Red Robin

Going to Red Robin evokes a feeling of happiness and familiarity in me. When driving to the Fairfax location, which is five minutes away from my old house, I was reminded of the several family meals I had enjoyed there. Getting burgers and watching sports games there with my mom, dad, and brother is a memory I will never forget. Red Robin was once a haven to spend quality time as a family and eat quality food at a reasonable price.

I walked into the door for lunch accompanied with my mom and dad, nearly 10 years later, and I was reminded of my childhood by the quirky American decor. I promptly walked to the hostess at the front and I asked for a table for three, eager to begin my meal. The waitress un-enthusiastically told us there would be a fifteen to twenty minute wait to our surprise, as the restaurant was far from full. As we sat in the waiting area, we mentally prepared for our long wait, however no less than three minutes later, we were greeted by a slightly more friendly waitress who told us our table was ready.

We entered the dining area of the restaurant and more cluttered, yet unique design, greeted us, which I appreciated. Red Robin certainly has a specific look they’re going for, and their goal of an eccentric American bar is attained with brightly colored, mainly red, decor around the restaurant. Shortly after we were seated, a second kind waitress asked for our drinks. I ordered a water and a strawberry freckled lemonade, a childhood favorite of mine. The drink is not only homemade, but presented in a twirly cup.

I glanced over the extensive menu which offered several American classics and iconic staples for the restaurant such as their onion ring tower and fries. Despite being a traditional American restaurant, there were several vegetarian and “healthier” options, such as a burger with lettuce as buns, which I appreciated.

One thing I looked forward to when going to Red Robin as a kid was the pile of hot, crispy fries that were served before your order. However, when the waitress brought the fries to our table, I was disappointed to see less than a fourth of the portion served in the past. In hopes to make up for my disappointment, I ordered something Red Robin is known for: their burgers. I ordered a pepper and smoked bacon cheeseburger and my parents both ordered humble salads.

As we waited for our food to be delivered, I couldn’t help but notice the chaos that seemed to surround us. Tables next to us still had dirty plates and trash on them, and the floors were covered in a thin layer of crumbs. My disgust was soon turned to delight as our food was returned from the kitchen in an exceptionally fast time. At first glance, the burger looked completely different from the juicy, fresh burger presented on the menu, however it still looked delectable to my rumbling stomach. To gauge the appearance of the bacon, I lifted up the top bun to discover two strips of bacon, which looked more like pieces of fried leather with pepper on top.

However, looks seemed to be deceiving, because as I took my first reluctant bite, I was surprised by the flavor of the burger. The strange bacon, sauce, and charred beef patty all seemed to work in harmony to provide a very American bite. My family was also satisfied with their salads, finishing them quickly.

As we finished our meals and ate the last of our fries, our waitress brought us our check, and we happily ate our fries and finished our drinks. We weren’t so happy when our waitress took nearly fifteen minutes to swipe my dad's credit card, and we sat in increasing annoyance until utilized our last resort. Red Robins’ tables are adorned with touch screen-iPads of sorts where guests can play games, learn information about the menu, and pay for their orders. However, guests aren’t told how to use the devices, so we struggled for a few minutes until we successfully paid for our food by swiping the card on the device.

As we walked out of the restaurant, the friendly waitresses smiled and told us to have a nice day, which made us feel a little bit better about our dining experience. Red Robin knows how to do some things right and sticks to them. They make customizable, good quality food for a decent price, however some shortcomings certainly ruin what could be an amazing dining experience.

While their specialty drinks are phenomenal, the view of cluttered tables is not. And while their famous burgers could satisfy anyone, the wait time to pay certainly makes you forget about the comfort food you just consumed. All in all, Red Robin could benefit from some tweaks to improve not only the quality of the food but the way in which the restaurant is run. But one thing is for certain, the charm and eccentric friendliness of this classic American restaurant may never be changed and keeps guests pouring in.

Red Robin

14450 Chantilly Crossing Ln, Chantilly, VA 20151