Excerpt from Guest Comment
I have been working at the Verizon Wireless store in the same parking lot as Red Robin for three years. Only this past year I began going into that location 3-4 times per week to have lunch. The service that Brandon provides to me and my co-workers is outstanding. Today I placed a to-go order for myself and four other employees. I was running late to pick up the order because I was with a customer, and Brandon surprised our team by delivering our food. Everyone was so shocked to see our food brought right to us. Our staff was talking about what great service we received and how grateful we are to have such great staff just next door.

Guest Comment via Facebook
My name is Nick and I am currently deployed to Southern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring freedom. Recently I was on the phone with my mom and she asked me if I needed anything. At the time I couldn’t think of a single thing, but told her I would get back to her. The next time we spoke I asked her if she could send me a bottle of Red Robin seasoning. My mom reached out to John at the Yuba City Red Robin and he gave her some seasoning and a frisbee, which all the Team Members signed.

My mom was so impressed with John that she called the corporate office in Colorado and came in contact with Travis. She explained my story and what happened in Yuba City. This inspired Travis to get his own care package together with Red Robin seasoning, t-shirts as well as Red Robin footballs in case we got bored. When we opened the care package it was like Christmas day. All of us here wanted to give a big thank you to Red Robin for the gifts, but most important that Red Robin went the distance to bring a little piece of home to all of us.

Guest Comment
The R.E. Lee High School girls’ basketball team stopped to eat at Red Robin after our state tournament semi-final loss. Uriah (manager that night) turned one of the most heart-breaking experiences these young athletes have ever had – losing by one point – into one of the most endearing.

The entire Red Robin staff was amazingly helpful, friendly, and accommodating. I don’t know if Red is there every night, but I must say, he added much needed humor to our evening. Our servers and hostess all chipped in and were a perfect example of true teamwork. Uriah gave us a signed basketball from the staff that we keep in the locker room where it will reside permanently in its glass case. It will serve as a reminder to do the little things, for in all honesty, it’s all we’ve got. I have been involved with athletics for over twenty years and have never experienced the amount of empathy and compassion that he and the staff exhibited.

A Guest came in with signs of despair due to seeing her husband off to Iraq on Valentine’s Day. We quickly picked up on it and bought her two daughters some teddy bears and we took care of the meal and gave them a gift card for when he returned. We all gave her hugs to offer support in her time of need.

A family who came in recently had a house fire. The kids lost all their stuff and to top it off it was the parents’ wedding anniversary. Bob and his team showered the kids with presents, toys, clothes, and much needed items. They also gave gifts to the parents – pots, pans, and kitchen items, and of course, treated them to dinner.

Today there was another school shooting in Littleton, Colorado. We were fortunate to have Dana, our restaurant marketing manager, working today. She wanted to help and immediately took the lead. She called the principals at the impacted schools and asked if there was anything we could do. They asked if we could feed the kids who would be at the schools until late in the evening while they were waiting to be interviewed by the authorities.

Dana wasted no time in organizing everything, buying cases of soda and preparing food for the kids and the first responders who were on-site. At last count, Dana said we impacted nearly 100 students, teachers and first responders as well as the schools’ security guard, who assisted in detaining the suspect until the authorities arrived. Not only did she organize getting the food to the schools, but she stayed to clean up.

Guest Comment
We went to your restaurant to celebrate a couple of things –a member of our family was in town, and our grandson, Sam, underwent a heart transplant. We told the staff why we were there and they responded by offering a gift to Sam’s parents – a bag with a stuffed animal, balloons, a card signed by all the staff members, and a discount on the bill. We cannot express how grateful we are for your staff to acknowledge the importance of our celebration.

Guest Comment
My husband is active duty Air Force and has been re-assigned to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. We were sad to learn that there is no Red Robin within a reasonable driving distance from Keesler, so we had to eat at the Red Robin in Fairview Heights one last time. Drew, our waiter, was great. His service was lightning fast and he made sure our drinks and fries stayed filled during our visit. As we neared the end of our meal we mentioned to him it would be our last time at a Red Robin for quite some time due to our relocation, and expressed our sadness of leaving behind one of our favorite restaurants. Drew came back a few minutes later with a dessert menu and said that he told a manager about us and the manager wanted to give us dessert as a token of their thanks for our patronage. We enjoyed our Mountain High Mudd Pie and thought it was very kind of the manager to think of us.

Server Hannah had a family of three come in to celebrate their little boy’s completion of chemotherapy. He chose to come to Red Robin as soon as he was dismissed from the hospital. His name was Colton and he was the cutest little boy. Hannah and I were thinking of ways we could help this family celebrate the completion of chemotherapy. We made him a nametag with his name on it as an honorary Red Robin Team Member, got him a birthday sundae with balloons, I won him a teddy bear out of the claw machine, and we took care of the bill. Red even made a special visit to the table to congratulate him. Hannah made a small speech about how proud we were for completing his treatment and all of the Team Members and surrounding Guests applauded. The family said they didn’t even have enough words to express how thankful they were for what we did for them.

