Shrimp aficionados heading to Red Lobster may find themselves out of luck: the iconic seafood chain has bid farewell to its much-beloved “endless shrimp” deal. CEO Damola Adamolekun, in an interview with TODAY, confirmed that the unlimited shrimp option—a menu staple that had enjoyed seasonal popularity for nearly two decades before becoming a permanent fixture last year—has been discontinued indefinitely.

As part of a broader menu revamp, Adamolekun unveiled nine new dishes, including options like lobster bisque and bacon-wrapped sea scallops, but no substitute for the now-defunct shrimp special.

The Burden of Endless Shrimp

The decision to cut the endless shrimp promotion may seem surprising given its strong fan following, but Adamolekun has been frank about its financial implications. In an October interview with CNN, he expressed skepticism over the value of offering shrimp “endlessly” at such a low price point. “Shrimp is a very expensive product to give away endlessly,” he noted, adding that the deal led to logistical strains that rippled through Red Lobster’s operations. “You stress out the kitchen. You stress out the servers. You stress out the host. People can’t get a table,” he explained, citing the ensuing “chaos” at locations nationwide.

The roots of this decision go back to the chain’s turbulent financial landscape. Last year, then-CEO Paul Kenny made the endless shrimp offering a permanent fixture, a choice that cost Red Lobster USD 11 million. In a subsequent bankruptcy filing, interim CEO Jonathan Tibus described the promotion as an “onerous” commitment that proved costly. Adamolekun’s calculations ultimately led him to retire the dish: “I know how to do math,” he quipped.

A New Menu, a New Red Lobster

Adamolekun has described his vision for Red Lobster as “relevant, compelling, and exciting,” aiming to reshape the brand’s appeal for a modern audience. While loyalists may mourn the loss of endless shrimp, the latest menu brings back an item that Adamolekun feels will reignite customer interest: hush puppies.

Discontinued in recent years, hush puppies return with a sense of nostalgia for the CEO, who admits they were his personal favorite since his college days. “I expect a stampede into our restaurants because we’re bringing back the hush puppies,” he remarked, exuding confidence in the updated offerings.

Can Shrimp Make a Comeback?

While Adamolekun has stopped short of ruling out an endless shrimp revival, he is resolute that if it does return, it will be under different conditions. “I never want to say never,” he shared in his October comments, but emphasized that any future promotion would need to be better managed to ensure profitability.

Red Lobster’s challenge is clear: how to balance customer demand for its signature shrimp with the practical limits of high-cost seafood and operational constraints. For now, it seems Red Lobster’s path forward is to lean into innovation—and, perhaps, leave some of its past menu staples in the rearview.