Well, here I was back in Chicago after a few years & seeking out my favorite go-to destination for lox & matzo balls ... After already suffering the disappointment of seeing the other downtown Jewish deli turned into (ugh!) a Subway of all things ... But Ashkenaz was always relatively better anyhow, though, yes, it had been slipping ...
Imagine my surprise at seeing the sign reading "Da Lobsta"!!! Sad, yes -- but given that I was starving to death at that time, it was nevertheless quite the "Oy vey ... Am I ever glad I'm not Orthodox!!!" moment for me!!
I bit the bullet, ventured in, somewhat flabbergasted-ly ordered the Greek lobster roll ... and .... and .... in fact, it was quite good indeed! Next time I'll try the Traditional -- & see how it compares to the better ones I've sampled when I've lived in the Boston area ...
Might I add, however, a lament for high-quality and affordable lox and whitefish ... The one doesn't substitute for the other -- and SOMEwhere South of Devon would really be appreciated by many of us!!!
I tried this place for lunch the other day with a friend because we thought it was a really cool concept, but i have to say the food and experience was just OK. I ordered the gumbo and the BLT lobster roll and she ordered the lobster grilled cheese and the clam chowder.
The BLT lobster roll was good, but not great. The bacon definitely overpowered the entire roll. I've been spending the past 3 summers in Maine, where we buy fresh lobster and lobster rolls regularly, so I'm sure I have pretty high lobster standards, but there was as many big chunks of lobster in the roll as I was expecting. The biggest redeeming quality was the roll itself, which was warm and buttery. I would have ordered a basket as my entree! Â
The gumbo itself was pretty bad. I was told that it wouldn't be spicy, but was made with a ton of seafood. Instead, it was filled with okra seeds, had barely any seafood and was pretty much flavorless. I've made homemade gumbo myself and its not that difficult to have it turn out right. Â I think their recipe and prep definitely needs some rework. My friend enjoyed the grilled cheese but didn't bother eating more than a bite of clam chowder - which was not very flavorful either. Â
Overall, I might be back if I happen to be in the area again, but wouldn't bother to make a special trip out to the Gold Coast to go here.
So I got the lobster grilled cheese and the lobster mac and cheese. I really really liked the grilled cheese, but I was not a fan of the mac and cheese. The lobster tastes great, there's just something about the taste of the mac and cheese, Â for me that was off. I really liked the store itself. Price seems a little high, but its good lobster and in the gold coast area, so its worth it.
Review Source:This is place is added going to be added to my revisit list!
I got the Asian Crab which was out of this world, really light flavor and refreshing. My Girlfriend went with the Greek Lobster which tasted amazing with the Tzatziki sauce and Feta.
This place stands out and has a great personality which makes the experience more entertaining. It is on the pricy side if you are looking to get a quick bite but worthy every penny.
Best part of the whole thing was having Deadliest catch playing on the TV's which made me appreciate my Asian Crab Sandwich so much more!
Avoid this place. My girlfriend and I went here on Sunday and got sick. We ordered the traditional and a lobster grilled cheese. You cant even taste the lobster in the grilled cheese it is over powered by the cheese. Waste of money. When we called to tell them there response was "Thanks for telling us". I give this place until the end of summer when Rush St. slows down. Go across the street to Hugos and spend a few extra bucks. It will be worth it.
Review Source:Best lobster rolls I've ever had- including several in Maine!  I had the lobster grilled cheese and it doesn't get much better than that. Then I tried my friends Traditional Lobster roll and ordered one to take with me. Several hours and one long train ride back to Michigan later it was still fantastic. The quality of the lobster is great the rolls are packed- no skimping at all! Officially a  Chicago favorite I intend to visit every time I'm in town. Well worth making a point to check it out!
Review Source:I would like to come back and try the traditional roll and lobster grilled cheese. Â This review is for the chopped salad.
