Americans have been seeking seafood, especially shrimp offerings, when choosing where to dine out this summer, according to foodservice research and consulting firm Datassential.
In response, restaurants across the country have added new seafood dishes, mainly including shrimp appetizers and entrees.
“Seafood dishes – along with premium meats – are among the highest-scoring options for draw, meaning consumers would visit the restaurant just for that item,” Mike Kostyo, author of Datassential’s “Midyear Trends Report,” told SeafoodSource.
Datassential Associate Director of Publications Claire Conaghan told SeafoodSource three of the five “top draw” items in restaurants so far in 2023 include seafood. And Datassential’s Concept Testing database over the past six months found 56 percent of people who said they would go to a restaurant specifically to try a particular protein item named lobster as their top option, tied with ribeye steak. Other popular seafood items listed in the database included crab (54 percent) and shrimp (52 percent), Conaghan said.
“Seacuterie” boards are also becoming more popular on restaurant menus, replacing the traditional charcuterie boards that feature processed meats, cheeses, grapes, nuts, and various other items. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Legal Sea Foods, a chain with more than 20 locations on the East Coast of the U.S., added a seacuterie board to its menu this summer that includes smoked salmon spread, crab and caviar deviled eggs, an octopus cocktail, and Cajun salmon bites.
Fish skin has entered Datassential’s Menu Adoption Cycle (MAC) and is “popping up with more seafood dishes,” Kostyo noted. The MAC tracks food trends from inception – the level where fish skin is now categorized – through adoption, proliferation, and ubiquity stages.
Salmon has moved from the “adoption” stage, which means that trendy restaurants might be featuring the product, to the “proliferation” stage, which means chain restaurants are starting to offer the product, including on kids menus.
“[This] means we have parents wanting that for their kids and kids who actually eat it,” Conaghan said.
Penetration – the percentage of restaurants offering salmon on kids’ menus – remains low, “but those who offer it are large chains who help drive trends and expectations in this area,” she said.
Leading the charge on menus across the country, however, is shrimp, which has been an especially popular menu item this summer.
Capitalizing on the trend, San Diego, California, U.S.A.-based Rubio’s Coastal Grill recently rolled out a Baja beer-battered shrimp taco plate for USD 8.99 (EUR 8.26). After a successful test run at the chain’s San Diego locations, the new offering will be available at all Rubio’s locations across California, Arizona, and Nevada as part of Rubio’s 5 Under USD 10.00 (EUR 9.18) everyday value menu.
Shrimp is one of the most popular protein options on Rubio’s menu, so the company “continues to innovate with new flavor and preparation options for our guests,” Rubio’s Co-Founder Ralph Rubio told SeafoodSource.
“We’ve been thinking about doing a shrimp version of our fish taco for a long time and are excited to offer it at a great value,” he said, adding that consumer demand for shrimp continues to grow year over year.
Rubio’s sources from several different seafood suppliers, and all are Best Aquaculture Practices-certified, according to Rubio.
“The sustainability of our seafood products is a core part of our brand’s values,” Rubio said.
Orlando, Florida, U.S.A-based Marlow’s Tavern, which operates 22 restaurants in Florida and Georgia, recently introduced a Thai shrimp salad made with shrimp, rice noodles, Napa cabbage, carrots, and zucchini.
Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.-based Bonefish Grill also recently announced it is offering a larger version of its “Big Bang” shrimp appetizer, its take on bang bang shrimp. The restaurant chain is beginning to promote grilled shrimp and other seafood entrees for tailgating and fall events, as well as the back to school season.
“With the busy back-to-school season, you have less time to focus on feeding your family, team, or group … Bonefish Grill can take care of that for you,” the company said in an email to customers. The restaurant chain’s catering menu includes entrees including grilled shrimp, Atlantic salmon, and bang bang shrimp tacos.
Photo courtesy of Rubio’s
