economie

I went to Red Lobster and saw why the chain has struggled — and what it could change

September 15, 20240
The entrance to the Red Lobster.

Alex Bitter/Business Insider

This Red Lobster is located right off of a major highway, about a 50-minute drive from the center of Washington, DC.

I arrived at the restaurant a little after 11 a.m. on a Wednesday.
Anchors and other nautical motifs are all over Red Lobster.

Alex Bitter/Business Insider

Red Lobster’s restaurants have long resembled coastal communities where fishing and lobstering dominate. A 2011 remodel of the restaurant chain’s stores drew inspiration from Bar Harbor, Maine, and added everything from ship lanterns to Adirondack chairs to the restaurants.

Red Lobster’s dining room was a little worn and dated.
There was the main menu and another just for drinks.

Alex Bitter/Business Insider

The menu offers different specials depending on the day of the week. Monday’s special is endless shrimp, which costs $25, according to the menu I saw.

I ordered the Sailor’s Platter to try Red Lobster’s shrimp.
A Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit.

Alex Bitter/Business Insider

The four biscuits were complimentary — and very warm.

The biscuits were one of the highlights of my visit.
My Sailor’s Platter came with tartar sauce and cocktail sauce.

Alex Bitter/Business Insider

My Sailor’s Platter came with a side. I upgraded mine to Bacon Mac & Cheese for an upcharge.

The popcorn shrimp reminded me of food I’ve had at fast-food restaurants.
The shrimp scampi came in their own dish.

Alex Bitter/Business Insider

These were my favorite of the two kinds of shrimp.

The fried flounder was nothing special.
The Bacon Mac & Cheese came with real bacon.

Alex Bitter/Business Insider

The Mac & Cheese was creamy, though after a few bites, it was a little too rich for me.

I also ordered a Mango Iced Tea.
Just some of my Bacon Mac & Cheese remained.

Alex Bitter/Business Insider

With tax and a tip, I paid about $35 for my lunch.

I was full after the platter and had trouble imagining what eating dozens of shrimp here would be like.

After paying, I took another few minutes to appreciate all the nautical decorations.
The reporter outside Red Lobster after his meal.

Alex Bitter/Business Insider

The Red Lobster that I visited felt worn, dark, and could use a renovation. And while the biscuits were great, the other food was nothing amazing.

On the bright side, the service was fast and friendly — something that can be tough to find even at much more expensive restaurants. (The fact that I showed up at midday on a weekday might have helped.)

Diners are looking for good deals these days thanks to the lingering effects of inflation. Some are even looking to sit-down chains instead of fast-food restaurants due to cost.

If Red Lobster can come up with a more exciting, tasty menu and give their stores a facelift, the chain could be poised to take advantage of that environment.

Do you work at a major restaurant chain and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com