There’s a new spot in town simply titled ‘Burger & Lobster’. If you guessed that they serve burgers and lobsters, then you’d obviously be right – thought I’d rename it ‘Burger, Lobster & Dessert’, coz they definitely have tons of that last one too.
I visited Burger & Lobster on a quiet weekday evening, and was quite surprised to see the place buzzing – given that Cape Town literally turns into Zombie Town during winter and you have to lure people out of their snuggly homes with candy canes (or something like that). Atmosphere-wise, Burger & Lobster reminded me of one of those snazzy New York bars that anyone who’s been to New York will recognise (and anyone who grew up watching Sex & The City can well imagine). It’s super stylish, with dimmed lights, red illumination (the non-dodgy kind), a snazzy bar, and a string of tables and chairs.
They don’t really give you much choice in your dining preferences, so if you don’t like burgers and lobsters, well, then you’re at the wrong place. There are plans to expand the menu, but for now you can have a classic burger, a lobster roll, or a whole lobster. As you’d come to expect from I Love Foodies reviews, we tried a selection. My sister enjoyed the burger, while I dug into the lobster roll.
I’ve been hearing very mixed reviews about Burger & Lobster, many criticising it as being overpriced. It certainly doesn’t come cheap. At R129 a burger it’s not your McD’s deal. But with an emphasis on homemade – everything on the burger is made in-house, including the steak mince meat – and gourmet ingredients, you can guess where the price tag comes from. The burger comes standard topped with cheese, maple syrup bacon, lettuce, tomato, gherkins, and mayonnaise. If you’re looking for a good standard burger experience, give this place a go. But if you’re looking for gourmet funky burgers with a variety of toppings, then stick to one of Cape Town’s many conventional burger bars.
Now, to the lobster roll. This was absolutely divine! Served on a toasty brioche bun with Japanese mayonnaise, my taste buds did a little happy dance eating this. Unfortunately the joy didn’t last long as a lobster tail isn’t the biggest fish in the pond and, at a price tag of R147, that’s a little sad. But it is lobster, so high prices are to be expected, and I have yet to find it cheaper elsewhere. Burger & Lobster tries to make up for the small lobster portion by including a well-made green salad and a healthy portion of delicious fries, which are sure to fill up any nagging hunger spots.
Finally: Dessert. While the menu at Burger & Lobster is limited, they don’t seem to have any limitations on their desserts, which is certainly fine by me. You can try their Mississippi Mud pie (insanely sweet but tasty), Oreo Cheesecake (delicious with chocolate overload guaranteed), and their crème brulee (which I loved, with a good crack to the caramelised sugar). They also have a few more goodies on the table – such as their chocolatey chocolate mousse – but I didn’t manage to try everything.
So, verdict. Despite the high prices, I liked it. The lobster roll was delicious, the desserts were great, and I loved the atmosphere. Even if it won’t turn into your every day after work munching place, I’d say give this place a go and see if it tickles your taste buds. And as soon as their liquor licence is approved, give their cocktail menu a go. I hear rumours that it’ll be very, very exciting!
For more info on Burger & Lobster, check out their website.
Written by Benike Palfi
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Review Date: August 2016