I went a bit back and forth with this one, wondering if it was catering to tourists, right outside Santa Monica Pier. Was it going to be a trap? It could look that way if you were none the wiser. I did a stupid thing: I messaged the restaurant asking if everything was fresh, especially the lobster. They replied, “It is!” Would they have told me the truth otherwise? At least I got a response; I suppose they could have ignored me, like at Tadich Grill in San Francisco. I was very concerned about how many dishes they had on the menu, happily promoting it, so I went as far as asking, “How many chefs are working here?” What a surprise — no response! I got my answer.
I suggest you come here for lobster, as the name states: The Lobster. After 25 years and still going strong, there is a frame on the wall outlining all the important people who work here — a small, tight-knit group. Full of smiles, every single one of them. This is slowly fading away in the hospitality world, so coming across it gave me hope. As for the lobster, you can go for the local California spiny lobster, which is only available for a short while, or the usual Maine lobster. I went for the former, seeing as it wasn’t going to be here for very long.
I was taken aback — it was well grilled. Tasty, and not overdone, with a small pot of drawn garlic butter on the side. “Well, here is one we can come back to,” I chirped, not even expecting myself to say it. The lobster mash, however, did need some improvement. The lobster in it was tough, and I didn’t think the idea worked — for price or delivery. I would not order it again.
Everything else was acceptable: crispy fries, seared mushrooms, grilled Delta asparagus, all accompanied by attentive service, a comfortable dining room, and a nice view. You will be pleased to know this is not a magnet for out-of-towners, as I initially thought. Was there anything to be aware of? No, not really. It was one of the rare dinners in Los Angeles where I didn’t have bad things to say, and when you find this, you can breathe a sigh of relief, able to give it another chance next time. Because I can tell you, there are not a lot of returning-guest yeses in this city. The next time you walk past The Lobster in Santa Monica, you don’t need to wonder — I did all the work for you.
