There are restaurants with incredible views, and then there are restaurants that create an experience you'll remember long after dinner is over. That's exactly what we found at The Lobster in Santa Monica. Sitting just above the iconic Santa Monica Pier, every table comes with breathtaking ocean views, but the food is what truly steals the show. This century-old seafood destination has become a local landmark, with Executive Chef Govind Armstrong elevating every dish through fresh, locally sourced ingredients and creative California seafood cuisine. A huge shout out to Chef Govind Armstrong for creating some of the most flavorful and beautifully presented seafood dishes we've had. Every plate was crafted with incredible attention to detail, perfectly balanced flavors, and premium ingredients. You can truly feel the passion and creativity behind every bite. Bravo, Chef! An equally big thank you to Andrew, who made our evening unforgettable. His customer service was simply out of this world. From the moment we sat down, he made us feel genuinely welcome, explained the menu with incredible knowledge, and gave us outstanding recommendations that made our meal even better. Great service can transform a dinner into a memory, and Andrew absolutely delivered that. If you're planning a special date night, celebrating something important, or simply want one of the best oceanfront dining experiences in Los Angeles, this place deserves a spot at the top of your list. Between the panoramic Pacific views, exceptional seafood, outstanding hospitality, and the passion of Chef Govind and the entire team, it's easy to understand why this restaurant has remained a Santa Monica icon for generations. Highly recommended. We can't wait to come back! read more

I really wanted to love The Lobster, truly. The view, the setting and the Michelin "Star" are so enticing. But all that glitters is not gold. The service was upon request - may I have a menu? (server forgot there is a summer menu too), nevermind there is a DineLA menu and a Happy Hour menu. This actually happened; customers in the bar area where sharing menu's amongst themselves. May I order a drink, may I have a set-up, may I have a water? Sure, I understand there was one server doing his best, but why is there only one server when the prices reflect the current & deferred revenue for the Michelin star (any Dodgers fans reading this?). The food was good, but the pace was off. Although I ordered the Garlic Bread first, it came after other items arrived. The garlic bread was very good, but a literal thimble full of "four cheese fondue "+ crab. The thimble means that little metal creamer container you get with coffee, really? Sure, it was good, but what a poor presentation for a Michelin star place in my view. I am trying not to whine, promise. I ordered oysters (very good) and the side of the mushrooms (was interesting) arrived nearly after I finished the rest of the meal (I thought it was forgotten TBH). I am an experience and value driven consumer. The overall experience was average and the value was equally average. However, if you want to take in the views, this could be just the place for you. read more

I've lived in Santa Monica for years and somehow had never been to The Lobster. After finally checking it out, I'm wondering why I waited so long. The food was delicious, the atmosphere and ocean views are obviously incredible, but the standout of the evening was our server, Andrew. He was friendly, attentive, and had the kind of personality that instantly makes you feel like a regular. When we mentioned that we were locals on our first visit, he made a point of telling us about the happy hour and gave us some great recommendations for next time. Great restaurants are everywhere, but great hospitality is harder to find. Andrew delivered both. Looking forward to coming back soon. read more

Both seafood dishes were flavorful. Quick service and elegant restaurant. I never had squid ink linguine, but I was very happy with how it tasted. read more

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Best LA Brunch Views The Lobster at the top of the Santa Monica Pier entrance needs to be on your list. Yes, when you walk in it's unassuming and next when you walk up the stairs, the views are breathtaking and it puts you in such a delightful and joyful trance. To see the ocean, mountains, the pier and the sand all at once while enjoying a meal, 100/10 ! The hardest part was deciding what to enjoy because there were so many things I wanted to taste but I had to prioritize. Lobster or Seafood Tower? The Seafood Tower won because I was craving fresh raw oysters, plump shrimp, lobster, mussels and the crab dip in the center really satisfied all of my cravings. The deviled eggs were a nice surprise to a classic. Love their Korean inspired Chicken and Waffles, that slaw was very addictive. You can't go wrong with the steak and eggs. I had to order a side of truffle fries! We cheered our lovely meal with beautiful cocktails and it was so much fun. The service was amazing as well. When you want to feel why you love LA so much, definitely visit The Lobster. Also in time for Mother's Day! read more

