THE RED ZONE CAFE

ALLEN IN FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT 

There are many worse things in life than
anticipating a good meal in a restaurant and then being disappointed but I must
admit it isn't something I handle very well.

TO GO MENU--MINIATURE OF
REGULAR MENU

I did have a $10 discount coupon but I knew
something was wrong when the application of the discount was in such small type
you couldn't read it. After we sat down I asked the waiter what it said and he
replied that you got $10 off a check of $50 or more. I knew from that we wouldn't
be using it, not for lunch anyway. :O)

INSIDE THE RESTAURANT

Knowing the restaurant was
a 'sports theatre' I expected to see some television sets but this
place is overwhelming with them , with almost as many TVs as booths and all the
tables are booths! All are set to different sports events with one more annoying
then the next, like having 20 different songs playing at the same time. That was
only the beginning.

Allen had his diet soda as usual and I had my black
coffee and a glass of water. We ordered 'in the zone sliders' described as 'a basket of mini sandwiches on fresh baked
bread with either pulled pork bbq or
Angus burger'. We had the pulled pork, which was overwhelmed with bbq sauce and piled on what tasted as super
market buns with  a side of french fries which, to me, were
tasteless.

We both ordered the '10oz red zone certified Angus burger' which, to quote is 'fresh ground Angus beef cooked to
perfection with your choice of cheese. Topped with onions, mushrooms, bacon, lettuce & tomato. Served on a
freshly toasted brioche bun.' I had cheddar while Allen had mozzarella.

Where do I start? I am still looking for the
mushrooms and bacon. The 'fresh baked bread' of the sliders and the 'freshly
toasted brioche bun' are strictly grocery tasting buns. The pile of french fries
served with both were not particularly good.

While I had ordered mine
medium rare it came almost raw which was okay to me but shows a lack of what
temperatures meant in the kitchen. I must admit I still have a hard time getting
use to paying $11 for a burger,Angus or otherwise!  :O)

Adding insult to injury there were 3 men, who I
assume were either managers and/or owners, and while the place wasn't busy none
of the three had the courtesy to stop by the table to see how everything was. To
me this is a big failing as it implies disinterest in the customer.

This is just 'another restaurant' and we have too
many of them.

We debated, for a second,whether to split a 'pecan fudge brownie'
but decide to go to
the Cold Stone Creamery and have ice cream.

At least we had one good thing for lunch!

Never say never but in all probability I will not be
going back to The Red Zone Cafe and Sports Theatre.