The salad with lobster on top was a bit overpriced at $13. Â Granted, I did omit the ricotta, croutons, and chickpeas (damn you, Paleo challenge, and the horse you rode on!), so I should not complain about its plainness. Â I noted that instead of tomato like the menu said, I got a couple slices of cucumber. Â I would have preferred the tomato. Â The balsamic dressing was also curiouser and curiouser. Â Its appearance was light and pale yellow. Â Upon tasting it, I could have sworn it was straight up olive oil with diacetyl added (that fake popcorn chemical). Â I actually went back up to the counter and told them they mistakenly gave me a side of butter, instead of the balsamic I requested. Â Manager informed me it was a white balsamic and suggested stirring it around, but it really isn't reminiscent of a balsamic at all. Â Quit playing games (cue Backstreet Boys).
Hopefully this is in the works, but there's no "dine in" silverware or plating. Â Whether you stay or go with your meal, you're served your meal with plastic silverware. Â I also noted the stools by the seats by the window are too short for the countertop. Â It makes for a bit of an awkward eating situation.
The new staff seems enthusiastic and eager to share about the menu. Â Props for having fun ethnic (Indian, Greek, Mexican) lobster rolls!
I was pleasantly surprised by this new place - being a fan of the CT style lobster roll served with drawn butter and no mayo I was apprehensive at first but the thin coating of tarragon mayo was perfect, the amount of lobster meat was substantial and the toasted roll was as it should be. Definitely coming back - will hold me over until my move to the east coast this summer!
Review Source:Lovin' Da Lobsta!!! I'm an entrepreneur living on Cedar street. Sushi was my main go-to for a balanced diet but this is faster and better! Can't go wrong with the Traditional Lobster roll. My favorite is the Surf and Turf. As I eat there all the time, the food is exceptional - always! The bacon is thick, crispy and perfect every time.
FYI:
Traditional Maine Style Lobster Roll =
Lobster (cold) + Toasted New England Bun (warm) + little flavored Tarragon Mayo + little Garlic Butter.
I'm not a New Englander, never had a lobster roll, and I claim no expertise on what they SHOULD be like. But I do love shellfish, and the novel concept (at least in Chicago), warranted a try.
Ok, that disclaimer aside (and you're still reading?), initial reaction is a bit mixed. The rolls are tasty, yes. But beware, they are fairly small. The meat is pretty densely packed, but if you are a big eater, one roll is not going to fill you up (boyfriend said it was a nice $12 "appetizer").
Now that I have eschewed carbs and gone paleo (shoot me), however, I was stuck with the salad option. And I spent most of my time eating it trying to find the crab meat hidden in there. Seriously...tiniest amount of meat on a salad ever, so you are left paying $10-12 for a bowl of iceberg lettuce. Lame.
The staff was friendly (the place being empty as well), and they did try to push the lobster grilled cheese as the best thing on the menu, so maybe that's where your best bet lies?
If you are interested in trying lobster rolls, check it out. But just don't be shocked at the hefty price tag and the need to eat after.
(A bonus: They DO carry Sprecher's root beer, which is probably the best root beer ever. A quarter star for that)
we were so excited about an all lobster place in chicago! we went  on a friday night and had no wait. we ordered
traditional
surf and turf
lobster mac and cheese
they are just ok due to lack of creaminess or textural difference in bites. the bread is authentic, but there should be more mayo with the lobster nor was there crunchiness of any kind. there should also be more lobster.
the mac and cheese was VERY blend with no seasoning. blah!!
will not come back.
Delicious. Went opening night and things ran smoothly.
Tried the traditional and think I might just stick with this. Hubs got the special with crab and it too, was delicious.
Clam chowder had bacon in it, which I don't like... is this traditional?
Friends had the lobster grilled cheese & the Indian... not into the Indian flavor with lobster... I want to taste lobsta!
Lobster was so fresh and cooked perfectly.
Very expensive. It was $54 for dinner.... and very little space to sit! It will be great when summer comes and you can sit outside.
I'm so excited about this concept... All lobsta every day.
Having just moved from New England to Chicago this summer, it's actually been a struggle to find grocery stores that even carry lobster, let alone for reasonable price to cook at home. (Lobster was going for $20/lb on sale here when it was $3.99/lb on the East Coast. And I thought there was a surplus?!) So when my friend forwarded an email about this place, I actually hopped out of my chair and ran to my car to go to Da Lobsta, that's how excited I was.