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I came here for the view and the food. Overall, the view was great because you got to see the Santa Monica Pier. It's a nice ambient location with a good atmosphere. Overall, the food is good. My only complaint was that the lobster might not have been fresh. The meat of the lobster was a little bit mushy, showing that it must have been sitting in a tank close to dying. I would assume, for the price and for framing yourselves as a more upscale restaurant, that you would try to have quality control on your lobsters. Overall, the other food was great. The octopus was perfectly cut, making it tender and flavorful. The gumbo wasn't too bad; it had a bit of spice and kick to it. read more

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When I cracked open the Oxford English Dictionary and searched perfection: The Lobster appeared. read more

While the restaurant offers an extensive seafood menu, the best dish of the house, as the name suggests, is its fresh Maine lobster. A 1.5-pound steamed Maine lobster comes with sautéed green beans and a medley of potatoes. The price tag as of this writing is $63 which is really not bad, considering the fact that this is an upscale restaurant located in the prime location of Santa Monica Pier. Moreover, live Maine lobsters are not easily found in the West Coast, so it's certainly worth a trip there. The chef did a great job of cracking open the shell at the appropriate places to make eating the claws quite easy. The lobster tasted fresh; the meat was succulent and flavorful. Service has been prompt and friendly throughout our dinner. This restaurant has over a hundred years of history and is now a local's favorite as well as a tourist attraction. They do get very busy, especially during summer and on weekends. Reservation is highly recommended. read more

The Lobster - 1.5-pound steamed Maine lobster - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Noteworthy food, great service and a view of the pier made this a meal to remember. I met my daughter here for lunch and she had the special which was well worth the price and included lobster chowder, and entree and dessert. I had the YellowFin rice pilaf, and it was extremely fresh and delicious. I especially appreciate Chris, the valet, for helping me get into their parking lot which is a tight squeeze for anyone not used to Santa Monica traffic. The hostess and the servers were also top notch. My daughters dessert was also incredible, and large enough to share. read more

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The Santa Monica pier was closing down so we stopped in here for dinner. No reservation and we were seated immediately People here were very friendly and pleasant We ordered the calamari appetizer. Was wonderful! Andrew was a great server and our entrees were excellent t Highly recommend! read more

I recently had a Birthday celebration with my family and we selected The Lobster which is already one of our favorite restaurants. Amanda, Kat, Javier, Natalie and the rest of the Amazing Staff had everything arranged to the Max!!! even a specially printed menu on my behalf. The food was amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant which we have been going since their early openings and will continue to go:-) Mario PS, I could keep going on and on bragging about the staff:-) read more

My friend and I, along with her dog Terry, visited The Lobster this evening and we've had a wonderful experience from start to finish. When we arrived, we checked in with the hostess using our reservation number. As a pleasant surprise, she spoke our language, which made communication effortless and helped everything move along quickly. We immediately felt welcomed. A few moments later, the manager, Kat came up to speak with us personally. She is explained that our original reservation couldn't be used because we were dining with (dogTerry ), and that dogs could only be accommodated in a different seating area. She was professional, courteous, and solution-oriented, quickly arranging a comfortable outdoor table for us. We appreciated the clear communication and were happy to accept her recommendation. Our very handsome server Elijah, was friendly, personable, and genuinely pleasant to interact with throughout the evening. He had a relaxed personality and made us feel comfortable. Like anyone working a busy shift, he seemed a little distracted from time to time, but his kindness and positive attitude more than made up for any minor missed details. Specially thanks for Lana, who is actually says "Hello" and lures us, But it's was our pleasure to meet you Lana, and we will always comeback Food is 5 Stars Bar 5 stars Ocean view 7 stars We also noticed a small discrepancy on the bill, but it appeared to be an honest mistake and didn't take away from our overall experience. What stood out most was how welcomed and accommodated we felt by the staff. The food, atmosphere, service, and incredible ocean views are why I continue to enjoy coming here. Restaurants aren't about perfection--they're about hospitality, and this team showed us exactly that. Thank you to Lana (Russian speaking assistant),Cat, Elijah, the short Mexican(sorry don't know his name) give it to him a triple salary, he is more aware than your waiters, this dude prefect on serving oysters, and the rest of the staff for making our evening enjoyable. We'll definitely be back, just me, to be honest (my friend says no), but I'll back for sure. Pls make the shorty a real server! NZ P.S. Elijah, in case you don't know my number, you can ask from Lana, I have jacuzzi, btw :) read more

