Red Lobster is one of the most well-known chain restaurants in the United States. It has locations in strip malls and along highways all over the country. It’s known as a “seafood haven” because it sells seafood at low prices to people all over the United States. Its menu is full of specials and well-known favorites, like the Lobsterfest, which is a great name for the event, and the chain’s famous Cheddar Bay biscuits. Perhaps none of Red Lobsters deals have quite as much sway as its Ultimate Endless Shrimp.
There are many all-you-can-eat deals at chain restaurants, but Red Lobster’s Ultimate Endless Shrimp is the only one of its kind. It began as a promotion to get more people to come in, but it was so popular that Red Lobster made it a permanent part of their menu in the summer of 2023. The chain lost $11 million in the same quarter that Ultimate Endless Shrimp became a permanent menu item, according to CNN. It turned out to be too popular at its original price.
Even though Red Lobster has since changed its prices to reflect how popular Ultimate Endless Shrimps are, I knew that when I had the chance, I had to try this luxurious seafood treat for myself.
The Never-Ending Shrimpfest Just How Long Does Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp Really Last?
Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp promotion has become the stuff of legends. This all-you-can-eat shrimp extravaganza promises unlimited shrimp for one flat price. But just how endless is it really? As a hardcore seafood lover and bargain hunter, I knew I had to find out.
My wife Kelly and I are what you might call “professional eaters.” We can throw down with the best of them when it comes to buffets, all-you-can-eat deals, and competitive eating contests. So when we heard about the Endless Shrimp promotion at Red Lobster, we knew we were up for the challenge.
We decided to put Red Lobster’s claim of “endless” shrimp to the test How long could we feasibly eat unlimited shrimp before either tapping out or being cut off? We were determined to find out For science!
We arrived at Red Lobster early on a Saturday afternoon. The place was already buzzing with activity. We were promptly seated and presented with the Endless Shrimp menu. The rules were simple: For $15.99, you get unlimited Cheddar Bay Biscuits plus your choice of shrimp dish, which they will keep bringing out until you’ve had your fill.
Kelly and I came prepared. We wore our “competitive eating” clothes – stretchy pants and shirts that allowed us to expand as much as needed We also skipped breakfast and lunch that day to ensure the optimal amount of room in our stomachs This was sure to be a feast for the ages.
We started off conservatively, ordering just 3 shrimp dishes for our first round: Parmesan Shrimp Scampi, Walt’s Favorite Shrimp, and Wood-Grilled Shrimp Skewers. The shrimp was freshly cooked and delicious. Those buttery, garlicky scampi shrimp melted in your mouth. We made quick work of the first three plates.
On to round two! Feeling confident, we upped our order to 5 shrimp entrees: Coconut Shrimp, Wild Caught Grilled Shrimp, Shrimp Linguini Alfredo, Dueling Shrimp & Chicken, and Barbecue Bacon Shrimp. The proteins and carbs were starting to fill us up, but we were still ready for more. “Keep it coming!” we told our very patient server.
By round three, the pace was beginning to slow. But we rallied our way through teriyaki glazed shrimp, Cajun grilled shrimp, and shrimp tacos. At this point we were starting to attract attention from neighboring tables. People whispered and giggled as plate after plate of shrimp arrived at our table. We paid them no mind. We had a mission to accomplish.
After polishing off Popcorn Shrimp and Shrimp Fettuccine during round four, we decided it was time to take a little breather. If we were going to make it to round five, we had to pace ourselves. We took a 20 minute break, chatting with the manager about the origins of Endless Shrimp. Apparently it started as a limited-time promotion but was so popular they decided to make it permanent. We could see why!
Recharged and ready for more, we geared up for round five. By now the kitchen staff was amused by our seeming lack of limits. They cheered us on as they loaded up three more plates – Crispy Shrimp, Lazy Shrimp Portofino, and Honey Chipotle Glazed Shrimp. Kelly polished off her plates first, earning her the respect of surrounding diners. I was starting to slow down, but managed to clean my plates too.
Could we press on to a sixth round? After some internal debate, we decided to throw in the towel. The Endless Shrimp train had reached the end of the line for us after round five. We had eaten 37 total servings of shrimp!
In the end, we were at Red Lobster for 3 hours and consumed over 5 pounds of shrimp each. The staff was amazed and applauded our effort as we waddled out the door. While not literally endless, Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp promotion is certainly a feast for serious shrimp lovers. We’ll definitely be back, though next time we’ll be sure to bring reinforcements!
So just how long does Endless Shrimp really last? Based on our experience, here are some tips if you want to maximize your shrimp-eating potential:
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Come hungry. Don’t eat beforehand so you have plenty of room.
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Wear loose, stretchy clothing. You’ll need it later.
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Start slow and pace yourself. Go all out too quick and you’ll burn out fast.
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Take breaks between rounds to let the food settle.
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Switch up your shrimp choices each round for variety.
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Bring a friend or two to share the challenge. More eaters means more shrimp!
