Insider Pages Reviews for The Lobster

4 Stars: Beautiful view, good ambience (by sasha felix)

sasha felix — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Food was good and the views of the sunset awesome. The ambience was great and so was the crowd.

5 Stars: Great food! (by Hamish90)

Hamish90 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Love this place.

3 Stars: Great Atmosphere, Moderate Food (by EconomicArmageddon)

EconomicArmageddon — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The atmosphere is great- at the base of the Santa Monica pier, overlooking the ocean. The scene is very Santa Monica trendy. You do pay for the view.

Went for DineLA, and they were out of Lobster! Terrible.

Service was really poor. I understand that it was a crowded Friday night, but at the prices you typically pay at that place, that's not an excuse.

5 Stars: I've been many times- always a great experience! (by BrigitteTols)

BrigitteTols — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

I'll start of by declaring that I'm a jaded West LA native who spends most of my dinners at restaurants, and comes from a family of European chefs. I initially passed off The Lobster as a tourist trap with a beautiful view...then 3 years ago, fate would have it that my boyfriend wanted to check it out. Upon entering without a reservation, we waited and got a great table with an ocean view (on a Saturday night!), and our meals were perfectly portioned (not too small!) and rich with flavours that paired beautifully with every ingredient in the dish. I've consistently been treated like a welcomed guest- and I'm very familiar with places that do treat you like "table number 118" and not like individuals trying to have a great experience- this is not one of those places. We have consistently been treated with warmth and authenticity from every staff member I've met. The usually remember me when I come back and greet me by name.
Things to keep in mind: ALWAYS MAKE RESERVATIONS atleast 4 days before. I see a lot of reviews by people who were outraged to have to wait, or not get a great table. The Lobster is the only restaurant with that kind of a view and good seafood in downtown Santa Monica- you will have to wait atleast an hour for a table without reservations, and the tables with direct ocean views are limited. My only criticism is just that- I've had lengthy conversations with the person booking my table about it being a very special night (anniversary, my birthday just last night), and how I will even wait for an ocean view...and it never seems to actually effect where we are sat- but none of the tables are truly crappy views.

I think The Lobster may actually be my favorite restaurant for a nice evening in LA- it's the best combination of ambience and food I know!

4 Stars: Great view, good food but your going to pay for it (by bob m.)

bob m. — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:40:00 GMT

It sits right at the base of the Santa Monica Pier with fabulos views of the pier and the ocean beyond. It has it's own valet parking, (not a small thing in hard to park Santa Monica), a bar with a great view and pretty good food. But it is expensive. A great place to bring a date you want to impress.

2 Stars: SO-SO SERVICE MAKES THE MEAL UNREMARKABLE (by LondonLeslie)

LondonLeslie — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

First and foremost, I like The Lobster, just not the same way anymore. Probably will happily never return or at least never book a reservation again. If it is logistically convenient to walk in and have a drink or bite to eat at the bar that will be fine. If it is unavailable, no problem, many other restaurants work hard to earn your patronage. We booked a dinner last night for 2 and I notified the restaurant via opentable that it was my wife's birthday. We arrived dressed in formal attire. The host greeted my wife with a happy birthday which was nice and he told us to proceed to the bar and have a drink and we will come find you. We grabbed a nice bar table and a waitress quickly gathered our order and returned with a glass of wine and a martini. In a blink of a eye, a hostess came up, told the waitress she was going to seat us next, fully aware we just got our drinks. We were then ushered off to what I believe to be the worst table in the restaurant. A 2 top squished against a wall of interior glass in a dark corner with a family of four or five with their children's faces smashed against the glass looking at us. Reminded me of an interstate McDonalds or worse an Arby's. I told the hostess that this was unacceptable and she rifled off - that was the only 2 top available. I notified her we were happy to wait. She responded it would be awhile. I reminded her it was my wife's birthday and that the table was unacceptable now as well as any other time and we were happy to wait. We went back to the bar, of course we had nowhere to sit or stand but outside at this time and wait. Disappointing but not a big deal. I quickly went back to the main host and reminded him of the occasion and if he could find us a suitable table. He had the nerve to tell me that that table was his favorite. Please! Finally the host took us to a so-so skinny table that basically summed up the dinner as well. So-so. Done. Meal marred by seating. Many 4 tops available for the majority of our meal.

4 Stars: Great view, good food (by krznlv)

krznlv — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I went here for my bday and the food was very good. I'd the scallops and they're just delicious, and the fish was just really good. I loved the view even tough we did not get to sit at the window like I requested because we're 20 minutes late. My fav part was the chimichurri w the bread it was just delicious, I never expected chimichurri in a place like this, and it was totaly delicious. Plan 2 be there for my bfriend's bday.

4 Stars: my review (by clementine23)

clementine23 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

my review here my review heremy review here my review heremy review herev my review here my review here

5 Stars: Awesome. Enough said. (by alohakashiwa)

alohakashiwa — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Absolutely Fantastic! After a horrible experience at Tengu, "The Lobster" saved the day. I had a great time at this restaurant and the staff were just FANTASTIC! I loved it, and I look forward to coming back again.

5 Stars: Awesome. Enough said. (by alohakashiwa)

alohakashiwa — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Absolutely Fantastic! After a horrible experience at Tengu, "The Lobster" saved the day. I had a great time at this restaurant and the staff are just FANTASTIC! I love it and I look forward to coming back again.

3 Stars: Great drinks! (by seamonkey74)

seamonkey74 — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

We stopped by this place out of curiousity. We'd heard about it through many acquaintances and had recently read about their delicious Bloody Mary drink. Well, the drink was delicious.. not the best i've ever had, but delicious nevertheless. My hubby had a mojito and wasn't too impressed, so he had a beer after that. We both ordered oysters as appetizers (unimpressive presentation), and after talking to the people sitting next to us who were not happy with their measly lobster meal, we opted to have dinner at the local "hot dog on a stick" instead. Although we didn't try the dinner at The Lobster, based off of what we saw and heard from the couple sitting next to us, our money was best used elsewhere.

4 Stars: Good food and location, not friendly waiters (by Angelino080808)

Angelino080808 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I am glad that I read reviews on citysearch prior to going there for a dinner. Overall experience was nice but the service, as some have complained before, wasn't great. Our waiter did not introduce himself by his name, he didn't feel bad about arguing with the member of our party when we complained about the portion size ( it looked as if one of us got the meal that was much smaller than the rest of us). The waiter did not apologize or show any consideration for our concern, it seemed that it was very common for him to explain that if there is something that you don't like here, it is your problem, not the restaurant's.
The location is definitely a great catch! We were there during the sunset, so the view was absolutely gorgeous (as sunsets usually are in LA). The food was pretty good, although I wouldn't recommend tuna sashimi for an appetizer: 5 slices were extremely thin, and they put a huge amount of sweet sauce on them, it wasn't worth 16 or so dollars, really. Their entrees were pretty good. And they have nice wine selection (a good bottle would cost you about $50+). Their signature dish - lobster - was good, although be prepared to pay another 50% or so for the meal in addition to the price shown on the menu, the price on the menu is for a pound but served meal includes a pound a half (at the end it costs about $60 compared to $30 that was on the menu).
Overall, I would recommend this place if you are looking for a nice, more upscale place to dine by the beach in Santa Monica and don't feel like driving further down to Malibu.

