A family movie and dinner outing turned into a full-blown disaster for Nashville parents Jessica and Michael Overby last week following a poor restaurant choice.
“We had a great time at the movie, with Ashley and Jeremy really enjoying Finding Nemo,” Jessica says. “But then,” she adds mournfully, “without thinking, we went to Red Lobster for dinner.”
The children immediately noticed the sea creatures used in the chain eatery’s nautical decor and began asking if the starfish and crabs were friends with Nemo, the little clownfish who is the subject of the popular Pixar/Disney movie.
“I told them that these were different from the ones in the movie, but they just kept looking at them, and then when it came time to order, both kids collapsed in inconsolable sobs,” says Michael, still shivering a little at the memory of the meltdown.
“We told them that we weren’t eating Nemo or his friends or family, but every time another plate of seafood went by, the crying got louder,” Jessica says. “Other people were looking at us kind of funny, like we were pinching the kids under the table or something to keep them so upset. Finally we just had to leave without ordering.”
According to Cool Springs Red Lobster manager Quentin Stoxstill, “Nemo freak-outs,” as he calls them, are now a daily occurrence at the restaurant.
“A lot of little kids just can’t tell the difference between a cartoon and reality. We’re losing business every day because lots of people like to come here to eat after the movie and the kids just go nuts.”
Stoxstill’s problems aren’t likely to go away soon, as Red Lobster has just announced a “find Nemo” promotion in which its kids’ meals will have a toy Nemo buried among the fried fish sticks on some plates.
“If they think that it’s going to drive traffic into the store, they’re nuts,” the beleaguered manager says. “It’s going to drive people straight to McDonalds. And I’ll need a hearing aid from all the yowling.”
(The Fabricator is satire. Don’t believe everything you read.)
“If they think that it’s going to drive traffic into the store, they’re nuts,” the beleaguered manager says. “It’s going to drive people straight to McDonalds. And I’ll need a hearing aid from all the yowling.”
(The Fabricator is satire. Don’t believe everything you read.)
