Does Red Lobster Take Reservations or Offer Call Ahead Seating?

As one of the largest and most popular seafood restaurant chains Red Lobster locations can get quite busy during peak dining times. With long waits common guests often wonder if they can make reservations or call ahead for priority seating. In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about Red Lobster’s reservation and call ahead seating policies.

An Overview of Red Lobster’s Busy Service

With over 700 locations across North America and beyond Red Lobster is many people’s go-to spot for indulgent seafood dishes and famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Offering appetizers wood-grilled and broiled entrées, pastas, and desserts, their extensive menus draw in big crowds.

Dinnertime, weekends, holidays like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, and seasonal promotions like Endless Shrimp all lead to high demand and long wait times at Red Lobster. Waits of 30 minutes to an hour are not uncommon during their busiest periods before being seated.

Understandably, Red Lobster guests want to avoid long waits and get seated quickly so they can dig into Lobster Bisque and Shrimp Scampi. This leads to the popular question – can you make reservations or call ahead at Red Lobster to bypass the lines?

Does Red Lobster Accept Reservations?

Unfortunately, most Red Lobster locations do not accept reservations. Walk-in dining is their standard service format. So you cannot phone or book online ahead of time to secure a table.

However, some specific Red Lobster restaurants may take reservations for large parties or special events. For example, a location with private dining rooms may book those spaces for a rehearsal dinner or big group. But the typical Red Lobster does not take reservations for regular dinner service.

Does Red Lobster Offer Call Ahead Seating?

While traditional reservations are not available, many Red Lobster locations do offer call ahead or priority seating options. The terms they use vary by location, but essentially you can get your name on the waiting list before arriving.

To take advantage of call ahead seating:

• Call the Red Lobster location ahead of time on the same day you want to dine.

• Give them your name, party size, and time you expect to arrive later that day.

• The hostess will log your name so you get priority when you show up to be seated.

• Arrive on time and check in with the host stand to get seated faster.

Call ahead is not a reservation that 100% guarantees a table will be waiting. But it improves your chances of skipping part or all of a long wait during peak times.

Tips for Avoiding Long Waits at Red Lobster

Here are some other tips to minimize waiting when dining at crowded Red Lobster restaurants:

• Opt for lunch or early bird dinner to miss peak hours.

• Call right when they open to get your name on the list before the rush.

• Visit on weekdays instead of Fridays-Sundays.

• Use Red Lobster’s app to join a virtual waitlist before arriving.

• Sit at the bar – they often seat bar patrons faster.

• Order To Go online for quick pick up with no wait.

So while you can’t book set reservations at most Red Lobsters, call ahead seating gets you one step closer when you’re craving those famous biscuits. Time it right and you’ll be diving into crab legs and shrimp in no time!

Do you rely on call ahead seating to avoid long waits at busy restaurants? Share your tips and tricks in the comments!