5 Stars: Beautiful place - perfect for a special occasion! (by Jenna1070899)

Jenna1070899 — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

This is literally on the beach at Santa Monica, at the foot of the pier, so it's great for dinner, or even just drinks at the bar. The service was excellent, as was the food. Okay, so this isn't the cheapest place, but it's certainly value for money, and the views from those bay windows are priceless! And the food is worth it - even the salad and bread rolls were first class! I was also thinking this is a fantastic place to take visitors to Los Angeles, as they'll have a fantastic view of Santa Monica and the ocean. I definitely recommend it here!!

4 Stars: Pleasant place to people-watch on the Pier (by jenheidir)

jenheidir — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Came here for drinks on a Friday evening. The rock music was a little loud and the place was quite dark inside, but my drinks were mixed well, and it was cool to people-watch Pier visitors on the patio. Plus, there was a little place to play pool at the back of the restaurant. Overall, it was nice to find a more relaxed, casual bar not far from the Promenade.

4 Stars: Romantic View!! (by califsunlover)

califsunlover — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Romantic restaurant with a great view of Santa Monica Pier, the beach and beautiful Santa Monica Mountains to the West along the coast of Malibu. A bit touristy and overpriced for what you get. Been here twice now and found some items on the menu to be creative and delicious, others not so good and way too overpriced. Avoid the pan roasted Lobster with Jack Daniels sauce. Burned, tastless & yeck!

First visit here, the server was so, so; seemed a bit phony and greatly rushed our service against our request upon initial ordering.
Brent attended to us on our second visit and I highly recommend him! Great service not rushed and gave attentive yet unobtrusive service.

Both times we have eaten here we reserved a view table well in advance and had earlier in the evening reservations. But upon arrival, we had to "play the game" of "well.... it will be 20-30mins for a window table, please wait in the bar area". Nice way of upping the sales!

All and all I will definitely come back to this restaurant!

Pros: Awesome view, wait for a view table

Cons: Menu items can be h(i)ot or miss. Stick with the plain & simple lobster preparations

3 Stars: Great Location, Fair and Good Food (by Annalisa00)

Annalisa00 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

My husband and I ventured to the Lobster on the 4th of July and we were delighted to have a table at the window overlooking the Santa Monica Pier. We had the dungeness Crab ?Louis? Cocktail and it was delicious for an appetizer along with the Steamed Manila Clams & Black Mussels soup that was good but not great and had much less lobster and clams than the one shown in the picture on the menu page at the Lobster Website. We decided to split these items and to also split the the Lobster Stuffed Avocado entre salad and it was average as well and not as good as we expected. However, given all that we have said, we will definately go back but will stay away from the lobster dishes. The crab is great! Maybe they should change the name...

3 Stars: Overrated, Snooty Service (by snoop2nuts)

snoop2nuts — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I've heard about The Lobster ever since I moved to Santa Monica and finally decided to try it with my fiance. I will say that the location is great being so close to the Pier and the food is good. My main complaint is how extremely LA it is. When we were escorted to our table there was an open booth available but instead we got the worst possible table in the entire restaurant right next to the loud and noisy kitchen. Later on I saw that they seated another couple in that open booth who walked in no more than 5 minutes after we did. I was looking forward to this place and I am disappointed with how they treated us. I spent the first half hour after we sat down sizing up the patrons sitting by the windows and wondering what I had to do to get that beautiful ocean view. The service was a bit snooty and I felt a little rushed. We went on a Tuesday night and still had to wait 45 minutes for a table, or as I choose to call it, the dinner nook. Growing up in LA, I'm used to the idea that it's about who you know and how well connected you are. But this place doesn't deserve such high praises for the disparaging way they treated their non celebrity patrons. Now that I've tried it I know what I was (or wasn't) missing and I most likely will not be back.

3 Stars: Depends on what you're looking for (by foodie114)

foodie114 — Thu, 22 May 2008 02:00:00 GMT

First of all, this restaurant has great views of the pier and is great for a quiet and romantic meal. However, if you go here for lobster and you know what good lobster tastes like, you may be a bit disappointed. Coming from the east coast, my family frequently travels to Maine on vacation and we are avid lobster eaters. I was hoping that this restaurant may satisfy my craving for that lobster, but my (extremely expensive) lobster lacked that freshness and taste. It might have just been a bad day or something, but I admit I was disappointed in my food. Nevertheless, it was by no means bad, but just not what I expected and WAY overpriced.

4 Stars: lobster (by sarah b.)

sarah b. — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:52:00 GMT

Fabulous location especially at sunset. The view from the pier is great! The lobster isn't bad either. Excellent strong drinks (though a bit pricey).

4 Stars: Great View (by Shireen R.)

Shireen R. — Sat, 03 May 2008 21:42:00 GMT

The Lobster has great sea food along with an even better view of the ocean and the Santa Monica pier. The view includes the interesting lights of the ferris wheel and roller coaster of Pacific Park in the evenings. The salads and fish dishes are very good. Also good mojitos and grilled artichoke.

5 Stars: Best seafood in town (by surfer2)

surfer2 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I had a great 30th birthday over the weekend, and we went to the Lobster to celebrate. We started with drinks at the bar..great fun staff, and then we had a wonderful table right along the window...it was amazing to see an unobstructed view of the pier and the ferris wheel at night!
We started with the Lobster pancakes and the Wild Halibut sashimi, and I must say they were marvelous! As for entreess we had the grilled salmon and grilled lobster. It all was perfectly cooked on a special night..our server Michael was amazing, and the night was more than I had hoped for..and I am not easy!
This place is a 5 star winner, I will be going back, and not waing for a special occation like my birthday!

1 Stars: LOBSTER MADE US SICK! (by Lily1981)

Lily1981 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Although I have been to The Lobster on several other occasions and liked it, the last time I went, it turned out to be a nightmare. My husband and I got terrible FOOD SICKNESS from the Lobster salad (on pancakes). My husband was the one who actually ordered the dish and it was really bad for him. I would not eat there again myself, and I would certainly not recommend the Lobster salad to anyone. I am sure it was an honest mistake, however; for a restaurant called "the lobster", it would be nice if they could get the lobster right and not sicken people!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Lily

5 Stars: Fantastic Seafood and Excellent View (by antonioferre)

antonioferre — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I had a chance to meet with and old high school friend for lunch and he suggested the Lobster. I was impressed with the food and good service and the view was excellent from the ocean front. The had a good wine selection as well.

5 Stars: Excellent Customer Service and Fabulous Food! (by sjsbrentwood)

sjsbrentwood — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

This is my new favorite spot! We went there on a Sunday night, with a 7:30 reservation. We were greeted by 2 very nice and friendly hosts. We were seated promptly, and given wonderful customer service throughout the entire evening. We had Prawns for an appetizer, which were fantastic. We had the Lobster Special ($51-a tiny bit overpriced for a small portion, but it tasted amazing), and the Chilean Sea Bass. Both were wonderful and melted in your mouth. The only thing we didnt like about the Lobster was the stemware, the forks are huge. I think if that is your only gripe about somewhere- then they are doing a very good job. I will absolutely come here again and make sure that everyone I know, also goes there!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! :)

5 Stars: Not a Tourist Trap (by famousblueraincoat)

famousblueraincoat — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I was very skeptical. Given it's location, it doesn't even have to be good. But it was! Everything we had was fresh and great tasting. I expected gluey clam chowder but it was actually very thin and healthy. The crab cakes were good. We had a lovely fish, perfectly cooked. Wine list could use some work. Ditto on the stemware. Service was very nice. Tables right by the window in front are best.

