Luke's Lobster Santa Monica

"Southern California serves some formidable lobster rolls, but an East Coast contender landed in Santa Monica in 2024. Luke’s Lobster is an East Coast chain that keeps it simple by serving a chilled lobster roll on a toasted bun. There’s another stuffed with crab and shrimp, but the lobster roll sampler with lemon butter-, spicy honey butter-, and truffle butter-topped rolls is what to order. Always order a side of clam chowder or lobster bisque." - Matthew Kang, Mona Holmes, Rebecca Roland

"An East Coast chain offering fresh shellfish rolls, including a seafood roll trio with Jonah crab, lobster, and shrimp, located just steps from the beach in Santa Monica." - Eater Staff

"The East Coast knows a thing or two about lobster rolls, so our interest was piqued when we heard this NYC-by-way-of-New-England chain had planted its flag in LA with a location in Santa Monica. Luke’s is known for its Maine-source lobster and signature rolls that come topped with lemon butter, celery salt, and a mayo drizzle. You’ll find other regional specialties on the menu, like crab rolls, lobster bisque, and clam chowder, too. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Sylvio Martins

"A new contender just entered the ring for the title of Los Angeles’s best lobster roll. East Coast-based chain Luke’s Lobster opens in Santa Monica today, October 24, 2024, bringing its chilled New England-style lobster rolls to LA for the first time. The signature rolls are served on a toasted, buttered split-top bun and topped with a touch of mayo, a drizzle of lemon butter, and a proprietary seasoning blend laced with celery salt. In addition to lobster rolls, Luke’s sells shrimp and crab rolls served with a side of chips and a soft drink. The trio of seafood rolls is available as a flight, with three two-ounce servings of each sandwich. The menu also features a lobster roll sampler with lemon butter-, spicy honey butter-, and truffle butter-topped rolls. Non-roll options include clam chowder, lobster bisque, and a poppyseed slaw. The Santa Monica location offers beer and wine, plus a kids menu with grilled cheese, hot dogs, and more. Luke’s has been slinging lobster rolls since third-generation lobsterman, Luke Holden, opened the first location in New York with co-founder Ben Conniff and his father Jeff Holden in 2009; the original East Village storefront spanned only 250 square feet. After 15 years in business, the company has expanded with locations in Boston, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo, and more. What sets Luke’s apart from other lobster roll purveyors is its commitment to sustainable and transparent seafood sourcing. All lobster is caught off the coast of Maine and Canada following local guidance, including minimum and maximum size restrictions and returning egg-bearing female lobsters to the ocean. In 2013, Luke’s Lobsters opened a production facility in Saco, Maine to purchase lobsters directly from fishermen and steaming them on-site before sending the meat to various restaurants." - Rebecca Roland