As a New Englander and lover of fresh lobster, I’ve always been suspicious of chain seafood restaurants like Red Lobster.
Call me a snob, but I just can’t imagine bushels of tasty, whole lobster coming from some corporate supplier My mind pictures frozen tails and lobster-flavored fillers
But with over 700 Red Lobster locations worldwide, they must be doing something right. Their restaurants always seem packed!
This got me wondering – does Red Lobster really serve authentic, fresh lobster? Or is it low quality and filled with fakes? I decided to do some digging to find out once and for all…
Investigating Red Lobster’s Lobster Selection
Here’s a breakdown of the lobster dishes currently on the Red Lobster menu:
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Live Maine Lobster – A 1.25 lb lobster served steamed or roasted. Market price varies.
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Lazy Man’s Lobster – Lobster meat sauteed in butter and served over pasta.
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Lobster Lover’s Dream – A roasted lobster tail and lobster-stuffed shrimp.
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Admiral’s Feast – Lobster tail, snow crab legs, and shrimp.
Those definitely sound like the real thing! But looks can be deceiving…
I checked out their Live Maine Lobster listing for clues.
Red Lobster claims their lobster is wild-caught fresh from the Atlantic Ocean. And that diners can choose their own live lobster from the tank at some locations.
The listing also says “available steamed or roasted with our signature stuffing”. That stuck out to me…what exactly is their “signature stuffing”?
Could it be hiding artificial flavors or lobster substitutes? Time to dig deeper.
Examining Red Lobster’s Supplier Standards
Next, I looked into who supplies Red Lobster’s seafood and what quality standards they must meet.
As one of the largest seafood restaurant chains, Red Lobster needs an extensive network of vetted suppliers across North America to stock its hundreds of locations.
On their Seafood with Standards site, Red Lobster outlines their supplier requirements:
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Suppliers must pass regular facility audits for health, safety, and sanitation.
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Seafood must meet government size regulations and be tracked for origin.
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Shrimp farms must adhere to environmental and labor standards.
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Suppliers are encouraged to obtain sustainability certifications.
Additionally, Red Lobster’s processing facilities must follow strict protocols for receiving, inspecting, and storing seafood.
So it seems suppliers are held to pretty high standards. Of course, nothing beats the fresh catch of the day from a local fisherman!
But Red Lobster’s requirements help ensure quality, responsible sourcing, and proper handling. Reputable suppliers are key for maintaining consistency across hundreds of far-flung restaurants.
As for the “signature stuffing” in the lobster, it turns out it’s just a basic seafood stuffing made from celery, onions, and crackers. No weird fillers or fakes after all!
The Verdict: Yes, Red Lobster Serves Real Lobster!
After combing through Red Lobster’s menu offerings, supplier rules, and food prep processes, I’m convinced they do in fact serve real lobster. Albeit not quite as fresh as right off the dock!
The live lobsters in restaurant tanks are genuine Atlantic lobsters. And the lobster dishes on the menu use real lobster meat, not substitutes.
Some shrimp dishes may sneak in a bit of “lobster flavoring” like extract or stock. But you won’t find any outright lobster substitutes or meat fillers.
Red Lobster also avoids using lobster shells for stock. Since they can’t verify shells came from authentic lobsters, they opt not to use them.
Of course, frozen tails shipped from processors will never 100% match the amazing flavor of a freshly-caught lobster cooked right on the pier.
However, Red Lobster does make an effort to maintain seafood quality and standards, even as a chain. Their menu has plenty of authentic lobster dishes that New Englanders would approve of!
Just don’t expect 5-star, ocean-to-table cuisine. But you can confidently order the lobster knowing it’s the real McCoy…er, the real crustacean.
Red Lobster may not offer dock-fresh seafood, but it’s a reliable option for an affordable lobster fix!
So next time you’re craving a lobster feast, go ahead and indulge at your local Red Lobster without guilt. As long as you avoid the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, it can be part of a healthy diet! Just make sure to pair it with a side salad instead of fries.
The Decline of Red Lobster…What Happened?
What types of lobster do Red Lobster restaurants serve?
Red Lobster restaurants typically serve two types of lobster: Maine Lobster and Rock lobster. Rock lobsters are also known as spiny lobsters. You may notice that the Rock lobster only comes as tails, whereas you can get the Maine lobster as a whole lobster, or as a tail.
Does Red Lobster sell seafood?
*Available while supplies last. Price and participation may vary. Click here for full terms. so much more than how we catch our seafood. Discover Red Lobster seafood restaurants, find locations, browse our menus and more.
Does Red Lobster have fresh fish?
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.
Does Red Lobster have lobster tails?
This is why the Rock lobsters at Red Lobster only come in tails. Red Lobster buys Rock lobster tails frozen, which is how they are usually purchased. The tails are offered roasted, with the meat fluffed for easy eating. Even though the Rock lobsters don’t have huge crushing claws, they are not defenseless.