The Lobster, at the entrance of the historic Santa Monica sign, is a popular fine-dining seafood restaurant. Recognized as a one of the most picturesque sunset dining destinations in Southern California,  in 1923 this building was a final stop of Route 66 in the west. It’s as much a part of Santa Monica’s history as the historic Santa Monica pier below.

In the 1950s one of the dishwashers Mateo Castillo took over the iconic restaurant and turned it into a beloved “seafood shack” that residents and tourists frequented in the 1950s through 1980s.

The Lobster shut its doors for several years and reopened in 1999, after a family of investors refreshed and expanded the original structure and added a new entrance. They enhanced the space into a more modern, two-story cantilevered building with glass walls. The dining room now can seat more than one hundred guests.

On July 22, 2019 the owners and Executive Chef Govind Armstrong hosted a special VIP friends and family 20th Anniversary Party.

Celebrity chef Govind came out of the kitchen for a toast and ceremonial cutting of the Sweet Lady Jane Bakery life size lobster cake. Mayor Gleam Davis did the honors, as Santa Monica dignitaries and locals cheered her on.

There was an elevated seafood bar featuring shrimp Kusshi oysters, crab legs and claws on ice. Servers passed trays filled with crab cakes, large shrimp, vegan hearts of palm cakes, lobster and fried clam rolls.

Specialty Cocktails for the 20th Anniversary celebration included a “1909 Old Fashioned” made with Markers Mark Bourbon; “Sunset & Ocean” made with Gray Goose Vodka, “You, Me & Tequila” made with El Reposado Tequila, and the “Rockette” made with Roku Gin, lime and wild arugula. The craft cocktails dazzled with micro flowers.

Chef Govind was born in Inglewood, CA and raised in Costa Rica, before coming back to Los Angeles to work under culinary legends that include Wolfgang Puck, Mark Peel and Susan Feniger. He became a master of California Cuisine opening his own restaurants Table 8,  Willie Jane and Executive Chef at Post and Beam. This busy chef also has multiple 8 oz. Burger Bar locations, and has been a guest judge on the Bravo series Top Chef, as well as the Food Network series Iron Chef America.

His artfully composed seafood dishes, California Spiny Lobster and Maine Lobster are crafted with only the freshest, locally sourced, and responsibly farmed ingredients.

Here’s to another 20 years of success! Click here to look at The Lobster menu . 

Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Happy Hour Monday through Friday is 3 to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday The Lobster stays open until 11 p.m.

The Lobster is located at 1602 Ocean Drive, Santa Monica (310)458-9294.