A lady bought lunch for a couple of soldiers in full military dress. In return, we gave the lady a $25 Red Robin gift card and a lanyard with Red Robin pins on it, and explained our culture of Unbridled Acts to her. When she left, she gave the two military men the gift card we had given her!

Guest Comment
I was a guest at the Renaissance Hotel near Red Robin when the fire alarm went off at the hotel at 6:30 a.m. We had to evacuate the hotel in our pajamas and slippers – out into the freezing cold. This wonderful woman opened the restaurant to us, invited us all to come inside, and then served us all coffee while we waited to be allowed back into the hotel. She went above and beyond to help us feel comfortable and stay warm. She has my sincere thanks.

Guest Comment
I have twin boys and I brought them in to celebrate their first birthday, which was so special. I am a single mother and it is very hard for me to provide the necessities for my sons, much less have extra money to throw a party. However, your restaurant took care of that for me. They treated them like they were their own children. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me for the boys to have a special day with so many people doting on them and singing and hugging them. They even gave them a book set as a gift. I felt like we were one huge family and I am so lucky to have so many people that love and care for the boys. I was almost in tears at the sincerity and generosity of your staff.

About a month ago one of our CDTs came to us to ask if we could do something special for a family that she knew. The family has five children, two who have cerebral palsy. If the cost of raising five children was not enough, the cost of the special care for the two children made it impossible for them to provide the Christmas their kids deserved. The Universal Park crew jumped into action and really amazed us with their results. Jessica spearheaded the campaign by reaching out to local organizations and was able to get a $100 Foodmax gift card and $50 Wal-Mart Gift card donated. The team pulled together $330 to buy gifts for the family and donated enough food for them to cook a nice holiday meal. Shawna and Don donated movie tickets, popcorn and candy so they could enjoy a night on the town. Tonight we invited the family in for dinner and presented them with the gifts. It took a minute for the shock to pass, but once it did, they were blown away by our generosity.

Red Robin Olympia has a very regular guest named Joe. He comes in for lunch or dinner several times a week and we all know what he is going to order and how he wants it prepared. Two days ago, Joe asked how many Team Members we have on staff and we told him around 76 people. Yesterday he came in with a $20 gift card for each one of our Team Members from an area retailer and picked up a card from our Giving Tree to support a child from a foster home in our community. He bought a really nice bike for the child with all the safety accessories. We are overwhelmed with this display of kindness and generosity.

Guest Comment
I was having dinner with my children and it occurred to me that The Haven of Grace shelter, where I work, was truly in need of plastic cups for our toddlers. Your manager, Carey, was nice enough to give me three dozen of your plastic kids' cups. Now each one of our toddlers has a cup and we have a few left to spare for future residents. The gift was of small monetary value, but it made a great impact for us.

Guest Comment
Last Thursday, my wife and I were in Charlottesville and I lost my wallet; it fell out of my jacket pocket in the parking lot. I did not realize this until we got to another store and I reached for my wallet and it was missing. When I got back home, there was a message on my answering machine from Steve, a Red Robin employee. He had found my wallet and arranged for a friend of his to meet me to deliver it so I would not have to drive all the way back to Charlottesville.

Guest Comment
My daughter and I stopped at the Sherwood Red Robin to celebrate her getting her driver’s license this morning. When we were greeted at the door we happened to mention that Kelsey had just passed her behind-the-wheel test. This was met with cheers from the staff. About ten minutes later, the regional manager came to our table with a card for Kelsey, which had been signed by the entire staff. Kelsey was treated so royally, she was in shock and beaming from ear to ear! The staff had no way to know just how thoughtful their actions were. A short time earlier Kelsey was on the verge of tears but, the random act of kindness they showed my daughter will be what she remembers forever on this special day.

Guest Comment
My 4-year-old daughter, Gabriella, chose your restaurant to enjoy a nice dinner for the two of us. Frances, our waitress, immediately took notice to the mock menus my daughter brought with her. I explained my daughter's fascination for pretending she was a waitress and Frances went out of her way to accommodate my daughter. I was amazed that she passed the information along to the manager, and soon Gabriella was given buttons, a bill booklet and even a special name tag from Red Robin. My daughter had everything she could possibly imagine to become a Red Robin server. The atmosphere was crowded and busy at the peak of the dinner hour, yet the effort was made to make us feel special.

Guest Comment
My wife and I were dining with my sister and her husband, Jack, who is celebrating his 25th year of living with a kidney transplant (he has the longest transplant survival record in America). She and Jack live in a small town and had not been to a Red Robin before. Our server and the manager brought Jack a "Congratulations" balloon, with a card signed by the staff and gift cards to Red Robin and Best Buy and they paid for our entire dinner. My family was incredibly touched by this gesture.

