We Visited The Leicester Square Restaurant Championing The Art Of Surf 'N' Turf

Burger... and lobster; it sounds like a match made in heaven, right? And, lucky for us Londoners, a restaurant has been popping up all over the city, offering just that. Literally. I'd had my eye on Burger & Lobster's Leicester Square outpost for quite some time; I'll be honest, I've enviably peaked through its windows more times than I'd like to admit. So I decided to find out whether it was worth all the hype, heading over with a dinner date in tow.

Juicy burgers and freshly prepared lobster in Central London - what more could you want?

After a brisk walk around Chinatown, I stumbled upon the glass-encased building. With Burger & Lobster in tiny writing across the front, you'd be forgiven for missing it. But head in and you'll find a surprisingly classy dining destination. After being greeted at the front desk, which is right next to a live lobster tank (my squeamish self had to look away), you'll be taken to your seat. Decked out with hanging plants, a glowing centrepiece bar and low lighting, it felt very intimate indeed.

While we pretended to look at the food menu (we already knew what we wanted) we sipped a couple of cocktails. I went for the rosemary old fashioned (£13.50) which was an absolute beaut. Made up of Woodford Rye, Cherry Heering and sugar, plus hazelnut and rhubarb bitters, it was like your classic old fashioned, but light and sweet - the rosemary complemented the woodiness of the cocktail perfectly. My friend ordered the Smoke and Fire (£13). It came in a plume of smoke, tasting like a mezcal-infused margarita, marrying the spirit with Grand Marnier, lime, agave and pink grapefruit juice.

The cocktails were honestly delish - I highly recommend them.

Now, what we really came for - the food. Without much hesitation, we went for the combo for two (£78). This looked like the best way to try a bit of everything, as it included a whole lobster (you can choose to have it either grilled or steamed, we opted for the latter), a burger and a lobster roll to share. This came accompanied by a portion of fries and a salad each. Our feasts arrived on trays, with everything cut in half, plus a little boat of melted garlic butter on the side.

The wild-caught Atlantic lobster, which had been cooked fresh, was beautiful - the meat was so delicate and sweet, amplified even more so by the delicious, buttery sauce that I drizzled all over it. They gave us a little poker to help get the meat out of the claws, although I didn't realise and tackled it, very messily, with my fork. Nevertheless, it was scrumptious.

This Leicester Square restaurant offers mega date night vibes.

Between nibbles of this, I sunk my teeth into the original burger. Nestled in a toasted sesame seed bun was a hefty Angus beef patty (that I added cheese and bacon to), amplified with lettuce, tomato, pickled cucumber, red onions and a good dollop of B&L's burger sauce. Another winner in my eyes. I also shovelled down the generous portion of skinny fries, which I'd upgraded to have truffle and Grana Padano on, as well as the simple salad for that extra added health. The lobster roll came as moreish chunks of chilled lobster doused in a tangy lemon mayo, topped with fresh chives and cradled in a buttery, brioche roll.

The DesignMyNight Digest

So, as it turns out, yes - Burger & Lobster is very much worth the hype. To start, the cocktails were better than those I'd had at well-known bars in the area; I'd honestly come back just for these. And the food? Well, there's a reason why surf 'n' turf is so popular. Because t's blimmin' delicious, that's why. The service was also lovely - our waiter was super friendly and helpful - and the interiors were very much date night-worthy. 

If that's got you drooling, wait until you check out our guide to the best burgers in London here. You can also keep up to date with the latest openings by signing up to our newsletter.