Casual Dining – Red Robin Restaurants

Running errands again…and time for lunch again.  We decided to try a chain restaurant that we’d eaten in when we were in Arizona about 15 years earlier.  We had vague positive memories so why not try it again…!

 

This is the Red Robin restaurant in Farragut Tennessee.  It’s located in the Turkey Creek shopping area…  This location is fairly new and it has won an award for landscaping.  Actually this chain of restaurants prides itself in its environmental stewardship…alternate power sources, recycling, conservation, etc.

Company headquarters for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is based in Greenwood Village Colorado.  The company had 314 company owned stores in December of 2010 as well as 136 franchised locations.

 

The interior of the restaurant is bright and cheerful.  The chain has won several awards for being a family friendly operation. 

The company or at least the name started back at Sam’s Tavern in Seattle WA.  Sam, the owner, was known for singing “When the Red, Red, Robin comes Bob, Bob, Bobbing Along” with his barbershop quartet.   So he changed the name to Sam’s Red Robin Tavern…and a subsequent owner changed the name to Red Robin Tavern and then added burgers to the menu.

 

The first true Red Robin Restaurant was opened in Seattle in 1969.  The first franchisee opened his operation 10 years later.  By 2000 there were 150 locations and the rest is history.

In 2009, 2010 and then again in 2011, Zagat rated Red Robin as having the best burger in a full-service restaurant.  That’s a heck of a record!

 

Laurie and I usually don’t order an appetizer with lunch…but we were curious about the Oktoberfest special appetizer…the Pretzel Bites. ($4.49) These little bites of pretzel goodness were served with a cup of spicy German mustard plus a cup of honey mustard dipping sauce.  The pretzels were hot and fresh and we felt that they worked best with the honey mustard sauce.

A sampling of other regular appetizers on the menu include: Triple S Riblets ($7.99); RR’s Buzzard Wings ($8.99); Towering Onion Rings ($7.99), and; a Garden Fresh Hummus Plate ($6.99).

 

I ordered the Royal Red Robin burger. ($10.29) This is described as the “aristocrat of all burgers” because it’s crowned with a fresh fried egg, hardwood smoked bacon, American cheese, crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes and mayo.

This was a very nice burger…juicy and flavorful.  I really liked the addition of the fried egg… You might have noticed the French fries behind the burger.  It looked like a skimpy portion…and typically it would be considered as such.  However, given the appetizer and the size of the burger, the amount of fries was just right.

Note: Did I mention that every sandwich comes with “Bottomless Steak Fries”?!  Red Robin servers will bring as many helpings of fries as you can consume.  Although we prefer slimmer French fries, these Steak fries were fresh and they were quite good.

 

Laurie went with the Oktoberfest Special Burger. ($9.99) This burger consisted of a burger patty with Swiss cheese, fried onions, ham, lettuce, tomato and mayo served on a pretzel bun.   My better half gave it two thumbs up!

Although there are 15 different burgers on the menu, there are lots of other items to choose from. (Fish and Chips, Prime Rib Dip, Bruschetta Chicken, Clucks and Shrimp, a BLTA Croissant…and much, much more)  The most expensive items on the menu are $13.99.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is a good place to sit down and have a very satisfactory meal… The prices are reasonable, it’s clean and bright and service was just fine.  Laurie and I would however disagree with the Zagat ratings.  Laurie’s favorite chain restaurant burger can be found at Steak ‘n Shake.  My choice would be a Prime Burger at Ruby Tuesday’s.  Still, we had a nice lunch and we will return!

This Red Robin’s restaurant is located at 11433 Parkside Drive in Farragut Tennessee.  Phone: 865-777-1112.  For the company’s website and to locate a restaurant close to you, just go to www.redrobin.com.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave