Lobster in the City: A Manhattan Red Lobster Experience and It's Fame

Discovering Red Lobster

Today I went to the city to show my new comer Turkish friends around and help them have their best day in NY. One of my friends asked to go to Red Lobster, which I had never heard of before. Yeah...they were shocked. I thought it must be a big deal since the restaurant’s name was well known to them, and I felt a bit bad for not knowing a place that was so famous to them. Let me tell you what I found.

Credit to: DANIELA CAPPELLA

We walked to Red Lobster, and it was right around Times Square. It has three floors, and I’d suggest going to the third floor if you plan to dine there. The first floor has very basic seating, with a few tables by the windows and some bar seats. The second floor is an open balcony, overlooking the first floor and just has more seating. The third floor is where the action is. I was a bit frustrated that they led us to a window-side table, but they asked beforehand and we said yes, so I can’t be too mad. All I know is that the third floor is where the deal is, so if you go, ask for it.

Me (left) with my friend (right) eating seafood boils called "Sailor Seafood Boil"

Excited for the New Seafood Boil 

Look how excited we are for the fish boil we’re about to have, haha. Turkey doesn’t have these kinds of seafood boil meals where you wear gloves to eat, so this was a first for us. As you can see, we’re on the first floor. The menu was huge. I don’t get restaurants that have more than 50 items on their menu. Like… I don’t think you can give that much attention to so many dishes and still make them all great. There is something fishy going on here. You get it? "fishy"? Never mind let me continue.

I ordered one of the new seafood boils called the 'Sailor Seafood Boil,' the spicy one. Let me tell you, it was pretty spicy. I'd say about a 5/10. You can still eat it, but you have to take your time. I’m just a beginner with spice, so this might be very mild for someone who really loves heat. You can also ask for a non-spicy version of these seafood boils. With my boil I also ordered a cocktail, the Sunset Passion Colada. It’s a great drink for people like me who like super sweet cocktails where you can’t even taste the alcohol, a perfect summer drink.

Famous Faces and Local Stories

The waitress was really kind. While we were ordering, my friends asked her some questions about the restaurant. She said that a lot of rappers who lived in New York used to come here to eat and party. She even showed us some selfies she had taken with these famous people. She also mentioned that Cardi B used to be a regular here when she was still a stripper. After some research, I found out that Nicki Minaj was not only a customer but also worked at several Red Lobster restaurants—she even got fired from a few. One story involves her chasing down a customer who didn’t leave a tip, a reminder that tipping culture is serious over here. She also had dinner with Jimmy Fallon at the same location we ate at! Too bad they chose the balcony, but I guess cameras wouldn’t have worked well in dim light (I’m still salty about that). Well if you watch the video, near the end they go to upstairs too so you can see the third floor from there. It made me wonder why this place is so popular, especially among rappers and Black communities. I’ll get into that more after I explain the food they serve in simple terms.

Butter, Biscuits, and Lobster Reality

The food here is… normal. Kind of mediocre. Most of the flavor comes from a LOT of butter and garlic. As all foodies know, butter makes everything taste good. My mom would say, 'Butter your dad up and he’d look good too.' The very famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits, made by Kurt Hankins, also have a ton of butter and, of course, garlic. There’s a huge, almost cult-like love for them, so I won’t comment too much. The seafood boil was just okay....not something I’d order again. My friend got the Create Your Own Ultimate Feast and swapped the crab legs for another lobster. He said it was mid too. The prices felt a little high for what we got. I think I understand why lobsters used to be served to the working class, without spice or sauce, they don’t have much taste on their own. Honestly, I don’t think rich people would enjoy lobster much, since they’re used to better food. The fame of Lobster in my mind lost its magic after this.

The Origins of Red Lobster

Now let’s talk about its history, fame, and the problems it’s facing today. The first Red Lobster restaurant opened in 1968 in Lakeland, Florida, by entrepreneurs Bill Darden and Charley Woodsby. When Darden was just 19, he opened his first restaurant in Waycross, Georgia, a lunch counter called The Green Frog. It has a slogan of 'Service With a Hop', It meant the staff served customers with energy and friendliness. It was also one of the few restaurants in the Deep South at the time that didn’t segregate customers based on race. The original Green Frog closed in 1981, but the building still stands and is well known by locals.

After the success of The Green Frog, Darden invested in the Howard Johnson franchise. His timing was perfect, and he ended up owning all the Howard Johnson’s in Florida during a land boom. Still hungry for a new venture, he decided to focus on seafood, which had sold really well at his previous restaurants. In 1968, Lakeland, Florida, became home to the Red Lobster Inn. Darden and his partner Charley Woodsby even came up with a catchy slogan for their new place: 'Harbor for Seafood Lovers.'

From Middle-Class Favorite to Cultural Icon

At a time when the middle class was looking for affordable and enjoyable dining, Red Lobster came to the rescue. Their restaurants were often near shopping centers, making them accessible and popular with both working-class and affluent Black diners. As I noticed, the Black community doesn’t forget, they remember which restaurants had their back or where are the good places to celebrate, and they do their research. I think Red Lobster’s popularity was also tied to Darden’s history of anti-segregation policies in his restaurants before. They also have a lot of black workers in their restaurants. In the 2010s, the chain’s cultural significance grew even more when Beyoncé mentioned it in her song 'Formation.' Saying "When he fuck me good, I take his ass to Red Lobster, 'cause I slay" This reference led to a 33% increase in sales and a social media buzz. Well it's not surprising since it's Beyonce.

Challenges Today

Unfortunately, today the once-famous restaurant isn’t doing well, facing bankruptcies and closing locations all around. I think this has to do with a shrinking middle class and rising prices at the restaurant. I read some reviews, and quite a few people agree that the prices are steep. Running a seafood restaurant is already tough, with high costs and the challenges of storing fish. Red Lobster has been sold by Darden Restaurants to the private equity firm Golden Gate Capital on 2014, for around $2.1 billion. By 2024, Red Lobster faced significant financial difficulties, leading to a bankruptcy...Ouch. The company emerged from bankruptcy in September 2024 under new ownerships. With the tariffs coming from the American government now, I don’t think the future looks very bright for this seafood chain.

For Further Read

1. Vigliotti, J., & Kelly, D. B. (2023, February 31). The truth about Red Lobster. Mashed. https://www.mashed.com/33593/everything-need-know-red-lobster-came

   
   

2. FIU Hospitality Review. “When Bill Darden, the Founder of Red Lobster, Built His Empire.” Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1280&context=hospitalityreview.

   
   

3. Seal, D. (2024, September 16). Red Lobster exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy with new owners, CEO. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/red-lobster-exits-chapter-11-bankruptcy-with-new-owners-ceo-06b7aec6

   
   

4. Red Lobster. (n.d.). Our history. Red Lobster. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://www.redlobster.com/our-story/our-history