Lobster Shop

Seafood restaurant · Tacoma

Lobster Shop

Seafood restaurant · Tacoma

1

4015 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402

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Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
Lobster Shop by null
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Lobster Shop by null

Highlights

Nestled on the waterfront with stunning views of Commencement Bay, this cozy restaurant serves up mouthwatering lobster and elevated seafood in a relaxed vibe.  

Featured in The Infatuation
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4015 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402 Get directions

lobstershop.com
@thelobstershop

$$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

4015 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402 Get directions

+1 253 759 2165
lobstershop.com
@thelobstershop

$$$ · Menu

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dine in
takeout
delivery
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reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 10, 2025

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@infatuation

"The Lobster Shop’s been an upscale dinner staple for 40 years, and it has an incredible view of Commencement Bay. There’s one plot twist, though: the best thing here isn’t actually lobster. It’s local, Pacific Northwestern oysters that we’re willing to say are the best on Earth (and the rest of the universe while we’re at it). Get a dozen briny-creamy Eagle Rocks and buttery Eld Inlets, then go to town on the PNW scallops, served with pork belly and brown butter farro, and the Dungeness crab cakes with lemon-pepper aioli that are somehow twice as good as any other crab cake we’ve ever tried. And if you’re a vegan who suddenly woke up in a seafood palace, the maple-glazed vegan scallops, made from king oyster mushrooms, are as delicious as anything else on the menu." - meg van huygen

The 13 Best Restaurants In Tacoma 2024
View Postcard for Lobster Shop

Haley Hodges

Google
Amazing, decadent food with great service and views! Came for dinner for our family winter birthday celebration and it was so special! Winter on the Waterfront is a great promotion. All of the birthday people got a huge ice cream sundae, complimentary! Thanks Lobster Shop 😊

Sylvia Brcic

Google
Dinner date night & the food, service and atmosphere was great! Our appetizer was the crab cakes & tasted amazing! I enjoyed the halibut & my boyfriend got the 20oz ribeye steak. Both plates were flavorful. Service was on point & friendly. Would definitely come back & recommend. The view was gorgeous, even at night on the water.

Gina Stanley

Google
Our Waiter Alex C was Fantastic!! All of or food was delicious and we couldn’t have had nicer gals greet us at the door, take our coats and help the elderly with putting on their coats when we left. Our time spent at Lobster Shop wa time well spent with memories we will cherish forever. Thank you to everyone who worked here today. We felt well taken care of.

Tiffany Go

Google
An elevated seafood restaurant to easily celebrate special occasions or simply a delicious meal. You won't be disappointed. Our server was exceptional, providing helpful recommendations and was attentive to my dietary needs (pescatarian) throughout the night. The ambiance was lovely - not quite fine dining so it wasn't stuffy and you didn't need to fully dress in black tie, but not super casual either. The food was AMAZING. I got the ahi tartare, field salad, and the halibut paired with a non-spirited beverage which was so good. You are paying a premium for the food and the experience, as well as a required 20% service charge. But we didn't mind. It was a really fun experience and we can't wait to go back. Highly recommend.

Andy Tzeng

Google
Booked a private banquet event and had excellent service and food throughout the night. Delicious set menu with lobster, steak, appetizers, drinks, and sides. Great waterfront location that was amazing views and ambience.

Eve Monteverde-miller

Google
This was our third time coming today and we brought guests from Vancouver, BC, one of them celebrating her birthday on Monday. My husband and I had very nice experiences during our first 2 visits last summer for my birthday and the year before that. (I have even been giving friends gift cards because we were impressed with the service.) But today was a disappointment. Food and service were inconsistent with what we've had from our past visits. The chowder was a bit salty and the clam chewy. For my birthday lunch last summer -- there was a birthday card and a complimentary ice cream. Our server then even said to make it a tradition for me to celebrate it at Lobster Shop. Today, my friend only got a birthday candle to blow on the chocolate cake she ordered. We had expectations and it wasn't met. Has there been a change of management?

