Red Lobster's menu is essentially a treasure trove of dishes that you can't find anywhere else. Maybe you're a shrimp scampi lover or you can't get enough of the oversize Ultimate Feast. A healthy cheddar bay biscuit obsession is a no-brainer. But no matter what keeps you coming back, there are some secrets you should know before digging into your plate of lobster tails or cracking those crab legs.
1. It all began back in 1968—in Florida, of all places.
Red Lobster seems like it would have roots in New England, but the seafood chain first opened in Lakeland, FL, a small town halfway between the east and west Coasts of the Sunshine State.
2. Red Lobster's mascot-logo is named "Clawde."
You know, like the French "Claude" but punny-er. Maybe say hi to him the next time you visit?
3. The Cheddar Bay Biscuits are so popular, they have their own Facebook page.
Proving they have a cult following with over 1 million likes on the social media platform, the buttery and cheesy biscuits are obviously customers' top priority—after the seafood, of course.
4. Its new look was inspired by Bar Harbor, Maine.
The Florida-rooted company totally channeled the coastal Northeast with details like natural stone facades, crisp white bead-board walls, vibrant nautical flags, and stainless steel ship lantern lighting.
5. Order shrimp to get more bang for your buck.
In November 2015, Red Lobster's shrimp got bigger and better: Nearly 70 percent of lunch and dinner entrees featuring the shellfish scored improvements in size and preparation. From shrimp scampi to dinner skewers to shrimp tacos—all of the shrimp plates are at least 47 percent larger (...which is probably why Red Lobster serves over 80 million servings of shrimp every year).
6. Beyoncé loves Red Lobster as much as you do.
Remember Queen B's salacious lyric from "Formation?" Well, it totally put the seafood chain back on fans' radars, with comments on Twitter going totally haywire. (Though, a bit disappointingly, the company's social media team came up with a totally PG-rated response to Bey.)
7. The most popular dish is the Ultimate Feast.
And for good reason. It's a hulking entree: There's tender Maine lobster tail, steamed wild-caught North American snow crab legs, garlic shrimp scampi, and Walt's Favorite Shrimp—plus rice and your choice of side. I mean, just look at that butter drip:
8. Florida has the most Red Lobster locations.
There's a whopping 64 outposts in the Sunshine State alone. But don't worry, you'll find Red Lobster restaurants in more than just Florida; there are more than 700 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada.
9. Red Lobster's Times Square location is the largest in the world.
The massive restaurant spans over three stories, with more than 14,500 square feet and a seating capacity of 300.
10. You can bake up some of the famous biscuits at home.
Get your biscuit fix whenever a craving hits by baking up Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix, which is now available at grocery stores nationwide.
11. You can score freebies on your birthday.
If you sign up for Red Lobster's Fresh Catch Club, you can take advantage of birthday freebies in addition to other club-exclusive deals and discounts via email.
12. There's a rotating Catch of the Day menu.
Red Lobster offers a Fresh Fish menu that is updated daily with five-to-eight fresh fish options. So even if you think you know the menu like the back of your hand, you probably don't.
13. There's a specific way to crack your crab legs.
If you're a fan of the restaurant's Crabfest, then you need to watch this video. Whether you're new to cracking crab legs or not, there are secret tips from one of the company's chefs that you need to know so that you can get all the meat from your wild-caught crabs from Alaska. See?
14. Red Lobster coined the term "lobsterworthy."
It essentially means that something, someone, or a particular moment is so dope that the only way to celebrate it is to eat lobster "as if it was an edible trophy or something." The term has actually become popular enough to hold entries on Urban Dictionary.
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