Red Robin is good for burgers and limitless fries, but if you're looking for a proper donut dessert, you should maybe temper your expectations. Here's what you need to know before your next visit.
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00:00Red Robin is good for burgers and limitless fries. But if you're looking for a proper
00:04donut dessert, you should maybe temper your expectations. Here's what you need to know
00:08before your next visit. Everyone loves a good birthday treat, and Red Robin's Birthday Burger
00:13Award seems like the perfect way to celebrate. You can enjoy this offer any day during the month of
00:17your birthday, giving you ample opportunity to take advantage of this nice gift. There is one
00:22catch that you may not be aware of, though. According to Red Robin's FAQ and Terms and
00:26Conditions, the birthday burger isn't entirely free. To claim this reward, customers must dine
00:31in and make a minimum purchase of $4.99. This requirement can be a bit of a letdown for those
00:35expecting a completely free meal on their special day. The minimum purchase stipulation means that
00:40you'll need to buy something else off the menu to enjoy your birthday burger, whether it's a drink,
00:44an appetizer, or even just some fries. While ultimately this is probably not a deal-breaker
00:49for most people, it still feels a bit deceptive. If something is described as free and presented
00:53as a sort of birthday perk, it's a bit of a downer to find out there are conditions and
00:57fine print to go along with it.
00:59"'His name is Timmy, and he's eight years old.'"
01:03"'I need birthday singers!''
01:05Red Robin found itself in a bit of an ale debacle with the recent $450,000 settlement over its Stella
01:11Artois beer servings. Turns out, customers who ordered a small Stella Artois between 2017 and
01:162022 might have been shortchanged. The issue was with those fancy Stella Chalices, which don't
01:22always hold as much beer as they should. As a result, some customers didn't get the full amount
01:26of beer that was supposed to come in a small size. Cue the legal drama. Plaintiffs claimed
01:30they were overcharged because they didn't get what they paid for in beer volume. Apparently,
01:34the classiness of the Stella glass didn't impress them enough to let it go. To settle the dispute,
01:39Red Robin didn't admit wrongdoing but agreed to shell out $450,000, which ended up being
01:4450 cents per customer. Now that the issue has been resolved, Red Robin will likely be more
01:48careful about serving the quantity of beer it's promising.
01:52Usually, someone who is lactose intolerant, vegan, or has a dairy allergy would assume
01:56ordering fries is a safe bet. But that's not the case at Red Robin. One of the cool features of the
02:01online menu is that you can put in your dietary preference or allergies, and it tells you what's
02:05safe to eat and what's not. If you state that you're vegan or have a dairy allergy, the website
02:10informs you that the fries are not okay to eat. Allegedly, the issue isn't that the fries use
02:14dairy as an ingredient, but that there may be a risk of cross-contact with dairy products.
02:19For those navigating dietary restrictions, especially concerning allergies, being aware
02:23of these details is key to making safe dining choices. Red Robin's proactive stance in offering
02:28thorough allergen info shows it's serious about catering to diverse dietary needs.
02:32Still, it's surprising that something as seemingly straightforward as fries could
02:36cause such a fuss. To be safe at any restaurant, it's always best to find out before you order
02:41if the food you want is safe for you to consume.
02:44You might not expect it, but Red Robin's renowned Towering Onion Rings have a staggering amount of
02:48carbs — 175 grams, to be exact. That's more than any other item on the menu,
02:53aside from certain desserts.
02:54This colossal app is stacked 13 high with a heavy breading for extra crunch."
02:59While that giant stack of onion rings can be undeniably tempting, it's worth noting that
03:04devouring that many carbs in one sitting amounts to 63 percent of what the FDA recommends for your
03:09daily carbohydrate consumption. That being said, an appetizer of such gargantuan proportions is
03:14usually meant for sharing, so it's not as likely you'll be eating them all alone.
03:18Still, it's good to keep in mind just how many carbs you're signing up for before you order,
03:22especially when the portion is so high.
03:25According to a mashed survey of several of Red Robin's dessert items, 33 percent of the 614
03:30respondents listed the Cinnamon Sugar Dough Rings to be their least favorite. The reason for this
03:34is probably their disappointingly bland flavor. Customers order this dessert thinking they're
03:39getting a giant stack of deliciously sweet doughnuts. The reality, however,
03:43is that these are not truly doughnuts. Instead, they're actually a take on the
03:46cronut, which is a cross between a croissant and a doughnut. The croissant component is what
03:50dumbs down the sweetness factor. Unfortunately, this can end up being a letdown for those seeking
03:55a traditional, indulgent doughnut experience. The chocolate and caramel dipping sauces,
03:59though a nice touch, may not be enough to elevate the overall flavor for some customers.
04:03While the menu clearly states the dessert is a doughnut-croissant mix,
04:06it's likely many customers don't realize what this truly means in terms of taste and texture.
04:11That's why we recommend you think long and hard before opting for this dessert over the more
04:15traditionally sweet options like, say, the Mountain High Mud Pie.
