Taking into account the name of the restaurant, the fact that the menu is limited to three dishes, and the inability to book in advance (unless in a group of more than six), I was certainly intrigued by Burger & Lobster. Three friends and I headed to the restaurant in Soho last Tuesday evening, eagerly anticipating this novel and much-talked-about eating experience.
As the name suggests, this large and lively London restaurant offers either a Burger, a Lobster (steamed or grilled) or a Lobster bun, priced at £20 for each dish. I think this simple and straight-forward formula is the key to the restaurant's buzz and success, yet despite a limited menu, choosing was definitely not easy after sizing up all three appetising options on our fellow diner's plates. After asking our friendly and attentive waitress for her recommendation, three of us settled on a grilled lobster, and the fourth on a burger. Our food came exceptionally quickly, all served with a green salad and fries on flamboyant silver platters.
Although intimidating to look at, the grilled lobster was delicious and succulent, perfectly complemented by the garlic butter we dunked it into. We donned our bibs and got stuck-in, using our hands to break open the shells and dig out the soft, sweet lobster flesh, slightly smokey from the grill. The accompanying salad also went down a storm, dressed with a simple vinaigrette and topped with croutons and parmesan. Furthermore, the thin fries were also well-received by us hungry students, although nothing spectacular in comparison to the main event.
The burger looked equally tasty, served in a sesame-scattered bun and stuffed with all the trimmings - bacon, cheese, pickles etc, and although you can't deny the fact that this is as good as a burger gets, if you are looking for value for money then the lobster is definitely the way to go.
Altogether our evening at Burger & Lobster was a thoroughly enjoyable one - with the combination of a relaxed, casual atmosphere and delicious, excellent quality food to get stuck into, you can't really go wrong. Details such as the provision of bibs and fragrant wipes for our sticky fingers added to the experience, although the ironic tank of live lobsters situated opposite our table made me feel a tad guilty as I tucked into one of their friends! As we left the restaurant, the queue of a dozen or more eager diners pouring onto Dean Street were testament to our excellent evening at Burger & Lobster; a word of advice - arrive before seven to be seated and served straight-away.
Burger & Lobster, 36 Dean Street, London, Greater London
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