The Lobster House — Restaurant in Brussels

I am super confused by the high reviews for this restaurant.

+1 star for a good location +1 star for the food coming out in a timely fashion (yes, I'm trying to be positive; and I only got starters, so I think this is generous)

-1 star for just weird vibes overall. When I approached the restaurant, they had a server poised in the door to block entry. He looked quizzical. When I asked him if I could have a table for one. He said yes, but that the only table that'd be available would be the one near the front door. No problem, in my opinion. He then showed me a printout indicating how many parties were reserved, and said they'd be filling in soon. Um, okay, whatever.

-1 for prices Okay, so European cities are expensive, and seafood is also expensive. That's expected. However, compare this to the food quality below.

-1 for food quality The first red flag was a tiny bread roll with margarine in a foil-sealed plastic cup. Uh oh. When you're paying 40-50 euro per person on a meal, why not go a step further and offer real butter with some sea salt? Maybe fresh, sliced bread? No--the roll was not fresh, and the margarine evoked airplane meals.

Next, the soup. Oh dear. For a restaurant entitled The Lobster House, this lobster soup had all trappings of being made in a hospital cafeteria. It was a curious dark orange color--not what one would expect from cream and lobster broth. It was completely devoid of any ornamentation; no chiffonade of chives, no dollop of sour cream, no drizzle of olive oil, nary a crouton in sight. No succulent chunks of lobster on top. Just a flat, burnt orange pond of foreboding. It had the consistency of microwaved Campbell's soup, and the flavor of a tea bag of lobster used thrice over. It was a dim memory of lobster flavor, if it had any flavor at all. Occasionally, I'd encounter a sad spheroid of roux dissolving in the dark orange. Worse, the bowl was too capacious, so I had to dig to verify that there was indeed no lobster in the lobster soup.

I politely pushed it as far away from me as I could to hopefully expedite the croquettes.

This was yet another mistake. The croquettes were equally bad. They had even less seafood flavor, let alone that of shrimp. They had the consistency of Elmer's glue thickened with tapioca on the inside. The salad was a flavorless mayonnaise monstrosity with a hard, grey-pink potato with enough white pith in the center to enrobe a tangerine.

Weirdly, the restaurant never filled with the tables the waiter mentioned. I also saw three more waiters, and only one of the four offered a smile.

The bathroom was medium-gross, and the urinal oddly had SIX green urinal cakes in it.

There were zero locals eating there, and it's small wonder why.

My mistake! Hopefully, not...

TOURIST TRAP - Bring Your Microscope to Find the Mussels! 🔍

After seeing numerous glowing reviews for this restaurant (which I'm now convinced must be fake), I made the unfortunate decision to try their mussels. Before the restaurant tries to claim that the tiny mussel in my photo was just 'one exception' - let me be absolutely clear: EVERY SINGLE mussel in our pot was this ridiculously small. Word of advice: bring a microscope if you want any chance of finding them! I'm not exaggerating when I say these were the tiniest mussels I've ever encountered - the entire pot was filled with mussels no larger than 1 centimeter, with many even smaller. The photo shows just one example, but it perfectly represents the size of ALL mussels served.

The portion was so pathetic that we actually left the restaurant hungry - something that should never happen after ordering a full meal of mussels. It's almost comical how small they were, except there's nothing funny about wasting money on such a disappointing meal. And no, this wasn't just 'one unfortunate batch' - this was clearly their standard serving size.

There are plenty of other restaurants in the area - save yourself the disappointment and go literally anywhere else. This place is nothing but a tourist trap serving what must be baby mussels that weren't even ready to be harvested.

Do yourself a favor and walk right past this establishment. Don't fall for the misleading reviews like I did. A complete waste of time and money, and you'll need to find another place to eat anyway since you'll leave here hungry.

Would absolutely not recommend unless you're on a diet and enjoy squinting at your food. And just to emphasize one final time - the tiny mussel shown in my photo represents ALL mussels served, not just one unlucky specimen.

My reply to them after the restaurant responded:

"While I appreciate your response, let's be honest here. Yes, overcooking might explain the tiny 1cm pieces of mussel meat, but that's exactly the problem - what professional restaurant severely overcooks their signature dish to the point where it's barely edible?

Your staff couldn't be bothered to check on our table even once during our meal. If they had, they would have seen the issue immediately. Instead, we were served overcooked, shrunken mussels and left completely ignored.

The fact that you're now admitting these mussels were overcooked makes the whole experience even worse - you clearly know how mussels should be prepared, yet served them anyway.

I'll pass on your dinner invitation. Perhaps focus on properly cooking mussels and training your staff in basic customer service instead of making excuses...

A Seafood Haven at Lobster House:

In the heart of Brussels lies a gem for seafood aficionados - Lobster House. From the moment you step in, the quaint charm of this place, paired with the warm greetings from the staff, sets a welcoming tone for the culinary voyage ahead.

The star of our dining experience was undoubtedly the impeccable service provided by our waiter, Nizar. His recommendations were spot-on, making our journey through the menu a delightful exploration of the sea’s bounty. Nizar's knowledge and passion for the offerings were palpable, enriching our dining experience manifold.

Now, onto the hero of the occasion - the food. The array of seafood is fresh, succulent, and cooked to perfection. The lobster, tender and juicy, melts in the mouth, leaving a trail of nuanced flavors that beckon the next bite. But it was not just the lobster that had our taste buds dancing. The fish dishes, especially, were a masterclass in simplicity and flavor. The delicate seasoning allowed the natural taste of the seafood to shine through, making every bite a celebration of the ocean's essence.

Furthermore, the ambiance of Lobster House carries the soft murmur of satisfied customers amidst a tastefully decorated space, evoking a maritime allure that complements the dining experience.

In a city brimming with culinary offerings, Lobster House emerges as a beacon for seafood lovers. Every aspect of our visit was nothing short of exemplary, warranting a well-deserved 5-star rating. The harmonious blend of warm service, delectable seafood, and a soothing ambiance makes Lobster House a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in a maritime feast in Brussels.

In summary, Lobster House is not just a restaurant; it's a voyage to a seafood utopia with Nizar as the commendable captain steering the way to a delightful...