When you think of prix fixe dinners, do you think of absurdly expensive meals in white tablecloth restaurants or do you think of second-rate seafood served by flair-ridden waitresses in chain restaurants? Red Lobster hopes is banking on the latter—the fast casual chain has gone and added a $15 "Seafood Feast" four-course prix fixe to its repertoire.
For the deal the chain—which is permanently connected to Project Runway in our minds—is offering a choice of a soup, a salad, an entree and a dessert with unlimited Cheddar Bay Biscuits through July 25. The Lobster hopes the offer will be "attractive even to the relatively well off who have become more conscious of value, coupons and saving money." Which it might—they aren't wrong about those rich diners looking for cheap eats.
But if fast casual chains are stepping into deal options normally reserved for fancy restaurants, what comes next? Will the Olive Garden start offering amuse bouches with your breadbaskets? Will Applebees join OpenTable? Could a T.G.I. Friday's tasting menu be far behind?
