09/24/09

Beautiful view, good ambience

by sasha felix

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

• Pros: beautiful view, good ambience

07/27/09

Great food!

by Hamish90

Love this place.

• Pros: Food and ambiance
• Cons: none

02/02/09

Great Atmosphere, Moderate Food

by EconomicArmageddon

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.

• Pros: Water front view, on the pier

01/11/09

I've been many times- always a great experience!

by BrigitteTols

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!

• Pros: Best view, food, and service in Santa Monica!
• Cons: No way to guarantee a direct window table!

Response from this business

happygirl– January 27, 2009 at 13:58:32 PST

I just wanted to thank you for your wonderful review! We are so glad you like and hope to see you soon!

11/30/08

SO-SO SERVICE MAKES THE MEAL UNREMARKABLE

by LondonLeslie

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.

• Pros: The busboy flipped a leave to make the twig of a table we were at bearable.
• Cons: Tiny 2 top tables for 6ft plus people. Move-em in, move-em out mentality.

11/06/08

Great view, good food

by krznlv

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.

11/03/08

my review

by clementine23

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

09/20/08

Awesome. Enough said.

by alohakashiwa

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.

09/20/08

Awesome. Enough said.

by alohakashiwa

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.

09/15/08

Great drinks!

by seamonkey74

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.

• Pros: Great Bloody Marys
• Cons: Crowded