The Lobster

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1602 Ocean Ave (at Ocean & Colorado)
Santa Monica, CA 90401

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(310) 458-9294
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The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
The Lobster - Santa Monica, CA
Reviews
( 63 )
( 46 )
( 18 )
( 3 )
( 7 )

Best

Our service was great and the waiter was adorable. Ambiance was romantic and definitely recommended. For the music,,,I would recommend jazz or house and the people were cool. Port...

Worst

Great view. Everything else....over rated. Over priced decent food. Service below average. Great view. Pros: view Cons: price, staff, food

the worst service and attitude problems 5/9/2005

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 more
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Great Meal 4/27/2005

The food is delicious. It lived up to all expectations---very well-prepared and tasty. I would definitely go back. Pros: tasty food more
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Great Food - Great View! 3/25/2005

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 more
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A Complete 180 - Updated from 03/12/2005 Review 3/12/2005

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 more
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Not a tourist spot 3/12/2005

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 more
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Great scallops 9/22/2004

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 more
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Fabulous 5/19/2004

Fabulous restaurant, great food, beautiful view, terrific service. waitpeople are polite as are the hosts. Pros: Great food, beautiful view, fast & polite service more
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best food 3/11/2004

a very fine dining experience. for our family, the standard of great food and service by which all others will be judged Pros: best food, best service, simply the best more
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Love it 2/5/2004

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 Pros: food, view Cons: noisy more
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great every time we go 11/11/2003

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. more
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It was okay, but willing to try again 10/29/2003

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. Pros: parking, potential atmosphere Cons: crowded tables more
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Great views! 8/29/2003

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! more
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The owners... 8/14/2003

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... Pros: Good food, Prompt maitre'd Cons: Crowded on weekends more
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GREAT PLACE 5/28/2003

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 more
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the Bottom of the Top 1/29/2003

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. more
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Great Seafood 12/13/2002

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. more
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great at sunset 12/10/2002

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. Pros: View, View, View more
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Lobster Bliss 11/24/2002

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. Pros: Best Seafood Ever, Sunset Ocean View, Split Courses Cons: A Little Pricey, no cons, no cons more
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over rated 11/22/2002

Great view. Everything else....over rated. Over priced decent food. Service below average. Great view. Pros: view Cons: price, staff, food more
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Lobster 11/15/2002

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. Pros: Wonderful seafood, great drinks, beautiful view Cons: overpriced, rude servers, sub-standard side dis more
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Menu for The Lobster


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Voted "Best Seafood" in Los Angeles by Citysearch voters!

Owner Message

  • Rich in history, "The Lobster" stands as a tribute to the family that built its reputation. Established as a Lobster Shack in 1923, the remaining original structure within the foundation and walls of the main entrance and footprint still stand at the corner of Ocean Avenue and the Pier. "Established in 1923", recessed in the corner stone, greets guests in the spirit and heritage that only belongs to "The Lobster".

    The menu is classic American seafood featuring whole live Maine lobsters. Guests can sit at any seat in the restaurant or bar area and enjoy 180 degree views of the spectacular Pacific Ocean, accented by it's breathtaking sunsets, even celebrate the sea spun sunset phenomena called the 'Green Flash'. The terrace provides fresh coastal air for those who love to dine outdoors.

Editorial

  • This is a Santa Monica staple located at the Pier with excellent service. Come for happy hour with $6 cocktails and discounted food items.

  • 4/25/2012 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon - Thu 11:30am - 10pm Fri - Sat 11:30am - 11pm Sun 11am - 10pm
  • Payments: Discover, American Express, Master Card, Diner's Club, Visa, Carte Blanche
  • Neighborhoods: West LA, Downtown
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