Tuesday 8 January 2013

Burger and Lobster: Feels naughty, but isn't so naughty


Now I have to be honest with you. I may have first gone to Burger and Lobster back in... May? Well since then I have found several excuses as to why I couldn't review it and would have to go back again. Mainly my rubbish photography. "These pictures are too dark", I'd declare. "I guess I have to go back another time." "I look too silly in this photo, one more trip can't hurt." This has since happened on no less than four occasions.


Excuses:

THE ANGLE ISN'T RIGHT!!!!

Unhelpful comedy photograph.
Smiling in too much of an idiotic way
This is the time I forgot to take the photo until after I'd eaten it. DOH!

The truth is I love burger and lobster. Namely the lobster. And perhaps it just feels too indulgent on a Tuesday lunchtime to say "I want to go eat a lobster for lunch,"whereas, "I have to get that review of Burger and Lobster done" sounds better. But at £20 for a whole lobster, this is the best value not-so-little crustacean you are going to get pretty much anywhere.

I mean this is just silly. *Shakes head*
Burger and Lobster is a restaurant that serves solely those two items, with sides of salad and fries, in stylish, dimly lit and somewhat sexy interiors and will charge you £20 whatever you choose (making you a winner for choosing the lobster, and a loser for choosing the burger, but hey, that's just my opinion!). That's because with B&L's sheer volume buying power they are able to pass on the discount to you. Also, and I'm not an expert here, but there is a silent equation going on - at any given table of four people at least one is having the burger, having been dragged there by lobster loving friends and having no desire to wrestle the sweet succulent oceanic beasts themselves. Or perhaps they fear looking like a fool trying to handle the claw crackers while wearing a bib. I have no such qualms and find the process delightfully fun and messy, and I haven't a clue what I'm doing. Well I didn't, I'm getting much better at it with practice. And don't you need to keep practising to make perfect (yes, yes you do!!!! Hooray!)?


Finally, a perfect shot. Dammit. 
You can choose how you want the lobster cooked (steamed, grilled) and what sauce you would like with it (garlic butter, naturally). Just mention being gluten free and the salad will come without pesky croutons. If you do want to have the burger I have it on good authority that it is excellent, being made with the highest quality Waygu beef and the patty is 100% gluten free and you can have it "Californian style" with lettuce instead of a bun (I mean, that's practically health food right there, so screw you January detox!).

These new restaurants that boast just one or two things on the menu can work really very well for coeliacs. For example, no other fried foods on the menu (such as onion rings), means that there is no cross-contamination in the deep fat frier - so you can guarantee the chips are gluten free.

Next week, I'm going to tell you all about the latest "one (ordinarily expensive) item on the menu at a great price" restaurant, Flatiron. But, you know what? My pictures from the last two trips just weren't good enough, so I think I owe it to you, dear readers, to have another visit first.


Gluten Free Knowledge: ★★★★
Gluten Free Range: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★★

Verdict: A bit of crustacean heaven for lobster lovers. And your mate eating the burger will be happy too. 
Square Meal

7 comments:

  1. Hello,

    Great blog! Very informative and entertaining.

    I actually emailed Burger & Lobster the other day as a friend is going there for their birthday and they informed me that their burgers do actually contain gluten, meaning we're definitely only allowed the lobster. Good job the lobster is clearly the better choice!

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    1. Hi Miss Dolly,

      I went and checked with Burger and Lobster and the chefs and the burgers are definitely gluten free when served without the bun, so not to worry! Perhaps the people you emailed hadn't thought of removing the bun? Silly I know but I can't tell you how many times I've been told I can't have something like an antipasti plate: the reason? A breadstick on the side..... oh dear!

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    2. I just had an email from someone at burger and lobster and their burgers actually contain soy sauce and worcester sauce and are therefore not gluten-free even without the bun.

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  2. Worcester Sauce is now declared safe for coeliacs because Barley Malt Vinegar has been declared safe (less than 20ppm gluten). So now it's just to find out about that pesky soy sauce....!

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    Replies
    1. Good to know :)
      Sadly 'legally safe at less than 20ppm' still makes my partner sick, makes gluten-free cooking very difficult!

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  3. Hi, I am celiac and went here and was told initially the burger patty was GF. But after a few visits, the manager told me in fact the patty was made with few drops of soya sauce and worcestshire sauce!!!!! And the chips although fried in GF oil, were made in a factory what handles wheat!!! Have not gone back since as although not serious reaction I am sure I had bad tummy afterwards

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  4. Very useful info. Hope to see more posts soon!. berezers

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