Savannah found out that one of the groups dining outside on the patio was in town for an upcoming wedding. The bride and groom were there and we wanted to make it special for them. Savannah asked one of our hosts to go to the store to get them flowers, along with balloons and a Mudd Pie. We got the Front of the House Team Members onto the patio to sing them a modified "Happy Wedding" song. The bride was in tears she was so happy and the party really enjoyed the gesture. Savannah really went out of her way to make this couple's night special.

Guest Comment
While ordering a dinner to-go on Sunday night, I mentioned that we were celebrating our 24th anniversary. When I arrived to pick up the food, the employee asked me to wait an extra minute and brought out a bouquet of flowers for our dinner table. Dinner was exceptional, but the flowers were an extra nice touch. I am still shocked, surprised and amazed at their generosity.

Guest Comment
A few weeks ago I enjoyed dinner at your restaurant and saw that one of your servers was able to sign. I asked your manager about setting up my monthly ASL class there. She was so excited that she offered to put up signs in the lobby and to close a section for our more than 30 participants. The event was a complete success. Steve provided signed service and everybody enjoyed a nice evening. This was such a great opportunity to help the deaf community to meet other signers. Gigi even came in on her day off to ensure everything went smoothly. Thank you Red Robin for providing us with a night to remember!

There is the family that comes in here regularly and if I am here, I usually just ask if they are ordering “the usual” for the kids and we get it started. They were in here tonight and I had the boys’ food put in right away. After the parents got their food, I asked if everything was good and they mentioned that the older son was going back to school tomorrow after being out for a year with an illness. I asked the hospo if she would run out to buy both boys some fun school supplies. When we presented their gift bags along with a Red Robin pin, they were so excited. I talked with them a little after everyone left and they told me how great it was to have a place where they can come and feel this special.

Guest Comment
Last night my husband and I celebrated the 22nd anniversary of the first time we met. We had a delightful server named Tom, and my husband happened to mention to him we were celebrating this anniversary. Tom, who seemed very touched by our story, told his manager, Juan, about this and the most amazing thing happened. Juan came over to the table a little later in our meal and presented us with a bouquet of flowers and an anniversary card. We were blown away! What a fantastic culture you have established for your restaurants. Your crew created a wonderful memory for us that will be talked about for a very long time.

Our Team contacted the Ronald McDonald house in Redlands and offered to cook breakfast for the families that are staying there. The CDT Team did not want to stop at just cooking breakfast, though, they wanted to entertain the children and give them each a gift. The Team raised money by recycling cans, holding a car wash and bake sale and asking neighbors and friends for support. They also raised money by collecting books and pull tabs that could be used in exchange for time on a dialysis machine. This morning, using the money they raised, they cooked breakfast for the families, provided entertainment for the kids and gave them toys and books.

During the fires in our area, many of our local firefighters were working long hours with no rest and little food. A table of four firefighters came in who had just gotten off a 48-hour shift. When they sat down, one of our Guests asked to pay for their meal and gave them each a $25 gift card. After that, one of our Servers suggested that we bring food to the other firefighters who were sleeping at the station. There were over 100 of them! On Wednesday morning, Team Member Taylor came in early and we put together 140 sandwiches, chips and waters and sent them over to them. As it turns out, the firefighters were relocated to Yucaipa Regional Park. When Taylor got to the park the firefighters were so hungry and very thankful for the food.

Ashley, a homeless girl, comes in every day to get a cup of water and occasionally our Team Members will buy her lunch. Team Member Garrett was talking to her because she seemed to be a little down. He found out that her birthday was the day before. During their conversation he noticed that her shoes were extremely worn and her sweater was a little tattered. To brighten her day, he bought her a new sweater and a new pair of shoes. He wrapped them in birthday paper and gave them to her. She began to cry and said that Garrett was her guardian angel. She said that one day she hoped she could return the favor.

Guest Comment
My fiancé and I have always had wonderful service and love your food! Last Monday when we visited was no different. Our Server, Kallie, noticed that we were discussing wedding plans. She congratulated us and asked questions about our planning. About 20 minutes after we sat down, all the servers came up to our table, congratulated us, gave us a beautiful engagement card and a wedding planning book with balloons tied around it! We were so astonished at their thoughtfulness, kindness and sincerity, that we hardly knew what to say.

I volunteer at Sports Made Possible, an organization which hosts baseball games for handicapped kids on Saturdays in the summertime. When the kids found out I worked for Red Robin, they wondered if Red could make an appearance. I sent Mark, the General Manager, an email to see if it was possible and within a few moments I received an email that it would be no problem. Most of these kids have been in wheelchairs their entire life and, according to their parents, live for these baseball games.