4 Stars: really enjoyed it this time! (by d_ann)

d_ann — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 02:00:00 GMT

It's been a few years since I've beent at The Lobster and I remembered an ok dinner for a high price. A friend took me there last Thursday evening and we had a great experience. They seated us really promptly and had an awesome table by the window. The food was great: he had the chowder to start and the halibut and I had the mushroom soup to start and the sole. We both enjoyed our meals -tasted great and not overcooked (like alot of restaurants do with seafood). No room for dessert cuz we were stuffed!

5 Stars: Always a Homerun!! (by adriennev)

adriennev — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I have been dining at The Lobster for eight years and cannot remember one bad experience. The bar scene is where it is at. There are always fun people at the bar that make the evening that much more memorable. When my parents come to town, the first thing they ask is when we are going to The Lobster. The food is great, the portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable. Don't feel you must get the lobster. Its good, but the fish is amazing and where the value is. I have recommended it to countless people and they are always grateful for the suggestion. I will say that if someone in your group is anti seafood, pick another place. There are too few choices to make them feel part of dinner. The best part is sharing everything.

3 Stars: Good food-- bad reservations (by newyorkdoll72)

newyorkdoll72 — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

First the good: I think that the food at the Lobster is priced well for the quality and size. It has always arrived promptly, and I'm never dissapointed.

Now the bad: I have been here a few times, and I always make reservations on special occassions or weekends. If it's a special occassion, I ask if they can please put a note to get a table close to the water or atleast with a good view. They never say they can't, but when I get thre, my reservation usually winds up getting moved 15 minutes later, and even though I remind the host that I asked for a "good table", I'm often stuck next to the kitchen or next to another party.

The valet parking is easy, if you do not mind valet. I strongly reccomend valet if you're dining here. It's not much cheaper to park far away.

5 Stars: Great Dining at the Beach (by golfncpa)

golfncpa — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

We just ate at the Lobster. Prior go going, I read the reviews and noticed that the food was usually highly rated, but the service was spotty. Well I can tell you that the food was exceptional, very creative for my wife's and my palates, plentiful and very tasty. The service was equally exceptional. Wait staff very attentive without being overbearing. My wife and I commented during the meal, that this was one of the best meals that we've had in many years, and we go out to eat at least twice each week, so we know what we're talking about.

I don't know what our table number was, but we had a great view. We arrived about 45 minutes early for our reservation, thinking that we would have a drink at the bar and enjoy the beach weather, but when we were greeted by the host, we were told that there was a table at the window available now, and would we care to eat now, rather than waiting. We took his advice, and were not disappointed. A table at the window, looking out at the Santa Monica pier, and the whole coastline, without an obstruction.

This restaurant is a must for great food and views.

4 Stars: Great place to dine (by johnlee2323)

johnlee2323 — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Went for my first time to this place last week. And it was a great experience. Great food and service.

1 Stars: The worst Restaurtant in Santa Monica (by seya)

seya — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I took my boyfriend to the lobster for Father's Day and I made our reservations almost a month in advance to be able to be seated by the window. This was our first time at the lobster and I definitely won't be going back. My first complaint is we got seated by the kitchen where we had the pleasure of seeing all the waiters go in and out with peoples food. Second when I explained I requested a table by the window I received a nasty response from the hostest stating well as you can see all the tables by the window are taken. I explain but I made a reservation and she replied even nastier by saying everyone seated at the window tables have reservations. So finally we just accepted seating by the kitchen our waiter came over never introduce himself by name, once we receive our food by someone in the kitchen our waiter never once asked how our foods was or to refill our drinks. Then at the end of our meal we received the bill I decided not to leave the waiter a good tip, I did leave a tip but not what he would have earned if he had just did his job. After we paid for the bill and started to walk towards the front door we got stopped by this angry waiter wanting to know why he receive such a little tip. I was so embarrassed, never in my life have I been chased down by a waiter for the amount of a tip. this was not only scary but totally unprofessional, My boyfriend explained to him that we did not feel we received any type of customer satisfaction from him and that he did not attend to our table like he should have. Even when we explained the sistuation to the manager he just brushed us off. This restaurant is the worst, the food was not good and the service was simply awful. This restaurant doesn't deserve any stars

5 Stars: The best seafood restaurant in Los Angeles! (by agreatmeal)

agreatmeal — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Let me just say that I have been eating at the Lobster for 7 years and I have had the most wonderful food every time. How can you beat the Lobster? The staff is by far the friendliest in town they even address me by name every time I walk in the door and make be feel like family. Sitting watching the sun go down, eating a crab cocktail which is amazing and being treated like a queen, now come on, how can you beat it! If you have not been there, GO! You are missing out!

5 Stars: Unbelieveable food with the nicest staff. And you can't beat the view! (by slcann)

slcann — Thu, 24 May 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I've been going to the Lobster since it re-opened and have always found the menu to be intriguing and the food delicious. I'm a stickler when it comes to the preparation of seafood. So often the sauce is there to hide the low quality and overcooked entree. But Allison has found so many wonderful ways to highlight my favorites without losing the natural flavors of the scallops, the sea bass, the shrimp -- well you get the idea. I have always felt welcomed by the staff and treated as a valued customer. Wonderful experience all around.

1 Stars: Why? (by sheridanm1)

sheridanm1 — Mon, 21 May 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I visited The Lobster for the first time about two years ago and was pretty disappointed by the food. The waiter recommended something that was not to my liking. What made matters worse, I heard him talk the table behind us out of ordering the same dish. When I confronted him about it, he said he would comp our dessert. I just wanted a good meal. I didn?t care about dessert. Recently a friend talked me into trying it again and I was disappointed yet another time. This time the food was totally bland. I?ve had much better food down the street at Ocean Ave. Seafood. I don?t know why people love The Lobster so much. And the view is not all that spectacular. I?ve seen much better in L.A.

4 Stars: The food and view were great; just try not to get offended by the server?s comments (by sigmaajk)

sigmaajk — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

The table was not what I expected or requested especially after making a reservation weeks in advance but the food and the view was great. Kara our server was a little too helpful, when I was looking at the wine list she came over and made it a point to say that one side was their reds and the other their whites and when I joked that the names of the grapes gave it away she seemed to get offended. Then she tried to talk my date out of the stemmed lobster because she said it was expensive. She also told my date after she placed the shell bucket down that it was for her lobster shells, which once again forced my date and I to look at each other and shake our heads. I guess we just looked young. My date was going to joke about her dishwashing skills but we were afraid Kara would get even more worried / offended. Overall the food was fantastic and the view would have been even better if we had received a better table as requested in the reservation.

4 Stars: Good food, great service & wonderful view (by cpkeebs)

cpkeebs — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

My husband and I had a terrific meal here a few Friday nights ago. It's a bit crowded and noisy, but luckily, we were seated in the back corner of the restaurant and had a wonderful view of the Santa Monica Pier. Unfortunately, we had an 8:45PM reservation and were seated about 20 min late, so they had already run out of 2 of the lobster dishes and one of the fish dishes. However, the quality of what we were able to order and the service made up for it. My husband loved their oyster sampler and the calamari was good as well. He also devoured the seared ahi tuna, and the accompanying Asian salad was delicious. I ordered the ivory wild salmon, which was pretty good. We brought in a Citysearch coupon for a free dessert and they gave us 2 choices on the house.

