Santa Monica's Iconic Seafood Spot The Lobster Celebrates 25 Years
- By: Ashley Joy Parker
- September 19, 2024
So fresh…
Situated at the intersection of Route 66 and the Pacific Ocean, legendary seafood restaurant The Lobster is truly as much a part of Santa Monica’s history as the Santa Monica Pier itself. Established over a century ago, the internationally recognized dining destination continues to deliver exceptional seafood and unrivaled panoramic views of the Santa Monica Pier and Malibu coastline
This month The Lobster will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of its significant expansion to its stunning second-story location in Santa Monica. The Michelin Plate-lauded restaurant, under the masterful guidance of acclaimed Chef Govind Armstrong, is also celebrating its milestone 100th anniversary in its original location, a rare feat for any restaurant in the world.
To mark this momentous occasion, The Lobster is hosting a special celebration on National Lobster Day, Sept. 25, followed by month-long festivities throughout National Seafood Month this October.
Kicking off the festivities, The Lobster will host an exclusive National Lobster Day Celebration, open to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with entertainment, a hosted raw bar, and specialty cocktails.
In honor of its milestone anniversary, The Lobster will offer a special $25 Anniversary Menu starting on Sept. 25 and continuing throughout October, showcasing four of the restaurant’s signature dishes at just $25 each. Guests can savor favorites like the celebrated lobster roll paired with a glass of bubbly, beer, or wine. For those with a big appetite, order all four special dishes and enjoy a free dessert — the perfect sweet ending to an extraordinary dining experience.
The Lobster will also be introducing an ALL DAY Happy Hour on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to close, featuring menu items such as $7 craft beers, $12 specialty cocktails, $3.50 oysters, and $12 Smash Burgers.
The milestone year commemorates decades of culinary excellence in the revered Los Angeles dining community, and Chef Armstrong pulls out all the stops in The Lobster’s 25th year.
At the core of its menu, fresh lobster is flown in directly from Maine six days a week with no middle man, ensuring patrons enjoy the freshest catch. The menu features some of Los Angeles’ finest California cuisine, including classic menu favorites that Chef Armstrong has added his own special touch, such as: crispy calamari and prawns with garlic anchovy aioli, ponzu and sweet chili sauce; New England style clam chowder, house smoked bacon that is smoked for six hours and cured for seven days, heirloom potatoes, and parsley croutons; steamed Maine Lobster, with Gloria’s Blue Lake green beans, Weiser Farms heirloom Potatoes and drawn butter; and grilled Maine lobster with fresh herbs, lemon and drawn garlic butter.
The 25th anniversary also marks significant additions to the menu, further enhanced by Chef Armstrong’s signature style of California cuisine. New dishes, among many others, include: cured King Salmon with whipped burrata, baby greens, summer tomatoes, cucumber and green goddess; broiled hamachi collar with shaved radish, togarashi and ponzu dipping; Parisian-style gnocchi with butter poached Maine lobster, pink vodka sauce and caviar; seared rare yellowfin with Dungeness crab fried rice and green mango salsa; roasted pork tomahawk with polenta, roasted sunchoke, tomato and olive relish; and prime 10oz. Sirloin steak with crisp duck fat potatoes, mixed greens, dates and bleu cheese.
The lunch menu features exclusive dishes that are worth taking a visit mid-day. At the helm of the daytime menu is the lobster roll, cradled in a fresh butter roll, a touch of Japanese aioli, shredded zen lettuce and topped with sea salt, a sprinkle of chives and a few drops of lemon. Other lunch standouts include: king salmon tacos with homemade corn tortillas, salsa macha and pico de gallo; a house smoked pastrami sandwich on griddled corn rye, comeback sauce, comté cheese and fries; brisket with a week-long cure, coriander, black and white pepper 12-hour smoke; and a cast iron 10oz. rib eye steak seasoned with chef’s homemade spice blend, mixed greens, crisp “caulilini” and chimichurri.
To whet the palate, Chef Armstrong carefully curated the California-heavy wine list, sprinkled with impressive and eclectic Old World wines. The specialty cocktail and mocktail lists are a group effort created by The Lobster bar staff and Chef Armstrong. The lists include: the signature Lobster Cosmo made with fresh raspberries; El Espadim Espresso Martini with Victorioso mezcal, Tia Maria, Kahlua, agave, and espresso; East Side with Meili vodka, Lillet Blanc, lime, cucumber, and mint; and Grapefruit Spritzer with Ritual aperitif, pink grapefruit, and Topo Chico.
The desserts are all made in-house, with crowd favorites including the Tahitian vanilla bean custard and warm banana cake.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Santa Monica community and our loyal guests from all over the world who have supported The Lobster for the past 25 years, ” said Chef Armstrong. “This anniversary is a celebration of our involvement in LA’s vast dining scene for decades, as we continue to create memorable dining experiences for generations to come.”
He continued, “And if you’re going to celebrate National Lobster Day, there’s no better place to do it in California than at The Lobster, and with our unbeatable views.”
The Lobster Details
1602 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica
thelobster.com
@thelobsters