The first game was about to start when Red made his appearance. I was facing the field and wondered why the players were looking behind me. It was Red! Before I could say thank you for showing up, one of the players with down syndrome gave Red a big hug. Red and his buddy, Michelle, stayed for all three games giving hugs and high fives to kids with overwhelming smiles and excitement. Mark also came to make sure everything was going great and I found him cheering on the young players.

Guest Comment
We ate at Red Robin the night before my husband deployed to Afghanistan. Our Server asked if we were celebrating anything and we said no, but mentioned that he was deploying for a year and this was our last dinner as a family. The staff surprised us by paying for his meal, giving us dessert, announcing to the restaurant that he was a soldier about to deploy, presenting him with a thank you card and giving me flowers. This was so far above and beyond anything they had to do, but it sent him off knowing that people supported him and thanked him for his service. I will never forget what they did for us and we will be loyal Red Robin customers for life!

Team Member Henry was serving an elderly lady who shared with him that her purse had been stolen. We decided to buy her meal and one of our other servers ran to the mall to buy a new purse for her. While the Team Member was gone, Hank started sharing with other Team Members what happened. The entire Team chipped in and we filled the new purse with cash and a gift card. When we gave it to her she started to cry. She thanked us and hugged us.

A family walked in and hostess Kayla found out that their house burned down last night. The only thing they had left were the clothes on their backs. The family even asked if they were too underdressed to eat here. Kayla said of course not and she seated them. The whole Team jumped into action and we were able to give them a $50 Wal-Mart card and a $50 Red Robin gift card. We also bought their meals. The whole table was almost in tears when they left because of our kindness.

Guest Comment
I called about reserving a table for a party of ten to celebrate my son leaving for the U.S. Army. My son loves Red Robin and your restaurant was the only restaurant where he wanted to eat before he left. Steve, the General Manager, was extremely helpful and his customer service exceeded my expectations. When we arrived, the tables were clothed in red, white and blue with confetti and balloon bouquets. The decorations brought tears to our eyes. Myrissa brought a cake to the table and to top it off, Steve called me later to ensure I was satisfied. I have never experienced this type of customer service and wanted to recognize Steve and his Team.

Team Member Ciera is an accomplished guitarist who has played at a variety of venues. She lost her guitar and was in tears when she arrived to work. A few of our Team Members decided to put together a fund to purchase her a new guitar. It took a few weeks to raise the funds, but we finally did it. We called the guitar shop and they were so moved by what we were trying to do, that they offered to help defer some of the cost. The manager of the guitar shop even offered to deliver it here so she could have it that night. We thought it would be a great idea to surprise her, so the manager from the guitar shop came in and we had him sit at a table. We got everyone together for a birthday, and as we began to sing at the table, the manager from the guitar shop said, “If you wouldn’t mind, could someone play along on this guitar?” and handed the guitar to Ciera. She couldn’t believe it! It was the guitar from the Team.

We had excellent service with that kid-friendly touch that Red Robin always provides. As we were leaving, it started down-pouring and one of the hostesses was outside with an umbrella offering to cover people as they walked to and from their cars. When my husband came to pick up my son and I at the door, she covered us while I put him in his car seat and got into my own seat, all while getting soaked herself. This act was selfless, over-the-top customer service.

There is a special needs janitor at the Everett Red Robin named Greg, and a couple of months ago his mountain bike was stolen from the grocery store. This was a special bike to him because his mother gave it to him for his birthday. When he came in to work a couple months ago, he was really upset because he lost his special transportation. We started a fund to raise money for a new bike for him, and within two weeks we had raised over $350 for Greg. A Team Member’s husband works for a sporting goods store and offered to use his discount so we could maximize our money and get him something really special. When we talked with Greg’s job coach and told her we would like her to present the bike to him, she thought that was amazing. What is even better is that our Team pulled together to make this happen for Greg, and WOW, was he surprised!

Our daughter, Katie, was born with Down Syndrome and her favorite restaurant is Red Robin. We go there just about every week following Katie's private therapy. Server Amy asked when we were coming in again, and we said we’d be back in two weeks for Katie's 8th birthday. Manager Ryan stopped us on the way out and asked what Katie liked the most - we said Hannah Montana.

As we walked in on the night of Katie's birthday, we saw a Hannah Montana poster with "Happy Birthday, Katie" written at the top and all the employees’ signatures on it. We were escorted to our table, which had balloons as well as Hannah Montana napkins, confetti and a special birthday button for Katie to wear. As we finished dinner, the anticipated hot fudge sundae arrived with nearly all the employees singing Happy Birthday - people said they could hear it in the parking lot! Katie's eyes were in awe; a true birthday surprise. Then, much to our shock, Amy and Ryan brought out gifts for Katie, all wrapped in Hannah Montana paper! This overwhelming act of love and compassion for our daughter from all your employees brought tears to everyone's eyes.

