Inside The Lobster's Gorgeous Remodel in Santa Monica

Matthew Kang is the Lead Editor of Eater LA. He has covered dining, restaurants, food culture, and nightlife in Los Angeles since 2008. He's the host of K-Town, a YouTube series covering Korean food in America, and has been featured in Netflix's Street Food show.

Though it's been billed as one of Santa Monica's most tourist-friendly restaurants, boasting one of the city's best ocean views at a prime location, The Lobster is ready for a bit of a second act.

Now opened for twenty years, the mid-life refresh is a welcome change for anyone wanting that pristine vista of the Pacific Ocean. The interior now boasts stained teak accents and elegant gray upholstery to match.

The menu from chef Collin Crannell is mostly the kind of familiar seafood fare with quality ingredients you'd expect from this kind of dining room. Sauteed blue prawns come with a brandy, garlic, and herb butter atop toasted ciabatta while a mean lobster roll comes tossed with Japanese mayo and a side of fries. For dessert, indulge in a chocolate peanut crunch while soaking in a long summer sunset. With the Expo Line arriving this week, now's the ideal time to think about a jaunt westward and refined meal at this twenty year institution. Check out the full remodel below.

The Lobster, 1602 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 310-458-9294