Jordan Murphy

Google
Really great experience at this beautiful place on the water with some absolutely delicious food, great service and gorgeous ambience. 👍🏻 We sat at a high-top in the bar, and even though we weren’t close to the water, we still had a pretty nice and relatively unobstructed view. Our server, Sophia, was great at telling us all about the different oysters and flavor profiles of each one, as well as suggesting some drinks! I had a “gold fashioned”, which was basically a variant of the old-fashioned, but with saffron bitters. It was delicious! My date enjoyed a gin martini, but with some drops of olive oil which perplexed and intrigued us both, but she absolutely loved it and had a second later on! when I saw crabcakes on the menu, I didn’t even hesitate to order them and so those got started right away. They were some of the tastiest crabcakes I’ve ever had in my life! We weren’t super hungry so she just had some oysters and I had a pork belly wedge salad, which tasted exactly as expected… Pork belly is a pretty incredible thing. 🥰 I had to look at dessert and though I didn’t really want any, all of the options listed looked pretty delicious… I figured we might as well share something even if we don’t finish it. At the suggestion of Sophia we had a strawberry shortcake dessert, which was made fresh daily and absolutely incredible! One thing to make sure you know is the service charge… More and more restaurants are adding a 20% automatic service charge on the bill and though I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, you just need to make sure you know that it’s there. She was polite in informing us about it and we left a bit extra as well as we had such a great time. Definitely an expensive meal, but also worth it!

zyer camacho

Google
Will definitely make another reservation just for the warm atmosphere and view. There’s a large selection of wine. Appetizer and starters were delicious! Let me tell you the way my steak was cooked to perfection, I was full but didn’t want to put the fork down. I know I said i was full but I absolutely had to order dessert. Service was on point.

Stuart H.

Yelp
What a wonderful place to go and enjoy a fine dining experience! Lots and lots of wonderful menu options to choose from. All masterfully prepared by Chef Rena and artfully presented! I cant say enough great things about our experience there. Very nice wine list with a good breadth of options but not overthought. Our Server Scott was friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. I cant wait to return.

Bob P.

Yelp
Liked: Ambience, service pretty good, food good except the Cioppino was too spicy (and I've had Cioppino at the Lobster Shop before the new ownership and it was never that spicy hot). Caesar Salad was good and the plate was chilled, which counts for me. Plenty of bread and olive oil, liked that. Gin and tonic was fine, Service was fine, lady made a good effort to serve us well. Disliked: the 20% gratuity added to the check, even if I tip 20% to the waiter or waitress the vast majority of the time anyway. Went to the website and there is a detailed explanation of the new policy. It clearly states you do not need to add an extra tip over the 20% retained by the restaurant ownership, but leaves just a tiny bit of mention that the server will still appreciate it if you did, which hints just a little bit of pressure, but not too much. Overall Comments: Prices are higher than the previous ownership but knew that going in and perhaps part of that can be chalked up to inflation. I am giving it a 4 overall because it was a pleasant New Year's Eve there and other than the too much "heat" on my Cioppino, was a pretty good meal and pretty good service. Portion of Cioppino wasn't huge but was enough. I could downgrade it to a 3.5 because of the new policy on gratuities and the explanation of where the 20% goes was a bit vague but they at least made the effort to explain but will keep it a 4 because of the positives. Was it worth the price? Well, it was a bit high but it was New Year's Eve. There is a chance I will return but depends on a lot of factors in the future discussed here. If all good restaurants end up having that same gratuity added to the check, I won't eat at McDonalds, I will have to accept it from time to time when I eat there.

Brie O.

Yelp
If you have ever woke up and said "I want to eat this today (fill in the blank) and actually go? Well, yesterday I woke up craving a Lobster Roll! So I rounded up my man and child and made a reservation to Lobster Shop! Honey, this restaurant does not miss! I am a regular. From the apps to lunch to dinner for all things seafood this is your spot! Our waiter whom I have had several times was Jared and he is Incredible! So attentive, kind, and a cheeky sense of humor! The view is ridiculously beautiful! No matter the season the PNW will serve a view honey! Anyway, back to the food! We started off with some yummy appetizers. The crabs cakes are very meaty, seasoned lightly, and served with a nice sauce almost like tartar sauce with mixed greens. The plate comes with 3 cakes. Next, we had the spicy and sweet shrimp. I believe it was four nice sized shrimp and the sauce was a great balance of sweetness and heat. Now the main event the Lobster Rolls! We all ordered the Connecticut lobster which is a warm lobster roll. They come with the best shoestring fries. The roll was hot brioche bun with warm butter and stuffed full of juicy lobster. They do not hold back on portions! We also had the Cesar salad and it was so fresh I love the capers. So so good! We ended the day with the Flourless chocolate cake. Very very chocolatey and sweet! And comes with chocolate, Carmel, and vanilla ice cream. Come on!!! I was completely stuffed and had to finish the afternoon with a walk. It was a beautiful day and great start to the 2025 year!

Debby H.

