So what's a Smack Lobster?
Honestly, we're not sure where the name comes from, but it's the latest from the Goodman group - best known for the uber-popular Burger & Lobster restaurants that have sprung up over town. This time they're doing away with the burger altogether and concentrating on just the lobster.
Burger & Lobster is best known for its £20 lobster and chips - is this as good value as that?
They've actually managed to go one better, with the lobster rolls on offer at Smack being only £7.50 to take away and £9 to eat in. This is almost criminally good value and when word gets out, expect this to be a mecca for lobster lovers.
And where is it?
It's right off Oxford Street, just a few steps from Selfridges. If the Christmas shopping gets too much, this will clearly be the place to make a beeline for.
And what do they offer?
The bulk of the menu is put aside for the lobster rolls, which come in four bizarrely named flavours (which were supposed to be temporary names but just stuck according to the man behind them, Goodman's chef John Cadieux). Each is £7.50 to take away and £9 to eat in. Those flavours are...
- Happy Ending - with Japanese mayo, fish sauce, coriander, shredded napa cabbage (our favourite)
- California - with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado, avocado mayo with lime
- Seven Samurai - Tempura lobster (which isn't battered), Japanese Mayonnaise, Japanese cabbage, cucumber, pickled ginger, spring onion, tograshi spice
- Mexicali - with smoked chipotle, mayo, peppers, corn
And in addition to that, you can get a chick lobster (£12 in, £12 to take away) which come with garlic mayo (we've seen pictures of this online since and BITTERLY regret not getting it). And some of the best courgette fries, crusted in Parmesan, that we've had in a while (and we love courgette fries) at £3/£3.60. If you're just in the mood for something warming for winter, there's the lobster chowder (something of a mix between chowder and bisque) at £3/£3.60 for a small one or £4/£4.80 for large.
And drinks?
Upstairs you can get coffee (basic filter) and some soft drinks on tap, including Sicilian lemonade. If you want booze, you have to head downstairs where there's a fizz, white and red on offer for £4 a glass (rotating types) and a couple of beers too (again £4).
Overall thoughts?
The lobster rolls are as good as you've come to expect from Burger & Lobster and it's fantastic value. It's without doubt a must-visit if you're in the area. Get down there as soon as you can, before the word gets out...
Smack Lobster is at Binney Street, London W1K 5BN. For more information, follow them on Twitter @smacklobster
Hot Dinners were invited to Smack Lobster. Prices were correct at the time of writing.
