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Red Lobster Overhauls Menu After Emerging From Bankruptcy

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Seafood-restaurant chain Red Lobster is looking to make a comeback from bankruptcy with a new menu, a new 35-year-old CEO, and a new way forward.

Damola Adamolekun, the new chief executive of Red Lobster, is taking over a chain in turmoil. And he’s only 35.

“There’s a hole to climb out of, for sure, and that will be the hardest part,” Adamolekun told CNN last Friday in his first on-camera interview as CEO.

The new Red Lobster menu includes nine new items:

  • Lobster Pappardelle
  • Pasta Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops
  • Lobster Bisque
  • Lemon Basil Mahi
  • Simply Prepared Mahi
  • Parmesan-Crusted Chicken
  • Roasted Asparagus

Red Lobster’s new Lobster Pappardelle

Red Lobster’s revamped menu will be 20% smaller and won’t include the popular $19.99 all-you-can-eat Ultimate Endless Shrimp.

Also returning to the menu one of their more popular items hush puppies. “There was a social media riot over us taking off the hush puppies a few years ago,” CEO Damola Adamolekun told NBC News. “I expect a stampede into our restaurants because we’re bringing back the hush puppies,” he jokingly added.

hush puppies

New to the lunch menu- an endless soup, salad & cheddar bay biscuits combo for $9.99.  Choose from clam chowder or lobster bisque and a house salad, caesar salad or coleslaw.

The new menu comes as the chain’s CEO Damola Adamolekun is rolling out a comeback plan that also includes a revamped look and an advertising campaign aimed at bringing in younger customers.

“We want to make the restaurants more fun,” Adamolekun shared. Diners will soon notice new lighting at the restaurants and new music as part of Adamolekun’s efforts to attract younger customers who might have grown up going to the chain but haven’t been back for some time.

Red Lobster recently emerged from bankruptcy with a $60 million restructuring deal backed by Fortress Investment Group, which involved closing about 100 of its 640 restaurants, leaving 544 Red Lobsters remaining in the U.S. and Canada.

It’s been a tough year for fast-casual and family-style chains. Red Lobster, whose visits decreased nearly 45% year-over-year, joins a growing list of chains that have filed for bankruptcy as a result of weakening sales due to higher prices, inflation, high-interest rates, and the need for strategic realignment to meet shifting consumer habits.

However, there is good news for disappointed shrimp lovers. The new CEO did hear customers complaining about the tartar sauce recipe and promised a new, “better” one is coming soon.

 

Captain D’s Welcomes Back Seafood Trio & Other Fan Favorites!

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Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen has announced the return of fan favorites to the menu.
menu can be found at participating locations nationwide for a limited time.

 

Southern-Style Fish Tenders consist of four hand-breaded, Southern-style Fish Tenders served with your choice of any two sides and two signature Hush Puppies.

The Seafood Trio features one piece of the brand’s famous Batter Dipped Fish, three crispy Butterfly Shrimp, and two Southern Style Fish Tenders served with a choice of two sides and two world-famous Hush Puppies.

10 Piece Butterfly Shrimp includes ten of crispy Butterfly Shrimp served with your choice of any two sides and two world-famous Hush Puppies.

The Southern-Style Fish Tenders cost $6.49 , while the Seafood Trio and 10 Piece Butterfly Shrimp go for $6.99 and $5.99 each, respectively. Prices may vary by location.

Captain D’s

1401 E Dorothy Ln
Kettering, OH 45429
(937) 299-4721

6380 Brandt Pike
Huber Heights, OH 45424
(937) 237-5445

804 S Breiel Blvd
Middletown, OH 45044

Cassano’s to Open London Bobby On Old Hickory Site

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London Bobby is back on Main Street

One legendary restaurant site, will turn into another legend this winter.   The site of the new Cassano’s / London Bobby Fish & Chips will be at 4029 N. Main St. in Dayton.  Food Adventures has learned that the site will not only be a new Cassano’s, but they are planning on offering an entire London Bobby Fish & Chips Menu.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— The new restaurant is expected to open in the October/November time frame.

— The site is on the grounds of the recently demolished Old Hickory Restaurant at 4029 N. Main St. in Dayton. 

London Bobby Fish and Chips

— For you nostalgic Daytonians who remember the London Bobby Fish & Chips around town in the 1970’s and 80’s, this will bring back some memories.

— Bringing back the London Bobby brand is a plan that Vic Cassano Jr. had before his passing.   The next generation of Cassano  family is seeing that vision through as a tribute to him.  It is also a great rebirth of a Dayton favorite, and welcome news to many Miami Valley residents.

The new Cassano’s will offer all of your pizza favorites and even cassini sandwiches, calzones and the subs you’ve grown to love.  But let’s take a look at what will be a part of the London Bobby menu.

If you can’t wait for the opening, visit the Stroop Rd.  Cassano’s location or the store in Trenton, Ohio for your London Bobby fix.

 

SO .. royal subjects…. Hear ye, hear ye !  Your majesty the Pizza King and Food Adventures announce the patented London Bobby “Must Eats”

 

FUTURE MUST EATS at THE NEW LONDON BOBBY on N. MAIN STREET.

The Big Cheese Pizza will be on the menu too !

— THE FISH AND CHIPS : Three pieces of battered fish, fries, two hushpuppies and cole slaw.  Splash on some vinegar to make it “authentic,” old chap.

— EXTRA ORDER OF HUSHPUPPIES:  Avoid fighting or wishing you had more.. order about 8 extra like we do and watch the hands grab!

— BASKET OF ONION RINGS:  Beer battered and cooked to order.

— THE FISH SANDWICH:  This delicious beer battered treat is

Flaky fish, splash it with vinegar to go old school, fool !

perfect for on the go.

