A friend and I dined at Red Lobster in the heart of Times Square on a Saturday night. It was my first time eating at the chain. The outside of the Red Lobster restaurant in Times Square. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The first Red Lobster opened in Lakeland, Florida, in 1968. A family-owned restaurant, Red Lobster was founded to provide “delicious, high-quality seafood” to everyone, according to the restaurant’s website.In 1970, Red Lobster was acquired by General Mills, according to the restaurant’s timeline online, and business expanded across the country. Today, Red Lobster has more than 700 locations across the world.As it was my first time dining at a Red Lobster, I was eager to see how this restaurant compared to other chain restaurants I love, like Chili’s.Since it was a Saturday night in Times Square, an extremely busy tourist destination, I made a reservation a few hours before arriving at the restaurant.As we approached, I took in the large marquee that advertised the chain’s “fresh fish and live lobsters.” Along the side of the building was a large lobster. It was impossible to miss the restaurant’s name, similar to how other chains in Times Square advertise to draw in tourists.
