Red Lobster says it has grown from a single family-owned restaurant in Lakeland, Florida, in 1968 to more than 500 locations across the United States and Canada. Its published menu pages also provide detailed price, serving, and calorie figures for seafood feasts, family meals, sides, and desserts-free meal components.
Table of contents
- Company history and footprint
- International presence and sourcing
- Daily deals and signature feasts
- Family meals and platter statistics
- Crab meal prices and calorie ranges
- Biscuits, fish and chips, and sides
Company history and footprint
Red Lobster’s published company history identifies Bill Darden as the founder. The chain began in Lakeland, Florida, in 1968, and General Mills backed the brand as it multiplied from coast to coast beginning in 1970. Red Lobster launched Popcorn Shrimp in 1974 and its first advertising campaign in 1979. These milestones are stated on the brand’s Our History page.
The first Canadian restaurant opened in Ontario in 1983. Red Lobster’s history page describes that opening as 15 years after the first U.S. location. The company later started the Red Lobster Shares program in 2003, according to its About Us page.
Today, Red Lobster says it has over 500 locations across the U.S. and Canada. The same scale is repeated on its careers page, while the Our Commitment page describes more than 500 locations in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Red Lobster also describes itself on that commitment page as the world’s largest seafood-buying restaurant.
The company’s April 20, 2026 press release uses broader company language, calling Red Lobster the world’s largest and most-loved seafood restaurant company. That statement is a company description rather than an independently verified industry ranking. The same release says Endless Shrimp has been part of the brand’s legacy for 20 years.
International presence and sourcing
Red Lobster’s International Franchises page lists four overseas franchise markets: Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, and Thailand. The page names the local operators as Restaurantes Unidos Restaunsa S.A. in Ecuador, CELUX in Japan, CMR in Mexico, and Red Lobster Retail Asia Co., Ltd. in Thailand.
The company says it is currently looking for qualified franchisees to develop U.S. airports and international locations. That is a stated franchise-development opportunity, not a count of additional restaurants already open.
Red Lobster’s sourcing information separates North American lobster from lobster sourced elsewhere. The company says North American lobster comes from New England and Canada. It also lists Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, China, Ecuador, and Guatemala as countries from which it sources lobster.
The sourcing page describes the company’s seafood sourcing standards as traceable, sustainable, and responsible. Those are Red Lobster’s stated standards. The supplied company information does not provide a percentage of seafood covered by each standard, a total annual volume, or a breakdown by country.
Daily deals and signature feasts
Red Lobster’s March 2026 Daily Deals page lists weekday offers from Monday through Friday. The published prices and dishes are:
| Day | Listed offer | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Lobster & Shrimp Scampi | $19.99 |
| Tuesday | Snow Crab Legs | $24.99 |
| Wednesday | Steak & Lobster | $24.99 |
| Thursday | Shrimp or Chicken Alfredo | $14.99 |
| Friday | Fish & Chips | $15.99 |
The Daily Deals page says these offers are available Monday through Friday. The prices are menu listings from March 2026 and should be treated as the figures shown for that menu period.
The Signature Feasts page lists Ultimate Feast at $43.99 and 1,280 calories. Create Your Own Lobster Lover’s Dream—Choose 2 is listed at $42.99, with a calorie range of 720 to 1,940. The Choose 3 version is $52.99, with a range of 1,080 to 2,910 calories.
Lobsterfest Duo is listed at $42.99 and 610 calories. Steak & Lobster Wednesday is listed at $24.99 and 740 calories. Create Your Own Ultimate Feast is listed at $48.99, with a calorie range of 1,080 to 2,260.
These ranges show why a single price does not always correspond to a single calorie value: customizable combinations can change the total substantially. The figures are the values displayed on Red Lobster’s Signature Feasts page.
Family meals and platter statistics
Red Lobster’s Family Meals page lists several large-format options. Mariner’s Seafood Boil Family Meal is $119.99 and 5,640 to 6,960 calories. Sailor’s Seafood Boil Family Meal is $79.99 and 7,800 to 9,120 calories, and the page says it serves four to five people.