3 Stars: The Most Overrated Seafood Restaurant Ever. (by bluegirl1)

bluegirl1 — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

First, the menu was severely overpriced with a poor selection. I selected the sea bass because it was just about the only fish item and it was absolutely inedible, mushy and tasteless, I ate only half. The bread was hard and meager. I cannot understand why people give this restaurant such good reviews. I went to this restaurant with my boyfriend solely based on these reviews, and we were very disappointed. His meal was substandard, as well. The only good thing about this restaurant was the view of the people in the park below. We were still hungry after this horrible experience so we drove down by the ocean and stopped at a little unassuming seafood restaurant. We had a great meal of tasty trout served on paper plates. It was so much better and we were finally filled up. I would never come back. And I love seafood restaurants. Quite possibly the most overrated restaurant ever.

5 Stars: Very Special Place (by 54904worldtraveler)

54904worldtraveler — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

This is a great place, beautiful views and great food. Most important, the staff there is wonderful. We requested a window seat but none was available. When I mentioned it to the host, he apologized and explained that ?everybody requests a window seat?. We had just started our meal when he came back and said that a table just opened up and that we could move! I don?t EVER remember a restaurant doing that after you have been seated. We had a wonderful, memorable family event and will return time and time again to the Lobster!

3 Stars: The place for dry, overcooked seafood (by grendelina)

grendelina — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

If you want a nice view of the pier and don't mind paying $30-50 apiece for dry, overcooked seafood (we had the spiny lobster, the Maine lobster, and halibut), then this is the place for you. Apparently the technique here is to cook the hell out of the lobsters (boil and broil) then cover them with sauces and mushy potatoes (that taste like they are from a mix) so that you don't have to actually taste the sea. It's a shame when you think how many lobsters they must ruin every night in this way. The oysters were a highlight--because, being raw, there was no chance to ruin them!

5 Stars: Great food, ambiance and service (by roolander)

roolander — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

As usual, this place was packed. I had the oysters, dungeness crab and arugula salad and the pan-roasted lobster. the oyster were fresh, the salad was amazing (lots of crab, not drenched in dressing, good texture with the pine nuts) and the lobster was great (how can a place called The Lobster mess up their sig. dish anyways). Highly recommended. When you make a reservation ask for a table with a view. With a glass or wine or two it will cost about $60-75 per person ($12 for salad, $45 for the lobster, $12 for a glass of wine, $12.50 for oysters). This place is well worth it. The seared ahi is amazing also.

5 Stars: Love the Lobster cocktail (by santam)

santam — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I highly recommend the Lobster. Great location, Great View, Great Food. Try the Lobster Cocktail ... yummy! This is great for lunch or dinner. Be sure to make reservations.

5 Stars: Good food, Love it - but a little noisy (by dr5183)

dr5183 — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I love this place. The food is wonderful - the view is nice and the service is great. Not for a quiet dinner, as it can be noisy.

5 Stars: Exceptional service, exciting menu, great vibe and an incredible view (by malmed)

malmed — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Of all the restaurants in L.A., and all the places I love to eat, The Lobster is the one I insist on for my birthday every year! It is my first choice for any occasion my husband I want to celebrate with a special dinner. We made a reservation to celebrate our engagement and we were treated exceptionally well. Our waiter let us know that they had our table ready, but there would be a window table opening up shortly if we wanted to wait for a "better" seat. The food is first class and the atmosphere is refreshingly lively. Love this place.

3 Stars: Not Bad. Not as good as expected. (by chudjr)

chudjr — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Had dinner there tonight. Surprisingly, it was not crowded. Service was friendly. Crab cakes were high quality, lots of fresh crab. This may sound stupid, but I like crab cakes that are not almost only crab. The Chilean seabass was excellent, but the kobe beef was somewhat on the tough side. Maybe that's what you get for ordering beef at a seafood restaurant. Beautiful view of the ocean.

5 Stars: Beautiful Views & Yummy Food (by martinikitty13)

martinikitty13 — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I recently had lunch at the lobster and it was one of those days when everything is fabulous - the weather was phenomenal so we had a beautiful clear view of the ocean waves; the service was prompt and friendly; the bread and olive oil dip was delicious. My friend and I each had the lobster avocado salad - sweet morsels of lobster, crisp, fresh greens and ripe avocados - what could be better? We also shared a great bottle of Trimbach pinot gris which complemented the lobster wonderfully. The entire experience was simply lovely.

3 Stars: Two words: (by lagrafx)

lagrafx — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

The Crapster.

5 Stars: Beautiful! (by smooph)

smooph — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Great place for a couple of post-work drinks at sunset. We sat at the bar and shared a couple of appetizers (the calamari was awesome) and some very nicely mixed martinis, a couple glasses of wine. The bartenders were nice and entertaining, and the crowd was pretty friendly for it being such a 'destination' spot. I would definitely go back!

4 Stars: beautiful view (by lucky801)

lucky801 — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

the food here is great, and the view is beautiful. it is a little cramped and not a lot of privacy. it's also a little pricey but a great place to go for a special night.

5 Stars: Best Lobster in LA (by Elischa)

Elischa — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

This place is elegant, sensual, and sophisticated. There isn't a better seafood restaurant in Los Angeles. The scenary is beautiful, serene, and watching the sunset from the restaurant as you put a mouth full of decadent lobster in your mouth is a sinful combination. If you are wanting to impress a date, there isn't a better place to do so...

5 Stars: Great view, friendly staff, good food (by jenmempin)

jenmempin — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 01:00:00 GMT

We stopped at The Lobster for a late lunch and got seated right away. The mojitos were excellent and the food was good. However the best part about this place is its location. It is right on the water and has a great waterfront. Make reservations if you can because it gets crowded during rush hour.

5 Stars: Best view in Santa Monica (by benbono)

benbono — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 01:00:00 GMT

AWESOME! I've been to this place a number of times and it's always delicious. Prices are what you'd expect and the service has actually been pretty good. Try the scallops...

4 Stars: View is hard to beat (by jval36)

jval36 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

The good was great, servers nice and nice views! The restaurant is a bit small. Best for lunch in my opinion.

4 Stars: Just great (by mpalmieri47)

mpalmieri47 — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

My wife and I were in Santa Barbara in August and ate at The Lobtser twice. Can not comment on crowds since both times we dined at off hours both times about 2 pm All though not empty it was not packed. Yes you will spend here but the food was exceptional and the 2.5lb marinated (olive oil and garlic) and then grilled lobster was a rare treat yes 75.00 but they happily split it so we could share this delight with an appetizer'an order of steamed to perfection asparagus and a bottle of french rose the bill was 140 yes more than we normaly spend but it's vacation and The Lobster helped create a wonderful vacation memory with great food ,sevice and a view of the Pacific that is breath taking

4 Stars: Awsome view.... Great people watching ..... Marcy (by montela)

montela — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Awsome, the food and views are great, the service is what it is , could always be better !! I will go again when I am in LA!!

