I wasn't going to post this, since we went on opening night, but I changed my mind.

Red Robin is a franchise chain. I've been to quite a few of them around the country, but not to any in DE or PA. They tout themselves as "Gourmet Burgers and Fine Spirits". The restaurant is kid friendly - VERY kid friendly (read LOUD). Which kinda makes me question the "Fine Spirits" aspect. At the Towne Center, they have a patio where you can sit out and enjoy your beverages while watching the fountain in the pond..or the people walking around the pond..or the shopping center across Naamans Rd (where the Wild Bird Center is located).

On opening night (this past Monday), they were not utilizing the patio - bummer number one. Each one of the beers ordered in my party had obviously been poured right away (the missing 3 oz. were evidence of that), but not delivered right away...and a good bartender would have noticed that and topped them off - bummer number two. There were quite a few other service issues/delays - things my wife and I come to expect when we hit the "chain" restaurants - bummer number three.

The burgers were good...not great, but good. They get you on the burgers too - nearly $10/ea. They claim "bottomless" steak fries...the fries were good, but one of our service issues was that there was never an offer of more. The margarita that we ordered was weak...very weak..to the point where we sent it back.

This restaurant had been doing "trial" runs for the previous 4 days...they apparently haven't hit their stride yet.

So, for beers and wings and nachos, etc on the patio or at the bar, I would give it another shot. For families with fry-devouring kids, it's probably a winner.

But what is with you parents out there? At 9pm you should not be strolling into a restaurant with your newborns and toddlers! You should be at home with the kids in bed (am I out of line here?)...no wonder kids are so F'd up these days.

Red Robin - Home

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Drinking alcohol in Kentucky is considered being "sober" until you cannot hold on to the ground.

Thanks for the review. I'm looking forward to stopping by there soon!

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"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." ~ Mother Theresa
Mother of two....one that runs and one that ^soars^.

I love the RR on 273

and no, i wouldn't have the kids out at 9pm, they would be homicidal....

we can barely take the baby anywhere, she is off the hook...

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Smile, God loves you

Tell me about it. While on vacation, our son was eating out at a full-blown restaurant twice a day (we really only like to take him to a restaurant like once a month!!). We try to avoid it at all costs!!
Can I just tell you how much adjeda I got at every lunch and dinner out? We had every crayon book imaginable and all I kept thinking was...everyone around us hates us! ha! ha!

He honestly really wasn't bad at all. I just get worked up over nothing sometimes...but I digress....

I don't care what time a kid is at a restaurant...

If the parents are RESPONSIBLE!

If the kids are well behaved...we don't have a problem.

If the kids are monsters, and a parent runs them outside and straightens them out...we don't have a problem.

If the kids are monsters and mom and/or dad don't care that they are ruining everyone else's meal, then mom and/or dad should be beaten in the face with a hot skillet.

I need to start carrying a hot skillet with me when I go out.....

Raptor & KL, your issues aren't that kids should be in bed by 9pm....your issues are that kids should be well behaved when out at a restaurant no matter the time?

I'm asking b/c my kids (daughter: 13 and son: 8) are very well behaved but we keep very late hours around our house. I have no qualms about taking my kids out to eat at 9 or 10pm if the establishmnet has late hours. My kids know better than to cause any attention to themselves. They both know that they live in an adult world when keeping these hours and if they can't manage themselves.... they'll be back to seeing mornings again.

Back to topic, I hate chain restaurants.... the service sucks, the food is unoriginal, over priced and poorly prepared, IMO. I honestly can not think of a single chain restaurant that I enjoy. However, I'd be willing to try the BTC Red Robin only for the patio on the water with a few drinks. I doubt I'd like that loud inside area or a $10.00 burger.

I'd much rather go to a locally owned establishment to try some original, local, freshly made dishes.

BTW Raptor- how crowded was RR? It amazes me the number of people out eating in BH every night.

maybe its just me...but I love red robin here on rt40...i never went when they first opened...i never go to a place when they first open because all the kinks arent worked out yet...

bottomless steak fries...yes...i like the idea...the steak fries are actually very good...the service...every single time ive been there has been nothing but exceptional...and lets not forget the cute young waitresses...lol...i think its a perfectly good burger joint if you dont mind loud noise...and people...alcoholic milkshakes sound great...never had one though...always wanted one...the drinks there..are always top notch...nothing about the chain is 'original' obviously...but..its a good place regardless...to me anyway

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Go hard, or go home!

My issue is that toddlers (those that can barely keep their balance and have no concept of proximity) and newborns (those that are incapable of self-sustained motion and are confined to the convertible stroller/car-seat/shoulder harness) should not be brought into a restaurant at 9pm. Leaving (to go home), maybe. It's a little late.

