This restaurant is 5 stars all around. I decided to treat myself to lunch there - no mind you they are NOT cheap, but for a splurge (or expense account) it is well worth it. The restaurant's decor is elegant and spacious although you can't tell that from the outside. There is a bar that is well stocked and you can sit at the bar and eat if you so desired. They had ole school R&B (Al Green, The Temptations, etc) playing which is my kind of music lol. I was seated promptly and order the bento box with Salmon, I could decide if I wanted the ginger scallion or the teriyaki sauce so the waitress brought both on the side. The meal came with miso soup, spicy tuna roll, cucumber salad, white rice and green beans. As soon as I ordered my food it started arriving and as soon as you finish your plate it is taken away. The service is on point! Everything was really good although the salmon could have been a little larger but I guess since it was lunch time the portions are a little smaller. The ginger scallion sauce was amazing! I would have brought a bottle of it if I could. I also ordered a spicy shrimp fried rice to go home for dinner which was good as well. I believe I was in and out in under an hour and I wasn't rushing to eat. Well done The Lobster Club - you are definitely worth a visit.
I made last-minute dinner plans with my friend Walter M. a few weeks ago, and he booked a same-day Friday reservation at The Lobster Club, apparently one of his regular spots. I said I was buying, and he told me to hold that thought until I saw the menu. I did buy, and I regret nothing. The place was swanky and colorful, with bold art and furnishings and a fun, loungey atmosphere. Service was great, helpful and attentive. The Lobster Club was, to my surprise, not a classic seafood restaurant but a fusion joint, with a sushi-centric menu and Japanese-inflected cocktails. I only had one drink, but I made it count. The Soba Old Fashion was delicious, a mellow, nutty cocktail of Japanese whisky, toasted soba, and Benedictine. The food was fantastic, pleasing in the particular way of going-for-it Japanese fusion. Perfect rectangles of crispy rice came topped with tuna and salmon tartare. Coconut rock shrimp were addictive, crunchy little bites, served with a flavorful dipping sauce that must have involved wasabi and mayonnaise. The lobster dumplings were superb, delicate steamed dumplings in a classic garlic/ginger/scallion sauce. The Lobster Club isn't the place to go for serious omakase-style sushi, but it offers both maximalist rolls and traditional sushi, and I found it all quite good. I do love a stupid cut roll, and the house lobster surf & turf hit the spot, a lobster tempura roll draped with slivers of seared wagyu. We each got the chef's selection sushi to round out our meal. This came with ten pieces of quality nigiri: chutoro, maguro, salmon, hamachi, hirame, kanpachi, scallop, amaebi, ikura, and uni. I had a great time at The Lobster Club and would recommend it if you want a vibrant spot for Japanesey fare in Manhattan. Bonus points for the easy booking on a Friday night.
This restaurant exceeded all expectations! A definite must-visit for anyone in NYC craving exceptional food, service, and atmosphere. Starting with the ambiance, stepping through the revolving doors transports you into a world of elegance. The golden bar, stocked with top-shelf selections, catches the eye immediately. To the right, a chic cocktail lounge area adorned with rose gold velvet chairs invokes a nostalgic 70s vibe, complemented by tasteful gold accents. The red room at the back exudes glamour and sophistication with its rich red accents, creating an atmosphere of opulence. Even the bathrooms, with their beautiful and impeccably clean facilities, maintain the luxurious gold theme. Our choice of high top booths near the cocktail lounge allowed us to fully appreciate the architectural beauty and aesthetic charm of the restaurant. The Motown music added to the ambiance, setting the perfect mood for enjoying drinks and good company. Now, onto the customer service - our server Mary was simply outstanding. Her blend of humor, warmth, and reliability elevated our dining experience to another level. She went above and beyond to accommodate our dietary restrictions. Her attention to detail ensured that each member of our group felt catered to and comfortable throughout the dining experience. Celebrating my birthday, Mary's attentive service and infectious smile made the occasion even more memorable for our group of four. And then there's the food... where do I even begin? Each dish was a culinary masterpiece, leaving us wanting more with every bite. The flavors were so exquisite that I was tempted to lick the plate clean, but of course, I had to maintain my composure. I could rave about the entire menu, but some standout items that deserve extra praise include: Wasabi lobster******** Lobster tempura roll (hand cut)******** Wok lobster**** Wagyu skewers********* Edamame***** Lobster dumplings*** Spicy shrimp rice*******
