Red Lobster complaint: Confrontation with the Manage

Let me start by saying my wife and I have been fans of Red Lobster for years beginning in the late 1990s and for the most part have been happy with the food and service. All that changed last night. We went to the Red Lobster in Coeur d’Alene Idaho (212 E Neider Ave, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815). When we arrived, there were approximately a dozen or so people waiting ahead of us. Numerous people, myself included, asked if there was room in the bar. We were told sorry; the bar area is full, and the wait time would be approximately 15 minutes which seemed reasonable so we waited.

A young woman walked in with a child and approached the receptionist and asked if a specific individual were working, the receptionist stated yes but she was working in the bar section but that she would go get her. When the employee from the bar came up front the two embraced at which point the woman with the child asked if there was a way the employee could squeeze her in. Some where along the line the manager (Cody) came up front, the receptionist told the manager the bar area was full and what the wait time was. The woman working the bar told Cody “I have a booth over here for two people and could she seat her friends there, Cody said that was fine or something to that effect.

I was livid, there was an elderly couple that had been before us who had asked about seating in the bar area and was told no. I didn’t say anything to Cody at that point but decided I would do it in a more privates setting (at our table) as not to cause a big commotion. When I ask Cody what kind of nonsense was happening where the employee’s friends were seated while others waited. At that point Cody started his BS say that the bar area was part of some rotation that made no sense. When I told him that was bullshit, he stated the woman had called in earlier. I was so furious with Cody and his lying that I told he to leave me alone. My wife called while we were sitting at the table and found out they were not putting anyone on the call ahead list until I believe 7:00 PM or something close to that which again just proved Cody was being disingenuous. This was not an issue of being overlooked.

I guess what topped it off was the sign on the deskcounter by the receptionist which was asking people for their patience while they tried to properly staff the restaurant. That is laughable when you have managers like Cody and employees who are willing to do special favors for friends. I will never spend another dime in at Red Lobster. I understand it is tough to hire employees and most everyone understands that.

You would be much better off running understaffed than to scrape the bottom of the barrel to hire these types of people. You build a business one customer at a time, you lose your business in the same manner.