Kids who can complete a sentence, carry a conversation, etc are a different story. And also a reflection on the parents.

It was pretty crowded, although not every seat was taken. You could've gotten in without a problem. Nothing like Olive Garden on a weekend evening.

I agree with ya totally on the local shops...I'd much rather hit the Del Rose or Robino's than Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden...sometimes time is an issue though.

Raptor is mad because me and my kids go in to his shop and the kids are just terrors. The boy likes to hit all the windchimes and make them ring and they make all the birdfeeders spin.

My kids have probably jaded his view of all children.

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TalkPa.net - Pennsylvania's Forum

He's a chip of the ole block!

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I do that in HomeDepot,, I ring all the door bells..... so I would chime all the chimes... I'm as bad as a kid

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Life isn't Always Beautiful, but It's a Beautiful Ride

No way GL, your children are capable of sustaining their balance and stimulating conversation - it's the kids of the parents who dump them in my store and then go tanning or get their nails done that have got me all worked up. Your little ones are a delight!

Says the guy that took yesterday off because he knew I was coming into the store to buy some things.

Nothing personal, just a gut feeling!

I haven't tried the RR in BTC yet but I have other RR numerous times (I kept trying to give them a chance to redeem themselves) and I am not impressed. ESPECIALLY for a restaurant that presents the burger as it's staple item.

The burgers look like a frozen round patty that was just taken out of the freezer and tossed on the grill for 30 minutes. No matter how I ordered it, it came well done.

On a side note, if someone asked my opinion about "Cheeseburger in Paradise", I would copy what I said above and send it to them. Same crappy burger.

As far as good burgers go, "Jakes" and "Five Brothers" are neck and neck for the top of my list. REAL, unfrozen, meat.

Regarding the true chain restaurants, "Ruby Tuesday's" Triple Prime Burger is darn good.

Has anyone tried Cheeburger, Cheeburger yet? I was there once and was not impressed.

I've never been to Cheeseburger in Paradise or Jakes, although we just got a Jakes up by me on the PA state line. Five Guys is good when the kids want a fast burger. (I don't let them eat McDonalds or BK)

Honestly, my husbands burgers are the best IMHO.

I'm not a fan of Jakes.
I LOVE LOVE Five Guys.
I haven't tried Cheeburger, Cheeburger yet....probably won't bother (unless that have great milkshakes!!

Jake's has kick ass burgers...That shit is damn good.... They go great with their milkshakes..

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"Garbage In, Garbage Out"
-G. Carlin

We're moving into burgerfest now! When I worked for a living, my 2 co-workers and I went to different restaurants in downtown Wilmington for a week - we sampled only burgers - for 5 straight days...Kid Shelleen's won easily, followed by Iron Hill, and then Washington Street Ale House, Jakes, and Dead Presidents. That was 3 years ago and for a month I couldn't even look at a burger.

I'm not impressed with Cheeburger Cheeburger (you'll note that the car dealer behind them has closed their doors!)....nice concept, but the food was lame at best. Anything fried was too greasy, and the burger didn't even fill the roll (very bad!), add to that a runny shake and you've got an overall BAD experience. They won't be around long.

Jakes is good, but Five Guys is better. Jakes needs to work on the roll - the standard McRoll doesn't cut it in the burger rolls. And, now that they are expanding into salads and other things (yes, healthier...but who gives a spit about healthy when the desire to consume a burger hits?). In either case, you need to go to their website and plan your burger. Five Guys does saute'd onions and 'shrooms and fresh jalapeno's. Add L-T and pickles and you've got my burger....and their fries are 'da mutha uffin' BOMB. Fresh and fried in peanut oil (roasted peanuts are all over the place - like Lonestar used to be, so if there are any nut allergies, stay away!)

Back to Jakes...the fries are FROZEN! And while a good burger, I think it needs bacon to make it a Great burger...but hands down, Jakes has THE best shakes. Way too many options and flavors...they're thick and creamy and you always want more when you finish one.

And completing the circle...back to Red Robin...their kitchen set up is just like Burger King. The burgers are placed on a conveyor belt and run through a broiler machine - which is why, regardless of how they say they will bring it to you, it's always "done".

For some reason, I'm feelin' the NEED for a burger now...and it's only 8:20am!

Oh, Hockey...Sweet Basil is real nice. Unless the kids are adventurous, they'd be better off with Domino's. We took a bottle of white and a bottle of red with us and had a great time ordering a single "course" at a time (we weren't in any hurry since we had friends with us that we hadn't seen in a few years). I'd post a review, but I don't recall the names of the stuff (or the ingredients) - I didn't drive that night and was partying my butt off!