had Surf & Turf. The lobster tails were kind of tough, but the filet mignon was great! I have a hard time sitting at the same table with those cheese biscuits, though.....they're GOOD! At least they used to be - I've managed to abstain!

Try calling the restaurant you ate at, state that you have food allergies and that you *need* to know if the deviled crab has sugar, bread, or other carb-based products in it. Hopefully they will be more accommdating than corporate headquarters.

my husband is opening up a sub shop with the intention of franchising and from what i understand, he HAS to provide nutritional info upon request, including calories, carbs, etc. what if you really did have allergies? i am really curious now what the law is. i will ask him and let you know.