When I arrived, my order wasn't quite ready so I was told to have a seat in the bar(and no I did not drink ,thank you) and that they'd bring my food to me when it was ready.
The lone person in the bar, I was at a loss as to what to do while I waited. I'd left my cell phone in the car, so I couldn't call my sis for a little time-wasting converstation. What to do ? I looked around the restaurant hopeful I'd find something (or someone) worth watching.
Then I spotted it. The live lobster in the tank in the lobby of the restaurant. While not a regular patron of Red Lobster, I've certainly been before in my life and known that they have a live lobster tank in the front but somehow never thought much about it.
As I watched the lobster sit stationary in the big tank a woman appeared. She sat next to the tank and began to try and engage the lobster in play. Really, I swear. As she put her fingers near the glass the lobster follwed them. It was actually kind of cute. In a crazy, I go-to-restaraunts-and-play-with-lobsters kind of way.
But that led me to thinking.
Playing with the lobster is probably what a child would do. My children have always been fascinated by fish tanks and wanted to tap on the glass and play with the fish.
Having that lobster on display makes him seem as if he's a pet. Which in light of the fact that they serve lobster for patrons to eat... well that's just a wee bit creepy.
"Here kids, play with this cute little lobster and here are some coloring books and crayons and animated lobsters for you to have fun with and oh what's that...lemme just set this deceased lobster in front of you to eat" Obviously, I understand that by patronizing the restaurant I'm consciously making the decision to support eating lobster, or shrimp or whatever seafood I choose and I'm fine with that.
But my kids ??? I imagine the whole experience just might freak them right the hell out.
Yeah... uh note to self: DO NOT bring kids to Red Lobster and maybe re-think vegetarianism.
And with that, I take my leave of you.
May you have the happiest of weekends!
Smooches,
WM
14 comments:
i don't go there often, but the next time i do i might look at things a little differently...
OMG love your post and i also love red lobster...kinda creepy though when you think of it like that...
We don't have them here....but I can see your point.
However....the whole vegetarian thing WOULD not work for me!
Maybe THAT's why I can't keep off the weight! :)
MISS YOU GIRL!
I know. I hate that tank... I go by swiftly and never order lobster. I think it's creepy too.
Heh heh heh heh heh.
Red Lobster freaks me out, plus it smells funny.
I love fish, but really- it smells funny in there.
We just took my mom there and the manager actually took one of the lobsters out so the kids could pet it. Thank god my 3 year old didn't ask why they were in the tank to begin with.
I totally agree with the creep factor. I do eat there a couple of times a year and think that every time I'm there...so I just order something that's not on display as a pet.
Never gave it much thought. But have to tell you we have pitures of our children cooking their own lobster in boiling water. Before and after pics when they were 6 and 10. I think that might make me freaky too. Oh man.
I don't know if I could take the uber-fishy smell of the place while hungover. You really must have been desperate not to make dinner!
And I agree it is creepy! Haven't been there in years, but if I go back I must make a mental note not to make eye contact with my dinner.
That's a good point! Fortunately we have a bunch of places that serve lobster none of which have display tanks!
When Snow White was a toddler she learned all about cute animals and the sounds they make. One day we picked up a quick lunch at McDonalds. She happily scarffed down a few chicken nuggets. �Mommy, where do these come from?� Before I thought it through I said �They make them out of chickens.� ManSon, Oldest Daughter and I all realized this might have an adverse effect on little bitty Snow White and we all GASPED at what I just said! Snow White picked up her little nugget box then made a sort of puppet mouth out of it happily clucking away ..bawack bawak bawak! Apparently she didn�t care that her chicken nuggets were previously real chickens.
I have not been to Red Lobster in YEARS! The last I heard anyone I know going there it was my bro and his bud for all you can eat crab legs...they kicked them out after about 20lbs each or so...seriously, they pissed the waitress off because they asked for another order each time she brought them one. ;)
My husband runs a restaurant and always brings a big 5 pounder out to scare the kids. They mostly eat meat though so as long as he doesn't bring out a live cow.....
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