“Shrimp is the fruit of the sea,” as Bubba Gump famously said in Forrest Gump (on YouTube). You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. If Red Lobster doesn’t have every kind of shrimp dish, they make up for it with their annual Endless Shrimp celebration, which has a lot of shrimp. Fans of seafood love the shrimp fest, which serves two types of shrimp at a time and lets you eat as much as you want for less than $20 (via Delish).
It’s hard not to be tempted by this shrimp buffet, which serves grilled, boiled, and popcorn shrimp, as well as specialties like Crispy Sriracha Honey Shrimp. With an endless supply of Cheddar Bay Biscuits, it seems like a no-brainer to order endless shrimp from Red Lobster’s menu. So is there a catch?.
Red Lobster’s wildly popular Endless Shrimp promotion promises unlimited shrimp for one low price. But is this seemingly too-good-to-be-true deal really as endless as advertised? I investigated the fine print to get the inside scoop on whether you can gorge on unlimited shrimp until your heart’s content.
The Origins of Endless Shrimp
In the early 2000s, Red Lobster attempted a similar endless promotion with snow crab legs that failed miserably. Eating excessive amounts of expensive crab put a huge dent in Red Lobster’s profits. But the chain learned from this mistake and switched to cheaper shrimp. Thus, the Endless Shrimp phenomenon was born in 2004.
Offering unlimited shrimp allowed Red Lobster to capitalize on our collective gluttony At just $15.99, shrimp lovers could binge worry-free without breaking the bank It was a genius recipe for success.
Putting “Endless” to the Test
The term “endless” inherently implies no restrictions, leading diners to wonder – can you really eat shrimp indefinitely at Red Lobster during this promo?
I scoured customer reviews and interviewed sources to get the inside intel. According to one Red Lobster server, Endless Shrimp is technically endless: “If you mean that if you were to come in at open and eat til close, yes.”
But they warned about abusing the unlimited offer: “However, that’s truly disgusting and you better have a … good tip in tow.”
Two journalists from Business Insider took the “endless” claim seriously They managed to consume 350 shrimp in one sitting before finally throwing in the napkin
So in theory, yes – you can eat unlimited shrimp until the restaurant closes if you have the stomach capacity. But should you? Probably not. Don’t be that person.
Strategizing Your Endless Shrimp Experience
To optimize an Endless Shrimp binge, strategy is required. Here are some tips:
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Pace yourself – Start slowly and take breaks between plates. You’re in it for the long haul.
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Avoid fillers – Skip the bread, fries, salads etc. Save room for more shrimp!
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Stay hydrated – Drink lots of water to combat the saltiness and fill up without extra calories.
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Bring reinforcements – Recruit family or friends to share the endless plates. More hands means more shrimp!
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Mind your manners – Don’t disrupt service or other diners. Be polite – this is a marathon, not a sprint.
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Tip generously – Servers will appreciate your restraint. Don’t give them reason to cut you off.
The Fine Print on Endless Shrimp
You may be able to eat all the shrimp Red Lobster can supply, but that doesn’t mean the promotion comes without caveats. Here are some limitations:
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Limited flavors – Only 2-3 shrimp varieties are included at once. Don’t expect the whole menu.
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Limited time – Endless Shrimp is only available for a few weeks each year during Shrimpfest.
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Limited locations – Endless Shrimp is not offered at every Red Lobster restaurant. Check availability.
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No doggy bags – Leftover shrimp aren’t allowed. Scrambling to-go containers defeats the purpose.
So proceed with reasonable expectations. Focus on quality over quantity and discovering new flavors in each Endless Shrimp lineup.
How Does Red Lobster Break Even?
Endless shrimp for $15.99 seems too good to be financially viable for Red Lobster. So how does the chain avoid losing its shirt?
Several savvy strategies are at play:
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Cheap shrimp – Special bulk contracts with suppliers keep costs down.
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No leftovers – Discouraging doggy bags slashes potential losses.
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Food costs – Shrimp is the pricey ingredient; everything else is cheap filler.
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Added orders – Many diners purchase additional menu items beyond shrimp.
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Increased traffic – Promotion brings in legions of new and lapsed customers.
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Upselling – Servers push higher-profit drinks, appetizers, and desserts.
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Alcohol sales – Boozy beverages boost the average bill significantly.
Through shrewd calculation, Red Lobster cushions their endless shrimp giveaway. In the end, we all win.
