Rock Lobster Food

Really not a great experience. We were very excited to try the lobster poutine, among other items. Everything fell flat flavour wise, really could have done a better job at home.

We’ve eaten at the Osington location twice. Both times it has exceeded our expectations with the quality of food and service. We had the lobster rolls as well as the lobster poutine (among other things). both times there were large lumps of delicious lobster meat in both and appeared recently shucked.
We could not have been more disappointed in the Queen east location. The lobster in both the rolls and poutine resembled something out of a can or had been shucked long ago left to soak in brine. The multitude of shell bits leads me to believe the former. They were flavourless and resembled a lobster mush. Not at all like our experience at the Osington location. The peel and eat shrimp shell was zippered, but the vein wasn’t removed. Nothing less appealing than scraping poop out of the back of your appetizer.
If I had to guess, I’d say the kitchen in Leslieville cuts corners and therefore serves an inferior product to Osington, at least the times we went.

Great atmosphere, but unfortunately the hype didn’t meet the expectation. Unfortunately I won’t be going there again.

I think the name and my expectations were too high but somehow the lobster experience was missing — tiny bits in a roll or poutine were not enough to justify the name.
Service was not very efficient as it took 30 min for our orders to actually be sent to the kitchen after the waiter forgetting or asking for clarification — he also forgot to bring us our beers.
So mediocre service on top of just-​ok food gives it only 2 stars.

I get the sense that management have read the previous reviews and have since made some changes. Just had a nice dinner — Rock Lobster Roll for me, Shrimp Roll for my dining partner. Both were great, Rock Lobster Roll was actually much lighter than I expected. The Rock Lobster Caesar was also delicious, and they had a decent beer selection. Service was professional, quick and friendly, certainly no complaints there. Only downside was the Syrup on Ice we had for dessert. You had to pour the syrup on to the ice yourself and then make lollipops with Popsicle sticks — maybe we were just bad at it but it didn’t really work and the clumps were a little too chewy. Not the end of the world though.
Would go back!

On a slow rainy Sunday evening, we decided to try Rock Lobster on the east side. The oysters were good, and Caesar was bountiful, but the claim rolls were something to be desired. Two out of the three of us got these little over-​fried clam pieces, not even full strips. Maybe it was the time of year for the fresh cut potatoes (fries), but we all noticed they were a bit soggy and limp. Overall for the price, and the quality it gets a meh rating at best. Hopefully next time we won’t be as disappointed this time around.

Where’s the waiter? Where’s the drinks? Where’s the lobster? We live in the neighbourhood and have long planned to stop in an enjoy some tasty lobster in a casual friendly environment. We arrived to a half-​empty place and stood around in the doorway looking like lost souls until we’re finally greeted by a server who asks if we have reservations. Um no. It’s 4:30 and there are at least 20 empty plastic chairs surely there must be room for two more. Oh, lucky us, with a big sigh. the server finds us spots at a shared table with another couple right next to the door. We take our places on wobbly chairs stools that look like they came from Toys R Us and wait to order our drinks.
20 minutes passes. Still no server. No menus. No nothing. My friend gives me the sign which means «lets leave|. Another couple really does walk out. Oh, look a menu gets plopped in front of us. Thanks. Can we order a drink? I’ll be right back says server as she goes to stand by the water station. Another 10 minutes pass and we place orders for a glass of wine and a beer.
20 minutes later still no drinks but we order food. We’ve now been in the place for 45 minutes and still have no drinks, water or nada. Fish taco arrives at least I think it’s a fish taco. Is there fish in here? asks my friend I can’t tell, there’s so much pico de gallo which is not pico de gallo but just big chunks of tomato. Still no drinks in sight. Our drinks? I ask the server as they lounge by the water station. What is it about that water station that’s so damn appealing I wonder. Is it closer to the music? Does it offer sight lines to a cute chef?
Drinks? Oh, they’re working on it says the server. I didn’t know pouring a glass of wine required 45 minutes of work but we smile wanly and hope things improve. We eat the fish taco in one bite. There goes $ 6. Oh look, now our lobster roll has arrived. Or I think it has — the mushy concoction on a soggy bun is buried under a Mount Vesuvius of French Fries. Some fries clams arrive on more fried potato But the lobster platter (a half lobster) $ 22 is a nice surprise — if you can overlook the woody asparagus — shouldn’t the ends be trimmed? A completely different server then arrives to ask «How are you enjoying everything?» — well for $ 125 not so much. We’ve eaten so many fries we can hardly squeak.
We won’t be back and somehow don’t think they’ll care.