Create Your Own Family Feast is $73.99, with 1,830 to 4,830 calories, and serves four. Ultimate Family Feast is $152.99 and 4,310 calories, and also serves four. Admiral’s Family Feast is $73.99 and 5,590 calories. Game Day Bundle is $52.99, with 1,220 to 4,850 calories.
The page lists Crab Your Way Family Meal at $94.99 and 2,730 to 4,410 calories. Linguini Alfredo Family Meal has a listed range of 3,020 to 3,810 calories, though the supplied listing does not include a price.
Several seafood platters provide another view of the menu’s scale. Parrot Isle Coconut Shrimp Platter is $40.99 and 2,660 calories. Walt’s Favorite Shrimp Platter is $33.99 and 1,220 calories, and includes 24 shrimp. Crunchy Popcorn Shrimp Platter is $37.99 and 2,490 calories.
Fish Fry Family Meal is $59.99 and 7,530 calories. Crab Queso Platter is $85.99 and 4,480 calories, while Crispy Dragon Shrimp Platter is $55.99 and 4,010 calories.
The family sides are also listed with serving information. Family House Salad is $19.79, serves four, and has 640 calories. Family Bacon Mac & Cheese is $21.79, serves four, and has 2,400 calories. Family Crispy Brussels Sprouts is $29.49, serves four, and has 1,520 calories. Family Caesar Salad is $19.79, serves four, and has 1,440 calories.
Family Baked Potatoes are $15.99 for four potatoes and 1,080 calories. Family Coleslaw is $15.99, serves four, and has 440 calories. Family Chesapeake Fries is $15.99, serves four, and has 2,040 calories. Family Orzo Rice is $15.99, serves four, and has 1,240 calories.
Crab meal prices and calorie ranges
Red Lobster’s Crab Your Way page lists snow crab at $29.99 and 610 calories. The overall meal is listed at 910 to 1,510 calories. The same page gives calorie figures for several butter or seasoning choices: Cajun Butter, 650 calories; Lemon Pepper Butter, 670; OLD BAY and Butter, 590; Roasted Garlic Butter, 860; RL Signature Butter, 750; and Crispy Potatoes, 520.
The broader Crab Your Way Family Meal page lists six preparation totals: Simply Steamed at 900 calories, Roasted Garlic at 2,580, Cajun at 1,950, OLD BAY and Butter Sauce at 1,770, Lemon Pepper at 2,010, and RL Signature at 2,250.
The two pages describe different menu configurations, so their calorie figures should not be combined as if they represented the same serving. The individual Crab Your Way meal has a listed overall range of 910 to 1,510 calories, while the family meal preparation totals are higher and apply to the family-meal listing.
Biscuits, fish and chips, and sides
Red Lobster’s biscuit listings provide two package sizes. One dozen Cheddar Bay Biscuits is $6.99 and 1,940 calories. Half dozen Cheddar Bay Biscuits is listed at $4.49 and 970 calories on its product page. The same half-dozen item also appears in the soups and sides section at $5.49 and 970 calories, showing two displayed prices for the same listed calorie total.
The Fish and Chips page lists the entrée at $17.99 and 1,660 calories. Its accompanying items include Seasoned Broccoli at 190 calories, Orzo Rice at 310, Bacon Mac and Cheese at $3.49 and 600, Crispy Brussels Sprouts at $2.49 and 380, Mashed Potatoes at 210, and Creamy Lobster Mashed Potatoes at $5.99 and 350.
Other listed choices are Chesapeake Fries at 510 calories, Baked Potato at 270, Creamy Lobster Baked Potato at $5.99 and 450, Coleslaw at 110, and Hush Puppies at 420. Side House Salad is $1.99 and 160 calories, while Side Caesar Salad is $1.99 and 360.
The lighter listed side by calorie count is Roasted Asparagus at $2.99 and 90 calories. Additional crab-topped choices include Crab-Topped Mashed Potatoes at $5.00 and 350 calories, Crab-Topped Baked Potato at $5.00 and 440, and Crab-Topped Asparagus at $7.99 and 260. Pepsi is listed at $3.79 and 150 calories.