What would a trip to Ottawa be for me without dinner at my beloved Red Lobster? There are two locations in the nation’s capital. However, our “go-to” spot is the one on St. Laurent Blvd. where general manager Ian Forrester, ably seconded by manager Owen Hoyt, has been greeting us for more than two decades.
Red Lobster recently came out of bankruptcy protection and had to close several locations in the United States. The chain is present in four Canadian provinces – Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Quebec last saw a Red Lobster some 30 years ago. New ownership has placed Red Lobster back into a good business position.
There have been no issues of concern here in Ottawa where the parking lot on St. Laurent Blvd. is always packed with cars and it is common to find a lineup for tables out the door.
From lobster and pasta to crab, bacon and shrimp, the newest Red Lobster menu has been leaving guests’ taste buds singing. We felt right at home as the hostess showed us to a table in the very large second dining room. Our server was Karen, who like Forrester has been on board here for more than three decades.
We started with some spiked strawberry lemonades and soon enough along came the mouthwatering and freshly baked Cheddar Bay Biscuits. They taste especially good right out of the oven. You can order as many as you wish and we do so, bringing some back to where we were staying to enjoy the following day.
For starters, two of us went for cups of piping hot clam chowder while the other member of our party tried the new lobster bisque.
The main course was next and there was no question for the two of us. We had been craving the live Maritime lobster and it came freshly boiled and nicely cracked so we could enjoy every morsel, along with the dipping garlic butter and two sides each. This was as good a lobster as one could expect at a five-star restaurant. The other member of our party wanted a little variety and she chose Walt’s Shrimp Your Way; regular shrimp, garlic shrimp, a Maritime lobster tail along with some mashed potatoes on the side.
While we were quite full, the chocolate wave dessert looked too good to pass up so we asked Karen to bring us three forks and plates to share. It came with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and some chocolate sauce.
There are a whole lot more choices at Red Lobster, which is a good reason why Forrester and Hoyt see so many regulars come here often more than once a week. There are also Montrealers who frequently drive in on a weekend evening to dine. They do accept reservations, as well as a convenient take-out service and delivery.
Some of the newer menu options include lobster pappardelle pasta, lemon basil mahi, grilled mahi, parmesan-crusted chicken and a roasted asparagus side.! Fan favorites include popcorn shrimp snow crab legs, sea scallops, salmon, shrimp and tilapia tacos, burgers and salads as well as a kids menu.
Red Lobster is indeed the world’s largest and most-loved seafood restaurant company, headquartered in Orlando, Florida. With a proud heritage, Red Lobster is focused on serving the highest quality, freshly prepared seafood that is traceable, sustainable, and responsibly sourced. This Ottawa Red Lobster is located at 1499 St. Laurent Blvd. They are open seven days a week from 11 am to 10 pm. You can call 514-744-7560 and log on to www.redlobster.ca to access the complete menu.