I wasn't let down... I think. The best lobster roll I ever had was in a shack by the water in Maine, and it was simple: Buttery roll, fresh warm lobster and that's it. So I tried to replicate this experience in Chicago by getting the traditional lobster roll sans mayo. The roll... was delectable and crispy. Perfect. The lobster, while I think it was fresh, was so cold that I wish I'd asked for some extra hot butter to bring out it's flavor a little more. Maybe the refrigerator was too cold?
I paired this with Cape Cod chips and the pickled slaw the sandwich came with. (The slaw was really delicious, btw.) If I closed my eyes while chewing I allllllllllmost felt like I was in New England...
I will definitely be back to try the different variations... but not before asking for a traditional, hold the mayo, but bring that butter!
I am so excited about Da Lobsta's arrival! Went for the first time last night and I think this will quickly become my favorite go-to for quick dinners and weekend lunches.
I'm a simple gal when it comes to lobster, so I had the Traditional Lobsta Roll and my boyfriend had the Greek. Both were insanely delicious! Once you go, you'll see that the rolls are not intimidatingly huge, which I was happy to experience! (Imagine delicious, buttery Texas Toast worked into a slightly oversize hotdog bun). I definitely feel like I'm getting a QUALITY bite here, and it's awesome to be able to get a fresh lobster roll for $12 any night of the week (versus waiting for a special occasion to go out for a whole steamed lobster!) Such a great, refreshing new addition to Chicago, particularly the Gold Coast. I can't wait to take my family here when they come into town. Hoping Da Lobsta will open a River North location in the future, too! Two thumbs way up.
After moving to Chicago from Atlanta back in October, my husband and I have been on a four-month long restaurant crawl (there are obviously so many fantastic restaurants in this town!!). Â That said, we have wished there were more QUALITY quick service places - for those dinners/lunches where you just want to pick something up that's delish and not have to sit down and be served. Â
Thanks to Da Lobsta our wish has been granted! Â Initially I was very much a skeptic, knowing how picky I am about my seafood but much to my pleasant surprise this place exceeded my expectations big time! Â I ordered the skinny lobster roll and am in love! Â The pita was warm, lite and fluffy, the perfect compliment to the sweet, buttery and succulent lobster chunks. Â Skinny what?! Â Next time I am craving a buttery lobster tail, I'll have one of these instead!!
Delicious traditional lobster rolls. We tried one original and one with bacon. Though the bacon was tasty, a good lobster roll doesn't need anything added to it, and this was a good lobster roll. The lobster meat itself is virtually untouched- no heaps of mayonnaise or filler. The bun is perfection- warm, soft, a little toasted and buttery. The little bit of filling is spread on the bun first- it was good. $12.95 seems reasonable, though the sandwich is not huge. We also tried the clam chowder. My husband put a lot of Old Bay on it and enjoyed it as an Old Bay vehicle but said there weren't lumps of clam.
Worth noting: The cole slaw was very light and delicious. No mayo, just vinegar. Tasted fresh.
They have done a really nice job with the space. It didn't seem at all like Ashkenaz!
Restraint. This is how I would classify Michael Taus's line of ethnic lobster rolls. And this is a good thing; a FANTASTIC thing. As an Asian American, I'm often disappointed by "fusion" restaurants trying to be something more than the sum of its parts. They often go overboard on developing the "ethnic" flavor to the point where they crash instead of subtly blending flavors. So, Mike shows restraint in a way that works with the delicate flavors of lobster.
Before I elaborate, let's focus on the Traditional Lobster roll. Using all claw and knuckle meat, this is as traditional as it gets; no tail meat to be found here. For some, this might be a disappointment, but fear not; the chilled claw meat was tender and sweet. A light helping of mayonnaise at the bottom of the bun was appropriate and again, showed a lot of restraint. When you go around mixing a bunch of lobster meat with mayo into a lobster salad, the end result is usually a gooey mess that's way too much mayo.
The bun looks like your traditional roll that is generously buttered. I felt like the bun was a bit too strong, a bit too dense such that it overpowered the delicate lobster meat. This is actually part of the reason for the downgrade from a full 5 star review to a 4-4.5 star review. A softer bun would go a long way here, and I think that a slight modification to the bun recipe would definitely offer more balance.