Me and my boyfriend came here for lunch and shared the link buster and cheese dip, the service was spectacular and the food was great! I got the rock Lobster Caesar and it was fantastic! The presentation and atmosphere are great, I recommend the back patio as well as its quiet and peaceful

My wife and I had dinner here on a Friday evening and everything was delicious and the service was great. They are trying to create the same atmosphere and dishes from Nova Scotia. I think a lot of the negative comments about the food are from people expecting this to be a fine dining sea food place rather than authentic down east recipes (for example, the folded over toasted bread for the lobster roll is how they make it out east, so although it would appear to be a bad point, it actually how it is supposed to be done). We had the lobster roll, oysters and the Caesar salad with shrimp and it was exactly what you would get on the Pier in Halifax. The shrimp skewer was the best shrimp I have had in a long time. The oysters were small but the price was fair too at $ 2.50 each.
I will definitely be back here.

I was quite excited about going to this place, till I got there and found that their claim go fame is just putting lobster pieces in or around other dishes. The Lobster chowder was a plan chowder with lobster chunks from a can put inside. There was no Lobster flavour what so ever in the soup. The Lobster Mac and cheese that my friend got was again a Mac and cheez baked in a oven with lobster chunks on top. This place just covers plain food with lobster. It was a bad book with an can lobster cover. Oh and the Lobster roll was a bread loft rolled into a bun with lobster mix inside. It was have been good it was not done in 3 small bites.

After I first checked out this location, I was so delayed in writing my review that it’s now already been almost a year since (oops!), so in order to refresh my memory of course I had to go back.
First time around:
— CLASSIC MAINE ROLL: deliciously buttery bread holds loads of shredded lobster & just enough mayo.
— ROCK LOBSTER ROLL: similar to above, except served cold.
— I had seen pictures of the CAESAR and man it did not disappoint. love love love when my drinks come with it’s own snack — this snack being a small lobster tail
— we had some other cocktail that was forgettable. don’t bother. have the caesar!
Second time around:
— had to go back for the CLASSIC MAINE ROLL. our choice pick for it’s buttery-​ness. just as good as we remembered; loved that even with all the pieces of lobster that fall out, the filling to bread ratio is still nice enough to continue eating on without having to pause to «reload»
— FRIED CLAM ROLL: it was pretty fun popping one by one the little fried clams that had fallen out of the sandwich, but that’s all this sandwich had going for it. there’s only a drizzle of sriracha mayo across the top so the entire thing was pretty dry to eat. disappointing.
— happily sipped another CAESAR — it’s pricy but sizeable and really well balanced. delicious.
there’s a nice patio for when it’s nice out but the building tends to block out the sun by mid to late afternoon, something to keep in mind if it gets chilly in the shade

The main that I ordered was a glorified appetizer. They service was pretty awful. Eat beforehand

We stopped by here for a quick dinner on a Friday night. We’d been working all day and had to rush to get to a concert on the other side of town. I’ll say from the beginning that even though we were in a hurry my partner and I were both polite and friendly as we always are when we go out to eat.
The waiter seemed friendly when we came in, but the service went majorly downhill from there. I didn’t order a beer because I had already had a few and didn’t want to drink any more because we both had to work the next morning. When I didn’t order alcohol, the waiter’s friendly demeanor turned cold right away.
We hadn’t come to the place for seafood because we just stopped at the first restaurant we came across, so we both just ordered burgers. I’d be happy to pay for lobster if I had time to sit and enjoy it, but that’s not the situation we were in that day. The waiter made fun of us for ordering the one thing on the menu that didn’t have lobster in it. He tried to make it sound like good hearted joking but he actually said, «Seriously, guys?»
When our food came, the burgers were both completely charred around the edges. I recognize that maybe they don’t like people who don’t order lobster, but in any restaurant I expect my burger not to be black. If we hadn’t been in a hurry I would have sent it back. There was also a piece of lobster shell mixed in with my fries, which was pretty gross. I get it; sometimes pieces of things in the fryer end up in other fried food, but no one wants to chomp down on a piece of lobster shell when they’re eating french fries.
We both ate really fast because we were starving and had to grab a streetcar to the concert. When we finished eating, the waiter came by our table and made a snarky comment about how fast we had eaten while he cleared our plates. So rude! He asked if we wanted to see a dessert menu and we said no thank you, and he said with disdain, «So…just the bill then?» My partner wasn’t even finished with his beer, but since we didn’t order dessert he basically rushed us out of there.
I will never go back to this place. Even if the food had been amazing, the service has turned me off of it for good. The Leslieville area is such a great community, and businesses thrive when they do their best to be good neighbours. I don’t think this place will last there because many Leslievillians have had similarly bad experiences there.

Order arrived 20 minutes after the delivery time.
Food was extremely overpriced and not very good.
I will not be ordering from here again!

Went in with a party of four and sampled a lot of dishes. Our lovely server recommended the hot main roll which was delicious. We got the Caesars — amazing! It comes with a delicious half lobster tail for $ 13! I recommend dipping the meat in the Caesar — yum!
I tried the clam roll, the fish and chips, and the jerk crab (my fav) which my girlfriends had. The bill was a bit pricey by the end though. Totally worth a visit though.