Ordered: Yuzu Paloma (~$22) Spicy Cucumber Salad (~$18) Blistered Shishito Peppers (~$12) Spicy Toro Roll (~$32) Lobster Surf & Turf Roll ($34) Crispy Rice (~$25): tuna & salmon tartare Wagyu Truffle Sando (~$59) Wagyu Beef Skewer (~$23) Coconut Rock Shrimp (~$20) Lobster Dumplings (~$24) + Extra Piece (~$8) 8oz Wagyu Skirt Steak (~$63) Japanese Sweet Potatoes (~$14) Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice (~$24) Pistachio Mango Layer Cake (~$15) Aya's take: The Lobster Club is unique interpretation of Japanese cuisine offering a menu that is designed to be shared. Not to mention, upon entering, the first thing I noticed was the sophisticated yet non-pretentious ambiance. The architecture (designed by Peter Marino) is incredible and the art on the walls creates a fun atmosphere. I was here celebrating my birthday and could not have chosen a better place as a foodie who loves Japanese cuisine and upscale ambiance. The food we ordered was plenty for the 5 of us. A few standouts were the Spicy Cucumber Salad, Spicy Toro Roll, Lobster Surf & Turf Roll, and Wagyu Beef Skewer. I did enjoy the Skirt Steak which paired well with the Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice. The Wagyu Truffle Sando was surprisingly chewy; I definitely expected a more "melt-in-your-way" sensation. We ended off with the Pistachio Mango Layer Cake which was unique, light, and earthy. Overall, an incredible meal at The Lobster Club & magnificent way to start another year.
Came on a Saturday night and definitely would recommend a reservation as the restaurant was very busy. We came ten minutes earlier for our reservation and even the bar was full! The restaurant is beautiful and has very cool lounge vibe. The drinks are delish and they made great dirty vodka martinis. The shrimp was the highlight of the night, well cooked and not dry. The wagyu sando was a great bite and all the sushi was good. I gave 4 stars just for the pricing and then available dishes. The food is good but you are paying for the location and the ambiance. You can find quality and good just as good as better prices around the city but not the same restaurant vibe. The second reason is because some dishes were available or were already sold out which was unfortunate. Our reservation was at 8pm so not too late into the night but nonetheless. I would go back for the vibe and ambiance.
Swanky but not stuffy! There is a dress code, though not strictly enforced. But if you do want to dress up, this is the place for it. We started with the Yuzu Crab, which was very light and refreshing. Mainly came here for the Wagyu Truffle Sando, which did not disappoint. It was comparable to the ones I'd had at SakaMai. The Wagyu Shirt was amazing by itself, but the various accompanying sauces made it even better and fun to eat. The Scallop Dragon house roll was nothing special and could've been skipped. As for dessert, the Pistachio Mango Layer Cake was very light and subtle - a good choice for something not overly sweet. That being said, the Warm Okinawa Cake was to die for - absolutely amazing! I had the Club Colada cocktail, which was strong and delicious. Spacious layout. Average noise level. There's a dimly lit dinning room in the back, seemly for large groups.
TLDR: The Lobster Club is very much a "clubby restaurant" but the food is actually good. If I could summarize Lobster Club, it's basically a fancied up hibachi concept. Kind of. Not a place I'd frequent regularly but once in awhile, if I feel like burning money for a Benihana style meal - Lobster Club wouldn't be a bad idea. The sushi rolls are solid, the katsu sandwich is great, spicy shrimp fried rice and the shaved ice is awesome. I'm not sure how we ended up here but I remember wanting to not like this place. Brasserie was such a classic New York restaurant, when I heard about Lobster Club occupying the old space - I felt like it was going to be an overpriced Benihana. I still think it is very expensive but the food was good enough that I would come back. Tuna and Chilies. Very unique, I like the chopped chives, the marinated tuna, the chili and the puffed rice. Something like a deconstructed crispy rice. Wagyu Truffle Sando. Not quite as rich/fatty as Don Wagyu or Sakamai but still a very good version of it. It's a bit more beef-forward, not quite as greasy as other versions. I don't think it's true A5 but that's okay, I like American/Japanese wagyu personally - much easier on the palette. Solid. Wok Lobster. Basically a fully ginger/scallion lobster tail. You can get a twin lobster in a Chinese place for the same price but the tail probably wouldn't taste this good or be this big. Sushi Rolls. I'm not sure which ones we got. I think it was the Spicy Toro and the Lobster Surf and Turf. These are pricey ass rolls but they were tasty. We got one steak which came with the massive assortment of sauces. Decent but I could probably skip this. Personally I'd rather eat KBBQ for "Asian" beef. Spicy Shrimp Rice was good. The shaved ice was massive but it was very good. If we returned, I'd probably fill up on just a crap ton of appetizers.