4 Stars: Nice seafood and hip restaurant (by shinidapooh)

shinidapooh — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

We two dined there on sep.8th at around 8:00, the wait was 1 hour for table, but no wait for bar; so we decide to seated at the bar since we were so hungry. We had crab cakes for appetizer ( which was really nice, especially the squid salad); seabass (very tender and juicy with smooth mashed potatoes), and red thai curry lobster ( it was too salty, even with bunch of vegetables and black rice). The food was nice overall, but the service from my waitress was bad. I expressed that the lobster was too salty, and all she said was: what do you want me to do? Unbelievable horribly bad service. I was not very happy with her service since she doesn't have patient with us when we ask her about the menu. We later learned that the tips was included in the bill, i think that might be the reason when she does not care to have a good service. The view for the restaurant was very cool during night since you have the view around the SM pier and the famous lights and entertainment.

5 Stars: Best LA Seafood (by hawaiixoxo)

hawaiixoxo — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

We've been ready to give up on fresh seafood ... now, Lobster keeps the dream alive.
Treat yourselves and go here as much as possible.
The sauces are delicious, service is attentive, the wine list is high quality and your experince will only be good memories.

5 Stars: Perfect sea food , perfect location, perfect service (by glansky)

glansky — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

The best sea food restaurant in L.A It's so fresh sooo good. The service is very good and the restaurant is beautiful with an incredible view. Just be specific about where you would like to be seated when you make your reservation.

3 Stars: I went here for my anniversary (by missjunkie)

missjunkie — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

It's a great restaurant with a great view of the ocean only if you are seated next to the windows. It gets crowded fast and reservations is recommended. Our waiter was great and the staff was ok.

3 Stars: good food and very very expensive (by A R.)

A R. — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 21:22:00 GMT

I only ate here once. It is a very expensive place. The food is also top-notch. Still, I'm, a believer that when a restaurant charges a zillion dollars for lunch, everything must be flawless. I found the lobster a little too noisy and my waiter a bit too rushed to fit the bill.

PROS: Very fine food, great views
CONS: For the money, everything should be perfect.

4 Stars: Great view (by Mandi B.)

Mandi B. — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 10:18:00 GMT

I wanted to have lunch and look at the view and this was the perfect place. However it does have a small lunch menu mostly sea food. The prices are on the high end 18-26 per meal. The service was kind of slow because it was pretty packed. We got a nice seat outside that over looked the pier and the beach.

3 Stars: OVER RATED (by puggle)

puggle — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

OCEANS DOWN THE STREET FAR BETTER THAN THIS PLACE. LOBSTER WAS TOUGH. TO CROWDED. WOULD NOT GO BACK.

4 Stars: Not Worth the Money (by scottykam)

scottykam — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I went there for a date and was kept waiting a little longer than quoted, about 20 minutes past my reservation time. The food is good, but nothing great. The Crabcakes are real good, but nothing else is really worth it for the money you spend. My date and I had 2 glasses of wine, an appetizer and an entree and it was over $100. I was not impressed, but it was not great.

5 Stars: Truffle Frites and Mojitos! (by mouseg9)

mouseg9 — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Where else can you go where the waves are in your ears, sunsets in your eyes, mojitos are flowing, and truffles frites are in your nose? Pretty much an all around sensory delight! And don't forget about the great bartenders, especially on Thursdays!!!!!

4 Stars: Brilliant (by ldunne)

ldunne — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Great Grub, Great People, lot of fun, Spectacular View. Great for all occasions, you can make it romantic or just a hip place to be with your mates, enjoying the delicious food, great ambience and fantastic view.

5 Stars: Great food, atmosphere, and service. (by kai78)

kai78 — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Great place to come during the week or weekend. The view is awesome from wherever you are sitting - either soaking up the sun on the patio with cocktails and appetizers or sitting down to nice dinner in the restaurant. A great place to just people watch.

5 Stars: Best overall dining experience with convenient location on the westside (by mr_paso)

mr_paso — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

This is a fantastic place to take a date, special event, or just hang out and make friends at the bar. It has a wonderful atmosphere for any occasion and should the best overall pick, especially as the weather gets warmer. Give it a try if you haven't and don't listen to any envious food critics. Try it out for yourself, the food is great!!

1 Stars: Boooo (by lpalm10)

lpalm10 — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

If you are from the East Coast, you know lobster....Santa Monica does not know lobster....especially at what they are charging...I dont mind playing for a good meal, but the 2 1/2 lb lobster was not worth 75 bucks...The calamari was chewy and disguised in fried-ness and the shrimp gazpacho was tastless..And the fantastic view? It's of the Pier!..I would never go back...I have to say I was really disapointed that I got all dressed up!

5 Stars: This place hits the spot (by trijones)

trijones — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 02:00:00 GMT

As a first time diner I was a bit not sure what to expect..I thought this place would be a big tourist trap, but to my amazement and glee, this is one serious restaurant with a great view and food...the crab cake appt was the most amazing, the salads were fresh, especiall the dungeness crab with the blood oranges..and king crab, so juicy and sweet...My friend had the black bass and it was cooked perfectly and the combination of flavors was right on..my only complaint, is that the wine list is almost all foreign wines and I was expecting a great selection of California wines, and the ones on the list were common and seeminly unimaginative...more California wines and the place would be perfect

3 Stars: For the price, minimally met expectations (by jfnovak)

jfnovak — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

The restaurant was way too crowded, with our servers serving over me to get to my husband. People were friendly and service generally prompt, but the waiter seemed like he'd sell me just about any food or wine by claiming it was "great." Great crab cakes appetizer. The crab bisque was bland. The lobster was great (at $33 a pound, two pound minimum, it should be!). The John Dory fish was mediocre and dry, but the mashed potatoes and garnish were very good. Great dessert. Was not happy as I shivered waiting for the valet, or when we found her smoking in our car! Overall, the restaurant's good, but there are other restaurants in L.A. that I'd try before returning.

4 Stars: great (by bluelulu)

bluelulu — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

i am a huge seafood lover, so my boyfriend took me to the lobster on my last birthday. we didn't have reservations, so we expected a wait. what we didn't expect, however, was the fantastic service while we waited! the cocktail waitress was so nice and attentive, it made the time fly by. once seated, we dined on several delicious dishes--most notably, my scallops with lobster home fries. incredible! there wasn't much of a view when we went (too foggy) but i imagine it is usually lovely. it is rather noisy, but i don't mind that sort of thing... oh, and our waiter was less-than-fabulous. otherwise, the evening was perfect!

3 Stars: What's all the hype about? (by nmhuynh)

nmhuynh — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Based upon several recommendations, on a mother-daughter trip to southern California, my mother and I decided to make reservations for our last night in town for a fun and delicious dinner... Boy were we in for a shock! The restaurant was noisy, crowded, and we should have just sat in our neighbors' laps because our tables were entirely too close for comfort. Our servers were curt and unknowledgeable. The food was definitely rushed in preparation - mine was serverly undercooked, and my mother was entirely overcooked (it should have just been called blackened). By the time our server came over to ask how our meal was we were so frustrated that we asked for the check and left, and being sure to note that our food was not at all up to par.

5 Stars: Surprisingly not a tourist trap! (by placecard)

placecard — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I called ahead (2 weeks) and requested a "view table", when we arrived (to celebrate an early Valentine's Day) we were lead to the best table in the house. Besides the unobstructed view of the lighted pier, we were surprised by reasonable prices (except lobster, which starts at 2lbs and goes up to 5lbs). We had lobster salad with corn pancakes and the crab/arugula salad followed by the scallops and rare ahi with a bottle of Sav. Blanc. While the service was terrible when we arrived, waiting 15 mins for a hello and a glass of water, it picked up after we ordered and our food arrived quickly. Dessert - buttersctoch creme brulee and tawny port. Excellent. We'd definitely go back.

