Like many restaurants, Red Lobster strives to accommodate those with allergies and food sensitivities such as individuals following a gluten-free diet. The restaurant has many gluten-free items on their menu.
What's Gluten-Free at Red Lobster?
When eating at Red Lobster, gluten-free menu items can be found on the drink and dessert menu under a tab called, "Avoiding Gluten?" Additionally, all Red Lobsters keep an allergy binder at the host stand that customers can look through if requested. Red Lobster has also developed an online interactive tool called the Food Allergy Wizard. This program allows customers to select what they are allergic to, and it complies lists of menu items they can eat at Red Lobster.
When gluten is entered into the system, over twenty entrée options appear including items. The only completely gluten-free starter is the signature jumbo shrimp cocktail. However, there are many other gluten-free menu items available.
Dinner Entrees
Gluten-free dinner entrees include:
- Snow crab legs
- Simply grilled filet dinner
- Simply grilled NY strip dinner
- Simply grilled sirloin dinner
- Rock lobster and filet surf and turf
- Rock lobster and NY strip surf and turf
- Garlic shrimp scampi
- Wood-grilled fresh tilapia
- Wood grilled sea scallops
- Wood-grilled sirloin
- Oven-broiled wild-caught flounder/sole
Lunch Entrees
Red Lobster also has a variety of gluten-free lunch entrees such as:
- Blackened catfish
- Garlic shrimp scampi
- Oven-broiled flounder/sole
- Oven-broiled bay scallops
Kids Menu
There are even some gluten-free options for kids at Red Lobster:
- Garlic grilled shrimp
- Grilled chicken
- Grilled tilapia
- Petite lobster tail
- Kids' surf's up sundae
Sides
There is a variety of gluten-free sides offered at Red Lobster such as:
- Shrimp
- Asparagus
- Baked potato
- Coleslaw
- French fries
- Roasted Brussels sprouts
- Mashed potatoes
- Tomato mozzarella caprese
Expanding the Gluten-Free Menu
Not only does Red Lobster offer many gluten-free options, but items on the menu can also be modified to qualify as gluten-free.
- Classic Ceasar Salad - request no croutons
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Grilled Shrimp Salad- ask for no croutons
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Petite Red Lobster Roll and Fries - remove the roll and substitute fries for a steamed vegetable
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Southwest-Style Tacos - request no taco shells
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Any entrée with Hand-Breaded Shrimp - substitute Hand-Crafted Garlic Shrimp Scampi
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As a tip, any fried item is typically battered which usually contains gluten. Always ask if there is an option other than frying.
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The restaurant modifies food on customer request based on management allowance.
Red Lobster and Celiacs
Although Red Lobster makes accommodations those with food allergies, the official statement of the chain states, "We cannot completely eliminate the risk of cross-contact or declare that any item is free of any allergen." Therefore while those following a gluten-free diet for personal choice maybe safe eating at Red Lobster, the restaurant cannot guarantee complete safety for those with celiac disease.
Many celiac reviewers are dissatisfied with the options and cross-contamination prevention at Red Lobster. However, others are happy to see any gluten-free options at all and report easy communication with the restaurant, receiving timely, thorough answers to all of their gluten pertaining questions. Overall, the gluten-free menu selections bring a mixture of praise and discontentment from people following a gluten-free diet.
Gluten-Free Dining at Red Lobster
Red Lobster has a wide range of menu items for those trying to follow a gluten-free diet. However, the restaurant clearly states that cross-contamination is a risk in their kitchen, making the gluten-free menu items risky for people with celiac disease.
