Sort of. Red Lobster does a kind of middle of the road seafood that most people like (lobster, shrimp, salmon, mild white fishes) and they should focus on that with an improvement in their sides, less concentration on quantity and more on quality (make sure the fish is really fresh, for example), and a more modernized presentation. The hokey “old timey” things don’t attract anybody anymore.
There’s a small chain down here, Bonefish Grill, that does almost all seafood (they have a couple of meat dishes) and is reasonably priced but popular with middle aged and younger people because it’s modern feeling, cheerful, the menu is modern classic, and you don’t feel that people only come there for the “twilight special” or whatever they’re calling it. Red Lobster has kind of a depressing, mass produced feel, and nobody likes that.
I live in an area where you can get good seafood, but for people who don’t, Red Lobster could fill a need. The only problem is that they have such a dreary reputation now that it’s going to be hard to rebuild the brand.
Same company runs Carraba's, Outback, etc. Bloomin Brands, Bonefish Grill is one of their concepts. Good martinis.
Bonefish Grill is a much better choice for seafood.
Love the Bang-Bang Shrimp.
Just so you know Bonefish Grill is not a small chain, its a nationwide chain.