The Garden Grill - Rapid City

It's a Red Lobster located in South Dakota. The highlight of our meal was definitely the baked potato. Coming from the Oregon Coast, we're accustomed to fresh seafood, so our expectations were high. For someone who doesn't eat seafood often, it might be a decent choice, but overall it wasn't great. The staff was friendly, although not very attentive, likely due to the busy Mother's Day crowd. I love seafood, but would I return? Probably not, as there are many excellent restaurants in Rapid City.

I stopped by this restaurant while on vacation and was pleasantly surprised by the food. It was served quickly and cooked to perfection. I tried the popcorn shrimp and baked potato for lunch, and it was excellent, matching the quality I’ve come to expect from other Red Lobster locations. The staff was friendly and provided prompt service. I would have preferred sweet tea, but since they didn’t have it, I opted for lemonade. It turned out to be a bit too tart for my liking, although some people may enjoy it that way! The ambiance was calm, quiet, and very relaxing—ideal for a date or a laid-back meal. The windows allow you to see your parked car, which is great for travelers concerned about their belongings. Overall, it’s a fantastic spot for lunch!

The service we experienced was exceptional, starting with the hostess and continuing with the manager, who made sure we were satisfied with our meals. They even brought us a fresh dish of sprouts when we mentioned they were a bit crispy and undercooked. We ordered three shrimp dishes for $20: coconut shrimp, shrimp and scallops, and garlic shrimp. Additionally, we had the rainbow trout paired with crispy Brussels sprouts and a baked potato, along with some crab queso. Everything was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were absolutely delicious. Each dish complemented the others wonderfully, and they also stood out on their own. The Brussels sprouts had fantastic flavor, enhanced by a balsamic reduction and fried onions, though they could use a bit more uniformity in size and cooking time. Overall, it was one of the best meals I've had in quite some time, and the baked potato was simply perfect!

Went to Rapid so stopped at the old stomping grounds before leaving town. It's been over 10 years since I've worked or ate at The Lobster. It was a little weird to walk in and see the same floor plan 6 states away. Skyler, our server, was super nice and helpful. My partner drank the Lobster punch before he tried my Bahama Mama and then ordered that for his next round. I went in wanting the Lobster Pizza but they changed it up a little and now it's flat bread, still tastes great and this is coming from me who doesn't like lobster or tomatoes. For our main dish Rola ordered the Lobster Linguine and I ordered the Endless Shrimp. I tried the new Crispy Sea Salt Vinegar, I had about half but I just couldn't grow a liking to them. For my other choices I stuck with my favorites, shrimp skewer, scampi, and popcorn. Food was hot, fresh, and prompt. The restaurant was clean inside and out.

The food was okay but the floors were filthy and our server was less than stellar. Had to ask three times for bread and by the time it arrived we were done eating and then the server just disappeared. We sat for a very long time waiting for our ticket and a take out box. Disappointed.