Red Robin

Most restaurants have a story in how they started. Those stories generally center around the restaurant or the founder. However, the most interesting part of Red Robin is the origin of its name. The history behind their name is an excellent example of the kind of story that led me to create this site.   Red Robin may be your favorite place in town to grab a burger, and there are plenty of reasons why, but when you know so much more about your favorite restaurant, regardless of which one, I think you’ll find you enjoy it even more. There is something about knowing the history and details of a restaurant that makes it personal to which that burger might taste a little better. And the story behind the name? Well, you’ll have to keep reading to find out.

General Restaurant Information

Food Type: Hamburgers

Restaurant Type: Casual Dining

U.S. Locations: 533

States: 44 states, Red Robin Locations

Company Slogan: Red Robin, Yum

 

Contact Information

Website: redrobin.com

Questions: Contact Information

Phone number: 303-846-6000

Email: guest-support@redrobin.com

Blog: No resources found

FAQ Page: Frequently Asked Questions

 

Ownership

Who Owns Red Robin? Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

Headquartered: Greenwood Village, CO

Contact Information: Contact Information

Website: redrobin.com

Email/contact page: Contact Information

Phone: 303-846-6000

Address: 6312 S. Fiddlers Green Cir Suite 200N, Greenwood Village, CO

Do They Franchise? Franchise Information

 

They have a burger hotline to help you on significant grilling holidays such as Memorial Day, Father’s Day and more. Merely call 1-844-RR-YUMMM (844.779.8666) for any grilling questions you may have! (delish.com)

 

What Is It Like To Work At Red Robin?

Employment Page

3.7/5 or 74%; 3,000 Reviews (indeed.com)

3.2/5, or 64%; 1,600 Reviews (glassdoor.com)

What to expect when working at Red Robin (job-applications.com)

 

The History of Red Robin

Original Location: 3272 Fuhrman Ave. E, Seattle, WA

Founded: September 1969

Founded By: Gerry Kingen

Gerald Robert Kingen (saltys.com)

Original restaurant to close (upi.com)

Red Robin (revolvy.com)

Founder Obituary: Still Living

Name Origin: The building the restaurant first called home was built circa 1916 and opened as a tavern called Sam’s Tavern in 1943. The owner, Sam, was in a barbershop quartet and loved the song “When the Red, Red Robin,” a popular 1926 song by Lillian Roth (I included a YouTube at the end of the post). Sam loved the song so much that he changed the name of his bar to Sam’s Red Robin. In 1969 when Gerry Kingen bought the tavern, he merely dropped the Sam’s and left it, Red Robin.

History Page: Company History Page

Current View of Original Location: 3272 Fuhrman Ave as it is today (link may not work on mobile devices without Google Maps)

Historical Articles: 

Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along (thenorthwestpast.wordpress.com)

Gourmet Burgers, Inc. History (fundinguniverse.com)

Red Robin (wikipedia.org)

 

Social Awareness

Charity Focus: Employee Hardships

Green | Eco-Friendly: 

Sustainability Practices (redrobin.com)

Supply Chain (redrobin.com)

Animal Cruelty: Red Robin Uses 100% Cage Free Eggs (huffingtonpost.com)

 

The restaurant was first franchised in 1979 by two regular customers, Mike and Steve Snyder. The franchise began in Yakima, Washington before opening in Oregon.

 

Discounts At Red Robin

Rewards Program: Reward Program 

Do Kids Eat Free at Red Robin?

What day do kids eat free? Monday or Tuesday (traditionally) As always check with your local restaurant to verify.

Summary: Participating locations normally offer a kids eat a free meal on Monday or Tuesday for kids 10 and under with an adult meal.

Does Red Robin Offer Military Discounts?

Summary: If you are a member of their Rewards Program and indicate that you are active or retired military when signing up, they will send you various promotional benefits throughout the year, such as 15% in the month of July, free appetizer, etc. There is, however, no standing benefit for members or former members of the military.

What Does Red Robin offer for My Birthday!?

Summary: If you are a member of their Rewards Program, they will automatically put in a free hamburger credit in your account on the first day of your birthday month giving you a full month to claim it. There are other various benefits as well if you’re in the club such as free items with frequent visits and more. 

Does Red Robin Offer First Responder Discounts?

Summary: No resources could be found related to first responder discounts.

Does Red Robin Offer Senior Citizen | AARP Discounts?

Summary: No resources could be found related to senior citizen discounts.

Are There Any Other Discounts or Benefits at Red Robin?

Summary: I was impressed at the level of benefits the chain offers (sorry senior citizens). Although most all their benefits revolve around their Rewards Program, it’s worth joining if you’re a fan. I like how they give you a full month to receive your birthday burger and not just only on your actual birthday. I also like how they offer military discounts throughout the year and not just on Veteran’s Day like so many chains. I would like to see all restaurants offer a daily 10-15% discount across the board for active military or Veterans, but few do. The restaurant chain may not provide that, but they do offer more than most. Of course, participating restaurants offer a kids eat free night, as well.