Yelp
To say we had a terrible experience at the Lobster Shop would be an understatement. For starters, the next day, when I asked for our server's name, they refused to provide it, even though they had told us hers while we were dining. I found this very strange. Our night began when we were unfortunately seated in the bar with a short, female server who had an attitude from the moment we sat down. Her sole purpose seemed to be to get members of our group cut off because from the beginning because, according to her, they were slurring their words and talking loudly. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Yes, we might have been a little loud, but that was because we were having fun with friends, and celebrating the Holidays! Despite our calm demeanor, they served drinks to only three of us and then advised that our table would be cut off. I've never been treated so poorly in my life at a restaurant. We felt so insulted. Typically we usually visit the Lobster Shop at least once a month and don't hold back when we do. It's disheartening that their staff lacks the ability to assess situations like this appropriately, and it has cost them our business and that of friends and relatives. I hope the staff knows they ruined our night. Save yourself the headache and just go to EL Gaucho!

Angi C.

Yelp
Stopped for lunch while waiting on the next Vashon ferry. My previous review of Lobster Shop was over two years ago. I enjoyed our lunch this visit. You can't go wrong with lingcod fish and chips- they do have amazing shoestring fries! We also tried the Maine lobster roll, served cold, not to be confused with the Connecticut Lobster Roll which is served warm! Service was great- view and ambiance are always outstanding!

Kelly S.

Yelp
We had a board celebration so we had a set menu. We were able to get the room in the back that has a beautiful view of the water, but after sunset, you can't see much. We had: 1) Seafood platter (crab, shrimp, oysters, scallops on a bed of ice) - 3/5. It was fine, but also nothing special. Crab was kinda dry. 2) clam chowder - 3/5. Too salty. 3) Salmon special - 4/5. Tender and well-cooked. 4) Crème brûlée - 3/5. The sugar tip wasn't the glassy texture. But the custard was fine. My favorite was the bread and dip. Olive oil with garlic and parsley? The dip was so good! Good service, but I wouldn't necessarily go back for the food.

Stacy I.

Yelp
Wow! It's been 2yrs since I've been here and it was SOOOOOOO much better than the last time. A friend had told me before that the Happy Hour was amazing and it was!!!! Mini Lobster Roll had so much lobster that it could have been a regular size Lobster Roll. Soft crunchy roll, with succulent devious lobster in warmed butter. We got the steamed clams, briny deliciousness, garlicky so good. Don't miss out on those Shoestring fries either! It's a perfect accompaniment. Highly recommend the Brown Derby. The grapefruit is the perfect companion to the Bourbon. We will be back again for another Happy Hour. Please note there is a 20% Service Fee. This covers tip, but you also add an additional tip. The service is worth it. Trust me! Right now it's decked out with beautiful Christmas Decor. Simply stunning.

Kent L.

Yelp
Very good service and excellent food! Prices were lower than expected. Can't wait to return!

Beker K.

Yelp
Finally got the chance to give this place a try. Great food, good service and views of the water. We opted for seating at the bar area which you get a view of the whole restaurant and water. I ordered the steak which was flavorful and cooked perfectly. Will definitely be back.

Tara R.

Yelp
Would highly recommend and would go again. Great experience. Staff was warm and friendly from the moment we walked in. I mentioned there was a birthday when I made the reservation and they had a card on the table saying happy birthday and it was acknowledged several time. Got a table on the patio during a gorgeous evening. Food service was timed well and the food was delicious. Fresh bread to start. 3 Crab cakes had a nice slight crunch on the exterior but the crab, sauce and salad was light and scrumptious. Lobster bisque and Caesar salad were flavorful and would get again. Bone in chicken with blueberry reduction was tender and juicy and a good portion as I brought part of it home. Lobster Tagliatelle was filling with a generous amount of mushrooms. Crème Brûlée was spot on and birthday sundae was plentiful and topped with a candle.

Adric M.

Yelp
We had a day of adventuring, and came in about sunset, our waitress was spot on, and helpful. sat us with a great view. i very much enjoyed my Lobster Tagliatelle, as a desert dweller, its always nice to get good lobster.. although i found it kinda silly since i think it was from he other coast.. but it was good food, great service.

Kendolyn H.

Yelp
Service was top tier and was amazing!! The bread was fresh. Drinks were perfect. You should definitely try it at least once.

Mikhenna M.

Yelp
Beyond bad. Initially got unflavored buttery noodles that I sent back, just to get a mediocre lobster roll on their second attempt. Then to be met with the overpriced bill was insane-20% automatic gratuity no matter the party size. There are so many better places to eat in Tacoma at the same or even less price point.

Misha W.

Yelp
Talk about a lack luster experience ;-/ Went here for a bday and the only thing not bland was the staff! PROS: Water view, Location on Ruston and the Staff was really nice and Attentive. CONS: Food across the board had ZERO flavor. The prices were extreme for what it was and the worst part was the ending. When I received my almost $75 bill for only 1 glass of prosecco and pasta, I had a 20% Service charge already added. The waitress continued to tell me that she doesnt get a DIME OF IT and I would have to add an additional tip in order for her to receive one... SO THE COMPANY adds a steep charge to the bill on top of the already steep bill you receive and in turn affects the persons money that actually took care of us? Never again will i return, as that is just pure Greed!

