June 9, 2015 — It’s been a long time coming, but at last the lobster roll from the east coast of North America is becoming a trend for diners in central London. The first such restaurant, now a small chain, to arrive was Burger & Lobster in late 2011. It currently has seven outlets in the city, and was followed more recently by Smack Deli from the same owners, Fraq’s Lobster Shack and Lobster Kitchen.
Now it’s always been possible to eat what is probably the U.K.’s most celebrated crustacean in central London, but years ago it would probably have been in an upmarket and expensive restaurant in the West End. Restaurants such as J Sheekey’s, famous for its fish pie, Green’s or Wilton’s have been popular for seafood for generations. Not that it would have been Maine lobster that would have been offered in those days, or even now.
However, the influx of restaurants specializing in lobster rolls belong in the cheap and cheerful category. Lobster & Burger, which sells lobsters imported live from Canada, sell them at GBP 20 (USD 30.59, EUR 27.82), which includes fries and a side salad.