Besides the traditional, I also sampled the Asian and the Indian varieties. There was a slight (and I mean slight) modification to the mayo base (such as a soy mayo in the Asian) and the lobster appeared to be relatively untouched. What they do with the ethnic dishes is that they add a topping to it that incorporates the flavors of the variety that you choose; the Indian had some fruit (mango?) style chutney and curried paneer I believe. But the point is that the flavors didn't overpower the lobster, and they didn't hit you first; they came through toward the end of each bite, allowing for a harmony of flavors that don't interrupt each other. The Asian had more of a banh mi style pickled daikon and cilantro topping, which was refreshing and complementary. Da Lobsta definitely isn't trying to shove hardcore flavors down your throat and it shows; the lobster IS and REMAINS the star of the show.
The last thing I was able to try was the lobster grilled cheese; definitely the most substantial sandwich of the bunch, but perhaps the cheese-to-lobster ratio was a bit off. As in, this ratio was too high. Reduce the amount of cheese or add more lobster (I'm a fan of the latter, personally) and you'll have a bigger hit.
Michael surprised us with a couple of housemade whoopie pies and I have to say, his marscapone infused marshmallow filling was fantastic. It was creamy without being overly gooey...a good way to end the meal.
Pricing: Fair and a good value. $8-$13 for a roll (depending on filling, shrimp, crab, or lobster). Remember, this is fresh seafood that we're talking about and based on the prices for lobster rolls in the city, I personally think it's a good value. In fact, I think that what you get for your money is a tremendous value.
Da Lobsta is definitely a good place to go if you're hankering for some lobster, or if you're in the area and get hungry and want a quick meal. Definitely give it a shot if you're in the area, and you'll probably have a good chance of seeing me in there again; I'll be back soon.
So this is quite the change from the deli that used to fill this space, if you had previously been to the deli you will appreciate all the work that has gone into this place. Creative Chicago centric artwork on the walls, bright space with nautical cues.
I dinned their this past weekend with a group of friends and we all enjoyed our meals. We ordered the Greek, Southwestern, Original and Indian. I feel for the price point, especially in that part of town, you get a satisfying meal with a healthy portion of lobster (crab or shrimp as well) that actually looks like lobster meat and not just mush with mayo mixed in.
I liked the Greek and Southwestern the best, the tzatziki was a nice change to have on a lobster roll, and the cucumber adds a nice crunch. After reading the other reviews I look forward to trying the lobster grill cheese.
Give this place a shot if you are around the neighborhood, sure beats the crap out of other fast service restaurants in the area.
Very excited that Da Lobsta - the first of many locations, I am sure - decided to open right down the street last week. Â Probably similar to many in Chicagoland, I am new to the lobster roll scene. Â In fact, when it opened, I excitedly told my wife that we were about to have a sushi restaurant specializing in lobster rolls within walking distance, before she quickly put me in my place. Â Now I know.
So far, I've had the traditional, the surf n' turf, and the Greek - all were excellent. Â Nothing short of 5 stars. Â In addition to being de-lish, they are very reasonable at $13 - especially considering the amount of lobster you get and the prices other places apparently charge. Â My wife, who is a self-described foodie, said Hugo's next door has one for around $30, and that is par for the course. Â This is huge for me, as I tend to like the finer things in life but typically don't have the cash to indulge in them (I believe they call this having "champagne tastes on a beer budget"). Â Â
I will agree with the other comments here that the sides need a little work (I've had the bisque, the chowder and the whoopie pie) and I'm sure they'll get those ironed out in short order. Â But Da Lobsta is getting my full endorsement because they seemed to have mastered the lobster roll, and my experience has been that, where there is excellence in one area, the others follow suit. Â If it doesn't, I will definitely be posting again.
I tried to the "Surf and Turf" roll tonight. Â It was really good. Â The roll was warm and buttery, the lobster was good, the bacon was crisp (ended up pulling it off to eat separate so it didn't overpower the whole sandwich). Â The coleslaw was also really tasty. Â Both laid off using too much mayo, which really helped make everything taste better. Â
The rolls are fairly small, so if you are trying to make a full meal out of this, I would get a side of soup or chips.
