The Lobster

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...

Posted 10/30/06

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

Posted 10/26/06

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

Pros: Food and view

Cons: parking

Posted 10/21/06

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!!

Pros: View.........

Cons: Price, service

Posted 10/10/06

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.

Pros: nice seafood, atmosphere

Cons: extremely high noise volume from bar

Posted 09/11/06

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.

Posted 09/04/06

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.

Pros: perfect sea food

Posted 08/26/06

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.

Pros: Their Lobster

Cons: Pricey even during the season

Posted 08/23/06

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

Pros: CANT THINK OF ANY

Cons: IN THE AREA SO MANY OTHER SEAFOOD RESTURANTS THAT ARE BETTER

Posted 07/28/06

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.

Pros: Crab Cakes

Cons: Price and the tables inside felt crammed close ot each other

Posted 07/23/06

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!!!!!

Pros: All of it!

Cons: Niente

Posted 07/20/06

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.

Posted 07/19/06

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.

Pros: Great food and service with excellent views.

Posted 07/19/06

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!!

Pros: Location, food and service

Cons: too festive so make reservations, very popular

Posted 07/19/06

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!

Posted 07/17/06

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

Pros: food, view, service

Cons: wine list

Posted 04/04/06

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.

Posted 03/08/06

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!

Pros: seafood, wine, cocktail waitress

Cons: dour waiter, loud, fog

Posted 02/19/06

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.

Pros: The view

Cons: Noise, Service, Food

Posted 02/15/06

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.

Pros: valet, view, romantic

Cons: busy, crowded, water service

Posted 02/12/06

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.

Pros: Service, Crabcakes

Posted 02/09/06

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).

Posted 01/23/06

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.

Pros: Great food, Friendly staff, Nice view

Cons: Semi- Expensive

Posted 12/09/05

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.

Pros: food, service, ocean view

Cons: expens.valet

Posted 11/06/05

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.

Pros: Great food, Great service

Cons: Too busy, Too crowded

Posted 11/01/05

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.

Pros: Great view, Delicious food, Friendly staff

Posted 10/21/05

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.

Pros: Awesome views, Great food

Cons: Pricey, but hey!

Posted 10/14/05

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.

Posted 09/16/05

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.

Posted 08/22/05

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!

Pros: Staff, Food

Cons: Expensive drinks

Posted 07/27/05

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!

Pros: great food, good service, awsome view

Cons: $$$, noisy dining room

Posted 07/14/05

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.

Pros: Food, View, Wine Selection, Ambiance

Posted 06/25/05

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.

Posted 06/19/05

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

Pros: great food, great view, great service

Posted 06/15/05

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!!!

Pros: view, food, staff

Cons: none, none, none

Posted 05/27/05

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.

Posted 05/27/05

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.

Pros: View, Menu, Service

Cons: Parking

Posted 05/27/05

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.

Pros: non

Cons: bad service, attitude problem, rude

Posted 05/09/05

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

Pros: tasty food

Posted 04/27/05

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!

Pros: view, food, service

Posted 03/25/05

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.

Pros: Good winelist, Good seafood

Cons: Bit cramped, Little loud

Posted 03/12/05

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.

Pros: view, cocktails, seafood

Posted 03/12/05

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.

Pros: Great view, great scallops

Posted 09/23/04

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

Pros: Great food, beautiful view, fast & polite service

Posted 05/20/04