Luke's Lobster Bethesda — Restaurant in Bethesda

We've been there twice and the food itself is good. I bought 3 6oz rolls for my wife and I for take out. I'm givinf 4 stars because the food is excellent. I wouldgive 5 stars for this visit but I can't and I'll explain later. The location is very busy and depending on when you visit, you may have a difficult time finding parking, but it's worth it. The place is small, you enter into a small place for only two people and you immediately the cashier. Seating is to the left. It's run by youngsters and the first time we visited, a young man and woman were there and the woman didn't greet at us at all but the man who took the order did; professionally in fact. We told him that this was our 1st time visiting and he patiently explained the menu and we ate in. 5 stars for this visit. Yesterday, (7/25) was a different story. There were two young ladies there and the place was empty when we walked in and (this is the reason for the 4 star rating) they never looked looked up. We waited a moment, leaned sideways trying to get their attention and this didn't work. We said "hello-oo" and the one behind the cash register gradually looked up and mumbled, can I help you? As if her mind was totally somewhere else. This was right after walking past a man on the street who was on a phone and coughed in my direction and didn't cover his mouth and didn't cough again. Good thing we were wearing our masks. Good food and I'd go back, but the environment.... This should not matter, but I don't want to give the wrong impression either. My wife and I were suited and booted. Management, please train your staff on how to properly greet and handle customers! Your food is expensive and good. But it takes a bit of effort to get there and it didn't feel right when we walked in because we didn't...

After hearing so much buzz about Luke's Lobster, I made a special trip to their Bethesda location with high expectations. Unfortunately, my experience fell somewhere in the middle range - not terrible, but certainly not worth the hype or price point.

I ordered their signature lobster roll meal, which comes at a premium price that had me anticipating something truly exceptional. While the lobster meat was fresh, the portion size was surprisingly modest given what I paid. The roll itself was properly buttered and toasted, but the overall flavor profile was rather one-dimensional and lacked the wow factor I was hoping for.

The service was efficient if not particularly memorable, and the atmosphere was pleasant enough. However, I couldn't shake the feeling of being underwhelmed throughout my meal. For the significant price point, I expected a more generous portion and more complex flavors that would justify the cost.

Luke's Lobster isn't bad by any means - it's just not the extraordinary seafood experience their reputation and prices suggest. If you're curious, by all means give it a try, but manage your expectations and be prepared for a decent, albeit overpriced, meal rather than a mind-blowing culinary...

Luke's Lobster is one of the lucky places to get their restaurant right in the heart of Bethesda Row. Yet somehow, I find this place entirely empty. I've been a few times, always getting the sandwich option.

Pros: The buns are so beautifully buttered. Plus they have juices from the meat. All the seafood tastes really fresh despite being so far away from the water. They have a really tasty selection of fountain drinks. Something about that really appealed to me Soup on the side is always a good option.

Cons: It's really expensive for not much food. The food is really rich though, so it ends up being okay. Lobster is always really expensive, but $15 is a bit much. Luckily the shrimp is much cheaper at just $8 a roll. The rolls are pretty small. You almost want two.

Luke's Lobster is a great place for lunchtime seafood, but you'll end up emptying your wallet if you indulge yourself too often. You might have to pair with some other food to end...