Came here with a group on opening night. It's a order, get a number, and sit down kind of place. If you are looking for Boston style traditional lobster rolls, this is not the place. They put a cool twist on the lobsta roll. Here's what we ordered:
- Traditional lobster roll: Gotta say the roll itself is amazing....almost to the point where it overshadows the lobster meat. The mayo is squeezed on before chunks of lobster meat is placed on to the bun. The lobster meat itself was nice and bouncy, but a little salty for my liking. Overall good, but very small. $12.95
- The Gold Coast: This roll comes with lobster, crab, and shrimp. Don't let all these ingredients fool you though. The size of this is the same as any of their other rolls, except they put a TINY bit of each ingredient to stuff a very small roll. BUT get this, it cost $28! Their justification was that there's truffle oil on it. IMO, the butter roll probably overpowers the truffle oil anyways. Does it actually make the roll better? Probably not by much. Not for the price anyways.
- Grilled cheese with lobster: Friend had this one. He had a food-orgasm while eating it.
- Lobster bisque: Not worth the try. Usually with lobster bisque, you taste the seafoody sweetness. This had none. Nor did I feel like it had any lobster in it. I would've liked a few chunks of lobster meat. Kinda watery.
Overall, I feel like the rolls were good. Would I come back? Probably not.
We both had "Traditional" Lobster rolls and we LOVED it! Lots of chilled lobster meat in a lightly dressed buttery roll. Â Our rolls came with a small side of slaw, a great tangy compliment to the mild yet flavorful lobster. We also tried the lobster mac& cheese, again BIG pieces of lobster mixed into creamy mac& cheese and topped of with crispy breadcrumbs...yum! Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the rolls! (Despite the name, each rolls can be made with blue crab or shrimp...or try all three!)
Review Source:We came as a group of 7. Had a good portion of the menu:
Traditional - 3 of us ordered this, all agreed that the lobster was good and lightly mayo. All the buns were perfected with buttery taste.
Indian- Although there was a good light curry taste, I really didn't get any "Mango" flavors at all. Again, lobster was fresh, buns was great. Toppings didn't over power it.
Surf & Turf - Friend had this and said the bacon did have a good maple taste. He did however removed the bacon off the roll so he can taste the lobster first.
Gold Coast $28- Yes, $28 for a reg sized roll. My BF got this and was ultra upset about it. It was underwhelming. It was the joke of the table. He could have gotten 2 separate rolls and another item instead. Mind you, it did have "truffle mayo" but please don't tell me truffle infused Mayo is worth 10 bucks. The Gold Coast roll had the lobster, snow crab and 4 medium size shrimp... yea it all sound great but a roll is a roll.... and you can only fit so much on the same size roll as any other $12 choices on the menu. I suggest everyone to get 2 separate ones and save $ on top of that.
Grilled Cheese - Friend had this and could not stop raving on about it. It looked amazing and the most value for the money. I think this would be the item I'd go for when i return someday.
Mac & Cheese - It was meh. The pasta was overdone. Nothing super special. It was not finished.
Lobster Bisque (we had the lg and sm) - waaaaaay watery. NO lobster bits what so ever. LITERALLY. It was more of a butter soup. I dare to say, Campbell probably makes better ones. Â
Clam Chowder - Friend had this, also said it was watery.
Whoopie Pie- Even though we got this for free after we gave feedback about the Gold Coast Roll.... this pie was: Dry. End of story.
Overall:
1- The lobster and bun itself are great. Loved the freshness and not overly loaded with mayo.
2- I wished they had more sides options like fries or even hush puppies for people to fill up because honestly, a single $12 roll here is not enough. The soup, mac & cheese and dessert wasn't all that kickass.
3- Reconsider the price of the Gold Coast, especially if that's the special. To me, this roll had less amount of lobster, 4 shrimps, drizzle of truffle mayo and a thin spread of snow crab on the bottom. It should be like $20-22 max.
4- Ordering and food was speedy.
5- The only person that came out full was the person that ordered the Grilled Cheese + Large soup. Everyone else (including 3 girls) was hungry afterwards and looking for a second meal. This is a great place for an in between meals spot. I think its too pricey for a casual lunch and not enough for dinner.
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