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If needed, box up leftovers to-go and save for later. Don’t let it go to waste!
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Keep a positive attitude and appreciate the experience. Don’t overdo it past your limits.
The bottom line: For normal eaters, Endless Shrimp can reasonably last 2-3 hours and 5-10 servings, depending on your appetite. Heartier eaters could potentially stretch it to 4 hours and 15+ servings. But don’t forget to take breaks and listen to your body. Pace yourself and you’ll have a crab-tastic time!
Round 2: Garlic shrimp scampi
We were glad that the time between the first Endless Shrimp plate and our second order was so short. Sips of Modelo and lemon water here and there weren’t exactly clearing the air, what with the Alfredo clogging things up. But we decided to continue headlong into the dairy, ordering garlic shrimp scampi and “Walts Favorite Shrimp. “They also gave us a second grilled shrimp skewer as a surprise, which we gladly accepted with a friendly groan. ).
We were glad the scampi didn’t come with pasta because we already had a lot, but it might have helped soak up some of the butter sauce that had separated and pooled in the round, rectangular plates that the shrimp were served on. These were the tiniest shellfish we got. They may have been grilled like the shrimp on skewers, but the butter made it impossible to tell. I was very stupid and grabbed one with my hands, turning into a buttery King Midas until I could wipe my greasy paws on a napkin. Suddenly the end of Endless Shrimp seemed near.
Along with the scampi, there was Walt’s Favorite Shrimp, which was named for Walt King, who is said to have been one of Red Lobster’s first employees. These were butterflied and tightly breaded, which gave them a unique texture that we couldn’t fully enjoy because our stomachs started to rebel. Plain old breaded shrimp just wouldnt stand out here, so our compliments to Walt, wherever he may be.
Though the actual shrimp were good, the real highlight was the cocktail sauce they came with. You can tell Red Lobster leaned more toward the ketchup than the horseradish if this was meant to be homemade cocktail sauce. But this was not as sweet as the coconut shrimp. The sweetness added a nice touch that made the whole plate more enjoyable. I even dipped a couple of the extra skewered shrimp into it when no one was looking.
That said, this far into the meal, time began to slow down. It seemed like an hour had passed since Walt’s last shrimp was taken off our plate, but it still wasn’t enough. But I knew we had more shrimp to try.
What is Red Lobster’s Ultimate Endless Shrimp?
The idea behind Ultimate Endless Shrimp is pretty simple: for a flat fee of $25 per person (up from $20 when it was first released), you can eat as much shrimp as your heart desires. The special offers seven different shrimp dishes (four of which are breaded), as well as one side. People can order as many dishes as they want at once and for as long as they want. Oh, and perhaps Red Lobsters most popular dish, the Cheddar Bay biscuits, are complementary.
After going without food for almost the whole day, my girlfriend and I went to the Red Lobster near my New Jersey home. At worst, I thought it would be an interesting test of our relationship. At best, it would be a fun meal to share. How much damage could all this shrimp really do?.
One of the employees led us to a centrally-located round table large enough for six or seven people. I was thrilled. It wouldn’t have worked with a booth here; this was the perfect place for the shrimp feast we were about to have. Karl, our server, was so nice. He talked us through the menu like a referee telling two fighters the rules before they start fighting. We pored over them with fake deliberation — as if we didnt already know our exact order. We each got a water, a beer, and the first round of Endless Shrimp dishes after about a minute.
The Truth About Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp
FAQ
Who owns Red Lobster in 2024?
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Company type
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Subsidiary
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Revenue
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US$2.6 billion (2018)
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Owner
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Golden Gate Capital (2014–2020)
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Number of employees
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55,000
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Parent
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Darden Restaurants (1995–2014) Thai Union Group (2020–2024)
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What is Red Lobster’s ultimate endless shrimp?
The conceit of Ultimate Endless Shrimp is fairly simple: For a flat fee of $25 per person — at the time of publication and up from its original price of $20 — you can eat as much shrimp as your crustacean-loving heart desires.
Is endless shrimp at Red Lobster a national holiday?
Endless Shrimp at Red Lobster should be considered a national holiday. If you’ve never been to this glorious celebration of crustacean gluttony, you better run over to one right now. It’s $15.99 for all you can eat. No strings attached. One or 100. It’ll be over on November 18, so you don’t have too much time left. Live your life to the fullest.
Does Red Lobster have unlimited shrimp?
Red Lobster has — per a press release — officially brought unlimited shrimp to its permanent menu. Now, you can have a shrimp-eating competition any time of the year. Ultimate Endless Shrimp is a fan-fave promotion that Red Lobster has typically brought back, year after year, for a select period of time.
Is Red Lobster ® ultimate endless shrimp SM coming back?
ORLANDO, Fla., June 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Red Lobster ® is kicking off summer with an announcement that is sure to excite shrimp lovers everywhere – guest-favorite Ultimate Endless Shrimp℠ is here to stay! Gone are the days of anxiously awaiting the return of Ultimate Endless Shrimp℠.