The Lobster — Restaurant in Santa Monica

My husband and I had a fantastic visit to The Lobster which is celebrating its 25th anniversary with its new owners. We had been to the original Lobster in the 1980's but the new owners have created a wonderful dining destination. There is an attractive comfortable space for dining, along with a great bar area and patio.

We started with the Lobster and Corn Bisque with Crisp Smoked Bacon and Chive Oil, which was so delicious and bursting with flavor. My husband then had Half of a Grilled Main Lobster with Housemade Pasta and Red Sauce, which he thought was incredible. He said it was one of the best lobster dishes he's ever had which is quite an accomplishment - kudos to the restaurant and its Chef.

I opted for the Orchiette Pasta with Gulf Shrimp Sausage, Broccolini, Chick Peas, and Salsa Verde. I found it to be a unique combination of flavors and textures and totally enjoyed it.

We finished up with a Double Chocolate Tart accompanied by Whipped Creme Fraishe and Vanilla Anglaise, which was the perfect sweet ending to a truly unique and amazing meal.

There are many other items on the menu we want to come back and try, but these were all home runs and beautifully presented and plated.

Another great and very unique aspect of this restaurant is the great view of the adjacent Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica beach and Pacific Ocean through its large windows, as well as the busy pedestrian walkway with hundreds of locals and visitors strolling to and from the historic Pier. It was somewhat like watching a TV show, very engrossing and fun—providing an enjoyable ongoing people-watching view that we loved.

The staff was friendly, well-trained and totally professional, and we appreciated the attentive service. Our server, Jose Luis, has been with the restaurant for 17 years and was a delight. It was also fun to chat with Chef Govind Armstrong and one of the owners as well during our wonderful meal. Chef Armstrong really has a great sense of how to combine ingredients, textures and flavors in our opinion.

The restaurant was well decorated, very spacious and attractive, and the chairs were especially comfortable. The bar was also really nice, and we learned that they have all-day Happy Hour every Friday with a full bar, plus a great bar menu with tempting appetizers and more.

We know that this restaurant would be great for parties and family meals. The menu is expansive, and there's something terrific for every diner to enjoy.

Parking was a breeze with valet parking in a lot below the restaurant and an elevator that took us directly to and from the restaurant.

Between the amazing views, the fantastic food, the outstanding staff, and the lovely ambiance, this is a must for any local or visitor to check out! Very highly...

The food here was phenomenal yet I felt it was overpriced. But it’s Santa Monica so I am not surprised by the pricing. The only thing we did not care for was the truffle fries. Maybe we were just over fries though, eems like every where we eat the meals come with fries. I didn’t realize fries were such a staple in meals here in California LOL.

The downfall was the service and the atmosphere. When you are spending that much on a meal one would expect the service to be top notch but sadly it was terrible and rather disappointing.

When we (my husband and I) were seated they sat us at a table for 4 in between 2 tables for 2. It wasn’t a huge deal but since one of this tables were empty. But had all the tables been full we would have been shoulder to shoulder with others dining. They honestly need to clear out a couple table to make a little more space for the comfort of the guests. Wait staff repeatedly bumped into my husbands seat while delivering food or returning to the kitchen because the space between and the table behind him was so narrow.

The dinning room is not brightly lite but each table had a lamp. Our lamp was not charged and was very dim making it difficult to read the menu. This was not a major inconvenience but again when you are spending that much money for a meal one should be able to expect things like that are corrected for the comfort of the guest.

Our waitress was just way off her game the entire night. We sat there for about 10 minutes before she took our drink order. The drinks did come quick. She took our food order quickly after bringing the drinks but did not submit part of order to the kitchen. She refilled my husbands drink once after our starters were delivered. I finished my drink shortly after my entree arrived and my glass remained empty for the rest of my meal. I saw our waitress pass by but not once could I get her attention.

Once we finished eating we waited for about another 10 minutes before she stopped at our table to ask about dessert. She was also taking care of the table across from us. She seemed very focused on taking care of them which made the whole situation more frustrating. We finished eating before them yet we sat there waiting while she boxed up their food took care of their bill and chatted with them before she even acknowledged we were done.

I know we will not be returning solely based on the service we received. I would consider ordering the food for take out because like I said it...

I am writing to express my recent dining experience at your restaurant, which regrettably left much to be desired. After setting up my new office conveniently located adjacent to your establishment, I was eager to celebrate with a memorable dinner.

Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the restaurant’s stunning view and prime location. However, my initial excitement quickly waned as I encountered a less-than-welcoming atmosphere. Despite my casual attire, I expected a basic level of courtesy from the hostess, who greeted me with a pretentious attitude and informed me of an hour-long wait, suggesting I sit at the bar instead.

Opting to make the best of the situation, my girlfriend and I decided to dine at the bar. She ordered the shrimp cocktail, while I selected the king salmon. Unfortunately, my dining experience took a further downturn when my salmon arrived overcooked, accompanied by a sauce that had clearly been burnt. The dish lacked adequate seasoning or salt, leaving it rather bland. To compound matters, I was alarmed to find a piece of nut shell in my meal, which nearly resulted in a cracked tooth.

I’d like to point out as I was waiting for our meal, I decided to walk over to the tables that were supposedly an hour wait. I counted no less than seven tables open at that time. I honestly feel that because I was not wearing a fancy Saturday outfit that I was pushed aside and treated subpar and not like a valued guest who would easily eat there once or twice a week because it’s convenient and close to my new office.

Meanwhile, my girlfriend’s shrimp cocktail was equally underwhelming, consisting of only four medium-sized shrimps served in a large bowl of ice. This minimalist presentation fell far short of our expectations.

My overall impression of your establishment is one of disappointment. It appears that the restaurant relies too heavily on its prime location to justify exorbitant prices while delivering subpar food quality and meager portions. This, I must say, is deeply disheartening.

On the bright side, our server was very friendly and professional, who made us feel welcomed even dressed in my shorts and a T-shirt with a hat.

I hope that my feedback can serve as constructive criticism, encouraging you to reevaluate the quality and value of your offerings. It is my sincere hope that improvements can be made to restore the reputation and credibility of your establishment. Thank you for your attention to...