Red Lobster is now open in Causeway Bay! Cue excited screams from every American, Canadian and Western- food-loving person in town. I’m half kidding, but its opening WAS the hot topic of conversation for a lot of people I know – me included. It came up during Thanksgiving dinner, and my American friends were excited for me that I’d gone to the media tasting, but also jealous that I hadn’t brought them along. But, anyway, what is it about Red Lobster that’s got us so excited?
Red Lobster is an American chain restaurant that also happens to be the world’s largest seafood restaurant company. The HK manager describes it as “quality seafood at affordable prices”, which I think sums it up well. While dining out in Hong Kong can be quite pricey, trendy and/or lavish, Red Lobster is decidedly the opposite, which is part of the appeal. A cosy atmosphere, friendly service, affordable seafood… and addictive Cheddar Bay Biscuits!
Oh yes, these warm, fluffy Cheddar Bay Biscuits are perfect for this chilly weather and come free and unlimited. This alone makes Red Lobster worth checking out!
Salted egg fried shrimp
Hawaiian coconut shrimp
We tried a few starters and mains. Both the salted egg fried shrimp ($48/4) – a HK exclusive – and the Hawaiian coconut shrimp ($68/6) were quite good. The salted egg sauce could have been a tad sweeter, so my recommendation is to go for the coconut shrimp.
We also tried the Seaside Shrimp Trio ($148). This main comes with crispy fried shrimp, shrimp scampi with lots of garlic and shrimp pasta in a lobster cream sauce.
The Ultimate Feast ($318) includes a North American lobster tail, snow crab legs, shrimp scampi and fried shrimp, plus cocktail sauce and hot drawn butter for dipping.
Verdict
The food at Red Lobster Hong Kong is as comforting as I remember from my childhood in Canada. While there were a couple of misses (one of our shrimp scampi was overcooked, one basket of biscuits was undercooked, the cocktail sauce was so thick it was like a paste), the food is generally tasty and very good value for a seafood restaurant in Causeway Bay. And we have hope that these teething issues will be worked out in time. In addition to the seafood feasts, Red Lobster offers a variety of rice bowls, pastas, salads, flatbreads and, of course, various options for lobster – a North American–sized menu with North American portions too. It’s an especially great option for families.
8 Cleveland Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay, 2261 2996, book online
This write-up is based on a complimentary media tasting provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here represent the author’s.
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