Burger & Lobster was launched in Mayfair by four schoolmates in 2011. They had set out to open a restaurant where the focus was on perfecting the craft of just one or two main ingredients. Since then, Burger & Lobster have been bringing live, wild
Atlantic lobsters and prime cut Nebraskan burgers to fun and passionate personalities around the world who share their appetite for creativity.
Simplicity is at the core of the Burger & Lobster concept, with respect for great food and quality service. With nine sites in London, two in New York and a further three in Bangkok, Genting and Kuwait City, all restaurants feature live lobsters that are flown in from Nova Scotia, Canada and beef from the cattle ranchers in Nebraska. The restaurants work tirelessly with the families that supply the ingredients to this mono-product offer to ensure the absolute best quality.
Comments
True to its name, you would find drool-worthy burgers and tongue-satisfying lobsters at this lovely restaurant at Raffles Singapore. Their special weekend brunch menu includes two sumptuous lobster mains - Bloody Mary Roll and B&L Lobster Benedict. Pair these with sides like Mala Corn and Fried Cauliflower. They’ve got plenty of lip-smacking cocktails and a smashing dessert to satiate all your brunch cravings.
When I was about six years old, I travelled with my family to Las Angeles, California. The late 1970s was a bit bleak in England, so for a young London lad, my amazement at everything being fabulous and shiny was palpable.
One particular thing that I remember is that the swimming pool in the hotel we stayed at was enormous. Like many things, when one grows up one discovers that everything isn’t as it seems - having revisited the place in my 20s I found that the pool was a lap pool - so the size of a large postage stamp!
This largely sums up Burger and Lobster at the Raffles Arcade in Singapore’s Raffles Hotel on North Bridge Road. It is a shiny bastion of surf and turf in one of the world’s finest hotels.
I enjoyed the New York feel corner booth that we were seated in - this is a fine dining take on an all-American diner - sadly the first impression on walking in is somewhat antiseptic.
I was amused when asked if I wanted my martini shaken or stirred - I am not James Bond and a martini should apparently be stirred. So don't ask!
The negroni was excellent and served with a BIG ice cube. The cucumber mint smash was balanced, fresh and light...too drinkable, but slightly sweet with a fresh slightly sour aftertaste. There was nothing mind-blowing about any of it though - the house white was also nothing special and slightly astringent.
The Original Lobster Roll [$40] was OK and is nouvelle cuisine size. It contains chunks of lobster meat dressed in lemon mayo and served in a toasted brioche roll. There was a good contrast with the slightly chewy lobster and the sweet bun. An elegant brass stand enhanced my presentational eye.
I am always sceptical when western restaurants try to take on local favourites so when the Laksa Lobster [$70!] it was a strange brown colour.
It was fragrant and earthy - but seventy bucks for a bowl of laksa is seriously taking the piss, frankly.
The burger [$28] was again nothing special, but the tasty, tangy sauce complemented the juicy, rich burger -- but then the chilli overwhelmed it all. Not really sure they can justify the price for this either.
There are some saving graces: the apple crumble was lava-hot and had a proper English crumble - although it would have been pretty dry without the vanilla sauce.
There are better places in town to experience surf and turf - although there are lunch specials which are quite compelling if you fancy a wildly expensive lunch. I was excited when I walked into Burger and Lobster at the Raffles Arcade - full of expectation, but upon closer inspection, it's like the pool in LA - underwhelming.
As at all the Burger & Lobster venus, their mission (some say obsession) remains to make the most of quality ingredients – whether that’s the Nebraskan family-farmed beef that goes into the prime burgers, the freshest Atlantic lobsters or the premium spirits for those tempting cocktails.
The menu for Burger & Lobster Raffles features some of their all-time favourite dishes, such as our Original Roll, but also showcases a range of brand new never seen before dishes that have been carefully crafted using the freshest ingredients available in order to reflect Singapore's vibrant spirit in our own Burger & Lobster way.