Beth H.

Yelp
My husband and I went here to celebrate our 28th anniversary. The newly renovated place was beautiful. I'm sorry to say though, I was disappointed. While the service was excellent, the food, Not so much. We ordered steamed clams, they were chewy and very salty. The broth was bland. Also ordered the lobster bisque. Also salty. My husband ordered the flank steak and was happy with it. Cooked to order and tender. I ordered the lobster risotto. Rice was cooked nicely. While there was a generous amount of lobster, the tail it came with was tiny and so heavily seasoned, I couldn't taste the lobster at all. Not worth the amount of money we spent.

Emonie M.

Yelp
The lobster roll was buttery and delicious, the salad was crisp and so fresh. The service was excellent and the view is beautiful.

Moani H.

Yelp
great but relatively small parking lot for the restaurant size (might get full on a busy day) and beautiful option for outdoor seating! went for lunch for the soup and half sandwich special! got the lobster bisque and the maine lobster roll (cold version). both were so delicious! the lobster bisque was a little too rich for me, though it was delicious. my friend got the salad option with the same sandwich and honestly, i was super jealous of her salad. it was mixed lettuce with bleu cheese, apples, pecans, and a nice vinaigrette. they definitely did the lobster roll right! definitely would come back!

Eddie J.

Yelp
If you're looking for waterfront dining with great seafood, then head over to the Lobster Shop on Ruston Way in Tacoma. If you plan to be seated in the dining room, a reservation is highly recommended. We arrived without reservations at 3pm on a Saturday, and even though the majority of the tables in the dining room were available, we were only offered a table in the bar. After drinks, appetizers, our main, and desserts in the bar, the tables in the main dining area, including the booths, were still available. I wonder if they would have turned us away if we didn't want to sit in the bar. Recommendations: (1) Try the scallops and pork belly. So good! (2) For dessert, the Bananas Foster was absolutely amazing!

Jenn L.

Yelp
We stopped by the Lobster Shop for Happy Hour/Early Dinner during our staycation on the Ruston Waterfront. I don't go to restaurants for views/ambiance, but I have to say both were fantastic here. I could not stop appreciating the design style of the interior, and admiring the gorgeous views of the water. We ordered the following for food: - Sweet & Spicy Crispy Shrimp (this is not on their website, but was in fact the only HH shrimp option we saw in person) - Ahi Tartare - Lobster Canape The shrimp was way too sweet for us, but the texture was nice. Ahi Tartare was enjoyable and refreshing on a 80-somethin day, but the star of the show was by far the Lobster Canape. They did not skimp on the lobster, and I appreciated that it wasn't downed in mayo. We were also given table bread which was a nice touch. The first loaf was a bit stale and tough, but the second was hot and delicious! Service was prompt, thorough, and friendly. We also enjoyed the Corpse Reviver and Old Cuban cocktails, along with a couple of pints. All in all, a very enjoyable experience!

Erin K.

Yelp
We made our way down to Tacoma to meet up with family. We went on a weekday for lunch and it was not too crowded. The Lobster Shop has amazing ocean views and the interior is just beautiful. The service was amazing and everyone was so friendly. We ordered the Crab Cakes, Oysters, Halibut, and the Soup and Half Sandwich of the Lobster Bisque and the Connecticut Lobster Roll. Everything was so delicious. The crab cakes were perfectly balanced and filled with amazing crab. I think my favorite was the Lobster Bisque and the Connecticut Lobster Roll. It was filled with tons of lobster that tasted super fresh. I highly recommend coming to Lobster Shop for a nicer lunch or dinner. Their views and food are just amazing.

Heather S.

