Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen vs Red Lobster: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated October 22, 2026 4 items matched

The short answer

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is cheaper on 4 of them, by an average of $4.50 per item.

Typical menu price: Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen $10.99 · Red Lobster $15.49

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen's wording first.

Item	Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen	Red Lobster	Difference
Fish and Chipsvs Crispy Fish & Chips	$9.99	$21.99	$12.00 cheaper at Cheddar's
Kids Grilled Chicken	$5.99	$8.99	$3.00 cheaper at Cheddar's
Side Caesar Saladvs Caesar Salad	$3.99	$5.29	$1.30 cheaper at Cheddar's
Loaded Baked Potatovs Baked Potato	$2.79	$4.49	$1.70 cheaper at Cheddar's

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen vs Red Lobster at a Glance

	Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen	Red Lobster
Typical menu price	$10.99	$15.49
Average menu price	$12.29	$20.04
Cheapest item	Honey Butter Croissants — $1.99	Baked Potato — $4.49
Most expensive item	House-Smoked Baby Back Ribs Bundle — $50.49	Twin Lobster Tails — $46.99
Items priced	89	37
Menu sections	12	6
Price range	$$	$$$
Founded	1979	1968
Headquarters	Orlando, Florida (Darden Restaurants)	Orlando, Florida
Locations	About 180 restaurants, mostly in Texas, the South and the Midwest	Roughly 545 restaurants in North America

Which One Should You Order From?

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen has the lower typical menu price of the two — $10.99 against $15.49 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is strongest on Honey Butter Croissants, No. 8 Special Chicken Tender Platter, Monte Cristo; Red Lobster on Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Ultimate Feast, Walt's Favorite Shrimp. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

The weekday lunch menu is the cheapest way in: a cheeseburger, a chicken sandwich or a Veggie Philly is about $8.59, against $9.49 to $10.99 for the regular versions.
The Vegetable Plate — any four sides for about $10.49 — is the lowest-priced full plate on the dinner menu.
Family bundles feed about four: the Chicken Tender Bundle at about $31.49 works out under $8 a person, and a gallon of iced tea is about $5.79.

Red Lobster

Order before 3:00 PM on a weekday — the lunch menu serves the same signature shrimp dishes for roughly $9 less than dinner.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits are unlimited and free with any dine-in entree, so skip paid appetizers if you are watching the total.
Join My Red Lobster Rewards for a free appetizer or dessert on signup plus a birthday reward.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen vs Red Lobster — FAQ

Is Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen cheaper than Red Lobster in 2026?

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is cheaper on most matched items — 4 of 4. Across the whole menu Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is the lower-priced of the two, at $10.99 for a typical item against $15.49 at Red Lobster.

What is the price difference between Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and Red Lobster?

On matched items the average difference is $4.50, or about 39% overall. Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen averages $12.29 across 89 priced items; Red Lobster averages $20.04 across 37.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen or Red Lobster?

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen starts at $1.99 (Honey Butter Croissants) and Red Lobster at $4.49 (Baked Potato).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.