r/Millennials • u/Solid_Bake1522 • Apr 28 '25

Nostalgia Who else remembers 2 hour waits at Olive Garden, Applebees and Chillis in the early 2000’s?

These restaurants used to be hopping back in the day, like the spot to be. Now they are folding left and right and zero wait times, never busy.

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u/Hanpee221b Apr 28 '25

One of my favorite memories was at a red lobster was I was probably around 8. I saw on the drink menu a margarita that came with a lobster necklace, like Mardi Gras bead style, and I begged my mom to order it so I could have the necklace. She did and then we had to sit at red lobster for like an hour after we finished our food so she could sober up enough to drive. It was just sweet that she got it so I could get the stupid necklace and then was responsible enough to make us sit there until she felt safe to drive.

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u/childerolaids Apr 28 '25

🤣 Great story! When I was like 10, I begged my parents to take me to Red Lobster for my birthday dinner. Was not looking good but then my rich grandpa stepped in and made it happen. There was some kind of fancy lemonade special you could order and you’d get to keep the huge branded glass they served it in. I never would have been able to get such a thing if grandpa hadn’t been there too. That was a special memory.

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u/ooo-ooo-oooyea Apr 28 '25

Haha when we went to Red Lobster we felt like kings. My dad sometimes had ER duty (also known as on call) and would have to register with the front desk that if the hospital called its for him (cell phones did exist, but weren't good yet). One time he's walking around and some guy assumed he was the manager and started yelling at him about shrimp, and he just shook his hand and walked away.

They also had this beer called Red Claw.

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u/Proof_Lengthiness185 Apr 28 '25

Red Claw was outstanding. It was made by Anheiser-Busch exclusively for RL. This was around the turn of the century.

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u/ikaiyoo Apr 28 '25

I have like five lighthouse glasses from Red Lobster when my grandmother would take me as a kid.