Burger and Lobster Leicester Square  – Review 

Burger and Lobster:

Hailing from the same group as the Goodman steak Restaurants and Zelman Meats, Burger and Lobster feels as if has been around forever. I remember the excitement surrounding the opening of the original Mayfair branch of Burger and Lobster a few years ago. It was the place to be seen and we are all loved the vicarious thrill of having to choose between the two menu options, burger or lobster? Life seemed so simple in those happy pre-Brexit days. The Burger and Lobster Mayfair branch was never going to remain an only child. There are outlets now in New York, Thailand, Singapore and Dubai alongside the U.K. so when asked to review it seemed like a good moment to see how things had moved on. Burger and Lobster Leicester Square sits at the junction of Soho’s Wardour St and Lisle St, nestling next to the W hotel. The window display features tanks of happy crustaceans blithely unaware of their upcoming role as my delicious dinner. The interior is on two levels and is buzzing with happy customers chowing down. The menu is a little more developed than the original burger, lobster or lobster roll offer but still stylishly minimalist with only one dessert on offer. However there’s a sensible amount of cocktails, wine and fizz to keep drinkers happy and because it was a Wednesday it was necessary to celebrate with some bubbles. It’s great to see how English sparkling wines are spreading onto a wide range of drinks lists. My choice of Ridgeview Fitzrovia Brut Rosé, South Downs, England had lovely red fruit notes and the classic French Veuve Cliquot Brut champagne was delicious with well-balanced acidity. 

I loved the display of fresh oysters and my platter of Mersey and Poole rocks was super fresh; the Poole bivalves were meaty and full-flavoured with the Merseys having a cleaner, subtler flavour.

They were served with lemon and Tabasco on the side and a gentle Tiger’s Milk and a spicy Bloody Mary style dressing. Fresh hand cut calamari came hot, crisp and tender from the fryer with a delicious batter that worked well with our wine, an Albariño from Bodegas Castro Martin, Rias Biaxas that had a deliciously lemony zing.

And then the main event – a succulent 1.5 lb grilled Lobster (you can have it boiled or half and half if you wish) drenched in lemon and garlic butter and served with moreish truffle fries and a pert little salad on the side.

One of the newer menu items is the Lobster burger – a 5oz beef patty topped with lobster meat, brie, truffle and tarragon mayo, fennel and Chinese cabbage. It’s really a deluxe surf ‘n turf cheeseburger for people looking for something more sophisticated than a basic patty and the mix of flavours and textures absolutely hit the spot.

The solo dessert on the menu is an American-style dark chocolate cheesecake with an orange coulis on top. It’s one of those dishes that you look at and think ‘oh I really can’t’, then you have a bite to be polite and end up scoffing the lot!

Burger and Lobster have focused on doing a few things really well which is probably a good metaphor for life. So if you are in the mood for that most crucial of gastronomic binary choices, burger or lobster, or you are simply indecisive and want both, there simply is only one destination.

Burger and Lobster, Leicester Square
10 Wardour Street,
London, W1D 6BZ

0203 2058963

Check locations for other branches of Burger & Lobster and find out more.