5 Stars: Thoroughly Impressive (by dubs_ucla)

dubs_ucla — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Have avoided this place at the SM Pier for a while, but boy was I missing out. After reading the great reviews I made an anniversary of it with the girlfriend recently and was extremely impressed. Crabcake starter was nearly flawless, dungenous crab salad was good and the scallops were absolutely complex and refined. Our service was fantastic - Thanks Richard! The only knock was the girlfriend's fish that was a little too rich and not overly complex - it was probably a poor choice on our part. Needless to say we walked away very happy and intent on a return visit.

5 Stars: great place (by jmeisen)

jmeisen — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I'm a vegetarian so I don't usually go to seafood restaurants. But a friend wanted to take his parents so I went along, figuring I could just get a salad and enjoy the view. We had reservations but arrived early and were seated right away. While we didnt have the best view as we weren't right by the windows, it was a good view none-the-less. The service was excellent - our waitress was very knowledgeable and took the time to answer our questions and provide recommedations. I asked about a vegetarian option even though it wasn't on the menu and they accomodated me and made a dish without lobster and it was delicious. OUr server also recommended the wine we ordered and I was very pleased with that as well. Over all, great service, delicious food, a chill atmosphere - well worth the money (as it is more expensive).

5 Stars: A great experience at The Lobster (by hulens)

hulens — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 01:00:00 GMT

My husband and I went to The Lobster for my 40th birthday dinner in November. It was our first time in California and we visited The Lobster at the beginning of our vacation. Everything was absolutely wonderful!!!! The hostess was extremely nice and we were promptly seated. The waiter was friendly and we received very good service throughout our meal. The food was excellent!!!! I could not have asked for a more perfect, special place to celebrate. Of course, the very best part was the dessert- Chocolate Bread Pudding, MMMMM!! Throughout our entire trip we did not have a dessert as delicious as this one. I highly recommend The Lobster and cannot wait until I have the opportunity to return to California and visit this great place. It has left a lasting impression and will remain a great memory.

4 Stars: What's not to like? (by Kevin D.)

Kevin D. — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 15:48:00 GMT

If you're available for lunch, this is an excellent option -- although having dinner there is not too shabby either. The variety in their seafood are splendid, and there are plenty of styles of lobster dishes to choose from. The traditional steamed lobster is stellar, but there are some lively sandwich options, too.

5 Stars: Crab cakes are heavenly good!!! (by patata0680)

patata0680 — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Loved this restaurant...crowded yes but also romantic and the view is breathtaking. As appetizer we had crab cakes and they are the best by far. The drinks were small but good, as entree try the jumbo shrimps or the grilled yellowtail with yummy risotto. if you make reservation ask for a table by the oceanside.

5 Stars: Delicious (by bllerenas)

bllerenas — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I went here for dinner for an anniversary. We didn't have reservations but we were seated very quickly. The hostess was great and the waiter was great. Didn't take long for our food to arrive. The food was very good, no complaints. The only thing I didn't like was where we sat. The view was beautiful but it was a little too crowded, not quiet at all. It is great for a birthday dinner or out with some friends but not for a romantic dinner even though the scene is romantic.

5 Stars: User review by stacylynne (by stacylynne)

stacylynne — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

After reading all the great reviews of this restaurant I made reservations for my husband and I for our one-year anniversary. Upon checking in at the restaurant the hostess immediately wished us a happy anniversary and showed us to beautiful table by the window overlooking the Santa Monica Pier. My husband ordered the filet mignon and I ordered the crab cakes entree. Both dishes were delicious. I would definitely recommend this spot for a romantic evening or special ocassion. Our night ended with our waiter wishing us a happy anniversary and presenting us a piece of chocolate cake with a candle in it. The Lobster's staff went above and beyond to ensure my husband and I enjoyed our anniversary.

5 Stars: Times when you're oh-so-happy you're an Angeleno (by manonb)

manonb — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

You can't beat the views from this light and airy restaurant that practically spills out into the ocean. The food was fantastic, and the wait staff was kind and attentive. The chocolate bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream at the end was the ultimate cap to a lunch of indulgence. The grilled spiny lobster was fabulous. My friend and I enjoyed our lunch--we had no reservations and went on a lark--and had the best seat in the house to boot! Highly recommended.

1 Stars: A horrible disappointment (by yumyum1)

yumyum1 — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 02:00:00 GMT

We had a horrible experience here! Don't waste your time or money. It funny, after we went to the Lobster, we talked to a lot of people who thought this place was overrated...
What a disappointment after I read good reviews on Citysearch. It must be the management writing these good reviews.

4 Stars: its good (by winendine999)

winendine999 — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I went to the Lobster for a birthday dinner. We ordered the crabcakes (best I've had so far), the crab bisque (very good), the pan fried lobster (very good) and a curried lobster dish (so- so). Overall the food was very good. Prices were definitely steep, but the overall experience was nice enough to want to come back on special occasions or once in awhile. The nighttime ocean view wasnt as impressive as I was expecting. Perhaps really only spectular on a clear night with a full moon. But the the hostess was very friendly and helpful and the servers and busboys as well. Ive heard good things about the spiny lobster...have to go back to try it. Very hip, relaxed, romantic ambience, but not stuffy and very elegant.

4 Stars: nice shop (by Tran H.)

Tran H. — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 03:52:00 GMT

i love the lobster here too. fine dining, but you can dress casual. you got the ocean view. its right next to the beach. the place is very tight. you sit very close to the next person. it gets loud in there. the desserts are delicious.

5 Stars: Best Crabcake Ever (by kater001)

kater001 — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Thanks to the waiter for pointing us in the right direction for what to order. Everything he recommended was outstanding and everything we ordered on our own was very average in comparison. The best was the crabcake - you can't go wrong. Thanks again!

4 Stars: Good food, great location (by Andrea B.)

Andrea B. — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 15:18:00 GMT

The Lobster sits right in front of the Santa Monica Pier. You can see the ferris wheel from the window. The John Dory fish and Kobe steak are delicious. A plate will cost you about 35 dollars. The house gave my boyfriend and I a free chocolate bread pudding when I mentioned that we've been dating for eight months. A a nice place to have appetizers and drinks with your girlfriends after a day of shopping on 3rd street promenade!

4 Stars: Fabulous food but average atmosphere (by yizhoudu)

yizhoudu — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I came there on a special occasion with my boyfriend. We had reservations so we were seated fairly quickly. As I passed through the bar/patio I got really nervous that it was just going to be another "trendy" bar/lounge. Their dining room is spacious, but like all California restaurants the ceilings are really high for some reason so you have to yell to have a conversation. The tables are also a little bit too close together (Another Cali staple) so if you can, request a booth. But the food makes up for the uncomfortable atmsphere. Together, my boyfriend and I had the lobster bisque (creamy and delicious), calamari (great), seared tuna (hmmm!), and grilled salmon (done just right). I really loved everything I had there and if it weren't so expensive, I would want to go every week!

5 Stars: Best dinner ever! (by katieboo)

katieboo — Sat, 25 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I came here on a friday for a 6:00 reservation. To begin, our server was AMAZING. He was so nice, so attentive, and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. The shrimp cocktail was the best shrimp I have ever tasted. I had the halibut but without the lobster sauce, which i dislike. It was presented to me without sauce and just a lemon wedge. It was still the best halibut though. It was soooo good! My date's lobster was great too. The banana brulee for dessert was the perfect end to the perfect meal. The panoramic of the coast was great. This restaurant is worth checking out!! I loved it.