04:19Red Robin's various lemonades come with playful names like Freckled Lemonade,
04:23Poppin' Purple Lemonade, and Sunset Lemonade. This might lead some customers to believe they
04:27are crafted from scratch. However, these enticing names are somewhat misleading.
04:31The reality is that Red Robin uses Minute Maid Lemonade as the base for these drinks,
04:35enhancing them with different flavors and ingredients to create the final product.
04:39This might disappoint those expecting freshly squeezed lemonade. Though Red Robin isn't
04:43attempting to deceive its customers, the menu clearly includes the Minute Maid trademark in
04:47the fine print beneath each lemonade title for utmost transparency. Despite the lack of
04:51scratch-made preparation, Red Robin's lemonade remains popular among diners. The added flavors
04:56and creative presentations make these drinks appealing and delicious. The Freckled Lemonade,
05:00for instance, includes fresh strawberries, which provide a delightful twist on the classic
05:04lemonade flavor. Still, customers should be aware that they're not getting the fancy,
05:08handcrafted item the name may suggest.
05:11The FDA's daily recommended intake of sodium is 2,300 milligrams, based on a 2,000-calorie-per-day
05:17diet. While it might be understandable if one or two items on Red Robin's menu met or exceeded
05:22this daily recommendation, the reality is far more concerning. Dozens of menu items contain
05:27sodium levels that come close to or surpass the FDA's recommended value. For example,
05:32the Cheesy Bacon Fondue Burger alone contains 2,820 milligrams of sodium,
05:36well over the advised intake. Even seemingly innocuous items like the Whiskey River BBQ
05:41Ribs pack in shockingly high 4,240 milligrams of sodium, likely because of the sauce.
05:47Regularly consuming high levels of salt can have adverse health effects,
05:50including hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Sure, no one goes to a burger joint
05:55expecting the epitome of health, but there should be reasonable limits on how unhealthy the food is.
05:59The simple truth of the matter is that Red Robin has crossed the line where sodium is concerned.
06:04In 2023, Red Robin decided to make some serious changes to the restaurant. One of the most
06:09significant changes was the introduction of flat-top grills, replacing the conveyor belt
06:13method they used before. Along with this new cooking process, the burgers are now 20 percent
06:18bigger than they were before, a change most customers can easily stand behind. Using the
06:22flat-top grills has also improved the taste of the burgers, at least according to Brian Sullivan,
06:26Red Robin's VP of Culinary. The improved cooking method enhances the flavor,
06:30allowing customers to enjoy a juicier and more flavorful burger with every bite.
06:35With the larger and tastier burgers Red Robin is now serving, it's only fitting that the
06:39restaurant has swapped out the old red baskets for elegant white plates.
06:42This upgrade gives the burgers a much more gourmet presentation. All of these changes
06:47are part of a broader menu revamp that updated nearly 85 percent of the offerings, including
06:51improvements to ingredients like pickles, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, margarita mix,
06:56and dessert toppings. The goal was to elevate the dining experience, and as Sullivan told
07:01Restaurant Dive, the food quality and the taste really come through. You can taste the difference
07:05for sure. So, next time you visit Red Robin, take a moment to notice the subtle, yet impactful
07:10improvements on your plate.
07:12Red Robin has long been a favorite destination for burger lovers,
07:15known for its gourmet burgers and bottomless fries. But many customers are unaware of a
07:19hidden gem on the menu — the ability to substitute a fried crispy chicken breast in
07:23any of its burgers. This little-known option allows chicken enthusiasts, or those trying to
07:28eat just a tad healthier, to enjoy the same unique flavor combinations of Red Robin's
07:32traditional beef burgers. This customization is perfect for those who enjoy the taste and
07:36texture of fried chicken, but don't want to miss out on the inventive flavor combinations
07:40Red Robin is famous for. Whether you're in the mood for the Whiskey River BBQ Burger with its
07:44tangy sauce and crispy onion straws, or the Royal Red Robin Burger topped with a fried egg and
07:49bacon, you can swap out the beef patty for a crispy chicken breast instead. This flexibility
07:54is meant to appeal to a wider range of guests, so they can find something they love, catering
07:58to different tastes and dietary preferences.
08:00When you think of Red Robin, bottomless fries are probably one of the first things that pop
08:04into your head. But did you know the bottomless options go well beyond just fries? That's right,
08:09several other sides can be enjoyed endlessly with any burger, adding even more value to your meal.
08:14Not to get all legal-ish, but that's like from now until forever. Or until your wife tells you
08:19to stop."
08:20Red Robin's bottomless sides include its delicious Yukon chips, steamed broccoli,
08:24and side salads. Or if you want to shake things up, you can also go for bottomless sweet potato
08:29fries or coleslaw for a small upcharge. These choices let you mix and match from one Red Robin
08:34trip to the next, so you never get bored with just one type of side. And what a great option
08:38it is for those trying to keep their meal on the healthier side, thanks to the green veggies that
08:42can be subbed in for fried potatoes. So next time you're at Red Robin, remember, it's not just
08:46about the fries. Treat yourself to the different bottomless side options and make your meal even
08:51more satisfying.