Red Lobster Lunch Menu: Hours and Early Dine-In Deals
Quick answer: Red Lobster serves lunch from opening at 11:00 AM until mid-afternoon, typically around 3:00 or 4:00 PM. Lunch dishes run from $9.49 to $21.99, with smaller portions than the dinner menu. Separately, an Early Dine-In menu offers five entrees under $15 on weekdays from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM — the same window as happy hour, which makes mid-afternoon the cheapest time to eat here.
Red Lobster Lunch Menu With Prices
| Dish | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Crispy Mozzarella Bites | $9.49 | 880 |
| Cajun Chicken Linguini Alfredo | $19.49 | 1,120 |
| Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi | $19.49 | 650 |
| Shrimp Linguini Alfredo | $20.49 | 1,050 |
| Seasoned Sirloin Steak (7 oz) | $21.99 | 430 |
Prices and availability vary by location. Lunch portions are smaller than the same dish at dinner.
Lunch portions cost less than dinner, so it helps to compare them with the regular Red Lobster menu prices before you order.
Lunch Hours
| Detail | Typical |
|---|---|
| Service starts | 11:00 AM, seven days a week |
| Lunch menu ends | Around 3:00 – 4:00 PM, varies by location |
| Early Dine-In window | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, weekdays |
| Happy hour | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, weekdays |
There is no breakfast service and no earlier weekend opening. Full details, including holiday schedules, are in our hours guide.
Early Dine-In: Five Entrees Under $15
This is the genuinely cheap window, and most people do not know it exists. Weekdays from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, five entrees are priced under $15:
| Dish | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fish & Chips | Beer-battered wild-caught cod |
| Crunch-Fried Flounder | Lighter portion |
| Shrimp Linguini Alfredo | Lighter portion of the full entree |
| Chicken Linguini Alfredo | Lighter portion |
| Cheeseburger | The non-seafood option |
Hours may vary by location. Price and participation vary.
Because this window overlaps happy hour exactly, arriving at 4:00 PM on a weekday gets you an under-$15 entree, a $5 cocktail and $2 off an appetizer at the same time. That combination is the cheapest full meal available at Red Lobster.
Is Lunch Cheaper Than Dinner?
Partly, and it is worth understanding exactly how.
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $9.49 – $21.99 | $32.99 – $72.99 |
| Portion size | Smaller single plates | Full entrees and shareable feasts |
| Typical spend with a drink | $23 – $27 | $28 – $40 |
| Wait times | Shorter | Longest 6–8 PM |
Several dishes carry identical prices at both services — the Cajun Chicken Linguini Alfredo at $19.49 and the Seasoned Sirloin Steak at $21.99 are the same figure either way. What changes at lunch is the portion, not always the price. The real lunch saving comes from the cheaper plates that only exist in that window, like the $9.49 Crispy Mozzarella Bites, and from the Early Dine-In menu.
Best Lunch Picks
| If you want… | Order | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The lightest plate | Seasoned Sirloin Steak | $21.99 · 430 cal |
| Best seafood value | Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi | $19.49 · 650 cal |
| Cheapest full meal | Early Dine-In entree, 3–6 PM | Under $15 |
| Something small | Crispy Mozzarella Bites | $9.49 |
| A complete light meal | Clam chowder cup + Caesar side salad | ~$15.98 · 600 cal |
The Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi is the pick we would make. At $19.49 it is the lowest-calorie shrimp entree on the whole menu at 650 calories, and it is the same dish at lunch and dinner.
Lunch Deals by Day
Red Lobster’s Daily Deals run alongside the lunch menu, and two of them are cheaper than most lunch entrees:
| Day | Deal | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Endless Shrimp | $24.99 (dine-in only) |
| Tuesday | Snow Crab Legs | $24.99 |
| Wednesday | Steak & Lobster | $24.99 |
| Thursday | Lobster & Shrimp | $19.99 |
| Friday | Fish & Chips | $15.99 |
Availability varies by location and excludes select holidays. Full detail in our daily deals guide.
Related Guides
- Hours: opening, closing and holiday times
- Daily deals and specials under $15
- Happy hour: $5 drinks and $2 off appetizers
- Nutrition, calories and allergens
- Full menu with prices and calories
- All Red Lobster guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Red Lobster have a lunch menu?
Yes. It runs from opening at 11:00 AM until mid-afternoon, typically around 3:00 or 4:00 PM, with smaller portions and some lower-priced plates that do not appear at dinner.
What time does the lunch menu end?
Usually between 3:00 and 4:00 PM, though this varies by location. Call ahead if you are arriving close to the cutoff.
How much is lunch at Red Lobster?
Lunch dishes run from $9.49 to $21.99. With a drink, expect $23 to $27 in total before tax and tip.
Is the lunch menu cheaper than dinner?
Some dishes are identically priced at both services; the saving comes from smaller portions and from lunch-only plates. The Early Dine-In menu from 3:00 to 6:00 PM is where entrees genuinely drop under $15.
What are the entrees under $15?
Fish & Chips, Crunch-Fried Flounder, Shrimp Linguini Alfredo, Chicken Linguini Alfredo and a Cheeseburger, on the Early Dine-In menu, weekdays 3:00 to 6:00 PM.
Can I order from the dinner menu at lunch?
Generally yes. The lunch menu is an addition rather than a restriction at most locations.
Are lunch portions smaller?
Yes, that is the main difference. Several dishes cost the same at both services but arrive as a smaller plate at lunch.
Do lunch meals include Cheddar Bay Biscuits?
Yes, biscuits are served with dine-in meals as standard.
Is there a lunch special on weekends?
The lunch menu generally runs seven days a week, but the Early Dine-In menu and happy hour are weekdays only.
What is the cheapest thing on the lunch menu?
Crispy Mozzarella Bites at $9.49. For a full entree, the Early Dine-In options under $15 are the cheapest route.
Can I get lunch prices for takeout?
Lunch menu items are generally available To Go. Early Dine-In and happy hour pricing are dine-in only.
What is the healthiest lunch option?
Seasoned Sirloin Steak at 430 calories or Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi at 650. A cup of clam chowder with a side salad is 600 calories for a complete light meal.
Red Lobster Menu Deals is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Red Lobster. Menu items, prices, portions and lunch hours vary by location and are subject to change without notice.