5 Stars: What a perfect find!! (by 1luvfinerthings)

1luvfinerthings — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I love the view from the restaurant. The food, people, environment was great. The service speaks for itself. The staff treats you like royalty. I can't wait until I come back to this restaurant.

5 Stars: Great Restaurant! (by Madelyn)

Madelyn — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Great food, great service, great view. Very romantic. Have brought large parties and service was always excellent, and guests raved.

5 Stars: A little piece of heaven (by letsdance)

letsdance — Fri, 27 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

What an amazing place. The best view on the westside, delicious food, wonderful warm friendly staff who treated us like goddesses! We are so glad we found this place. It is truly the place to go for me! Can't wait to tell my friends! I loved it!!!

5 Stars: Worth the trip! (by onefromtheheart)

onefromtheheart — Fri, 27 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

A friend recommended the Lobster to us and we are glad we took his advice. What a terrific restaurant. I have the Halibut and it was the best piece of fish I have ever had. My girlfriend had the Lobster and loved it! We also had the Mojitos and they were so good. How can you go wrong with the view and the food at this place. We sat on the patio and watched the sun go down and really enjoyed ourselves.

4 Stars: The Lobster is always so good! (by westside1414)

westside1414 — Fri, 27 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I've been here a few times now. I've been on dates and had business lunches at The Lobster - its always so good! The location is amazing and the food is excellent. There's a lot more to their menu than just Seafood also. I will be back again.

2 Stars: nice place but overrated (by Jamie P.)

Jamie P. — Wed, 18 May 2005 22:43:00 GMT

I feel bad giving this only 2 stars because it isn't a bad place. Great location on the pier in Santa Monica, and the food is good. There isn't a whole lot of selection or variety to the menu, however, and the prices are high. For that kind of money, I expected... more.

2 Stars: the worst service and attitude problems (by steelblade100)

steelblade100 — Mon, 09 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I've heard about the lobster through people and advertisements. my fiance and decided to try out the restaurant and to see if we would like to have a rehearsal dinner for 40 people. When we walked to the reservationist desk, we were totally ignored by the person at the desk. Finally we were able to get the person's attention, he rudely brushed us off and strike a conversation with "important people" about fish in the aquarium tank behind the reservationist deck. When we finally sat on our table, the service was rude and really noisy. we just walked out without having dinner. I would rather spend my money on restaurants who care about service and patrons.

5 Stars: Great Meal (by samanthacat)

samanthacat — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 02:00:00 GMT

The food is delicious. It lived up to all expectations---very well-prepared and tasty. I would definitely go back.

5 Stars: Great Food - Great View! (by mknLA)

mknLA — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I've been here numerous times and everytime it seems to get better. Great place to have drinks and watch the sunset and the food is superb!

4 Stars: Not a tourist spot (by d_fens)

d_fens — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I thought it was some kind of tourist trap. But no. It's a really cool place with a trendy scene and up-scale guests that makes this a good bar scene place as well as a good place for food - not only seafood actually. Great wine list as well. The service is good, although not that personal. No suprises here and you get what you pay for. I suppose I will go here with my wife. She will like it. Or I will go here with my work buddies. They will like it. It's a good restaurant.

5 Stars: A Complete 180 - Updated from 03/12/2005 Review (by nicoco184)

nicoco184 — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

A good friend from college recently moved out to the area, giving me a great excuse to go back to the Santa Monica area. When we sat down to decide where to go to dinner, she instantly suggested The Lobster. Having had a bad experience (see 3/12/05 review), I was a little reluctant, but she convinced me to try it again. I am SO glad that we went back!!! Our waiter, Claus, made amazing appetizer and entree recommendations - Salmon sashimi and crab cakes for one friend, fried calamari and seared tuna for the other, and lobster cocktail and Chilean seabass for myself. I consider myself seafood savvy, and it has been a long time since I've had such fresh, flavorful seafood. As a waiter, Claus was the perfect balance of attentive and entertaining, without being overwhelming. Our cocktails were superb - definitely try the mojito, which is the bartender's specialty. For those who enjoy dirty vodka martinis (I have a weakness for a good one), mine was perfect - not to salty or sour. I highly recommend The Lobster for its ambiance and scenery, and without a doubt for its food.

4 Stars: Great scallops (by tattud_gurl)

tattud_gurl — Thu, 23 Sep 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Busy Saturday night, so service was slow. The waiter automatically asked us if we wanted bottled water. Avoid that...it adds $$ to your bill.
The lobster was just lobster. The scallops however, were fantastic! The ahi carpaccio was equally as wonderful.
Great place, but the tables are uncomfortably close to each other.

5 Stars: Fabulous (by madelynrosen)

madelynrosen — Thu, 20 May 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Fabulous restaurant, great food, beautiful view, terrific service. waitpeople are polite as are the hosts.

5 Stars: best food (by davidmendes)

davidmendes — Fri, 12 Mar 2004 01:00:00 GMT

a very fine dining experience. for our family, the standard of great food and service by which all others will be judged

5 Stars: Love it (by katta2)

katta2 — Fri, 06 Feb 2004 01:00:00 GMT

I cannot stop raving about this place..it is fun, the food id great and the service is excellent....when at the beach..the Lobster is a must

5 Stars: great every time we go (by millercy)

millercy — Wed, 12 Nov 2003 01:00:00 GMT

My husband and I really enjoy this place every time we go. The food is dynamite and the wine selection excellent. Yes, it's crowded, but I frequent NY restaurants so it wasn't a big deal. The crab dip is AWESOME. We also didn't have a reso, but got a bottle of wine and sat outside to wait. really nice.

3 Stars: It was okay, but willing to try again (by pcline)

pcline — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Granted, the lobster was delicious. However, they could offer a side dish along with it like they do on other items on the menu. Additionally, the table we were seated was sooooo close to the ones on either side of us that we 1) were knew all of the other table's conversation without wanting to and vice versa and 2) you felt crowded in like a sardine. If you do make reservations, request a booth or one of the tables overlooking the water. Also, wait for a clear night. Ambience isn't the same with the plastic covering the spectacular view.

4 Stars: Great views! (by pikachu)

pikachu — Fri, 29 Aug 2003 02:00:00 GMT

This is a great place for visitors! The view is awesome, probably the best in the area! In my opinion, it is a little over-rated. I've had better, but it's still worth going to. Buttom line, it's a great place to take a visitor or a date, but not a good place to go back over and over. It'll add up!

5 Stars: The owners... (by eltiburon)

eltiburon — Fri, 15 Aug 2003 02:00:00 GMT

Down to earth people -at least Dr. Nathan was- very considerate and helpful all around... Great view and cool bar! definitely a place to visit ANY time you are in Santa Monica...

5 Stars: GREAT PLACE (by MARK)

MARK — Wed, 28 May 2003 02:00:00 GMT

nOT REALLY SURE WHAT A FEW PEOPLE ARE SAYING..THE LOBSTER WAS SWEET AND JUICY, AND MY SERVISCE WAS EXCELLENT..i LOVE THIS PLACE AND CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK

3 Stars: the Bottom of the Top (by wmjrjacobs)

wmjrjacobs — Wed, 29 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

The Lobster is a great dining experience, provided that you and your guests bring the right tools. What tools you say, a miner helmet is required, if, and only if, you would like to actually see the food placed in front of you.
Their reasoning is that their other guests prefer to see the beach, city lights and the stars above, not what they are going to eat, so only venture there with that in mind.

