12 Dishes You May Want To Avoid At Red Lobster
It's no question that Red Lobster is one of the most well-known seafood chains in the United States. Also, as international franchises gain popularity, you can find these restaurants located around the world in countries like Japan, China, Mexico, and Ecuador. Even celebrities like Beyoncé have been open about their love of Red Lobster's signature dishes!
With such global notoriety and glowing endorsements, you might assume that everything on the Red Lobster menu is mind-blowingly delicious. However, there are definitely some things that the chain does better than others. For example, Red Lobster is known for its unlimited supply of famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits and the invention of popcorn shrimp, which has been copied by countless restaurants.
While everybody has their individual tastes and preferences, there are a few items on the Red Lobster menu that you might wish you hadn't ordered. Whether the flavors are off, the value is questionable, the calorie count is out of control, or the meal is simply unsatisfying, here are some dishes you may want to skip if you're dining at Red Lobster.
1. Crispy Green Beans
For those who are vegetarian or are trying to stick to a vegetable-forward diet, perusing the Red Lobster menu can be discouraging, to say the least. It's hard to find something that doesn't have some type of meat or seafood in the dish. However, one item that may stand out for you is the Crispy Green Beans. The appetizer consists of green beans that have been battered and deep-fried to a crispy texture and is served with jalapeño ranch dipping sauce.
While it sounds like a good option if you want to add some veggies to your meal, you may be in for a disappointment. More often than not, you get more batter than anything else with this appetizer, leaving you with an unbalanced ratio of green bean to breading. With so many ways to upgrade green beans and play off their mild, earthy taste, drowning them with batter and oil is certainly not the best way to elevate their flavor.
These green beans also have the potential to be noticeably oily and are typically covered with a ton of salt. Just one order has about 1,410 milligrams of sodium, which is a whopping 61% of your daily value. For a single appetizer that is probably going to be followed by a dense meal, it's usually not worth it to fill up on this one.
2. White Wine & Garlic Mussels
If you're a fan of seafood, you've probably had mussels simmered in a garlic white wine sauce. This popular dish is typically served with grilled bread that you can use to dip in the sauce and soak up all those bright and savory flavors as you indulge in the mussels. Red Lobster's White Wine & Garlic Mussels appetizer has all the right elements to make an amazing dish, including a side of grilled artisanal bread and a slow simmer in wine, tomatoes, and green onions. Unfortunately, it consistently seems to fall flat.
One reason this appetizer may not be living up to its full potential could be the quality of the mussels themselves. Depending on where your Red Lobster is located, it's possible that the mussels used in this dish were frozen and thawed prior to cooking. Although freezing mussels is meant to ensure their freshness and ward off bacteria during transportation and storage, the process can actually change the mussels' flavor and texture quite a bit.
As Executive Chef Matt Wynn of Salve Osteria explained to Food & Wine, "[Mussels] just lose so much of that luscious ocean flavor when they are frozen." In regard to their texture after freezing, he added, "Even if your sauce is good, now you're just chewing on something rubbery." If you're considering this dish from Red Lobster, be sure to ask your server if the mussels are fresh or frozen before ordering.
3. Crab Linguini Alfredo
Pasta lovers may be excited to find the Crab Linguini Alfredo option on Red Lobster's menu. While pairing creamy Alfredo sauce, al dente linguini, and sweet crabmeat together in one dish might seem satisfying, the results of this Red Lobster entrée are surprisingly lackluster. In many ways, this combination actually doesn't work.
Crabmeat tends to have a delicate flavor and tender texture, which is easily overshadowed by the thick Alfredo sauce in this dish. Also, the consistency of the crab with the pasta noodles lacks variation and can feel muddled or mushy after a few bites. And if your chef happens to overcook the linguini, you're left with a soggy plate of ingredients that are simply unappetizing.
When making this dish, many chefs like to add an acidic element, like lemon and whole or sliced cherry tomatoes, that can brighten up the flavors of the ingredients. There's also the option of adding some red pepper or chili flakes to spice up the dish and bring another tasty dynamic to the crab. Unfortunately, Red Lobster's version of crab linguini Alfredo does little in the way of ramping up the taste or creatively enhancing the crab's subtle flavors.
