So, Red Lobster brought back it's Endless Shrimp deal AGAIN?
Yupppp! That's 14 years in a row now, baby.
What exactly is 'Endless Shrimp'?
Whatever you have pictured in your head is probably right. But in case your imagination has gotten the best of you: You'll pick from a menu of five shrimp dishes (we'll get to what those are in a bit) and select two to start with. Your first order is a double serving of both shrimp dishes, as well as an order of Cheddar Bay Biscuits, a side salad, and a side of your choice like steamed broccoli or mashed potatoes. After you've polished off your first round, you may go back and order single servings of any of the five shrimp dishes on the menu. Read: you are not stuck to your first two selections, you can mix and match, however, you are limited to one order at a time after your first round. You can continue to order round after round of shrimp dishes until you turn into an actual shrimp.
But what about the cheddar bay biscuits...?
Rest your worried head: those flaky, buttery, pillowy biscuits are also endless. (FYI, they're always endless if you're dining in.)
So what are the five dishes?
There are three classic shrimp dishes that have been there since Red Lobster started this promotion in 2004: Garlic Shrimp Scampi, Hand-Breaded Shrimp, and Shrimp Linguine Alfredo. The two new menu items gracing the Endless Shrimp deal are Sesame-Ginger Grilled Shrimp and Crunchy Fiesta Shrimp.
Which shrimp dish is the best, though?
Totally depends on what you're trying to do here. The Garlic Shrimp Scampi is buttery, rich, and garlicky (duh), the Hand-Breaded Shrimp is classic as ever with it's fried, golden flakiness and cocktail sauce, and the Shrimp Linguine Alfredo is a pasta lover's dream. As for the two new dishes, the Sesame-Ginger Grilled Shrimp is sweet and tangy and also on the lighter side, while the Crunchy Fiesta Shrimp has a thick, crunchy, tortilla crust with a cheese sauce and pico de gallo on top. I'd say the Garlic Shrimp Scampi and Crunchy Fiesta Shrimp are a must-try. If you had to skip one, skip the alfredo, or just order one for the whole table.
Can I sub them out with other dishes on the menu that have shrimp in them?
Yes, but not ANY dish and you need to know how to order it. Red Lobster says they will honor orders of Coconut Shrimp Bites, Popcorn Shrimp, and Garlic-Grilled Shrimp Skewers while supplies last.
Cool, but is it truly 'Endless'???
Yes. People have tried, and tried, and tried to prove that Red Lobster's deal is fake by forcing themselves to sit at a Red Lobster all day and eat every single shrimp that comes their way only to be faced with failure. It is truly endless, we dare you to try to run your local establishment dry.
Ok, theoretically, if I tried to eat shrimp for 12 hours straight... what are some tips? (THEORETICALLY!)
Hmm, sounds like you're actually trying to take part in this challenge. It's not for the weak or small-stomached, but here's what you'll need to do:
• Stick to the lighter shrimp dishes in the beginning like Sesame-Ginger Grilled Shrimp and the Hand-Breaded Shrimp
• Skip the Shrimp Linguine Alfredo if you can — it's a trap and your server knows it. That mountain of cheesy pasta is going to TAKE. YOU. DOWN.
• On that note, maybe only order one of the Garlic Shrimp Scampi. It's the silent killer that will stop you before you even get to round three thanks to that amazing buttery garlicky sauce.
• Don't even think about touching your side salad and side order. Just don't.
• DO eat at least one Cheddar Bay Biscuit. We're not monsters.
• If you're a true winner, only drink water. Juices, cocktails, and sodas are your enemy (read: fill up your stomach).
• Stay away from dipping sauces, these too, are a trap that will fill you up.
When does this bonkers deal end?
Red Lobster loves to keep us all in the dark on this one. They keep it hush-hush saying "for a limited-time," AKA get there quickly before they decide to end the deal.
Are there any other endless seafood deals I need to know about ASAP?
Red Lobster attempted to do an Endless Crab deal in 2003, until they realized A) how terrible everyone is B) how expensive snow crab legs are and C) that America simply doesn't understand how to stop eating. So no, there are no other endless seafood deals at Red Lobster, but also, do we really deserve another one anyway?
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