My family and I went into Red Robin to have lunch with my husband who had just returned from his year-long tour of duty in Iraq. After we sat down, we were surprised with an order of onion rings and cheese sticks from the manager as a show of appreciation. Halfway through our meal, our waitress came over and presented my husband with a Red Robin gift card from another family who was dining in the restaurant as their way of saying thank you. If that wasn't enough, after we were finished eating our meals, the entire staff came over with an ice cream cake that said, “Welcome Back Home,” and applauded my husband. To have the staff show so much appreciation for everything he has done for our freedom truly touched all of us at the table.

I heard about a 4-year-old girl named Tayler who is currently at a children’s hospital with brain cancer. When I heard how the family was practically living in Tayler’s hospital room for the last few months, we called the Havana Red Robin to see if there was anything they could do for the family. The General Manager, Eric, immediately called me back and told me that he would personally deliver the food that afternoon. I put the family in touch with him, and within an hour he was on the way with hot food for the young family.

During a major snow storm, two Guests came in to celebrate their birthdays. One of the ladies was blind and the other didn’t have a car, so they met up at a bus stop and rode the bus here together. They had an excellent lunch and were getting ready to leave when one of our hospitality TMs and a server heard about their story. The TMs offered to drive the ladies home to ensure they got home safely and so they did not have to wait in the cold for the bus.

My son and I stopped at Red Robin after a day out. He was leaving in a few days for the air force and will be deployed. I asked the hostess if we could have a quiet booth because he was leaving soon and I just wanted some time alone with him. After dinner, I saw the staff coming toward us with balloons and thought they were for the little girl in front of us, but when all the staff stopped at our table, they told my son it was their way of saying thank you for keeping them free. They gave him balloons, a sundae and a thank you card. Then, each of the staff said thank you. Being a vet myself, I was moved and so was my son. Your crew went above and beyond the call of duty, and I hope they know how much they moved me and how very proud they made my son feel!

It all started with a red-carpet welcome by a local high school cheer squad for Jarod, who was having his Make-A-Wish party at Red Robin. The CDTs put so much effort into making the party special for him! After being seated, Jarod began opening gifts from the team including $500 cash collected by Team Members, gift cards from local retailers, a backpack for his flight to Disney World loaded with games and activities, and many other gifts. As the group got settled in and their food began to arrive, Nate Burleson of the Seattle Seahawks walked in to celebrate Jarod’s wish with him – Nate happens to be Jarod’s favorite football player. Nate had a few gifts for Jarod as well, including trading cards autographed by Seahawks players, a signed Seahawks jersey and one of Nate’s own game jerseys that he had signed for Jarod. Jarod left the building with a huge smile and insisted on giving all the Team Members a hug.

My daughter, Kodie, is in kindergarten and her class was having a “Parent Career Week.” Kodie asked me to speak about what it was like to be a General Manager of restaurants. I haven’t worked in the field since she was born, but I always loved it. I thought about one of Kodie’s favorite restaurants, Red Robin, and called to see if they could help me. After explaining to Chris from Red Robin what I was going to do, he jumped right in. The day of the presentation came, and two girls from Red Robin arrived with goodies and a big Red Robin bird to surprise all the kids. I couldn’t have done it without you guys!

An elderly lady came in to inquire about getting a burger to-go the next morning for her husband who had been in the hospital for over a week and was craving Red Robin. We told her we could accommodate her, and when she returned the next morning, the burger was ready and packaged to stay hot and fresh for her husband. There was also a bouquet of balloons, a get well card signed by all of the Team Members and a manager ready to buy the meal for her. She and her daughter returned two days later to inform us, with tears flowing, how thrilled her husband was with his burger. He ate every bite and insisted that the nurses keep his salad cold until he had enough appetite to eat it.

Three Team Members who are brothers left their apartment complex on short notice due to continued theft of their belongings. They had TVs, radios and even personal items stolen from their home. They finally had enough of it and moved, bringing only the bare necessities with them. They left behind their beds, so when they moved into their new home, they were sleeping on the floor. The GM noticed a slight change in their behavior and he learned that they had been sleeping on the floor the past few weeks. The GM figured out where they lived, and without telling anyone, he showed up at their door with three new beds for the brothers.

Sam and I eat at Red Robin at least once a week, and one evening I came in before dinner with a bag and asked the host if she could keep it in back until Sam and I arrived later that night. He and I were getting married and would be coming to eat afterwards. Server Jennifer saw me as she was passing by and I told her why I was there and showed her the cheesecake and champagne glasses I was dropping off. I explained that I would like it to be brought out after we finish eating to surprise Sam. She said she would take care of it. When Sam and I arrived, I was as surprised as Sam was when I saw our table. Jen had gone all out decorating our table with a white table cloth, confetti, cheesecake, champagne glasses, candles, roses and a card. Sam and I were so touched.