Yelp
One of my absolute favorite restaurants -- and absolutely my favorite place for seafood on the beautiful Tacoma waterfront. Everything there is always next level: the ambiance is absolutely lovely. It's always easy to park in their lot (some other waterfront restaurants have more crowded parking situations). Somehow you know, walking in, that you're going to have a 5 star experience. You feel the restaurant's long and lauded history in Tacoma in the bones of the place. Service: The host and hostess crew are top notch. My last visit, I had a blood sugar problem as we arrived at the restaurant and someone on staff immediately and discreetly provided assistance and a soda. I just love good service! Our servers have typically been very good as well. Venue: I thought the building was nice before and hadn't thought it looked dated, but now that I've been in since the remodel, I am very impressed with how it turned out! The new remodel shows off the elegance of the space and of course features breathtaking views of Commencement Bay, Mount Rainier, Vashon, etc -- even the tables near the bar have a nice view because of the terraced seating arrangement. The only place you don't get a view is the bar -- and even so, it's a nice looking bar! The real star of the show, of course, is the food! Where to start? It's all so good! So I'll start with my favorite appetizer: the crab cakes. The Manila clams and the prawn and crab cocktail are also very good. For the entree last time, we splurged on the Alaska king crab legs. I can't begin to tell you how good they were. Generous portion sizes-- I got the (delicious) Mac n cheese to go because I was so full of everything else -- with some leftover crab, I was in absolute heaven. I absolutely loved the scalloped potatoes -- oh it was all fabulous! This meal was far from budget... but I still say it was worth every penny. For dessert, I had the key lime cheesecake, and even my husband who hates cheesecake liked it. So I guess that wraps it up: Lobster Shop is the place on the Tacoma waterfront for that next level dining experience!

Danielle D.

Yelp
View was great. Service was professional. Food was eh. It looked really good but was underwhelming. There was no real flavor, and my husband was disappointed with the hash brown style potatoes on his dish. Honestly, the pesto oil for the bread was the star of the show. And, that's incredibly disappointing for the price.

Breanna V.

Yelp
The space is gorgeous. Beautiful view. Wood beams, penny tile floors. Just stunning. We sat in the bar at a table. Bartender was casual but polite. Meal timing flowed well. Crab cakes were thick but fluffy and FULL of crab. I got side Cesar and French onion soup. I loved the fried capers on the salad and the soup was cheesy and silky. Hubs got half French dip and clam chowder. He said the soup was creamy and sandwich was beefy perfection. I want to come back just to try the rest of the menu!

Jordan M.

Yelp
Really great experience at this beautiful place on the water with some absolutely delicious food, great service and gorgeous ambience. We sat at a high-top in the bar, and even though we weren't close to the water, we still had a pretty nice and relatively unobstructed view. Our server, Sophia, was great at telling us all about the different oysters and flavor profiles of each one, as well as suggesting some drinks! I had a "gold fashioned", which was basically a variant of the old-fashioned, but with saffron bitters. It was delicious! My date enjoyed a gin martini, but with some drops of olive oil which perplexed and intrigued us both, but she absolutely loved it and had a second later on! when I saw crabcakes on the menu, I didn't even hesitate to order them and so those got started right away. They were some of the tastiest crabcakes I've ever had in my life! We weren't super hungry so she just had some oysters and I had a pork belly wedge salad, which tasted exactly as expected... Pork belly is a pretty incredible thing. I had to look at dessert and though I didn't really want any, all of the options listed looked pretty delicious... I figured we might as well share something even if we don't finish it. At the suggestion of Sophia we had a strawberry shortcake dessert, which was made fresh daily and absolutely incredible! One thing to make sure you know is the service charge... More and more restaurants are adding a 20% automatic service charge on the bill and though I don't think there's anything wrong with it, you just need to make sure you know that it's there. She was polite in informing us about it and we left a bit extra as well as we had such a great time. Definitely an expensive meal, but also worth it!

Vianca P.

Yelp
We dined here before a concert in tacoma and the views were spectacular. They were busy, but we made a reservation and had no problems when it was time to be seated. Everyone at the table enjoyed the crab cakes and a bowl of soup. My crab cakes did have some shells, and the chowder was thick, but both had good flavor. The herbs and spices for the bread were fantastic. The Gin drink I had (on the drink menu, but can't remember the name) was so good, I didn't even taste the Gin. And the presentation of the drinks was great. I heard the lobster rolls are where it's at, but they are only served for lunch. May try them one day. Oh, and hats off to our very bubly waitress, she was amazing!

Jill E.

Yelp
According to our server, the restaurant is now under new ownership, the same people who own Metro Grill in Seattle so of course we knew it would be expensive. However today was lobster day and they had lobster rolls which I love so off we went. Of note, if you want to go there, make a reservation. According to the host if it's busy and you don't have a reservation, they stop taking walk up visitors. I love oysters so started with those. Several different varieties on the half shell and I ate six all different, all delicious. They came with a cocktail sauce, lemon and a champagne ice which was absolutely divine. All tasted slightly different but all good. I had a lobster roll, which was not at all like the ones you get on the east coast but still good. Came in the same type of roll but there the similarities stopped. While east coast rolls are pretty much just chunks of lobster, this was more of a salad with celery and other stuff and mayo and many seasonings. In my humble opinion there was way too much seasoning and it too away from the lobster. Sides were shoe string potatoes and cole slaw, both good. My husband had lobster ravioli which I tasted and it was pretty good. He asked the server if it had eggs inside and he said yes made the flavor better. It was inside the ravioli and actually leaked out when it was cut. Of course we had to have dessert. I had the flourless chocolate cake and my husband had key lime cheese cake. I couldn't finish mine, he manfully ate all of his. Desserts are huge and should be shared. This has a lovely place right on the water it be aware its pretty expensive and should probably be a special occasion place.

