Does Red Lobster Have Crab Cakes in 2023?

Crab cakes are a delicious seafood appetizer that many people love. They are made of lump crab meat, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings, formed into patties and fried to a golden brown. As a popular appetizer choice, some Red Lobster fans may be wondering if this beloved seafood chain offers crab cakes on their menu in 2023.

An Overview of Red Lobster’s Menu

For over 50 years, Red Lobster has been serving up fresh seafood in a casual dining atmosphere. They are best known for their endless shrimp, Cheddar Bay Biscuits, lobster tails, and crabfest. Red Lobster has an extensive menu with a focus on various seafood dishes and preparations.

Some of their most popular menu items besides shrimp and lobster include:

• Salmon
• Tilapia
• Cod
• Catfish
• Crab legs
• Clam strips
• Mussels
• Scallops
• Oysters
• Calamari

In recent years Red Lobster has expanded their menu offerings beyond traditional seafood entrees. They now offer more chicken, steak and pasta dishes. However, signature seafood dishes still make up the core of their menu.

The Availability of Crab Cakes at Red Lobster

After reviewing Red Lobster’s current menu offerings on their website, it appears that crab cakes are not a standard menu item in 2023. While they serve snow crab legs, king crab, and have various crab-focused dishes for special promotions like Crabfest, crab cakes are not listed as an appetizer choice.

Some of the appetizers that do contain crab meat include:

• Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip
• Crab Lover’s Dream (snow crab legs, king crab legs)
• Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms (with crab)

However, a traditional lump crab cake appetizer is notably absent from their appetizer selections.

Why Don’t They Have Crab Cakes on the Menu?

There are a few potential reasons why crab cakes are not part of Red Lobster’s core menu:

• Focus on Full Crab Shellfish – Red Lobster tends to focus on serving crab in its whole form, like snow crab legs or king crab legs. Crab cakes utilize lump crab meat extracted from the shells. So crab cakes don’t align as well with their preparation preferences.

• Specialized Preparation – Crab cakes require a specific preparation with precision mixing and forming. It’s more complex compared to steaming shrimp or broiling fish. So it may not fit their typical kitchen operations.

• Higher Costs – Due to the cost of lump crab meat, crab cakes tend to be a pricier menu item. Red Lobster aims for approachable prices, so crab cakes may be too costly to add to the everyday menu.

• Menu Saturation – With many crab dishes like crab-stuffed fish and crab linguine, their menu may already satisfy customer cravings for crab flavors.

Availability During Special Promotions

While crab cakes are not a standard part of the menu, Red Lobster has offered crab cakes for limited times during special seasonal menus.

For example, crab cake appetizers were previously available during these promotions:

• Winterfest Seafood Festival (January 2022) – Offered a Crispy Crab Cake appetizer.

• Crabfest (Spring/Summer 2022) – Included a Maryland-Style Crab Cake as an entree choice.

So while crab cakes are not a permanent menu item, they do make special appearances for certain promotions. Customers eager to try Red Lobster crab cakes may want to visit during these seasonal events.

How to Order Crab Cakes at Red Lobster

If you have your heart set on savoring some crab cakes during your Red Lobster visit, there are a couple ways you may still be able to order them:

• Check ahead of time if crab cakes are available for any special promotions. Visit during those dates to order them.

• Ask your server if crab cakes can be specially requested. Some locations may be able to cook them upon request even if they’re not officially on the menu.

• Substitute crab cakes as the protein for some dishes. For example, you may be able to swap crab cakes instead of shrimp in certain entrees. Inquire with your server.

• Order crab cakes from their catering menu for large parties. Red Lobster offers fuller menus for catering that may include crab cakes as an appetizer option.

While enjoyingRed Lobster’s famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits and endlessly peeled shrimp, don’t be afraid to ask your server about ordering crab cakes if you’re really seeking that crab cake fix during your seafood meal. You may be happily surprised!

Red Lobster’s Crabfest Promotion

One of the best times of year to find crab cakes on Red Lobster’s menu is during their annual Crabfest promotion each summer.

Crabfest is a seasonal celebration of crabs, featuring a variety of crab dishes and preparations. In 2023, Crabfest will run from May 9th through July 3rd nationwide.

Based on previous years’ Crabfest menus, customers can likely expect to find these crab cake options this summer:

• A Maryland-style crab cake appetizer
• Crab cake sandwiches and platters
• Crab cake entrees served with sides

The 2023 Crabfest menu has not been publicly released yet. But if history is any indication, buttery crab cakes will make a welcome appearance this summer.

Crabfest is the ideal time to visit Red Lobster to fully indulge in crab flavors. Keep an eye out for the official 2023 Crabfest menu release in May!