My daughter and I recently had to begin a gluten-free diet. I read that your restaurant was very accommodating to gluten-free guests, so I thought that I would give it a try. When I asked if there was a gluten-free section, the server brought me an entire menu. I was very pleased, but I realized that there was nothing on the menu that my daughter would eat. She is 3 years old and a very picky eater. I apologized to the server and said that we would not be able to stay because we could not find anything for her to eat. I was beginning to leave when the GM came over. He offered to make my daughter something that was not even on the menu - pizza fries! She happily agreed as did I. He not only went to extra lengths with the different meal, but he brought out labels for the pepperoni and sauce so that I could check them.

Manager Ashley was opening the restaurant on a Saturday morning when she received a phone call from a man asking what time we opened. She told him we opened at 11 a.m. Twenty minutes later, the man called back again and asked if he could place a to-go order for around 10:45. The man said that he would call back later to make sure that everything was perfect, leaving Ashley wondering what was going on. At 9 a.m. the man called back and asked if the to-go order could be picked up in 15 minutes. It turns out the man was the foster parent of a little boy and his favorite place to eat was Red Robin in Hamilton. The little boy was going to another family and there was not a Red Robin restaurant near his new family. So, all he wanted was a Red Robin burger for the ride to his new home. Bringing tears to Ashley’s eyes, she said that wasn’t a problem because at Red Robin we do whatever we can to make sure all Guests are satisfied and happy. The little boy came in to pick up his burger and said, “Thank you, Miss. You have made me very happy and I am going to miss Red Robin in Hamilton!”

I contacted the restaurant because my son, Daniel, who has autism, is scared of mascots and costumes and has experienced increased anxiety with Halloween just around the corner. In an effort to help ease his fears, I wanted to take him somewhere where there was a mascot and allow him to see the costume without anyone in it. What better place than Red Robin. When we arrived, our server, Erin, was so patient with Daniel while he was ordering, and she checked back with us often to make sure everything was just right. Once we were done eating, Joseph and Erin took us in the back to see the costume. Daniel had a chance to see it and even put on the costume head. He was very surprised to see the helmet inside and the mesh in the mouth so he could see out. He thoroughly inspected everything and didn't appear to have any anxiety.

When we were leaving Joseph asked Daniel if he would want to come back again and see Red walk around the restaurant. Surprisingly, Daniel said yes and commented that Red isn't that scary. As we discussed it a little more, he said he didn't think he would be scared anymore because he knows the mascot is just pretend. This was a wonderful experience and I am so grateful to Joseph, Erin and Red Robin for providing it. This was a huge step in helping Daniel overcome one of his fears.

This past Sunday, my husband and I were in for dinner. We dine there frequently and really love the food and atmosphere. Several of the employees have gotten to know us, as we are there at least once a week. Well, today our son left for Iraq on his fourth tour of duty, and today is also our 26th anniversary. When the Manager, Donnie, came by to say hello, we told him about our son and our anniversary. We also told him that we were going to catch a movie at the cinema across the street to take our minds off our son, and try to celebrate our anniversary. When we got to the cinema, an employee of the cinema approached us and told us he had something for us. Confused, we walked up to the counter and he handed us an envelope. Inside were two free movie passes and a gift card for refreshments at the cinema. There was also a note that read, “Happy Anniversary! Your son is in our prayers... Metropolis Red Robin.” We just wanted you to know what a kind person you have working in this restaurant!

My wife and I had a very stressful day with our daughter being in children’s hospital. We decided to go to dinner at Red Robin. We asked our server if there were any stores nearby that were open because we needed to get some clothes to wear because we had to leave home in such a hurry. We told her about our daughter and she expressed her sympathy. After a great meal with great service, all the servers came to our table with flowers, a card, and someone had gone to the store and bought some new clothes for us. Needless to say, this was a total shock to me and my wife. They each gave my wife a hug and reassured us that things would be ok. They paid for our dinner, as well.

I am a student at the University of Washington and I work at Starbucks. I don’t usually park my car in front of work because the spots are only 30 minute parking spots, but I was late to open the store and was forced to do just that. We had a very busy morning shift and I didn’t have time to move my car. Well, 9 a.m. came around and so did the parking police. I was desperately trying to get through my long line of customers so I could move my car. When I finally got a break, the parking police were headed straight for my car. As I ran out to move it, I got outside and there was a man in a Red Robin uniform putting change in my meter so I wouldn’t get a ticket. I was blown away.

A couple of days ago, Heidi, from The Dreams and Wishes Foundation, called. She told me they were going to come in for dinner with Ryan, a 14-year-old boy who is terminally ill. Heidi then told me about Ryan. When asked what he wanted his “wish” to be, he didn’t ask for a trip to Disneyland, he said he wanted school clothes so that his mother wouldn’t have to pay for them. Heidi said they were bringing him to Red Robin to present him with a laptop computer and some games to go with it. After hearing this, I asked AM Kelly what she thought we could do to help make Ryan’s night even more special. The Team quickly raised $320 to buy school supplies and a backpack for Ryan. After that, there was enough money left over to buy him school clothes. Kelly made a big cake that said, “Welcome to Red Robin, Ryan.” All the Managers and Team Members presented the gifts and money to Ryan and his mom.

