I got an email from Red Lobster about their limited time Crispy Lobster and Waffles, so we stopped over to give it a try. While there, we also ordered their new Peppercorn-Panko Calamari and a side of the Lobster Truffle Mac and Cheese.

Although our main goal was to try their new Lobster and Waffles dish, we decided to get the new Peppercorn-Panko Calamari appetizer. The calamari along with red and green peppers arrived coated in a peppercorn-panko crust and had a marinara dipping sauce with little pieces of tomato in it. They were on this fake newspaper with lots of Red Lobster timeline info on it, which I thought was pretty smart.

When I looked this up on their site, it should have also come with a ranch dipping sauce. Wish I had payed more attention to the menu when we were there. We were running out of marinara toward the end, so having an extra dipping sauce would have been nice. This appetizer was a hit! The calamari was nicely cooked, not overdone.

Next up is the Lobster Truffle Mac and Cheese. While it was the most visually appealing of everything we ordered, it was just alright. Something about it was a little off. Most likely the truffle lobster cream. The Maine and langostino lobster in it was great, and we love cavatappi pasta. The Parmesan panko breadcrumbs on top added a pleasant crunch. Probably not something I would order again. It was hard to eat more than a few bites.

So what did we think about the Crispy Lobster and Waffles? I really tried to keep an open mind about the appearance and taste. It’s such a unique combination, so I was hoping to be surprisingly delighted. Well, it definitely tasted…unique. Like a really odd sweet and savory combo. On it’s own, the crispy buttermilk battered Maine lobster tail was a delight. It reminded me of tempura.

The Cheddar Bay waffle was not that great. Maybe because ours tasted slightly burnt and we had a different experience than other places. But I was not a fan of the waffle. Stick to the biscuits, Red Lobster. The maple syrup tasted like maple syrup. I didn’t add any more to this dish. It was already confusingly sweet, and I didn’t want to add any more sugar to the mix.

But kudos to Red Lobster for trying out a new, unusual combination! It made for a really fun night out, and I appreciate them constantly adding new items to the menu. We’ll be back again for sure. Especially since I use their new app and am like 30 points from getting a free appetizer or dessert. I see some Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms in my future.