4. Orzo rice
Many of the classic entrées at Red Lobster let you pair your meal with two sides of your choice. However, with so many options, picking the right sides can be tricky. You want to get the most bang for your buck while also choosing sides that go well with whatever you're eating. Including daily soups and side salad options, the Red Lobster menu offers about 15 side choices to round out your meal.
One side option on the menu is orzo rice, which is actually a small type of pasta that has a similar appearance and texture to rice. Although orzo is a versatile ingredient that goes well with just about any meat or seafood dish, Red Lobster's version is a pretty basic side that doesn't add a whole lot to your entrée. Apart from being overly salty, the orzo rice side tends to be bland and either overcooked or undercooked when it gets to the table.
If you're looking for a side that packs a punch of satisfying flavor, you may be better off ordering Red Lobster's Crispy Brussels Sprouts with soy-ginger sauce and crisped onions or Creamy Lobster Mashed Potatoes made with lobster beurre blanc sauce.
5. Classic Caesar Salad
For anybody craving a really hearty or flavorful salad, Red Lobster is not the ideal dining choice. To be fair, the restaurant chain specializes in seafood and not making memorable entrée salads. However, a Caesar salad is typically a safe option at almost any restaurant because it's a fairly easy recipe that doesn't require too many ingredients.
Although a traditional Caesar salad recipe is simple, it needs to hit key flavors to really make it a satisfying version of the classic. Caesar dressing should be rich, tangy, briny, and zesty, with bright notes of garlic, lemon, and anchovy. You should also use fresh romaine lettuce with a good balance of leafy green ends and crunchy spines. Also, many chefs agree that a good Caesar salad should already be tossed when served or tossed table-side to get the perfect bite.
In the case of Red Lobster's Caesar salad, some of the vital elements that make a good Caesar salad are lacking. The ingredients are overly simplified and not very well integrated, making this menu item not worth its price. Instead, you're paying for a plate of lettuce, cheese, and dressing that don't quite come together the way they should.
6. Bacon Cheeseburger
Few things are as satisfying as a good cheeseburger when you're really hungry. Something about the combination of a grilled beef patty with melting cheese and fresh toppings in a toasted bun hits all your cravings in one gratifying bite. If this is your expectation when ordering the Bacon Cheeseburger at Red Lobster, you may be leaving the restaurant a little disappointed with what you got.
Although Red Lobster's burger meat is typically high-quality beef and a good portion for the price, be prepared for it to come well-done no matter how you order it. If you like your burgers that way, then you might be okay with this entrée. However, if you prefer a medium or medium-rare burger, the patty can taste burnt and dry. Also, in some cases, the bacon in this cheeseburger can come out a bit rubbery, making it hard to get a good bite without pulling the entire strip out and making a mess.
7. Rainbow trout
Although Red Lobster is known for some great fish options, there are some menu items that don't quite live up to that reputation. The rainbow trout happens to be one of those mediocre dishes that you may regret ordering when there are so many other tasty entrées to choose from on the menu.
The trout dish is one of the "Today's Catch" options at Red Lobster, which is promoted as the freshest fish on the menu. The trout is butterflied and grilled, making it one of the healthier items as well. However, it can be particularly bland and dry because of the way it's prepared on the grill. In addition, the fish can easily become mushy if you're trying to douse it in lemon or butter to give it some life. If the trout was roasted instead of grilled, it might help to maintain some of its moisture and give it time to absorb more flavor.
Given that the costs of these entrées depend on the market price of the fish, you're likely paying between $25 and $30 for the rainbow trout and a choice of two sides. At that price, what you get is simply not worth what you're paying. Instead, you may want to consider other Today's Catch options, including the Atlantic Salmon and Lobster-Topped Stuffed Flounder — both of which are available at comparable prices on the Red Lobster menu.
8. New York strip steak
While Red Lobster does offer several surf and turf options, you'll quickly learn that this restaurant chain specializes in seafood and not steaks if you decide to order the New York strip steak from the menu. The 10-ounce steak is a good-sized portion and does come with two sides, making it a decent amount of food for the price. The disappointment usually comes from how the steak is seasoned and cooked.