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So I stopped into The Lobster at the Santa Monica Pier during happy hour from 3 to 6. Happy hour itself was solid. $10 glasses of wine with a real pour and a nice variety of appetizers. I was excited to try the lobster bisque. Normally it is $26 but at happy hour it was $13. I am glad I didn't pay full price because it just was not it. The bisque had a lot of potatoes and celery and the flavor leaned more tomato based than creamy lobster. I was expecting something buttery and rich with strong lobster flavor and it just did not give that. It reminded me of a red clam chowder with pieces of lobster. Maybe some people love it but it was not what I wanted. For my entrée I splurged on the pound and a half lobster for $63. It came out watery and filled with eggs which was a huge turn off. I found myself enjoying the sides more than the lobster. The green beans and potatoes were seasoned perfectly and absolutely delicious. My bill was about $95 and with tip $100. Service at the bar was average. The view of the pier was nice but overall the food did not live up to the hype or the price. read more

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I was visiting Santa Monica with my sister this past Friday and this restaurant happened to have happy hour all day so we decided to stop by and have a drink. The host Andrew was awesome - super friendly and fun! The restaurant has a nice view of the beach and is right next to the pier. read more

The Lobster - Shot & beer; raspberry margarita - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Our waiter was phenomenal! The view is spectacular (minus the construction walkway). The only reason I gave it four stars was because it was so hot inside I was sweating. They definitely need to crank the AC up for their customers by the windows otherwise just a really great experience. They have happy hour all day Friday. I will be back. read more

The Lobster - Lobster roll and champagne - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Good times at The Lobster for Dine LA Winter 2026. I sat at the bar where the bartenders were super attentive and friendly. There were 2 courses and dessert. For the 1st course, I enjoyed the Clam Chowder which had bacon. Delicious. The 2nd choice was the Kurobuta Pork & Gulf Shrimp Larb. Wonderfully tasty with a mix of flavors hitting the palate. The best part was the dessert; warm Sticky Toffee Pudding. OMG. read more

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Delicious food! Great vegetarian lasagna and amazing sea food. Andrew was a great server and the view was perfect!

I've never left a food review before in my life. Place pissed me off so bad I had to do today for this. Paid and additional $15 for the "mini lobster roll." Literally what even is that. Lobster bisque was watery too. Don't come here not worth and so expensive read more

The Lobster - Lobster chowder and lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I swore I'd never come back after two bad experiences in a row, but, a friend from out of town has been wanting to try the lobster for quite some time. We found ourselves in Santa Monica at lunchtime and figured why not. I acknowledge their views are incredible and it's a lovely space. We didn't have reservations but were warmly received by the host who immediately took us to a table. We were greeted shortly thereafter by Andrew, our server, who wound up making the experience completely worthwhile. Although we had only intended to stop in for an appetizer and a cocktail we wound up spending close to $400 after having multiple appetizers and a few rounds of drinks. While still not a fan of their clam chowder their fried calamari, crispy rice spicy tuna, 20 layer lasagne side dish, Caesar salad, and butterscotch budino along with the Paloma cocktail and Espresso Martini were all very good! I still can't give them 5 stars but this experience was a noticeable improvement from the last few times. Service has a huge impact on the experience and Andrew absolutely made our day. read more

Unfortunately got stuck in an hour 30 traffic and missed our reservation by 15 minutes for Valentine's Day dinner. Called to let them know we'll be late and they were kind enough to say they would hold our reservation. When we finally arrived they let us know they were getting our table ready and should be called in around 15 minutes. Got seated 30 minutes after arriving. It looked like the manager was passing out some bubbly to others as thanks for waiting but I was not given one (maybe I missed something) We got seated with an amazing view, the place is pretty tight and crowded so just make sure to not miss a step! We ordered a couple appetizers and the pasta as our main dish. The server was attentive and helpful. I would say the food was good and standard on quality. Parking is Valet: $15 after parking validation if under three hours and $20 if longer than 3 hours with validation. Overall, my husband and I had an ok experience at The Lobster. The food is okay and the service was alright. read more

