Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun has taken note of the public’s reaction to new seafood boils and plans to make some changes.
In June, one year after the restaurant chain was saved from bankruptcy, Red Lobster rolled out seafood boils as part of its summer Crabfest. The chain offered two options: the Sailor’s Boil and Mariner’s Boil with roasted garlic butter, Cajun butter and Old Bay seasoning. But responses to the meals were varied.
Although many customers applauded Red Lobster for upgrading its menu, others thought the boils lacked flavor, including rapper Plies.
In an Instagram reel shared on Monday (July 7), the rapper, who hadn’t even tried the dish, joked that the seafood boils looked “thrown in the microwave” and were “vegan boils.”
Adamolekun, who was formerly CEO of P.F. Changs listened to the feedback and responded in a TikTok posted on Wednesday (July 9). The CEO first thanked those who “showed up” for the seafood boils, but acknowledged that customers want “more heat” and “more flavors.”
“So we’re turning it up with your choice of original, spicy and extra spicy,” TK said about the new seasoning options. “Me? I’m going with the extra spicy.”
Red Lobster also plans to add a new flavor: Old Bay and parmesan for a spicy and cheesy kick.
Adamolekun ended with a shoutout to the Red Lobster teams, who were able to make menu adjustments within a week. “Stay hungry, keep commenting and we’ll keep cracking,” he concluded.
As the youngest Red Lobster CEO in history, Adamolekun’s kept customers up-to-date on the restaurant through social media campaigns and media appearances. In February, he appeared on The Breakfast Club and detailed menu and marketing plans for the establishment.
Last year, Public Enemy‘s Flavor Flav was on the front lines to see that Red Lobster didn’t go out of business.
Red Lobster and Flav surprised seafood lovers with an off-menu meal ‘Flavor Flav’s Faves,’ a signature item which includes a Maine lobster tail, half a pound of snow crab legs, garlic shrimp scampi, bacon mac and cheese, and a side of your choice.