Because Red Lobster chefs are likely trained to focus on the preparation of the restaurant's signature seafood dishes, steaks may take a back seat to some of the other entrées. The Red Lobster menu does specify that the New York strip is cooked to order. However, much like the chain's burger options, Red Lobster steaks tend to come to the table overcooked and underseasoned.
New York strip cuts, in particular, easily become tough and chewy when not cooked the right way, so the filet mignon or sirloin steak may be your best bet if you're really craving a steak. You can also get a better value for your meal if you decide to go with a surf and turf entrée that has a smaller cut of steak and a featured seafood item.
9. Admiral's Feast
Red Lobster's signature Admiral's Feast features an outrageous amount of deep-fried food on one platter. This dish comes with fried bay scallops, clam strips, flounder, and Walt's Favorite Shrimp. You also get a choice of two sides, which does present an opportunity to toss in some steamed broccoli or a side salad. However, if somebody is already diving off the deep end by ordering the Admiral's Feast, they may decide to go all in and order fries or Red Lobster's Bacon Mac & Cheese instead.
If all that sounds good to you, it's important to know exactly what you're getting. The Admiral's Feast adds up to an alarming 1,680 calories. You also get about 215% of your daily value of sodium, with 4,940 milligrams, 126% of your fat intake, 50% of recommended carbohydrates, and 65% of your daily cholesterol. For those who are generally healthy eaters, this may not pose immediate harm to your health. However, regularly putting away that much sodium, for example, can have detrimental health effects, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
On top of the high calorie count, the Admiral's Feast doesn't give much variety in terms of flavor or texture. Every bite you take is some variation of deep-fried seafood, which is all crunchy, salty, and oily. For the toll this entrée takes on your wallet and waistline, it's probably one you should skip.
10. Mozzarella Cheesesticks
Of all the things you can order at Red Lobster, the Mozzarella Cheesesticks shouldn't be anywhere near the top of your list of menu items to try. As an appetizer, this choice isn't necessarily bad. In fact, deep-fried mozzarella strips dipped in marinara sauce are just as good as you might expect. However, you can also interpret it as a wasted opportunity to get delicious seafood from a restaurant that is known for its seafood.
If you're going to make the trip to Red Lobster and spend your money at this mid-priced seafood chain, you'll be paying a hefty price for something you could get at any other restaurant or bar if you decide to order the Mozzarella Cheesesticks. If you really want to munch on something before you get your full entrée, the Crab-Stuffed Shrimp Rangoon and Lobster and Langostino Pizza are far more exciting appetizer options that you probably won't find at your neighborhood dive bar.
11. Crispy Chicken Tenders
Even if you're not a fan of fish or maybe have a sensitivity to seafood, it's possible that you may still dine at Red Lobster with friends or coworkers for an event, party, or post-work get-together. If you fall into this category, finding classic chicken tenders on the menu may come as a welcome relief. The Crispy Chicken Tenders are one of the few entrée items offered at Red Lobster that don't contain seafood.
On the other hand, if you like seafood and find yourself dining at one of the most recognized seafood restaurants in America, you should skip the Crispy Chicken Tenders and opt for one of Red Lobster's specialty feasts. While the chicken tenders are perfectly acceptable if you have no other options, they are downright bland and boring when compared to the Seafarer's Feast or Seaside Shrimp Trio. Even as an appetizer shared by the table, Red Lobster's chicken tenders are nothing more than an unnecessary distraction on your way to the main course.
12. Lobsterita cocktail
If you haven't heard of Red Lobster's Lobsterita cocktail, it's probably for the best. Served in a chilled oversized martini glass either poured over ice or blended into a slushy-type beverage, these tequila drinks might look tempting after a long day or if you're in the mood for a relaxing cocktail. However, this massive margarita-inspired cocktail is packed with a shocking amount of sugar and fruity flavoring that can fill you up before you even get your appetizer.
Just one Lobsterita clocks in at 410 calories, which is more calories than two of Red Lobster's signature Cheddar Bay Biscuits! With 57 grams of empty carbs in the form of sugar and 630 milligrams of sodium, it's really not worth much more than the novelty of trying one. If it's a good margarita you're looking for, Red Lobsters typically have a full bar with knowledgeable bartenders. They can make you a classic margarita with good-quality tequila and ingredients that won't leave you with an intense sugar high halfway through your meal.