Beware of the 5 star reviews that have never reviewed before. Shady.
This place is MAYBE okay for a quick drink (bar rail). Paid $ 15 for a Caesar expecting something other then what was delivered… Over poured on the Worcester sauce and ended up leaving half of my drink behind.
Food is passable at best, wouldn’t recommend this place, the items on the menu look quite appetizing, but they lack flavour. There are soooo many more established bars/​restos on queen street… Ascari… Table 17. To name a few.

We called ahead for reservation, upon arrival we where greeted with a smile, a clean candle lit table, & a cheerfully pleasant waitress.
At our table we enjoyed the Lobster roll, lobster pasta dish, Lobster poutine. oh ya, & a classic Fish In Chips. The dishes where all liked, I enjoy the fish in chips as the batter was light & crunchy, the fish (Haddock) tender and fries flavorful with a hint of sea salt. I also sampled the poutine, it was great as they really let the cheese melt and combine with the lobster & fries.
Service was fast, we’d had a drink & eaten within 35 min. After we sat and talked briefly, well enjoying the atmosphere & prior meal all without feeling rushed.
I look forward to going back for round 2! Do yourself a favor and call ahead as they offer limited reserved seating.
Have a Good Day

I have heard all manners of good things from this resto that has set-​up in the Queen West neighbourhood so naturally I was excited to hear that they would be opening up shop in the east end.
Ordered the lobster poutine, crispy maple pork belly, and their rock lobster roll. Only 1 of the 3 items I found really tasty and that was the lobster poutine. The crispy maple pork belly was lacking in both serving size, presentation, and flavour. It was crispy but I could not taste any maple at all. The rock lobster roll was alright but it was like a two and half biter for me before it was all gone.
I actually like this place more for the little sidewalk patio and the very rustic looking décor. It’s a great place to have a few drinks, bask in the sunshine on the patio, and nibble on select items on the menu. This wouldn’t be my go-​to place for a snack attack though.

Came here for brunch this Sunday (because Sunday brunch, duh). I’ve been to their other branch at Ossington and I can’t say I had extremely high expectation for this either, but my boyfriend insisted on lobster and well … It’s lobster.
The restaurant was quite empty when we got there which I wasn’t exactly complaining about. It was probably due to the construction happening on Queen St. East, but if it wasn’t for that, I bet the patio would be packed.
We were greeted as soon as we went in by the hostess who was warm and friendly. We got sat at the patio and our server was immediately present. The service was quite nice.
The Lobster Roll ($ 15)
Basically lobster stuffed in between two slices of bread with chips on the side. The chefs do an amazing job of making this look great! But once you bite into the sandwich, you notice the bread isn’t anything special, probably some wonder bread. The chips could of came from a bag a that’s what it tasted like as well. Of course of the lobster meat was great, when is it not? But for what it costed, I expected a bit more. ²⁄₅
The Caesar ($ 13)
Comes in a sort of jug with a lobster tail and celery stick. This was amazing. YOU HAVE TO GET THE CAESAR. It’s brilliant, and everything about it blew my mind, especially the celery salt. It’s with every penny and more! ⁵⁄₅
The atmosphere was great, and request the patio if you can! I think this would be a great place to have drinks instead of actual food so perhaps I’ll be back again and update my review. For now GET DAT CAESAR.

Grand Opening Night for Rock Lobster in Lesliviille!
Taking over the Curzon that has been working on making improvements in the last few months, this 3^rd location for Rock Lobster is a question mark as to whether or not it will be successful in this up and coming trendy community.
We arrived shortly after 6pm to have drinks and was welcomed by really upbeat and friendly staff. Our server was courteous and excited that we were here for the first official day of opening and gave us the time we needed as we debated over what to order.
I had to get the Rock Lobster Caesar (with the much raved above lobster tail) and husband got the Pimm’s Rhubarb Cup (sounds amazing doesn’t it).
After about 5 minutes, our drinks arrived and just before he put my caesar down, the waiter noticed the most important thing missing — the LOBSTER CLAW… so he immediately went to get that fixed.
The Caesar was smooth, loaded with a salty peppered rim, garnished with a long celery stick, lime, lemon, and a nice piece of lobster claw. I had no complaints and enjoyed the spiciness of each sip as I got deeper into the drink.
The Pimms cup had a hint of rhubarb but I felt like there was too much gingerale and lemon to really make it taste like anything different. I liked the added touch of a reel of rhubarb in the cup.
I would give my overall experience a 3.5 /​5, because given that the restaurant seemed to be overloaded with staff, our server disappeared for an extensive period of time when I was waiting to get change after paying the bill. He had taken my cash, and told me he would be right back… but while I was waiting, I saw him i) serve food to customers, ii) reset a table, iii) pour water for other patrons, iv) walk over to the bar randomly to the point where I had to get his attention to see where my change was… just a little odd in my mind.
Apart from the other Rock Lobsters, I think this caters to families as I saw at least 3 small children with their parents, which is a nice added touch. Looking forward to having the back patio open so I can get some sun!