Somehow, I don't think the word "settle" works when you talk about Legal Seafood!

They are justly famous...

Love their clam chowder!

I was watching Hulu and they had a Red Lobster Commercial. I clicked trying to pause and instead it did a web search for the nearest Red Lobster. It came back null. It was hilarious!

I love Boston for their seafood. Who would eat at a Red Lobster, when they can go to Ye Olde Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in the United States?

Not surprisingly, there are no Red Lobsters in New Orleans, either. The nearest one is (or was, pre-Katrina) in Gulfport, MS, 75 miles away.

Imagine my surprise when I read of a group of people who, enticed by the delish-looking TV ads, drove from New Orleans to Gulfport to have seafood* at Red Lobster!

Is their name. I've eaten there before and it's a great place, but Legal Seafood, as opposed to Illegal Seafood? Counterfeit seafood? Bootleg seafood?

Every time I pass a Legal Seafood, I always ask myself those questions.

Just as Olive Garden is to Italian restaurants. I can't say that you're missing much.

much that before I left Boston, I bought their cookbook.

I doubt that Red Lobster has a cookbook. But if they do, trust me, you don't want it.

Seriously. Never heard of them.

I pretty much shy away from chains of any kind when it comes to seafood.

I also tend to be partial to places that are on the water.

Their motto is:

"If it isn't fresh, it isn't Legal"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_Sea_Foods

Bon Appétit magazine touts a meal at Legal Sea Foods as among America’s “Top Ten Tried-and-True” dining experiences. Legal is also included in Patricia Schultz’s popular guidebook, "1,000 Places to See Before You Die."

Whenever I'm flying out of Logan I set aside time for a stop in Legal's for a bucket of steamers. Several of my fellow New England ex-pats on the West Coast do the same.

Say what you will, as far as freshness, they meant it. Literally.

The tomato under the tuna salad (lunch special) is God's Own, red, juicy, perfect hydroponic tomato - in New England, in March! When your average "winter shipper" tomato is pale pink, tough and tasteless.

Ive seen it done, and they seem to do it quite easily.

Biscuits are an art.

we found the recipe online - it's an easy recipe (she says it's a lot easier than some of the other bread type things she makes anyway - I dunno - I just enjoy).


I think hers are better because she gives a shit. The hump in the "kitchen" at RL is just getting through his shift.


and by "kitchen" I mean "defrosting and thawing and microwaving and heating station".


Red Lobster does still have a Fresh Catch of the Day menu.







but they never specify which day....

If you knead the dough they turn into rocks.

The less you do, the better the outcome.

Ironic, isn't it?

It's why she's the baker and I'm the chicken fried steak maker.

I just can't get my hands to back off - when I see a bowl of stuff that needs mixin', I mix it until it's dead. Which works fine for my cream-cheese crab dip but not at all for baked goods.

you are failing miserably

and there are many Red Lobster restaurants within driving distance from me.

guess I'll have to settle for Red Lobster.

Okay, okay. I'm a guy and a vegetarian, so neither applies, but still.

ignore yourself for 30 minutes, bring the food to the table cold and then disappear in order to have the same experience?

At least, they are here - maybe it's a franchise thing? I dunno.

My wife and daughter have lived in Orlando all their lives. We are a half hour from the Atlantic ocean. RL is their favorite restaurant.

Somewhere, somehow, I have failed them.

I had the good fortune of visiting a Legal Seafood when I was in Maryland last year. It was a beautiful thing.

anything about either one...

RL in the 1970's and even into the early 80's was an actual seafood restaurant. It jumped the shark (as did Olive Garden) some time in the 1990's when it was bought up and franchised like McDonald's, or BK.

that is supposedly the inspiration for Red Lobster. It closed down years ago before I ever got a chance to go. I heard it was a great place for special occasions back in the 70s. It lasted until the 80s or 90s...


I try to always go to independent, family-owned places when I can. Especially when traveling. There's just no fun in going to a new city and then eating at the same dumb place I can get at home.

I gained a new hatred for American Chains living in the UAE.

I wanted to take her to dinner. She said she knew of a great seafood place. I was happy to take her out for seafood. She then directed me all the way to Long John Silvers.

It's horrible.
I don't eat seafood but had other meals there. I've gone a few times, because that's where folks wanted to go.

My Dad loves seafood and always wanted to go there, so we went together once. He said he would never go back.

Or crab stuffed mushrooms, even.

Sorry.

Share!

Please??

When I get home.