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Very disappointing experience overall. The food was merely okay, and the portions were surprisingly small for the price. I left feeling that the meal simply wasn't worth the cost. I was also really looking forward to the view, which was one of the reasons I chose this restaurant. Unfortunately, the blinds were covering most of the windows, so we barely got to enjoy the view at all. The service made the experience even more disappointing. The servers were frequently gathered together chatting while customers were waiting for assistance. It was frustrating to have to repeatedly get someone's attention, and it made us feel overlooked as guests. I honestly expected much better and left feeling that the experience was not worth the money. I would strongly recommend considering other options before choosing this restaurant. Based on my experience, I would not return and would not recommend it to friends or family. read more

Thank you to Amanda and her incredible team for a beautiful dining experience. We loved our server as well as attention to detail with steps of service. Beautiful presentation on all four of our dishes as well as dessert. Not to mention the most beautiful view. Thank you all so much. We will certainly be back. read more

Right off the bat - 2.5, not a 3. Undercooked lobster, damned near raw. Undercooked steak, no char at all. My siblings and I came tonight, 8.15.26. Ive wanted to come here, for the longest. Disappointed doesn't even begin to explain how I feel. Great apps - gulf sh4imp cocktail, oysters, shrimp/calamari. Entree - mixed grill, with the practically raw lobster. Great service, great ambiance. Come back? No. I've had the experience. I'm good. read more

Lobster was good, service was great. We got good seating with a great view. Definitely will come again.

Great food, lovely spot overlooking the beach. Specifically our waiter, Andrew, was awesome and that's why I am writing the review. Great drinks, lobster great, and felt like a super comfortable nice experience read more

I love this place! I have only visited at lunch before, but this time I went during dinner and it was just as fabulous as I remembered. The location is perfect with an amazing view, overlooking the pier and the ocean and the beach. Not only are the views fantastic and the vibe amazing but the service was top-notch and the food was amazing. I tried that ahi tuna over the crab fried rice and it was divine. Would highly recommend this place and although it is in a prime location, it screams nothing about being a tourist trap with mediocre food. It's actually the opposite.... A local vibe and fresh delicious food. read more

The Lobster - Seared Rare Yellowfin - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I've eaten here before several years ago but have moved out of state since then. I found this to still be a great dining experience. The presentation and service are stellar, and the meals are excellent. This is an upscale business causal dress (jeans allowed) to a nice date spot (suit/tie). Beautifullll waterfront views. We had a party of 5, the total was around $400.00. It is pricey but worth it. The food was delectable as I remembered it to be. Ambiance was akin to fine dining on a more relaxed scale. Recommendation: absolutely yes! read more

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Lowkey this place was mid. Came here for Dine LA and didn't think the portions were worth the price I paid for the 3 courses. Also wasn't full. But I see the hype, being in the tourist spot in Santa Monica, it's bound to get busy automatically. Service was great though, but good quality eh read more

The view is priceless! Service by our waiter, Andrew was on point. Had a few apps, they were all delicious. read more

The Lobster - Lobster salad - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Hubby took me here for my bday dinner as I was craving for some lobster :) Very nice ambience, romantic with an ocean view. Service was great and food was delicious. Overall, a great experience. read more

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My husband recently came to grab dinner around sunset hour. First of all, the view of restaurant is amazing, especially when they roll up the blinds during sunset. First glance at the menu, typical over priced items on touristy spots, so we didn't have high hope for food, but maybe we ordered the right things? We actually enjoyed our lobster cocktail, king salmon and filet, food were amazing but tasted better than your typical touristy food. The service was good, given how busy they were, makes me think they were understaffed, but overall a good experience, I just can't justify the price tho. read more