Leah S.

Yelp
If you are vegetarian/ vegan, come in and give these vegan crab cakes a taste! They have incredible flavor and a nice pan fried crisp on the outside. The sauce underneath is a beautiful chipotle aioli, not to spicy but pairs very nicely with the cakes. The base is hearts of palm, corn and fresh herbs tossed together. All of the flavors compliment each other nicely and these taste the closest to a crab cake that you can get around town! Very impressed!!

Navinan R.

Yelp
Food is average and not worth the price. Staff are polite and friendly. You'll be paying a lot of money to celebrate a special occasion just for the view.

Mattea D.

Yelp
Lobster shop is one of the Ruston waterfront restaurants. We came on a Friday for lunch and were seated promptly, with really good host service and a nice server. There are multiple signs and warnings they do an auto charge for service which didn't seem like a big deal, but nice they let people know ahead of time. The view is nice and everyone was seated near the windows (as tables were available). I assume a lot of tourists in this crowd or people going out to eat for a leisurely lunch, definitely not the work bite crowd. Seated and reviewed menu, then given the option to get drinks etc prior to ordering food, but opted to just order all at once. Ordered a lobster ravioli, a salad and onion soup, and a lobster roll (came with fries). Added a drink, as we were having a Friday lunch. We were surprised there were only a couple dishes with lobster on the menu, honestly! Food was good - ravioli was forgettable, but onion soup was good. The wedge salad was a little different presentation from the norm but still a logistical bite challenge (tasted good though), and the lobster roll was pretty good with a great flavor with the mix of celery etc, and really good fries. Lunch for 2 was around $140. As this wasn't a special occasion and the food wasn't particularly exciting, i just can't see myself becoming a regular. In fact, I feel like I'm not their target crowd anyway. I'm also sort of confused when people do longer service on a Friday lunch - maybe I'm more of a lunch at the bar sort of person? So come for the view if you'd like. There will probably be a spot available. They'll have great service at least.

Dan L.

Yelp
I went there on a slow night and I got salmon and my friend got steak. Our restaurant experience was very good until we got our food. My salmon was overcooked but my friend's steak was a lot worse. It was uncooked. When we complainer to the manager, she started arguing that it's fine and that their steaks are typically undercooked. We insisted and she took it to the kitchen and brought it back raw again. I ended up eating my overcooked salmon and my friend did not want to return the steak. I could not believe the manager would push back and not agree with us. It's not like we order steak the first time and don't know how it should look when properly. Unfortunately the next day he was very ill. Please save yourself trouble and go next door any other restaurants in the area. For example, Duke's next door is above and beyond.

Grace D.

Yelp
Beautiful views, right on the water, delicious food = perfect date night. The staff here are all so nice and the service is fast (but not so fast that you wonder if they really cooked it ). Everything tasted fresh and the drinks were delicious. Shout out to Marcy for being such a generous supporter of the local community and helping to provide new equipment and uniforms to the Norpoint Soccer Club. The Lobster Shop really knows how to give back to the community and has earned the community's support.

Ricky R.