It started with a simple phone request by a Guest to ask if we would accept a dine-in coupon on a to-go order. While explaining to TM Lindsey the reasons why the Guests couldn't come in to dine, the Guest began crying over the phone while describing what had been happening in their lives that day. Lindsey took their to-go order, but felt she should bring it to my attention. I followed up by calling the Guest and was very touched by what they were going through. It was the Guest's daughter's 25th birthday and because Red Robin is a favorite of her and her grandmother, they wanted to celebrate here. Earlier in the day though, they found out that their grandmother was sick and she was afraid to come all the way to the restaurant. The grandmother had encouraged the mother and daughter to come without her, but they didn't feel right about not including her so they decided to order food to-go. I offered to deliver their dinner so they would not have to leave their grandmother's side. The Guest began to cry again and couldn't believe that we cared enough to do such a nice thing for strangers.

When I got off the phone, I had a quick shift meeting with the TMs about what had transpired and everyone was eager to help. By the time we were ready to leave, we had numerous TMs, Red and buddy, balloons and their food order ready to go. The procession of cars arrived at the grandmother's house because, since they couldn't come celebrate at Red Robin, we decided to bring Red Robin to them. Everyone went inside and we sang happy birthday, followed by hugs and some tears. The Guests couldn't thank us enough and couldn't believe the extent we were willing to go for them.

We were recently contacted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation to see if we could host a dinner for one of their children. Red Robin was the only place 11-year-old Curtis wanted to go. Curtis, his family and Make-a-Wish came in Saturday night. When Team Members Addriannah and Brenda heard about this they wanted to make the dinner special and festive. They made Curtis a Red Robin goodie bucket, including one of every kind of Red Robin trinket. Addriannah and Brenda decorated the table with party favors, balloons, confetti and streamers. When Curtis and his family arrived, they were surprised at all the decorating and amazed when we said they could take home everything on the table. Manager Patricia then took Curtis around to meet the Team and get a tour of the restaurant. The highlight for Curtis was the cook line. We showed him how to wrap a burger and let him customize and wrap a burger for his family. Curtis asked if we let just anyone make their own burger and when he found out that it was only for VIPs he was very excited.

Upon my husband's return after 17 months of being deployed overseas, he told me he couldn't wait to go to Red Robin to get the A-1 Peppercorn Burger. While I knew that was what he wanted for his first meal home, I also knew Red Robin typically does not take reservations and that my husband would not have eaten for the entirety of his flight and would be famished. I went to Red Robin and asked the server whether or not reserving a table would be possible since we weren't sure what time his flight would arrive. I gave him my contact information and a couple nights later I received a call from Daniel, who informed me that not only would they hold a table, but they would hold it for the day, and that they would welcome him home in style.

The day of my husband's return, my grandparents and very close friends went to Red Robin and to our surprise they had been waiting on our return. They had our table decorated with welcome home signs, confetti, a baby Elmo doll for my daughter, and red, white and blue balloons. The managers came out and shook our hands as if we were celebrities and introduced the servers to us. It was so overwhelming and moving. They really treated him as a hero. Then, as if what they did wasn't enough, they paid for all eight of our meals. We are so touched by the kindness.

Tonight started out like any other Saturday night. We were getting ready for our rush, when we found out that one of our servers, Sarah, was missing her prom because she didn't have enough money to buy a ticket. Immediately people jumped into action. It started with the management team calling the convention center and talking to the head of the prom committee to give her special permission to come to prom if we could raise the money. Other TMs called home to ask if family members could bring their prom dresses for Sarah so she could wear one. We ended up getting over 15 dresses for her to choose from.

After that, Kayla, our food runner, offered to take over Sarah's section while she got ready. Ashley, one of our CDTs, gave up her section to do Sarah's makeup and hair. All the servers around Ashley's section each picked up a table so she could help. Then, we had Chris, one of our bussers, go to the store to buy Sarah a corsage. By this time Sarah's family had made it to the restaurant and we all gathered around to take pictures. We ended up raising $100 for her prom ticket and for her to get something to eat with her friends. Sarah and her family could not have been more grateful.

My family eats at the Spokane restaurant a few times a week and we have done so for the last few years. We have come to know and love the managers, servers, hosts, bussers, cooks, etc. They are like our extended family. Recently we found out our 2-year-old daughter needed to have open heart surgery. When the news spread through the restaurant we were overwhelmed with the response of compassion and the offers to pray for our daughter. To my surprise, the day after her surgery I received a phone call from Bridget, the AGM, asking about Sophia's surgery. A few days later, I received another phone call from her asking if it was okay for Sophia to have a special visit. I said sure and we set up a date and time.

