Red Lobster Is Selling $1 Appetizers For Just This Weekend (Plus More Deals)

A dollar doesn’t get you very far these days. I can’t even remember the last time I bought something for $1, let alone something I could eat at a restaurant. I’m fairly sure I’ve paid more than that just for extra sauce.

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But Red Lobster is bringing back the possibility of getting actual food for a dollar, and I have questions. Mainly, how many shrimp can I get?

The seafood chain is offering $1 appetizers from October 9th through October 12th, and thankfully, shrimp is on the menu. There are three options to choose from, although you will need to order an entrée to get the deal. Red Lobster also has a few other things happening this month, including a new Endless Shrimp flavor, late-night Happy Hour, and free meals for kids in Halloween costumes.

Here’s What You Can Get for $1 at Red Lobster

For four days only, guests dining at participating Red Lobster restaurants across the U.S. can add an appetizer to their entrée for just $1.

Here’s what that dollar gets you:

• Parrot Isle Coconut Shrimp: Three hand-breaded jumbo coconut shrimp with piña colada sauce.
• Shrimp Cocktail: Four jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce.
• Mozzarella Cheesesticks: Four mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce.

Now, I’m not going to pretend three shrimp is an enormous amount of food. But for $1? With piña colada sauce? I’m going hunting for some change.

The shrimp cocktail technically gives you an extra shrimp for your money, although I don’t think anyone should be making major decisions based on a single shrimp. The mozzarella sticks are also there for anyone who’s somehow ended up at Red Lobster without wanting seafood.

There are a few rules, of course. You can only get one $1 appetizer per entrée, and the deal is dine-in only. It also can’t be combined with other offers or rewards.

So no, you can’t order 20 plates of coconut shrimp and walk out having spent $20. I read the fine print and was slightly disappointed.

Endless Shrimp Is Getting An Old Bay Makeover

If three shrimp aren’t going to cut it, Red Lobster has another announcement.

Starting October 12th, Old Bay Seasoned Scampi is joining the chain’s Endless Shrimp lineup. Old Bay has been seasoning seafood for decades, so I’m almost surprised this wasn’t already an option.

Endless Shrimp costs $24.99 at most participating restaurants and lets you order as much shrimp as you like, mixing and matching between six flavors:

• NEW OLD BAY Seasoned Scampi
• Garlic Bread-Crusted Shrimp
• Shrimp Linguini Alfredo
• Garlic Shrimp Scampi
• Parrot Isle Coconut Shrimp
• Walt’s Favorite Shrimp

You also get a side and Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

I have a feeling the biggest challenge here wouldn’t be choosing a shrimp flavor. It would be remembering that the biscuits are supposed to accompany the meal, rather than becoming the main course.

Endless Shrimp is available for a limited time at participating locations, for dine-in orders only. Prices may vary.

Happy Hour Is Staying Up Past 9PM

Red Lobster is also introducing a new Late Night Happy Hour starting October 12th, running Monday through Friday from 9PM until closing at participating restaurants. The regular 3–6PM Happy Hour isn’t going anywhere, either.

There’ll be $6 select cocktails, wine, and beer, plus $2 off starters like Lobster Flatbread, Crab Queso, Seafood-Stuffed Mushrooms, and Lobster Dip.

And then there’s the Fire & Tide Margarita.

It’s made with Cuervo Tradicional Blanco Tequila and Fireball Whisky. Yes, Fireball. The cinnamon whisky that I associate far more with questionable nights out than a seafood dinner.

I can’t say I’ve ever looked at a margarita and thought it needed Fireball, but somebody at Red Lobster clearly has. It’s $6 during Happy Hour, and you can make it Mega for another $3. I’d do it for old times’ sake.

Happy Hour is dine-in only, and availability and beverage restrictions vary by location.

Kids in Halloween Costumes Can Eat Free

Red Lobster is finishing October with a Halloween deal, running from October 30th through November 1st.

Kids who show up in costume can get a free meal when their family purchases a full-price adult entrée. In fact, one adult entrée qualifies for up to two free kids’ meals, with a maximum of two per table.

I’m picturing a restaurant full of tiny vampires and superheroes eating shrimp, which sounds like a fairly entertaining way to spend Halloween weekend.

The offer is available for dine-in guests at participating restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. If you’d rather eat at home, you can order online using the code SPOOKY26 to get one free kids’ meal with a full-price adult entrée. At least you won’t have to parade everyone through a restaurant in costume.

The maximum discount is $9.99 per free kids’ meal, and additional terms apply.

As for me, I’m still thinking about the coconut shrimp. Red Lobster has announced four separate promotions, and somehow the possibility of getting three shrimp for a dollar has completely overshadowed the rest.