First, I wanna say I have been to the lobster many many times...it never gets old. The food is always top notch. The views, the service, the location, the drinks, the appetizers, the vibe... There's a reason why I go back over and over I've never had a bad experience there and I've been going to the lobster for at least the last 15 years. I'm not a regular by any means, but I have been there so many times I can't count them all. This is not a H salt/Long John Silver seafood joint... This is top-notch deliciousness...oysters, crab, shrimp, sea bass, salmon, clams, mussels! I have never had a bad dish here this is a must go to if you are a seafood lover. They have steaks too. I love a surf and turf action, but I especially always order seafood here because it's just so fresh so good so delicious! My sister-in-law comes here so much that the owner and the cooks come out and talk to her and tell us what we're eating and all that fancy stuff she's the regular. I just tag along, but it is one of my hands-down favorite spots on PCH in Santa Monica. read more

We've been coming here for years, a scenic restaurant with delicious food and great service. Always recommend a reservation. Fresh seafood and perfectly cooked lobster. Crab cakes 10/10 Calamari 10/10 Lobster 10/10 Views 10/10 read more

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Thursday eve dining there's live music playing around 6.30pm. Along with great scenery outside the window, watching sunset in Santa Monica, making perfect ambiance. Service is very pleasant and polite. Lobsters are great and the Harland brewing beer is a must order to try. Valet parking is available just next to the restaurant, it's $15 for the first 3 hours and $20 after that. read more

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Great spot. Friendly staff. Good food. Good atmosphere. Came here to watch the fifa final and just cool vibes all around. Appreciate the extended stay. read more

Ambiance is the best. Great view. Our table was tiny. I couldn't really see the pier, what I mostly came for. Our waitress was my issue. I have read reviews complaining about service. It was my 4 year anniversary with my wife. We've always wanted to come. The lobster was amazing. What bugged me was the waitress. When we nicely asked if we could get a window seat when someone left. She got angry and said there were a lot of anniversaries and didn't finish with a happy anniversary. I did not like her off the bat. Later she wished us one but much later. The hostess was much nicer and I decided not to complain but that waitress had an attitude and said the couple wasn't close to finished. She also said she put the food in already and it made things soo complicated. A simple no was fine. There were empty tables later. I don't think I asked for too much. I know other people were celebrating and good for them too. However it was my wife and our anniversary. A bigger table to eat a lobster is also considerate. She fairly ruined an otjherwise perfect evening. Her job is to make people happy not to lecture a customer for a reasonable request with her wide eyed hostile explanation. If she doesn't like her job don't work with couples who want to make memories and not bicker with the server. read more

The Lobster - our tiny table - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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You know places that has three dollar signs, and you had been waiting so long to go there, and when you did, it was blaaah?!? Yeah, this place is not like that. We ordered calamari, crab cake, seared yellowfin, and crab gumbo. All three were amazing, and one (gumbo) was okay. The calamari mixed with prawn and fried olive, and it was presented with three sauces; aioli, soy, sweet chili (i think). The seared yellowfin served on a bed of rice and it was amazing. The crab cake was served with salad in which, honestly, maybe good enough for my dinner. The gumbo was quite tasty, but something was missing. Just felt a little bland. The service was great, water always filled and we didnt have to look for help throughout the meal. St Monica's Pier-night time view set up a great ambiance and the restaurant lighting was perfect. Their specialties are lobsters but since I felt very tired after work, I didn't feel like it. They also have extensive selection of wine. Dessert menu also available. Since I am trying to lose weight, I didn't order alcoholic beverages/ desserts. read more

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Food was Tasty & appealing to the eyes... Service was great... Ambiance is amazing .. With a beautiful view of the Ocean... The Brussel-Sprouts were delicious .. Fried Seafood dish was Crispy .. Tasty & Crunchy... Manhattan Seafood Chowder was Tasty .. But a tiny-bit too thick... Thank-You for an enjoyable dinner... -GRATEFUL- read more

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The Lobster offers outstanding food, great ambiance and attentive, friendly service. Their brunch is exceptional! Today, we enjoyed lobster roll, house smoked salmon eggs Benedict on a potato galette and sipped excellent Bloody Marys just feet away from the beach. Did I mention truffle fries? Out waiter, Andrew, was attentive and friendly. We cannot wait to go back! read more

Spectacular view, beautiful interior, insanely good food. Every single staff member is friendly and completely on their game. Especially our top notch waiter, Andrew. He waited on us on our 29th anniversary. He is friendly but not intrusive and anticipates your every need. If you go, and are lucky enough to get Andrew as your waiter, tell him Bernie and Tim say Hi. read more