5 Stars: Great Seafood (by omphalos)

omphalos — Fri, 13 Dec 2002 01:00:00 GMT

This place really does have great seafood. Everything is fresh and full of flavor. The chef really has his act together. The service was very attentive.

4 Stars: great at sunset (by highermath)

highermath — Tue, 10 Dec 2002 01:00:00 GMT

If you get a good table, it is wonderful. A bad table and it is hell. Just don't let them give you a bad one, like the table in the far southwest corner.

If you cna go at sunset or even just go to the bar at sunset, it is spectacular.

5 Stars: Lobster Bliss (by K8idid)

K8idid — Sun, 24 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

This was the best meal I have had in L.A. thus far: from the amazing mid-afternoon/sunset view, to the warm-service, to the food. I went with a girlfriend of mine and we asked to split the Lobster Chowder, after that the waitress offered to split all of our orders, so we ended up having a four-course meal. the appatizers were good. However, the main courses are where we found our bliss. First we had the seared Yellow Tail and then the boiled Lobster (+ we split a bottle of white wine.) Both the Yellow Tail and Lobster were amazing, in fact, I would have to say that it was the best lobster I have had since I was in Maine. By the end of the meal, the service was so good, and the food was so exquisite, that we ended up tipping 30% simply because it made our week.

3 Stars: over rated (by barinek)

barinek — Fri, 22 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

Great view. Everything else....over rated. Over priced decent food. Service below average. Great view.

4 Stars: Lobster (by Sabella)

Sabella — Fri, 15 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

The seafood here is GREAT - but other dishes (appetizers, salads, desserts, etc.) leave a lot to be desired and are quite over-priced for what you get. However, the fish is amazing, and the view is spectacular. Service can be a little snobby and pushy.

4 Stars: Martini Heaven (by guru35)

guru35 — Fri, 01 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

The food is good, not great. But they make the best martini in LA. Its called the executive martinni and it comes with blue cheese stuffed olives. A must for any true martini lover

1 Stars: OVERRATED (by moose34)

moose34 — Mon, 21 Oct 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The Lobster is very much overrated. Yes, the panoramic view is nice, but when you ask for marinanra sauce for your fried calamari, and they give you ketchup...well that says enough.

The lobster itself was a bit rubbery to say the least, and to pay that much for bad lobster and fried calamari with ketchup is absurd.

4 Stars: o.k (by mattyg89)

mattyg89 — Sat, 31 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

doesn't compare to capo or melissee. good food nice view, pushy service. I would go back, but its far from a dining experience like capo or melisse. Great location though. Nice sunsets.

5 Stars: succulent (by vickybreitman)

vickybreitman — Mon, 29 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

My husband and I dined at The Lobster on our wedding night. The service was unbelievable and the view, not to mention the fantastic food, was just perfect and helped to make our special night that much more memorable! Thanks Lauren!

5 Stars: Great place to watch the sunset (by dturner)

dturner — Fri, 26 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

If you are looking for a fun place to watch the sunset, don't think twice about making a reservation for this great restaurant. I would recommend making a reservation and asking for a window seat if possible.

Also, arrive early so you can enjoy a glass of wine from the patio before sitting down for an excellent dinner. I recommend the half lobster!!!

5 Stars: 9 (by johnklink)

johnklink — Thu, 25 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Delicious meals and a Romantic Sunset Setting make this the place to celebrate that special occassion.

5 Stars: Nice view (by diane02)

diane02 — Wed, 10 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The Lobster is a wonderful place right on the Santa Monica Pier. The view of the beach is great, esp. if you sit in the outside dining. The food here is just as good. And they have an extensive drink menu. Try the Lobster Mai Tai.

4 Stars: Drinks with a View (by yveTTE)

yveTTE — Mon, 01 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

My husband and I had dinner at the Lobster, on Friday. We did not have a reservation, but the 1 1/2 hr wait was worth it, because of the WONDERFUL View. We sat in the outdoor patio, had drinks, ate steamed clams and people watched. When we finnally were seated we ordered a shrimp and a scallop dish. They were both good, but the portions were not that big. The service was friendly and we would definitely go again for drinks and the view. (Best time for the view is before sundown.)

4 Stars: 8.5 (by pknla)

pknla — Fri, 28 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

the best lobsters in town, hands down. a good view only at night. the bar is fun with a classy westside crowd. great place for a sat afternoon drink and a bite.

5 Stars: Geat Food & View! (by nkm)

nkm — Thu, 27 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Looking for a place to go to watch the sunset? This place is a must! Amazing food!

5 Stars: The Place to eat in Santa Monica (by bp12)

bp12 — Sun, 16 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

If you are with your family, friends, or on a date The Lobster is hands down the best place have dinner or drinks watching the sun go down. Beside great lobster the shrimp Louie is one of the best salads I've ever had. They have done an excellenct job with their staff who takes care of you the minute you arrive. They truly set the standard for restuarants to follow.

5 Stars: Great Lobster, View & Service (by mark)

mark — Thu, 13 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Went to the lobster one night with co-workers. Had a nice time in the bar and then sat down to the best lobster dinner that I've ever had. Outstanding! On top of that, the serivce and views are very tough to beat. The Lobster is at the top of my list for favorite spots and is definitely #1 for lobster and from what I saw and tasted- the seafood too.

5 Stars: 10 (by happygirl)

happygirl — Tue, 11 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The friendliest restaurant in town with the best food and the most incredible view of the ocean. Need I say more?

5 Stars: Best Lobster Ever (by sunsoul3)

sunsoul3 — Wed, 05 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I have eaten lobster in Maine, Florida, and the Carribbean, and this place has the best lobster I have ever had! It was cooked perfectly! The service was also superb. Our server was experienced, friendly, and knowledgeable of the menu! Did I mention how beautiful the sunset was? I highly recommend this place! It is truly top of the line and very romantic!

5 Stars: Gone fishin' (by LisaGlasser)

LisaGlasser — Tue, 04 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Finally--an fine dining establishment in LA without the attitude! the friendly staff at the Lobster graciously welcomes you, no matter who you are. Always a hot spot for dining and power lunches, the Lobster happens to have one of the most hoppin' happy hours in town. Lose yourself somewhere between lunch and sunset without feeling guilty (we did!). The Lobster Bloody Mary comes adorned with a fresh, jumbo shrimp on the rim and if the salmon entree is available, don't hesitate for your main course. For stunning ocean views and great seafood, this is the ultimate in LA.

5 Stars: Best View in LA (by KenSouthall)

KenSouthall — Wed, 22 May 2002 02:00:00 GMT

The best view in LA, especially at sunset an absolute must! I have experienced the food here many times and yet to be disappointed.

Order any of the lobster offerings on the menu for a sure bet. The staff is very well-trained, our server Lauren recommended the perfect wine with our meal and provided outstanding service on a very busy evening.

We are regulars to The Lobster and will continue to frequently dine here.

5 Stars: Yum! (by amyg)

amyg — Mon, 20 May 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Loved The Lobster. The steak was to die for & the desserts are delicous. Add the view & you've got the best place in Santa Monica!