Red Lobster Has a Surprisingly Good $5 Happy Hour Deal

We love a good comeback story, and there's perhaps no brand that's had a bigger or better one in 2024 than Red Lobster. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and nearly going completely under, the company got a brand-new CEO and an all-new lease on life. Now, we get to reap the rewards of all the new happenings, like Red Lobster's Happy Hour. 

This week, the brand announced that it's launching a very special Happy Hour, which will be available Mondays through Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at participating restaurants across the United States. The deal includes $5 drink specials and $2 off select starters, which the restaurant chain said is ideal for those "celebrating the holidays with loved ones or unwinding with coworkers" through December and beyond. 

"With the launch of Red Lobster's new happy hour, guests can enjoy great deals on our signature appetizers and refreshing drinks every weekday," Nichole Robillard, the chief marketing officer at Red Lobster, shared. "It's the perfect way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season and spend time with friends and family, or just treat yourself to some well-deserved fun!"

During Happy Hour, patrons can pick from a variety of cocktails, beer, and wine from the $5 menu, including the Classic Margarita, Top-Shelf Long Island Iced Tea, Tito's Twisted Strawberry Lemonade, a 14-ounce Blue Moon Draft, a 14-ounce Bud Light Draft, a 6-ounce Mark West Pinot Noir or a 6-ounce Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio.

Guests can also pair their drinks with a few apps, which, again, they can get for $2 off the regular menu pricing. The starters include Lobster Flatbread, Seafood-Stuffed Mushrooms, Crab Queso, Lobster Dip, and Mozzarella Cheesesticks.

And, if you want to stay for dinner, you can pick from the brand's newly revamped menu, which Food & Wine reported on back in November. The menu includes seven new dishes — Lobster Pappardelle Pasta, Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops, Lobster Bisque, Lemon Basil Mahi, Simply Prepared Mahi, Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, and Roasted Asparagus. It's also bringing back the fan-favorite Popcorn Shrimp and Hush Puppies. 

"I expect a stampede into our restaurants because we’re bringing back the hush puppies," the company's CEO Damola Adamolekun shared at the time. "I stopped going to Red Lobster because they stopped the hush puppies. Since I was in college, I love the hush puppies. I’m glad they’re back."

And if we can pair it with a $5 drink, all the better, right?