Red Lobster - your help needed folks

I had this surgery to become healthy/normal  again!  My doctor wants me to be normal and seem like everyone else when I go somewhere or do something and not make the surgery the topic of every thing I do.  I now can comfortably sit in any chair, movies or those tiny seats at the baseball stadium with extra room and cross my legs, and BOOTHS the boobs are not even an issue, lol.  I exercise and buying a ton of cute clothes.  I order off the adult menu and dont even know where the card is my surgeon gave me.  I  eat the little I can and get a to go box.  Last time I ate at red lobster I had a lot left, the manager wanted to know if something was wrong with the food and just simply said I cant eat as much as everyone else and she said ok just checking.  I dont want to make a big deal or stand out, I am starting to look  normal again and men are looking because I look good and not  like a beached whale! lol.  As for the food I paid the same before so why change that now?  Enjoy yourselves and have fun visiting and dont make this such a big deal, life is way to short and now we all have so much living to do and make up for! God speed Amy

I always order the childs crab leg dinner, I have never had to show my card from my surgeon. I infact called Red Lobster and asked the manager before going if it was a problem for an adult to order off the childs menu. I called because I was going with a group and did not want to stick out of the crowd. I was told no problem, I could order what ever was on the menu child or not. Sorry you had that  experience. I would contact the district or area manager and tell them of your experience. I do not think they handled with the customer satisfaction that Red Lobster wants to provide. I personally love our RL, and am sorry you had that experience. I order half orders and lunch portions all the time. I usually just explain that I am not hungry enough for a full portion and ask if they can offer me the half order or lunch portion, usually the price is reduced for half portions or lunch portions. That way I dont have to tell everyone I had surgery!

You say you "don't want freebies, discounts, etc," but that's essentially what you're asking for, even if you don't realize it.  Children's menus come in two varieties: (1) those that aren't discounted, and therefore usually don't carry an age restriction and (2) those that are heavily discounted, and therefore have an age restriction.  The former is just a smaller portion at a slightly smaller price.  If the normal entrees are $11, these will be about $7.  My favorite BBQ restaurant is like this, as are most fast food children's menus.  I have never had a problem ordering a children's portion when the prices are at this ratio. On the later children's menu, a meal will be about $4 instead of $11.  They offer this price as a "loss leader" to get parents in the door.  Two kids at $4 each helps get 2 parents at $11 each plus another $15 in appetizers and drinks, for $45 total.  If the parents get to order kids menus to, that $45 becomes $16, and the restaurant would have made more money if your table was empty.  I would never order off a children's menu in this situation. I was given a card, but don't carry it and wouldn't use it.  A discount card (again, that's what it is) can only be honored if both parties agree; I can't foist my WLS card on a restaurant any more than a senior citizen can demand a discount at a restaurant that doesn't offer one by flashing their AARP card.  We are not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act; indeed, one of the reasons I got this surgery was to avoid being covered by that Act.

Yes, we all want to be "normal".   blah.....blah......blah......etc/....... But, let's face it, when it comes to eating food, most of us aren't normal.  We cannot have the huge portions that other people can eat and why should I be penalized by the price of a huge portion of food when others are not?   I don't want anything free, I want to pay for what I want.  A small portion of food.  My money is as good as the next person who eats two plates of food (that used to be me).  I think if these establishments are businesses , as you say, they should please their customers, no matter how big thier stomachs are.  Let's not forget either, that hardly any of us go to restaurants alone.  Everyone I'm with orders a meal priced at whatever the establishment chooses.  My $7 child's meal isn't going to break the bank.   I'm still with the original poster on this subject.  And it is true, you don't get ANYTHING in this life by not asking for it.  Aren't obese people tired of being ignored and treated as second class?  Maybe if we give ourselves a voice, we'll be heard.  Until then, keep paying for food that goes in the garbage (that's where mine goes) or be relegated to only eating at home.  How "normal" is that?  

We cannot have the huge portions that other people can eat and why should I be penalized by the price of a huge portion of food when others are not?   I can only imagine the outrage that there would be from people if those who were obese were penalized by the huge portions that they COULD eat in restaurants. Were you ever charged by the plate at a buffet or by the bread basket pre-op? Of course not. Your $7 child's menu won't break the bank, no, but a restaurtant is in business to make money and many times that $7 child's menu item barely breaks even for the restaurnt, but it's worth it because they make up the difference on the adult entrees. I have non-wls friends who have tiny appetites who have never asked for a discount or suggested that they were somehow entitled to a cheaper meal. They are adults, thus they order adult meals. Order what you like, eat what you want and either toss the rest or take it home. That's what "normal" people do.

You know, everyone is different and all are entitled to their opinions.  But, I , for one have no money to throw in the garbage can .  And why should I not be able to eat out like other people?  I choose not to patronize places that will not let me order WHATEVER I want.  To each his/her own. 

I don't have money to "throw away" either. But if you go to a restaurant, order an entree and are full, then you have accomplished your mission. That you didn't eat every bit on the plate is irrelevant. You had a meal. No one is saying that you shouldn't go out to eat. Why are you trying to be some sort of victim here? Go, eat, enjoy and be a "normal" adult. And yes, it is your choice to choose where to go--no question. Just as it is the restaurant's choice not to let full-grown adults eat off a menu designed for 10-year-old children.

On May 20, 2007 at 4:56 PM Pacific Time, michelle324 wrote:  I choose not to patronize places that will not let me order WHATEVER I want.  To each his/her own.  I think that is the point some are trying to make.  You choose not to patronize places that don't let you order whatever you want.  You don't continue to eat there but demand that the restaurant accommodate your desires if they choose not to.  We always have the choice of where to go and whether to go out to eat at all. 

PLEASE.  It's just drawing negative attention.  Why bother?  Eat what you can and relax.