Why Does Red Lobster Always Give An Extra Biscuit?

Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits are undeniable legends in the restaurant industry. According to Red Lobster's website, the number of biscuits served yearly once equaled 17 times Florida's 2017 population, which came out to 356,660,000. This same year, the number of biscuits served would span the continental U.S. five times. Cheddar Bay Biscuits haven't been around since the company's inception; instead, they were introduced in 1992 as a replacement to the store's not-so-popular hushpuppies (via Thrillist). Originally called freshly baked, hot cheese garlic bread, the biscuits were once served in-lobby until they became a tableside treat.

When consumers are asked about the best free restaurant bread, Cheddar Bay Biscuits always make the list. One Redditer posed the question in early 2022, and while many varieties were named, Red Lobster's biscuits received attention. "Can't go wrong with those cheddar biscuits from Red Lobster," one commenter wrote. A former employee revealed that the workers, too, enjoy the biscuits. "I worked at a red lobster and when those came out of the oven like 1/3 went straight in the cooks and dishwasher mouths haha." Because they're so popular, one might wonder why they're never served in an even amount. For those curious, an employee once gave the answer on another Reddit thread.

If you've ever dined with one other individual at Red Lobster, you might have wondered why you weren't served an even number of biscuits. Interestingly, this wasn't a mistake, but rather a policy servers are meant to follow. According to a Q&A Reddit thread posted by a Red Lobster employee, the goal is to provide one extra biscuit. "We bring one biscuit for every person at the table, plus an additional biscuit for the table. Corporate policy," they wrote. To help clarify, an employee from Olive Garden, which was once owned by the same company, shared why Darden restaurants follow the rule. "We've been told that the first basket with the extra piece is 'a conversation starter' and that's why we do it," they wrote. It's unclear what conversation they're trying to spark, but it could have something to do with the — hopefully friendly — debate over who gets the leftover piece.

If you're one of the many who can't get enough of the Cheddar Bay Biscuit seasoning, you'll probably be delighted to hear about a recently released shrimp dish, per The Street). Announced in November of 2022, Cheddar Bay Shrimp is exactly as it sounds — a fried shrimp with the same breading and seasoning as the beloved Cheddar Bay Biscuits. And with this dish, you'll be able to enjoy each bite without potentially fighting your family members.