Yelp
This restaurant is completely opposite of what I look for in food. Its fine dining, its seafood, and they have a 20% service charge. Now I will speak more about all of these further into this review, but I wanted to get my early thoughts out. For being the last place I would ever pick based on my previous statement, it wasnt bad. I think most people giving a 1 star are unhappy about the service charge or price, I dont think 1 or 2 are fair at all. Hell 3 might not be fair, but its not my style. So take my review with a grain of salt. I wont be back, I wasnt unhappy, its just not my style of restaurant. Before I dive into my reasoning for hating fine dining, let me address the 20% service charge. I have always hated the automatic gratuity. I have made this clear in previous reviews. Its just not my thing. I think they do it best here. One there are signs everywhere, so you know its included and you dont get tricked to tip on top if you dont want to. Two they have a great FAQ that breaks down how this works. Plus within there you can say you dont have to do the service charge. I dont know the processes, but if thats true, its cool because it gives you an out if you dont like it. Three on the receipt our waitress circled and called out the automatic gratuity. All three of these things allows some freedom of choice and you dont feel cheated. The explanation feels very good as well and not cheap. This will always be a negative, but I think they present as well as you can. I hate fine dining. Its just that simple. I dont like paying too much for nothing special. Since I dont really like seafood, the lobster shack probably wasnt a great pick, but it also wasnt my choice. Its so frustrating going to a place like this and not having real option to spend less than $40 on a meal. I picked the pork chop because I dont care for fish, and the price of steak is stupid. The pork chop was pretty good, not $40 good, but a decent cut of pork, prepared pretty well. Evey thing was pretty good, except the price. The chop was cooked maybe a touch over for my taste, not off by much, but I would have personally pulled it off a minute earlier to keep the same moisture throughout. It wasnt dry, but it was close near the edge away from the bone. The Brussel's were good, but not quite enough. I think 5 full brussel's were included. The finger potatoes were good, but I prefer my potato slight more cooked. It wasnt raw, but more on the firm side for a roasted potato. Nothing on the plate even comes close to justifying $40. Take the most organic, the most prime, cut of any pork chop and I doubt you will get over $12/lb. Hell whole foods organic is $9/lb and I think that is the most I have ever seen. Its a 10oz cut and that means less than $10 of pork chop. The brussels and potatoes probably didnt cost $30 and I cant imagine Apple chutney costs too much. So what did I pay for?? No seriously. I mean the view is ok, less so on a cloudy day. The bread and olive oil were nice, nothing I havent made at home. Thats why I hate fine dining. That pork chop dinner at $20 is still probably high, but decent and I leave smiling. $40??? Literally a joke. Hell my wife got pasta and while the lobster was plenty and the noodles home made, once again nothing justifies the price. I will reiterate the TLDR. For a place that is completely opposite of what I would ever choose, they did ok. The price will always be the biggest hurdle for me. I can say i will likely never be here again, not because of anything any of the staff did, they were lovely. The food wasnt bad. Its the price. I hate that their are no reasonable alternatives to buying over priced food. Next time I will just stay home and let my wife go out with her family.

Katie M.

Yelp
I saw the Wagyu burger as one of the first images on here. I decided to go and try the burger out upon arriving, I realized the burger was not on the menu. A few months ago. I came with some friends and they wanted a lobster roll which was not on the menu and we were confused, it seems some of their most popular dishes are only available for lunch or happy hour. I ended up getting the medallions and enjoyed them. The bartender was nice and everyone was very attentive. I'd go back but probably for happy hour or lunch.

Matthew P.

Yelp
Went to the lobster shop celebrating a birthday, we sat outside because it was pretty sunny and warm. Our wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu specifics and specials. We started with the crab cakes and I had a couple oysters, they were so fresh, which came with a delicious frozen mignonette, it was almost like shave ice. They have some of the best fries, they are seasoned well and were crunchy and irresistible. We tried their warm butter lobster roll but were a little let down on the flavor and tenderness, it felt like the lobster meat might have been over cooked. Overall it was exactly what you would expect at a northwest seafood restaurant, I will definitely keep coming back.

Wendy A.

Yelp
Delicious meals with everything we had from the menu. The atmosphere was perfect a window view of the sound. It was a special occasion to visit our kids from out of town. Scallops were melt in your mouth . We will definitely return for more.

Lisa B.

Yelp
Worth the money - great atmosphere, drinks, food (even the free bread). I didn't try any lobster, but the oysters, clams, and scallops were all excellent.

Marissa T.

Yelp
Our server, Rachel, was amazing! She went above and beyond. She was professional, efficient, and fun to talk to. We will ask for her again when we come back. The food was excellent as well!! Some of us had clam chowder or lobster bisque. We also enjoyed the scallops and lobster tagliatelle!

Leslie S.

Yelp
Pros: wow so delicious, best Halibut I've had in a long while, the peach chutney was fantastic. My hubby loved his fish and chips. We also shared the burrata and flourless chocolate cake, both 10s! The cocktails were also amazing. Cons: expensive, but we'll worth it

Joel R.

Yelp
Been wanting to come here for a long time especially because it's local, finally made it out and boy did it impress. I think the fact they have to over explain the 20 percent built in tip is kinda annoying. Seattle always has it this way. No big deal. The food was awesome! The service was awesome! The view was awesome. Kitchen timed everything perfectly giving us about 2 hours from start to finish. Spend the money and come enjoy a fantastic meal with wonderful staff! Thanks!!!

Yvonne R.

Yelp
We arrived early and asked if we could wait for the rest of our party at the bar. The hostess was very pleasant and directed us to the bar and told us we could close out before our reservation time and return to be seated. The bar tender was very friendly and made us some great drinks and served us quickly. My husband had a Bloody Mary and I had a cocktail. Once we were seated, our server was very attentive and friendly. We ordered the grilled lobster dinner and it was a very filling portion that was cooked to perfection. It came with asparagus and squash that were also very appeasing. We had the Albarino and Riesling wines with our dinner and both were very good. The bread and oil dipping sauce were also very good. I highly recommend the Lobster Shop.

