Lobster Pot Restaurant — Restaurant in Siesta Key

Skip this place and go across the street to The Hub Baja Grill. I'm sure there are some good dishes here, but be ready to enjoy your journey as you sift through the muck to find your shiny pearl of a meal. I was excited to go to this place because it had 4.5 stars. When I first walked in I thought, that it looked like one of those places that had its glory days 10-15 years ago, and that continues to serve the same old, outdated dishes. But I thought, maybe, so I gave it a try.

Service issues first. The place had 3 tables seated, including ourselves, and 2 servers to man it. Pretty easy gig if I'm remembering correctly from my time as a server and restaurant manager. We saw our server, John, maybe twice outside of food delivery. He got my daughter's order wrong and I never received a refill on my soda. He put a burning hot plate from the broiler in front of my 11 month old, which of course she grabbed. No silverware on the table. He watched me walk to another table and grab some. Not a word. He was nice though. Let's forget about service for a second because it is likely there are other, shall we say, more experienced servers who work there, I'm sure.

Food. Scallop, parmesan, and spinach app. More like frozen spinach thrown over scallops and very lightly sprinkled with flecks of cheese. I was disappointed. My daughter's broiled haddock was so bland and not fresh (rubbery in consistency) no one at the table could eat more than a bite without cringing. My wife's grilled mahi tacos were passable, but the fish tasted like nothing, no salt or pepper from what I could tell. My blackened grouper sandwich was something you could get anywhere (my house being one of them) and cheaper too. At least it wasn't bland. You gotta love the communal jar of tartar sauce that he brought out with my sandwich. An almost soda can-sized plastic jar halfway filled with a spoon stuck in it. Gross. What are the chances that they dump out all of that extra tartar in the jar that no one eats instead of sticking it back in the fridge for the next guest every time that stuff is served? Maybe I'm wrong, but no restaurant I know would rack up that kind of condiment cost. 3 plates at lunch time with 1 appetizer = $63, before tip. Yikes! If it were more in the price range of a taco truck, I might be inclined to say something like, "Not great! But hey, what do you expect from them with those prices?" I spent the same amount across the street at The Hub Baja Grill the next day and even got alcohol and it was much, much more enjoyable with much better service. Hey! On the bright side the French fries were great!

Ok, Lobster Pot owner/manager, you may now commence responding with surprise at our experience and statements that it is out of the ordinary for your establishment as well as the fact that you've been there for years and everyone seems to like it (though that last one you may not type out,...

The only reason I'm leaving two stars is that the hostess was nice. We're here on vacation looking for dinner and the Google reviews averaging 4.5 stars were the deciding factor. I now think they must be rigged somehow (eg - paying to remove negative ones like yelp) Now, I should note that we recently discovered my infant son has allergies, so my wife needs to avoid soy and dairy. The server was helpful in this regard, asking the kitchen our ingredient questions when we first arrived. However, after she brought drinks and took an app order, it was a long while until we saw her again; we ended up having to place our entree order with another server. I ordered a bowl of clam chowder and it wasn't the worst I've had, but it was mostly potato soup, very little clam. We ordered mac and cheese for my 3 year old daughter, her favorite dish, and we were served from a box; Kraft would be my guess, but probably an off brand. My wife had to order plain grilled fish and steamed vegetables because of the aforementioned allergy, so we can't complain about blandness there. I ordered shrimp scampi, firstly because any quality restaurant makes every dish on the menu well (not just this lobster roll they're apparently known for) and secondly because it's hard to F up, or so I thought. First of all, the garlic bread served with the entrees is literally from the freezer aisle in the grocery store. The pasta was rubber and tasted exactly like the water it was cooked in, the vegetables were mostly raw and fully flavorless, but the shrimp was okay - and that's all I ended up eating. I had to get the attention of our server for a refill as we weren't checked on. All in all, we feel like it was a complete waste of time and money and both of our moods now reflect it. Even though the server spoke all the appropriate phrases when she was around, her tone and delivery left much to be desired; and boy was she ready to hand us that check, which was fine since we were just as ready to get out of there. Look forward to hearing from you, Tony!

Update: Tony - everything is certainly not made in house; the garlic bread and mac and cheese are most certainly store bought, who knows what else....

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Lobster Pot in Siesta Key, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. This small and cozy restaurant, with its friendly staff and mouthwatering seafood, left a lasting impression on me.

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm welcome and seated promptly. The attentive service provided by the staff, from the hostess to the waitstaff, made us feel right at home.

While waiting for our meal, we were treated to a delicious cornbread that was both comforting and flavorful. It was the perfect appetizer to set the stage for what was to come.

Now let's talk about the lobster bisque. Wow! It was hands down some of the best we've ever had. The velvety texture and robust flavors were out of this world. We decided to add extra chunks of lobster to the bisque, and it was a decision we did not regret. I highly recommend doing the same – you won't be disappointed!

The fish at The Lobster Pot was incredibly fresh and grilled to perfection. Each bite was a testament to their commitment to quality seafood. It was truly a treat for the taste buds.

While the sautéed vegetables didn't quite meet our expectations, it's important to note that the seafood is the real star here. The fish and other seafood offerings stole the show, leaving us completely satisfied.

The fried shrimp were an absolute delight. Lightly breaded and expertly fried, they were crispy and full of flavor. The accompanying cocktail sauce had a wonderful horseradish zing that added an extra kick to each bite. It was a winning combination.

Overall, our experience at The Lobster Pot was exceptional, and we wouldn't hesitate to return the next time we find ourselves in Siesta Key. The delicious food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service made it a truly memorable dining adventure. If you're a seafood lover looking for an outstanding restaurant, don't miss out on The Lobster Pot. You won't be...