National Lobster Day: Where to Eat in NYC

National Lobster Day is Saturday, September 25, and some restaurants are offering special lunch and dinner deals, including for an entire Lobster Week. But anytime is a great time for enjoying these tasty crustaceans.

Chow down at one of these locally owned and operated lobster outposts in NYC and eat better and cheaper than at the national seafood chains.

Whether you prefer your lobster steamed or in tucked in a roll, here’s where to find the best NYC lobster.

Note that because of current Covid-19 rules in NYC, you must show proof of vaccination to eat indoors. 

Accepted poof includes a Vax card, NY State Excelsior pass, or Covid Safe Pass.  In addition, some restaurants require a valid ID to acompany your proof.

Many NYC lobster restaurants have outdoor seating where such ID is not required, and you can order online for on-site pick-up or delivery.

See Also

Best All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Deals in NYC

Fast Food Deals & Discounts Through October

Including National Lobster Day

at Red Lobster chain

Best NYC lobster restaurants

In alphabetical order, since that’s the only fair way.

Burger & Lobster

The main menu items here are just three things: lobster, lobster rolls and burgers, plus an extensive micro-beer and wine list.

Whatever you order is served with a hefty helping of fries and a generous side salad, for a full meal.

Burgers are $20, made of prime hand-cut Nebraska beef that my German butcher father would approve of.  There’s also a $31 Beast Burger topped with lobster, Swiss cheese and truffle mayo.

Lobster rolls are $29 and overflow with meaty chunks.

The $31 lobster is a generous one-pound-plus, or you can trade-up to one of the super-sized lobsters.

• The original location in Flatiiron, at 39 W. 19th St., has sidewalk seating. The Times Square location, at 132 W. 43rd St, does not.
• Menus are the same in both locations.
• Link to the PDF menu

SEE ALSO

Where to eat in Times Square at

locally owned restaurants and avoid national chains

City Island Lobster House 

Famous for its enormous menu of fish seafood dishes, its fresh-caught selections and waterfront views.

Choose your lobster size, starting at 1 1/4 pounds for $29.95, steamed or broiled, adding crabmeat for another $9.95.

The Lobster and Clam Bake Special at $29.95 is a best buy.  It includes a steamed Maine Lobster, baked clams, clam chowder and homemade ice cream roll for dessert.

• Open year-round  at 691 Bridge Street, City Island, 718-885-1459; cilobsterhouse.com
• The outdoor deck does not accept reservations.
• Open daily, Noon to 11pm
• Link to the PDF menu

Ed’s Lobster Bar

Lobster rolls are stuffed to the brim with chucks of claw meat, but it’s up to you to decide whether that’s worth the pricetag.  But, then, everything around the popular High Line is extra pricey these days.

Warning - Ed’s used to charge $30, but we don’t know if that’s still the case, since Ed’s no longer includes prices on their website.  Actually, there’s no menu at all on their website.

We recommend that you telephone before you go to ask about current prices.

• Ed’s Lobster Bar is at 155 Grand Street, at Lafayette St.

Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

This legendary fish and seafood house inside Grand Central Terminal re-opened on Sept. 20 after 18 months, and its website has not yet caught up with the re-opening.

It’s grand, vaulted Gustavino tile ceilings and red checkerboard tablecloths make it a great destination for anything that swims, any time of year, including National Lobster Day.

• Open Monday to Friday, Noon to 5:30pm
• Lower Level, Grand Central Terminal

Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co.

This was is a combo fish market and restaurant/raw bar.  Was. The eat-in part closed a couple of years ago,  and the market no longer offers even such prepared foods as lobster rolls.

But fresh, sustainable, ethically caught fish and seafood continues to be its main mission and continues to be sold.  It is some of the best and freshest fish in town, which is why the wholesale division supplies many top NYC restaurants with the freshest catch for their menus.

Currently, a 1.5lb lobster is $29.99

• 114 Nassau Avenue, Greenpoint, 718-349-0400, greenpointfish.com
• Delivery is via Mercato, and the website is smart enough to list which zipcodes are included for delivery.

Joe’s Lobster House

With two locations on Staten Island, this seafood-centric restaurant serves up whole lobsters steamed or broiled, lobster tails, and even stuffed lobsters. 

Prices start at $24.95, and there’s a $19.99 lunch special.

The Lobster Dinner is served simply with lemon and plenty of butter. Add crab meat and bread crumbs stuffing for an extra $5.99.  Lobster rolls are $16.95.

• 1898 Hylan Boulevard, 718-667-0003 and 4707 Arthur Kill Road, 718-227-0003, lobsterhousesi.com

Lobster Joint

Locations in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and Rockaway Beach, Queens, serve up lobster a dozen ways, including for brunch as lobster huevos rancheros, even lobster mac ‘n’ cheese.

Choose the classic clambake with corn ($31.95), warm Connecticut-style lobster roll or traditional New England style ($19).

• There’s a more limited menu at the food truck. 
• Lobster Joint website.
• Currently open for take-out and delivery only.
• Locations are 103 N. Third St., Williamsburg and 1073 Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint.

Luke’s Lobster

Now a mini-chain with several locations around town, Luke’s prides itself on sustainable seafood practices.  Maybe that’s why their lobster rolls taste so good.  Or maybe its their proprietary secret seasoning. Or both.

Luke’s Lobster shacks outposts are open for take-out and delivery, including  Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Brooklyn Bridge Park,  Union Square, Midtown East and FiDi shacks in NYC.  

Their rolls ($17 regular size, $23 jumbo) include both butter and mayo, and they’ve recently added lobster tails to the menu, served cold with lemon butter dipping.

Customers are required to wear masks when picking up orders. 

Outside of NYC, find Luke’s Lobster at, Rittenhouse in Philly, Back Bay in Boston,  Penn Quarter in DC, SoMa in San Francisco, Brickell City Centre in Miami,  Bethesda and Las Vegas and Portland Pier in Maine, for takeout and delivery.

North River Lobster Co.

Lobster rolls, lobster tacos ($28.95 each) and more at the only floating lobster house in NYC, operated by Circle Line. There’s also a full, traditional steamed lobster dinner, at $50.

Both prices are up $5 from last year (2020)

Take your pick of eating on the top deck when the boat is moored, or during a dinner cruise in warm weather season. Our vote goes to the top deck, especially at sunset.

• North River Lobster Co. at Pier 81, and is operated by Circle Line.  It a perfect destination before or after a Circle Line cruise or a visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

Red Hook Lobster Pound

Take advantage of the $25 lobster dinner special for Lobster Week, through Sept. 26th.

Lobster rolls are $32-$34, depending on additions such as bacon, served with house-made mayo - up $6 since last year. .

The main location, in Red Hook, Brooklyn, is the only place where a full lobster dinner is served.  Live lobster is priced at market rate.

• 284 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook, plus food trucks and stalls at Smorgasburg on weekends.
• The Red Hook location is open for outdoor dining - choose indoor or outdoor when you make your reservation, since you won’t be able to change it.
• The 230 Park Avenue location continues to be closed due to Covid.

Also - the national Red Lobster chain is offering a special -

Details here.

This article was posted originally in 2016 and is updated twice a year, in June for Lobster Day celebrated by some restaurants, and in September for the official National Lobster Day,  including prices and additional restaurants.

This was updated in Sept. 2021, including prices.