Review: Burger and Lobster

When I started this blog coming up to two years ago now I would write about anything and everything – from art galleries I’ve visited to fancy dress outfits I’d created. Since then it’s been heavily weighted with food reviews. I love finding new places, particularly independently run restaurants and bars to visit and review. What better place to find these new experiences than London – steeped in history, buzzing with energy and constantly leading the field in everything from its cuisine to its cutting edge fashions, there really is no place more diverse or exciting to live in the UK than London (ShortList, 2012).

Slowing making my way through the must-visit restaurants in the city this week delivered lobster. Since opening it’s doors for the first time in December 2011 bloggers have been all over Burger & Lobster, as have the public joining the end of one hour long queues. With a no reservation policy and having tried to dine there before I was more prepared this time, arriving at the Mayfair branch straight after work and putting my name down on the list in time for a 7.30pm meal time. Your name and number is taken by the front of house staff giving you time to go away and grab a drink elsewhere before receiving a phone call to tell you that your table is now available.

I was super excited about eating at Burger and Lobster, it’s safe to say that it has been top of my list of places to visit for a good year. Finally the time had come! My already half tipsy dining partner (yes, you!) generously decided to order a bottle of the Albarina, A20 white wine (£35). Under the recommendation of our waiter it was the “best value for your money” wine.

Now, for those of you that don’t know this already – there are only three items on the menu to choose from at Burger and Lobster.

1) A burger,

2) A whole lobster or,

3) A lobster roll.

All are priced at £20 each. There’s clearly an element of subsidisation here with a £20 burger helping make a £20 lobster possible (so thank you all those of you who eat burgers there, really, thank you). At a purist and theoretical level, the obvious option for me was the whole lobster in the shell for the required presentation alone ensures you cannot be short changed on lobster as you might be in a roll. Whether I’m correct I will never know as on this occasion we both went for the whole lobster.

Check that out for a meal. I went for the whole steamed lobster, which is grilled before serving with lemon and herb butter sauce, fries and salad. My dining partner chose the whole steamed lobster without the grilling – after tasting his I wish I’d gone for that one as the grilling just added an unnecessary smoky taste to the meat which took away some of it’s juiciness.

This was one of the most fun meals out I’d been on. To eat the lobster you had to get your fingers dirty, picking it up and cracking the shell to get as much meat as possible. We were given bibs to wear and a lobster pick, struggling to get the meat out of the claws the waiter gave us a lobster cracker as well. It was a really interactive meal, which I love – getting close to your food!

Sophisticated diners if you ask me!

The lemon and herb butter sauce was heavenly, I wanted more of it to dip the fries in. Even the salad was delicious, mostly spinach leaves with red onion, croutons, parmesan cheese and a balsamic glaze drizzled over the top of it. My kind of salad. Obviously the lobster was delicious too – it was the crowning glory of the whole meal.

For all those reason’s I’ll be back. Whenever the next opportunity arises. Anybody want me to go with them??

Details

ADDRESS: Four branches to choose from;

29 Clarges street, Mayfair London W1J 7EF

36 Dean street, Soho London W1D 4PS

40 St John’s Street, Smithfield, London EC1M 4AY

1 Bread street, London EC4M 8SH

CONTACT: www.burgerandlobster.com

OPENING TIMES: Monday to Saturday from 12 to 10.30pm (last orders), Sunday, from 12 to 5.30pm (last orders) Closed on Bank Holidays.

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/burgerandlobster

TWITTER: @Londonlobster