Two days later, the doorbell rang and there standing on my porch was Bridget, Manager Melissa and "Red!" They knew how much Sophia loved Red every time she saw him in the restaurant, so they thought Red would cheer her up. And, boy did he! What a great surprise. They also brought a nice letter signed by all the managers hoping that she have a speedy recovery. They also gave my family a thoughtful and generous collection of money that all of the Team Members put together. I cannot tell you how much this means to us.

Team Member Krystal came to the office with a box of chocolates that were left on her table. They were for a fundraiser for an eighth grade student trip to Washington, D.C. and New York. I looked at Greg, our GM, and said, “Let’s buy them all! Hurry before they come back.” Immediately Greg threw in $20 as I ran to the kitchen to ask the cooks and other TMs in the FOH for a donation. Needless to say, we sold about 40 chocolate bars in three minutes. A few minutes later, a Hospo came up to me and said there was a young girl up front that left a box of chocolate on her table. Greg, Tony, myself and some other TMs went up front with an empty box, an envelope full of money and a $15 Red Robin gift card. The young girl was ready to cry as she gave Greg a hug.

I have a daughter that goes to Woods Creek Elementary in Monroe. My daughter has always struggled with reading out loud and in the past it has always been a struggle to get her to read. From the beginning of the school year she has talked about a lady who comes in and reads with the class. I just figured it was a mom or a teacher’s aid. I have watched my daughter struggle with stuttering and getting embarrassed when she reads out loud, to still stuttering but taking the time and making funny sounds and getting the word out. She laughs when she reads and now asks to read with me. At a parent-teacher conference I asked her teacher about this lady. She told me that it’s a reading program called “Reading with Red.” Erin comes in once a week and reads with the kids and has also taken the time to read one-on-one with the kids in her class. I don’t know how many children Erin reads with, but she has made a difference to one.

A family came in and Cara, who sat the Guests, asked the teenage boy how school was that day. He did not go to school that day because their house was hit by lightning and burned down. After hearing this, Cara told Manager MJ the story. MJ went to talk to the family and he learned that their whole house was lost, including their family fish of nine years, Goldie. After listening to the story, MJ told them that dinner was "on us" and he invited them back the next Thursday for dinner again. During the next week, the entire Team got together and raised money to go shopping for the family. We bought board games, books, cards, dolls and even a Goldie Junior. The next week when they came back to eat, I welcomed them and asked how things were going. They said they were going to look for a new house the next day. Just when they were about to leave, Red came out with the presents. When the mother saw this, she immediately started crying.

Each day after her two jobs, Team Member Tammy heads to the food pantry at the Effort United Methodist Church. When most people hear the words "food pantry" or "soup kitchen" they usually think of serving poor or homeless people, but she has also helped those who have lost their jobs recently. One night while she was managing the food pantry, Tammy noticed that they served mostly processed foods like pop tarts, candy and canned food. She thought to herself, "How are these people going to help themselves with just donated food?" The food banks do their best, but the items donated are mainly canned foods. Tammy decided that she wanted to promote healthier foods so that the less fortunate can still eat well. That’s how she began her non-profit organization called Garden of Giving. Tammy sub-divided two acres of her own land to start a garden where she also teaches local youth about the responsibilities of gardening. The youth group from Effort Methodist Church received an $800 grant from United Way to pay for the fence around the garden, which the teens installed themselves. Tammy has also been given over 450 plants from Hamburg High School’s Horticulture Club. Tammy recently lost her mother to a deadly disease, which made her recognize the important role that fresh vegetables play for our children and families to ward off sickness and other illnesses. She states that she knows what hunger is and she’s been so blessed in her life that she wants to just give back as much as possible.

Guest Comment
I have never visited a Red Robin restaurant before but if the servers are as friendly outside the restaurant as they are inside, then my family and I have just become regular Red Robin Guests. Tonight, I took my two youngest sons to a local ice cream shop for some ice cream and on our way out my littlest, Michael, dropped his cone on the ground. We went back inside and the lady told us that they were not responsible for what happened and we would just have to buy another. Unfortunately, I had only brought the few dollars I used to pay for the first ice cream cones, but a young lady, who I learned was from your restaurant, handed over her ice cream and said “I can always buy another.” My little boy’s eyes lit up and she completely saved the night. As she started to walk back inside my youngest, who’s a talker, stopped her and began asking her questions about her favorite ice cream. Instead of dismissing him, she sat on the bench next to him and began talking to him. My kids were delighted that someone older wanted to talk to them and they started asking questions about the pins on her purse. She explained that she worked at Red Robin and that we should come in to visit with Red on Thursday nights. My son became fascinated with the ice cream pin so she removed it from her purse and handed it right to him. He has yet to take the pin off his shirt to go to bed. We would like to take the time to thank Mandy again for everything she did.