Irena K.

Yelp
Lobster shop is such a gorgeous restaurant. With a relaxing and romantic atmosphere, and a very professional staff, it's perfect for any occasion (and you will not be disappointed). Their oysters were phenomenal (Cascadia crowns were my favorite) and they have a really unique take on mignonette. Their drinks were really good and refreshing and the food was even better. Their herb infused dipping oil for their bread was probably the best I've ever tried and I want a bottle of it. The lobster risotto was creamy, full of flavor and really just perfect. My bf thought that aside from the buckwheat noodles, their black cod was a good dish and cooked to perfection. I will definitely try them again and again!

Corina S.

Yelp
I found the Lobster Shop checked most all of my boxes for a nice dining experience. Food: AMAZING! We we knew we wanted to a enjoy "date night" in style. We we were pleasantly surprised by the tender filet minion and lobster. I ordered mine medium and my husband ordered medium well. Each was cooked to perfection! (See pic) Dessert: To die for!! (See pic;) Service: FANTASTIC! We were treated like royalty. Our drinks were refilled immediately, our server was pleasant, funny, and offered advice on the best food on the menu. We had left overs (boxed for us at the table) for dinner the next night. Price: a little spendy. But we were aware of the prices ahead of time and budgeted for it. (This is why I rated 4 stars instead of 5) Ambiance: SPECTACULAR water view and pleasant music We will be back for sure. Thank you Lobster Shop!

Useful R.

Yelp
Loved the old Lobster Shop. The new one misses the mark. The old Lobster Shop was classic elegance. The menu was better, prices were better, and there wasn't a sneaky service charge. Take me back in time in time. This used to be a monthly go-to spot. Not going back.

Nikia S.

Yelp
My husband brought me here and everything was wonderful. The food was high end and delicious, we sat by the window overlooking the water and we had a great server. This is a place worth returning to.

Stephanie S.

Yelp
I had never been here before so we decided to check it out after they updated it. The inside is beautiful and has great ambiance. I personally thought $15-16 for a cocktail was a lot so we opted not to try any. We shared the lobster ceviche, it was tasty and had a lot of lobster chunks in it. I had the cioppino for dinner. It had several kinds of fish, shrimp and clams. It was very tasty. If I wanted a fancy date night I'd probably try it again.

Hayleigh L.

Yelp
Came here for my birthday lunch & all I can say is WOW! Everything was perfect. The restaurant itself is beautiful inside & out. Beautiful views of the water & on a sunny day you'll see the beauty herself, Mt. Rainier. For an appetizer we had the crab cakes, great flavor & no fillers; loved the sauce on top as well. For my salad I got the house field greens, loved the balance of it, all of the flavors came together beautifully. My husband got the Caesar salad, he was raving about the croutons. We both got the lunch combo $22 for 1/2 sandwich & soup combo. We both had the Connecticut style lobster roll served warm with butter- SO GOOD. seasoned to perfection, a generous amount of meat as well. I had the lobster bisque which had a great flavor, perfectly sweet with chunks of lobster. My husband had the clam chowder & it had a delicious Smokey flavor. For dessert we got a complimentary flourless chocolate cake for my birthday! Our server, Sophie (or Sophia sorry can't remember), was great! Really great experience and happy I came here for my birthday lunch.

Pete And Deb S.

Yelp
We miss the old Lobster Shop! Been to the new one twice and very disappointed . Food is very so so and nothing close to the previous establishment. Everyone I compare notes with agree. Get a new menu or new chefs. I miss the old Lobster Shop salmon! Best ever as was everything else. New owners have missed the mark in my opinion.

Luann H.

Yelp
The service was great, Sean was very attentive. The food was mediocre....unfortunately...we've always had great food before. My partner had the copper river king salmon, I had the halibut, our son had the lobster tagliatelle....the halibut was overcooked and on the verge of cool...the salmon was cooked to order but had little flavor and the tagliatelle pasta was not al dente....it will be awhile before we spend that amount of money on mediocre food.

Mrs. Kristen C.

Yelp
We came on a rainy June Sunday. I called 30 minutes ahead for reservations and they had ample seating. The service was excellent, the food was delicious and we got to see orcas as we sat having lunch. The crab cakes were superb. I like that they don't serve large portions, just enough to enjoy your meal. I had the red blend wine and it exceeded my expectations. The Lobster roll was delicious.. I substituted Caesar salad and it was very good. Atmosphere music were just divine.