We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about Red Lobster, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about the popular seafood restaurant chain that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: The First Commercial Lobster Farm Was Created Just for It. If you’ve ever wondered who we have to thank for the existence of commercial lobster farms, look no further than Red Lobster! The idea for the farm, which will be called Darden Aquafarm, was announced in 2012, although the actual farm and fishery will probably not be operating at full capacity until 2029.
Number Seven: It’s Home to the Unhealthiest Fast Food Meal of All Time. The chain offers a dish that contains 2700 calories – more than most people should eat in a day! The meal is part of the chain’s “Create Your Own Combination” deal, and it contains Walt’s Favorite Shrimp, Shrimp Linguine, and Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp with three sides of fries, a salad, and their biscuits.
Number Six: Despite the Criticisms, People Really Love It. Restaurants like Red Lobster and Olive Garden have received a lot of criticism for not being fancy enough and being too commercial; however, when rumors that Red Lobster was going to close began floating around, people really began to freak out. Darden ended up selling the chain in 2014, but it’s still going strong.
Number Five: Several Celebrities Worked There Before Hitting it Big. If you’re an aspiring artist, try working at a Red Lobster. Celebrities like Chris Rock, Anna Nicole Smith, and Nicki Minaj all worked at the restaurant before becoming superstars.
Number Four: Its First Motto Was “Harbor for Seafood Lovers.” It’s not un-catchy, but it’s certainly not as catchy as their current slogan, “For the seafood lover in you.”
Number Three: It Sells 395 Million Biscuits a Year. You undoubtedly are familiar with the popularity of the chain’s cheddar bay biscuits, but do you know just how popular they are? The restaurants sell approximately 395 million biscuits to hungry seafood lovers every year.
Number Two: Their Canada Locations Were Ponderosa Steakhouses Before They Became Red Lobsters. When the chain expanded into Canada in the 1980s, it took over many Ponderosa Steakhouse locations, and if you go inside one today, you may still be able to notice some architectural details left from the Ponderosa Steakhouse.
Number One: It’s Introducing New Dishes for Lobsterfest. For its 2016 Lobsterfest, the chain is introducing never seen before dishes, including a Chilean langoustine lobster-topped tilapia and a chilled lobster and shrimp cocktail. We hope you enjoyed our list of 15 things you didn’t know about Red Lobster!