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. 

Wahaca: Drool worthy GF Mexican street food

Oh Wahaca, you're such a cutie. You're so smart but still friendly, funky and chic but still a bit rebellious. You're like the bad boy boyfriend that I really wanted at 18, that my mother would actually let me go out with.

Welcome to a fresh, lime and zesty, even zexty interior of the Wahaca chain - all bright turquoises reminding us of those Cancun beaches we couldn't be further away from, and with a menu that takes right there.

In a casual cantina style, albeit a very stylish and minimalist one, the menu is on your paper placemat. In the three times I have been to various Wahaca's the same excellent customer service has prevailed. Namely, when I mention being gluten free the waiter or waitress has promptly leaned over and with their pen crossed out what I can't have (the quesadilla section) and crossed out the salad, with the caveat that if I wanted it they could make it gluten free on request.

This is great for two reasons. Firstly, it's so easy to see what you can actually have! Basically, everything they haven't physically crossed out in front of you. Secondly, because this has consistently happened every time I have eaten there it means, and this is the ABSOLUTE golden rule for a chain establishment, that the staff have been well trained. There has been a moment, a directive, part of the training, where gluten free/ coeliacs has been discussed and they have taught every member of wait staff what is gluten free and what isn't. The peace of mind that that gives you is in valuable.

Now, enough boring you senseless with restaurant staff training practices and on to the food, which after all is why we are here in the first place.


Fabulous, fresh, modern Mexican. And that comes from me, someone who was born in Texas and has spent their life eating copious amounts of Tex-Mex and has, up until the last few years, been genuinely upset about the foods called "mexican" in this otherwise fast improving, most excellent foodtropolis.

The food is made for sharing, served up in small tapas style plates. The tacos are soft corn tortillas with flavour packed protein morsels on top  - whether that's the Chicken Tinga or the grilled steak - it's all clean, fresh and awesomely flavourful. I'm talking lime, coriander, chillis. The Mexican good stuff.

The tostadas are crunchy, sexy little roundels, topped with the perfectly balanced sharp but still creamy seafood shrimp and scallop ceviche. All ethically sourced as well.

And don't forget the corn side dish. Heaven is a sour cream,  chilli-sugar-salt covered corn on the cob, with a squeeze on lime on top. You heard it here first. Don't forget the toothpick.

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

Verdict: Modern light Mexican, perfect for most any occasion. Did  I mention the margarita? Get the margarita.