February 21, 2026
Bottomless fries, bottomed-out stock
Red Robin Died by Spreadsheet. Don't Make the Same Mistake
Commenters roast 'spreadsheet CEOs' as diners cheer $9.99 deals and ask if Microsoft is next
TLDR: Red Robin slashed staff to cut costs, wrecked service, and watched its stock crumble while Chili’s invested in the experience and won. Commenters feud over AI-sounding writing, praise the $9.99 comeback deal, and even ask if Microsoft can do a Chili’s-style turnaround—lesson: prioritize customers, not spreadsheets.
Garry Tan’s viral warning shot about Red Robin’s 96% stock nosedive—after axing bussers to look good on quarterly calls—has the comments section sizzling hotter than a flat-top grill. The article’s core: Red Robin chased short-term savings and torched service, while Chili’s did the opposite—simplified, invested in operations, and scored big. But the community made it a full-on reality show.
First, the meta-drama: one top commenter insists the post has “all the tells of AI-generated” writing, turning the thread into a Turing test. Then the real diners show up. One says their family actually returned to Red Robin for a $9.99-with-drink special—proof the chain can still win by keeping it simple. Another torches management with a chef’s-kiss burn: if you’ve never worked the floor, of course cutting bussers seems “efficient”… until tables don’t get cleared and customers bounce. Meanwhile, a drive-by hot take drags Microsoft into it: can Windows 11 do a Chili’s-style glow-up? The crossover episode we didn’t know we needed. And for dessert, someone can’t even read the post because the site says their browser isn’t supported—peak irony in a thread about bad UX.
The vibe: spreadsheet sins, TikTok-era comebacks, and a crowd chanting serve customers, not earnings calls. Full recap at garryslist.org
Key Points
- •The article cites Red Robin’s stock falling about 96%, from roughly $92 to $3.61.
- •Red Robin reportedly eliminated bussers in January 2018, removed expeditors, and restructured kitchen roles to cut labor.
- •Service metrics worsened: walkaways up 85% year over year, 75% of dine-in traffic loss during peak, and kitchen ticket times up one minute.
- •A $6.99 value menu increased low-priced order mix (9% to 15%), reducing average checks; 16% of stores in malls saw larger sales declines.
- •Chili’s, under Kevin Hochman, simplified its menu, invested in operations, launched a $10.99 deal that spread on TikTok, and reported 31% same-store sales growth.