Red Lobster -- Fairfax, VA
Now endowed with the responsibility to review, we couldn't dare begin our Endless Shrimp Feast without attempting the Golden Calamari & Veggies.
The dish was as golden as advertised--deep-fried with a healthy breading, though the fish itself was just a touch more chewy than desirable. Our dipping options included marinara sauce (likely from a jar, though not repulsive) and ranch dressing. The latter was an unusual choice and we could see why it's so uncommon; although tasty, it entirely overwhelms the subtleties of the squid. Any fish could have been residing within the dressing-doused "gold" and you wouldn't know the difference.
The most unusual part of the dish, however, is the "& Veggies" addendum. Normally when vegetables play a role in calamari, they are gracefully sprinkled atop for color and a bit of spice. Here rather, the rings were thrown together with large broccoli florets and strips of red pepper, all fried themselves virtually tempura-style. The whole lot is wrapped in wax paper and placed in front of you like an over-sized burrito. Unfortunately, the vegetables don't complement the squid, but interrupt the experience. There is no advantage for color, as the great fried pile looks somewhat grotesque. And if you don't want to deal with the veggies and just get straight to the point, you have to hunt around them for the remaining rings. I prefer not to play "Where's Waldo?" with my food.
If you're at Red Lobster and you must have squid, I give this dish a go, but don't count on wanting to order much else. The taste was good, though much too heavy for its appetizer classification.
The dish was as golden as advertised--deep-fried with a healthy breading, though the fish itself was just a touch more chewy than desirable. Our dipping options included marinara sauce (likely from a jar, though not repulsive) and ranch dressing. The latter was an unusual choice and we could see why it's so uncommon; although tasty, it entirely overwhelms the subtleties of the squid. Any fish could have been residing within the dressing-doused "gold" and you wouldn't know the difference.
The most unusual part of the dish, however, is the "& Veggies" addendum. Normally when vegetables play a role in calamari, they are gracefully sprinkled atop for color and a bit of spice. Here rather, the rings were thrown together with large broccoli florets and strips of red pepper, all fried themselves virtually tempura-style. The whole lot is wrapped in wax paper and placed in front of you like an over-sized burrito. Unfortunately, the vegetables don't complement the squid, but interrupt the experience. There is no advantage for color, as the great fried pile looks somewhat grotesque. And if you don't want to deal with the veggies and just get straight to the point, you have to hunt around them for the remaining rings. I prefer not to play "Where's Waldo?" with my food.
If you're at Red Lobster and you must have squid, I give this dish a go, but don't count on wanting to order much else. The taste was good, though much too heavy for its appetizer classification.