Enjoying Endless Shrimp Responsibly
When approached reasonably, Endless Shrimp can be a delicious bargain and yearly ritual. But ignore portions at your peril – don’t let eyes bigger than your stomach ruin Red Lobster’s generosity.
Here are my tips for healthfully indulging:
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Share with others – It’s more fun and less gluttonous.
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Box half right away – Portion control is key.
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Sub veggie sides – Fill up on lower-calorie options.
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Limit butter – One roll’s worth is plenty.
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Skip sugary drinks – Stick to unsweetened iced tea or water.
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Eat slowly – Savor each bite instead of speed-eating.
Most importantly – know when enough is enough. You can always come back another day! Moderation and mindfulness will keep Endless Shrimp an enjoyable annual splurge.
The Bottom Line on Endless Shrimp
Red Lobster puts no hard limits on Endless Shrimp consumption as long as you follow basic etiquette. While they probably hope customers don’t go overboard, technically the shrimp supply is unlimited.
I recommend indulging in moderation – savor new flavors, but don’t make yourself sick. Let the other diners enjoy some shrimp too! Ultimately, Endless Shrimp is an amazing excuse to treat yourself. Just be sure to tip your server for tolerating your gluttony.
Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp was born out of a colossal failure
Red Lobsters Endless Shrimp is actually a spinoff of a much less profitable promotion the company tried in the early 2000s — Endless Crab. Testing the publics ability to eat endless crab cost Red Lobster millions and resulted in its then-president getting the boot after a $405.9 million loss in stock value (via the New York Post). It turns out diners needed to eat a whole lot of crab to fill up, which was definitely not good for Red Lobsters bottom line. Shrimp are a lot cheaper than crab though — hence the switch. According to Business Insider, Endless Shrimp made its debut a year after the crab experiment ended.
When it comes to Endless Shrimp, though, getting your money’s worth is going to take a lot of willpower. Do you remember those Cheddar Bay Biscuits? Those may look good, but you should resist the urge to touch them. Theyre free, you can make them at home, and theyll just fill you up (via The Takeout). Red Lobster makes a lot of money from shrimp, so the faster someone fills up on carbs or one of the many sugary drinks and sides, the less shrimp they’ll eat.
Is the Red Lobster shrimp smorgasbord really endless?
Now for the question on everyones minds: Is this festival of bottomless shrimp really endless, or will management eventually step in? Well, according to one longtime employee on Reddit, it does sound as though you can eat until you have to be wheelbarrowed out of the restaurant if thats your goal. When asked if the deal really was endless, the Red Lobster employee said: “If you mean that if you were to come in at open and eat til close, yes.” The employee did have a strong opinion on anyone who might consider that, though, continuing, “However, thats truly disgusting and you better have a … good tip in tow.”
To really test out the “endless” factor, two employees at Business Insider put their own shrimp eating capabilities to the test and devoured 350 shrimp before tossing in the towel. Sounds pretty endless to us.
To really get your Endless Shrimp moneys worth, the Red Lobster employee said a person would have to eat “2-4 (times) beyond the initial meal.” So whether its wiser to spend your money on the endless shrimp special or a regular meal really boils down to ones own stamina with this seafood marathon.
The Truth About Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp
Does endless shrimp have coconut shrimp?
You‘re in luck – coconut shrimp is typically one of the classic flavors included in the Endless Shrimp lineup. Some other staples you can expect are: New limited-time flavors may also join the mix, but you can count on coconut shrimp being available to satisfy that craving! Pair it with the mango dipping sauce on the side for a tropical treat.
Can one eat raw shrimps?
While raw shrimp or shrimp sashimi can be consumed safely, raw shrimp is considered a high-risk food because it can harbour harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and various Vibrio bacteria. Although some people consider the seafood used in ceviche raw, it is actually cooked by immersing it in an acid rather than using heat. The acid from the citrus can reduce harmful bacteria but it is not as effective as using heat. The safest approach would be to consume only cooked shrimp from a reliable source. The US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) advises that pregnant women, those with weakened immunity, older adults, and young children are at higher risk of foodborne illness and its consequences and should avoid all raw seafood.
Is endless shrimp your money’s worth?
According to Business Insider, Endless Shrimp made its debut a year after the crab experiment ended. Here’s the thing with getting your money’s worth when it comes to Endless Shrimp, though — it’s going to take some serious willpower. Remember those Cheddar Bay Biscuits? As tempting as they may be, you would be wise to avoid touching those.
How much does ultimate endless shrimp cost?
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. The special offers seven different shrimp dishes (four of which are breaded), as well as one side.