 

Amenities

Order Online: Online Order

WiFi Available: Yes

Use Apple Pay: No  

Reservations: No 

Catering: Catering Information

Drive-Thru: No 

Open 24 Hours: No  

 

Customer Reviews of Red Robin

Yelp: 2.7/5 or 53%, 4,7018 reviews sampled

Tripadvisor: 3.8/5 or 76%, 1,102 reviews sampled

Overall Average: 2.89/5 or 58%, 5,820 reviews sampled

 

Red Robin & Related Items on Amazon

Food & Nutrition

Menu:  Red Robin Menu

Kids Menu:  Kids Menu

Secret Menu:  No resources found

Most Popular Menu Item:  Royal Burger (pictured above)

Coke or Pepsi: Coke

Does Red Robin Serve Alcohol: Yes

Nutritional Information: Nutrition Guide

Vegetarian | Vegan Options: 

145 Vegan Chain Restaurant Menus Every Vegan Needs to Know (urbantastebud.com)

Your Best Vegan Option at 35 Popular Restaurants (eatthis.com)

Vegan Options At Popular Fast Food Chains (onegreenplanet.org))

Vegan Options (veg.org)

Farm to Table | Organic Options | Clean | Non-GMO: Sustainability Practices (redrobin.com)

Miscellaneous Nutrition Resources: 

35 Sugariest Restaurant Meals on the Planet (#30) (eatthis.com)

Red Robin Menu (healthydiningfinder.com)

Nutritional Information (fatsecret.com)

Nutrition Facts and Calorie Information (nutrition-charts.com)

Nutrition Facts: Menu Choices & Calories (verywellfit.com)

Order This, Not That (foodnetwork.com)

Allergy Information

Allergen Information: Red Robin Allergen Guide

Gluten Free Options: 

Red Robin Gluten Free Menu (urbantastebud.com)

32 Best Gluten Free Burger Joints You Must Experience at Least Once (#1) (urbantastebud.com)

Dairy Free Options: 

Dairy Free Options (godairyfree.org)

Restaurant Guide For Dairy-Free Dining (godairyfree.org)

Peanut Free Options: No resources found, but the following may be helpful to you.

Peanut & Allergy Information (redrobin.com)

Food Allergy Guides For Many Chain Restaurants (verywellhealth.com)

Ways to Eliminate Risks of Peanut Allergy When Dining Out (healthguidance.org)

 

Does Red Robin Have Any Secret Recipes?

Secret Recipes:  

16 Secret Recipes (topsecretrecipes.com)

Freckled Lemonade (copykat.com)

Seasoning (geniuskitchen.com)

Red Robin Recipes (allrestaurantrecipes.com)

Bleu Ribbon Burger (highheelsandgrills.com)

Strawberry Lemonade (foodnetwork.com)

Seasoned Oven Fries (barefeetinthekitchen.com)

 

Did You Know?

Fun Facts: 

Gerry Kingen grew up in Seattle with parents that were also restaurant owners.

They are one of a few restaurants that started in Seattle, Washington. You probably already knew Starbucks began there as well.

After buying the restaurant in 1969, Gerry kept the same menu and tavern atmosphere as it had been since 1943. In 1973, the restaurant closed temporarily so that the menu could be changed to include burgers, fish & chips as well as steak. These menu changes as well as some structural changes lead to the restaurant tripling in sales and would lead to the beginning of a chain.

Oh, and by the way, Sam’s Red Robin is still open in the area, but they’re back to the original name of Sam’s Tavern. They may not be as successful as the restaurant we know, but they do have multiple locations in the area.

One of the reasons it was initially successful was its proximity to the University of Washington.

The restaurant was first franchised in 1979 by two regular customers, Mike, and Steve Snyder. The franchise began in Yakima, Washington before opening in Oregon.

 Their burgers are preservative and GMO-free! They are also considered one of the most allergy-friendly restaurant chains in America.

If you’re looking for a Zagat rated burger, look no further, winners of the best burger in the full-service category four years running from 2009-2012.

As many fries as your stomach can handle since 1994. If you’re on a diet, you can choose from some other “bottomless” healthier options such as sweet potato fries or steamed broccoli

The chain has fast-food (fast-casual) versions called Burger Works of their restaurant in select cities for those in a hurry.

The original location was closed in 2010 and demolished in 2014, just two years shy of its 100th birthday.

If you’re a picky eater, they have over 100 different toppings to choose from for your burger.

Milkshakes aren’t just for kids; there are plenty of alcoholic milkshakes or boozy-shakes as they’re called to choose from as well.

They have a burger hotline to help you on important grilling holidays such as Memorial Day, Father’s Day and more. Merely call 1-844-RR-YUMMM (844.779.8666) for any grilling questions you may have! (delish.com)

Interesting Articles:

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Red Robin (thedailymeal.com)

29 Secrets Every Burger Lover Should Know (thekrazycouponlady.com)

10 Facts You Might Not Know (mentalfloss.com)

Hamburger chain wrestles with delivery/dine-in balance (nrn.com)

Things you didn’t know (foxnews.com)

Gourmet Burgers and Brews Commits to Reducing Carbon Footprint in its Restaurants (investors.redrobin.com)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews Tests New Delivery Concept in Downtown Chicago (investors.redrobin.com)

12 Things You Need To Know (delish.com)

10 Facts You Might Not Know (mentalfloss.com)

 

Red Robin & Related Items on Amazon

 

Social Media

Followers (as of September 2018) –  

Facebook: 1,526,679

Twitter: 185,000

Instagram: 168,000

Mobile Apps

No mobile Apps

Alternatives

Better Options: Coming Soon

Similar Restaurants: Culvers, Steak ‘n Shake, White Castle

 

In Summary

When I began my research, I knew little about the chain. I was pleasantly surprised when I found so many interesting facts about them. As I said in the opening, they are a prime example of why I was lead to developing this site. I loved how the name of the restaurant came from a song, a song sung by the former restaurant owner (who knew?). Interesting facts aside, Red Robin gives plenty of reasons to stop in. They have several benefits for individuals and families (don’t forget to join their rewards program), bottomless fries, award-winning hamburgers and a dedication to healthy ingredients. Those reasons and more awarded them one of our top family-friendly restaurant chains.

Red Robin on Amazon

Videos