 

So there you have it … you have Italy and England in one spot.  Your fave Big Cheese Pizza isnt going anywhere, you just may be tempted to order some fish as well.   Congratulations to the Cassano family, Sharon, Lora, Chris and Chip.  Thank you for bringing back a lost piece of Dayton.

Browse the photos below and feel free to comment at the bottom and share your memories.

Hushpuppies – get some extra , so there’s no fighting

For more original photos and content “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.    7,000 fans cant be wrong.

Food Adventures is a blog run by 3 local foodies.  You can expect a feature article every week on MostMetro, year round.  Together Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu explore Dayton’s greatest foods.  From farmers markets, to fine dining, we eat it all.  Look for our dinner events, festival appearances and upcoming cooking classes on our website www.DaytonFoodies.com.  Since 2008, turning over every plate !

Until then .. tally ho .. carry on… Mr Watson I presume and all that stuff…

The Pizza King is gonna open another store!

The Big Cheese is still here

Chicken Parm

Fish and Chips

The dough

North Main will have all the subs too !

Try the Cassini Burger – it is AWESOME

Calzones will be served at the North Main location

London Bobby is coming back to North Dayton

Onion Rings

Deluxe

The Pizza King !

Cassanos Delivers the Taste

London Bobby’s Fish and Chips

Tank’s Bar & Grill: An Original Dayton Food Adventure

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Wednesday’s Special: Roast Beef Hot Shot a “Must Eat”

Some things are just Dayton born and Dayton bred.  Tanks Bar & Grill on 2033 Wayne Avenue is a Dayton icon, much like The Wright Brothers, U.D. Arena and Dr. Creep.    Opened in 1987 by Dan “Tank” Tankersley, the restaurant has become legendary in a short time.  Although named for the owner, Tank’s name fits well because  they bring out the heavy artillery in their food offerings.  With a kitchen that opens very early and closes very late everyday, this is our kind of place.   A place for foodies, heck it is more than that, it is a place for serious eaters.   Loyalists have given Tanks a cult following, yet many suburbanites are unfamiliar with the spot & want to know,  “Why all the love?”   The answer is big portions of tasty food in a no frills atmosphere.  This is an not a wuss place, the old house has character and if these walls could talk, there would be some good stories.  You gotta love a place with 2 menus at all times.

Get your eat on, you are in the right spot.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Open 7am – 2am everyday, plenty of time for a Food Adventure

— They serve breakfast all day.  Brings a tear to our eye.

— Old School Joint where you wont leave hungry.  The plates are big, but the prices are decent.

If you eat one thing at Tank’s, make it a Burger !

— The Beer Selection is immense.  Lots of weird beers and unfamiliar bottle labels to experiment with and a few seasonal beers on tap too.

 

MUST EATS:

— TANK’S BURGERS:  Are you kidding?  If you go to Tank’s and eat one thing, make it a burger.  People drive-in from all over the place for this stuff.  This is one of the finest burgers in Dayton.  You gotta’ try one.

— OMELET TANK’S WAY: This is a 10 egg omelet with over a dozen choices for ingredients.  A massive, tasty creation with a cheap price.  Chef House goes for the 6 egg omelet called the “girly.”

— ROAD KILL CHILI: As the menu says, this isn’t normal possum, it is the Oakwood kind.  All kidding aside, this hearty chili is a warm splash of happiness.  Doctor it up with some hot sauce and you have yourself one of the best chili’s in the area.

— HOMEMADE CHIP DIP: This isn’t store bought dip, it is made on site.  When you are sluggin’ down a lot of beer, this creamy item is a pretty good accompaniment.

Order off the menu: Get a Turkey Reuben with Slaw instead of Kraut

— WEDNESDAY SPECIAL ROAST BEEF HOT SHOT: An open face sandwich with roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Comfort food at it’s best.  It is a big portion, and again the price is right.  You might want to take a nap an hour after eating this beast.

— HUSHPUPPIES:  These homemade balls of deep fried love are almost as big as baseballs.  Throw a few down your gullet or at your friends.  They have a savory flavor with an addicting taste of sweetness.

— REUBEN:  An amazing Reuben sandwich.  Great bread, makes this sandwich in our humble opinion.  No explanation or elegant description needed.  Just eat it.

 

 

Breakfast All Day, Everyday

Here is a Food Adventure exclusive **SECRET**:  This is NOT on the menu so you will have to ask for it.  Try the Turkey Reuben and ask them to put cole slaw on it instead of sauerkraut.  It is an incredible sandwich that you have to request.  After you are addicted, you can thank us later.  We are serious eaters, we know this shizzle.  We don’t read the menu to tell you about things. We actually eat the food, all of it!    Ask Dayton Mayor Gary Letizell who joined us for one of our Tank’s trips with his assistant Shelly.   They realized this was a Food Adventure almost immediately.

Honorable Mention menu items are the fluffy Waffles, Grilled Cheese Tank’s Way, and the specialty hash browns served in heaping mounds.   And all you fellow foodies, make sure you get the fresh cut fries as a side instead of chips, or we will run you over in a Sherman tank.

Tank’s Bar & Grill has earned its stellar reputation.  It’s not trendy, it isn’t the flavor of the month, nor is it a swanky place where the pretty people eat.   What you see is what you get, and the patrons keep coming back.    If you have not visited this place, make sure you put it on your Food Adventure Hit List.  Daytonians love Tank’s, and so do your humble Food Adventurers.  

Like Food Adventures on Facebook HERE !  We are not food critics, we are just two guys that love to eat.

Check out more than 40 food porn pictures of various Tank’s Bar & Grill favorites in our Food Adventures Photo Album, below.

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