New seafood specials from Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster – the latest effort by the chain to generate sales momentum following its bankruptcy – are just one of many winter and holiday promotions that U.S. restaurants are rolling out as 2024 comes to a close.
Red Lobster’s new Happy Hour specials, which include USD 5.00 (EUR 4.77) drink specials and USD 2.00 (EUR 1.90) off select starters, feature appetizers such as Lobster Flatbread, Seafood-Stuffed Mushrooms, Crab Queso, and Lobster Dip.
This move follows the chain shrinking its menu by 20 percent compared to its previous menu, featuring nine new items including lobster, scallop, and mahi dishes, among others. The chain is also launching a “Create your Own Ultimate Feast” menu item to give diners more customization power.
“Guests can mix and match two premium picks – like Maine Lobster Tail or Snow Crab Legs – with two classics, such as Walt's Favorite Shrimp and Garlic Shrimp Scampi, for a seafood experience that's truly their own,” Red Lobster said.
Another chain rolling out new end-of-year offerings is Fish City Grill and Half Shells, which operates 23 restaurants in Texas, Arkansas, Florida, and Oklahoma. The chain has partnered with Cape Cod Oyster Company in Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, U.S.A., to launch the Mystic Mermaid – a proprietary oyster available only at Fish City Grill and Half Shells restaurants.
The unique oysters, reared on the south side of Cape Cod in Osterville, Massachusetts, have a heavy brine on the front end with a sweet aftertaste, Fish City Grill said in a press release. The method used to grow the Mystic Mermaid “helps to create a deep cup and a heavy shell in which the tasty bivalves can grow,” the company said.
“While we’ve had a robust oyster program since we opened in 1994, the launch of the Mystic Mermaid allows us to create a truly unique experience for our diners,” Fish City Grill and Half Shells Co-CEO Lovett Bayne said. “There is a real mystique surrounding seafood, and giving our customers the opportunity to sample the finest of East Coast oysters in a way unavailable anywhere else allows us to celebrate and honor the appeal and allure of fresh seafood.”
The oysters are priced at USD 21 (EUR 20) per half-dozen and USD 42 (EUR 40) per dozen and are served with a cucumber-citrus mignonette.
Elsewhere, Bonefish Grill, owned by Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.-based Bloomin’ Brands, has rolled out several seasonal specials. New lobster specials, which are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, include Lobster Ravioli, Lobster-Stuffed Shrimp, Lobster Bisque, and Filet Thermidor, the latter of which is a 7-ounce filet topped with lobster and creamy thermidor sauce.
Other new Bonefish winter seasonal entrees, which start at USD 18.90 (EUR 18.09) each, include Cedar Plank Salmon and Linguini Del Mar. At the beginning of December, Bonefish Grill also brought back snow crab legs, paired with spicy sherry butter.
Brazilian restaurant chain Fogo de Chao, based in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., recently unveiled a seasonal seafood dish: Whole Branzino. The 2-pound mild fish is blistered churrasco-style and served tableside with extra virgin olive oil, lemon, and parsley.
It also rolled out a 30-ounce Wagyu Porterhouse, which is aged for 21 days and carved tableside on a Himalayan salt block to enhance its rich flavor.
The holiday season often brings along with it an increase in consumer spending – whether out at restaurants or at grocery stores – as many shoppers are willing to spend extra on food and beverages.
“We’re seeing the more premium and entertaining-focused items do well. This includes salmon but also items like lobster, crab, and oysters,” 210 Analytics Principal Anne-Marie Roerink told SeafoodSource recently about an anticipated increase in grocery seafood sales.
Besides U.S. restaurants and grocery stores trying to cash in on increased consumer spending, some of the nation’s seafood businesses have also released specials aiming to entice customers. New deals for 2024 include a singing Advent tuna calendar, customer sweepstakes, and a whisky partnership.
“Food uniquely delivers both the excitement of receiving a gift and the lasting memories of sharing an amazing meal with loved ones,” Omaha Steaks President and CEO Nate Rempe said about the holiday season.
