Da Lobsta

Another entry into the budding lobster roll market in Chicago, Da Lobsta is located in the former Ashkenaz spot in the Gold Coast on Cedar, next to Big Bowl. While they offer a more traditional lobster roll, they also offer several unusual variations, including Mexican, Greek, Asian and Indian-themed rolls (and some other items, which you can find by linking to the website below). Michael Taus, former Zealous chef, helped consult on the menu (I assume primarily with respect to some of the more exotic rolls, but I'm not certain).

But I was there for their take on the traditional roll. Theirs is done on the typical split top bun, and this bun was very nicely toasted, and very buttery. The inside of the bun is apparently lightly dabbed with a tarragon mayo, but this was not necessarily apparent to me. The bun is filled with some large chilled chunks of knuckle and claw meet, then finished with a warm garlic butter. I thought I also detected just a bit of lemon, but I could be wrong (it's not listed as an ingredient and I didn't ask).

This was one of the better lobster rolls I've tasted in Chicago. While I prefer warm lobster, the warm butter here slightly warmed the cool lobster. Though I might prefer just a bit less garlic, the garlic wasn't overpowering (in my opinion) and I enjoyed the buttery, well-cooked lobster. And the bun was fresh and nicely toasted. My loan complaint is the fact that it's $12.95 and it's not a big portion - just remember, this is the Gold Coast. While it would make for a nice snack, if I return, I'm pretty sure I'll need two rolls to be satisfied.

The roll came with a very small cup of cole slaw, which was vinegar based, but I thought it was a little light on vinegar and flavor - not bad, just nothing special.

I also had a small cup of the clam chowder and would strongly recommend against ordering this. First, even if it had been good, at $6 (a large is $8), it's a very small portion. But regardless of the size, it was so thick (thicker than I've ever experienced) and obviously so laden with cream that the clam flavor just couldn't come through.

Da Lobsta
12 East Cedar Street, Chicago
Phone: 312.929.2423
Hours: 11am-10pm everyday

Hi - I suppose I've been a long time casual visitor/lurker, who after meeting one of the people running this board, decided to post. Please feel free to let me know if I'm stepping outside bounds, though I have read the FAQ on posting and will endeavor to play nice.

I tried this place a couple days ago - and still can't bring myself to refer to it by its (frankly ridiculous) name. Food was good though. More detailed review (reposted from my site) below!

http://www.fallingbeam.org/post/4426861 ... ower-price


Da Lobsta, Somewhat Overpriced at the Lower Price Point, RMS 2.5 LOE 2

Because I’m a slave to whatever Steve Dolinsky says (sic), after reading his article about this place (I can’t bring myself to repeat its absolutely ridiculous name), I ended up picking up dinner from there.

The food was good - or as my wife put it, “the ingredients are good,” and after a significant pause, “and well put together.”



The shrimp roll, while excellent - the shrimp was crisp and fresh and lovely, and the roll was surprisingly good - was tiny. It was basically the size of a hot dog, and not a generous one. But really the reason there’s no picture of it is because it was delicious and we wolfed it down almost immediately - which wasn’t hard, because it was tiny.

The lobster mac & cheese is exactly that, and not bad, though if you’ve seen these pictures, you know that my mac & cheese bar is set very high.



The clam chowder was good. And it exemplified the best thing about the food, which I prize very highly, that it was perfectly seasoned, if not under-seasoned, in the best way possible. It’s far too easy, in meals with garlic butter especially to go far too far and have things drenched in butter and recoiling from saltiness. And this stuff avoids that with aplomb. But for a “large” portion, I was underwhelmed.



The salad I think personally was excellent, though my wife found the dressing mystifying. Good crab meat (mostly eaten in the shot above), nice salad, didn’t even mind the chick peas. Croutons were crisp and good.

Overall, I’m not going to say it’s entirely overpriced, but it is. Their claim to be “a lower price point, and you don’t have to go through the whole fine dining experience” - sure, the price point is lower than some, but these are the equivalent of “fine dining” portions. Really what they are are “chick-portions” or designed to please ladies who lunch - and if that is who you are, this is absolutely for you.

My wife did mention that I was lucky I didn’t go in, because the people behind the counter were the kind of slack-jawed individuals that I would have found insufferable. *sentence removed, content violates LTH policy* (see original post through url above)

But this is certainly not my wheelhouse, though I enjoy the food - and I would be happy for someone to correct my impression, especially of the value. I intend to try the Saigon Sisters Lobster Bahn Mi tomorrow at $15 a pop, so we’ll what that does to things…

# of Diners: 2 (both for pick-up/takeaway)

Items Ordered (Pictures Linked Below): Total 4 items, all for pick up.
Shrimp Roll (Traditional Style with Tarragon Mayo & Garlic Butter)
Lobster Mac & Cheese
Blue Crab Salad
New England Clam Chowder (Large)

Price Paid/Total w Gratuity: $40/42

Restaurant Moneyball Scale/RMS of 2.5 (between Accurately Priced - At par with general market value, and Overpriced - Not quite worth the price)

As my wife put it, if she was walking around the area, she would stop in and have the food. But we probably prefer Joey’s Shrimp House (if you don’t get the daffy woman on the register who I hope they fired), and if you are in the area, and it’s open, The Original Pancake House. If you factor in having to find parking there, it could go from annoying and can’t find anything, to $16+ an hour, which makes this now ridiculous. Hence the pick-up.

Reviewer’s Level of Experience with the Cuisine/LOE of 2 (Not My First Rodeo - Can’t claim special knowledge of this cuisine, know lay of land)

Never been to Maine, have limited experience of lobster, and this particular style of seafood, I’m not going to say I know that much about it, and am happy to be corrected.

Returned today for lunch, which visit raised a bit of a question of who Da Lobsta is. Today, no discernible garlic (last time maybe a bit much). Today, the lobster relatively overcooked and dense (perfectly cooked the last time). And the cole slaw packed with vinegar and rather liquidy. Still decent and the bun is solid and buttery, but preferred my first visit because the lobster was so well cooked. Note: Blackboard Eats is offering 30% off now.

One other item worthy of comment: there is a tip jar full o' cash. But they take your order at the counter, they call your number and you pick up your own food, you fill your own drinks, and you bus your own table. So what again am I tipping for? For taking my order? I consider myself a damn good tipper and was fully willing to leave a nice tip at Boston Fish Market (where amazingly they refused to take most of our tip and returned the money) but places like this do a disservice to restaurants that really provide service after the order. Sorry for the lengthy digression but I thought I should provide you this information in advance of your visit.

Another location

BR wrote:Returned today for lunch, which visit raised a bit of a question of who Da Lobsta is. Today, no discernible garlic (last time maybe a bit much). Today, the lobster relatively overcooked and dense (perfectly cooked the last time). And the cole slaw packed with vinegar and rather liquidy. Still decent and the bun is solid and buttery, but preferred my first visit because the lobster was so well cooked. Note: Blackboard Eats is offering 30% off now.

One other item worthy of comment: there is a tip jar full o' cash. But they take your order at the counter, they call your number and you pick up your own food, you fill your own drinks, and you bus your own table. So what again am I tipping for? For taking my order? I consider myself a damn good tipper and was fully willing to leave a nice tip at Boston Fish Market (where amazingly they refused to take most of our tip and returned the money) but places like this do a disservice to restaurants that really provide service after the order. Sorry for the lengthy digression but I thought I should provide you this information in advance of your visit.

If you don't ask, you don't get ...

Da Lobsta is opening a restaurant at 416 N. Clark St. in River North. Daniel Pedemonte, a partner in Da Lobsta and owner of GDP Group in Chicago, confirmed the news. The space last was occupied by Sam's Grill, which closed in December.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... iver-north

Two and possibly three Gold Coast restaurants will close next month, as plans to demolish their building to make away for a new development roll out. Big Bowl, Da Lobsta and maybe Corner Bakery too will close by the end of July at the corner of State/Rush and Cedar.

http://chicago.eater.com/2015/6/22/8826 ... evelopment