Ed's Lobster Bar

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Yesterday, because of a mindless shopping craze in SoHo, I missed the 6:00pm deadline to enter in the musical Avenue Q's lottery ticket system. Even though I have seen the show before, I was really bummed at first ("Everyone's a little bit lacist"). However, as the old Taoist farmer famously questions: "What makes you think this is so terrible?"

Indeed, my luck changed drastically while walking the streets of New York. I happened across this jewel: Ed's Lobster Bar. The word lobster really made me salivate, and I quickly forgot about the missed Broadway show. Even the very appealing menu of the "Spring Street Natural Restaurant" next door was a far second as a choice.

Harpoon I.P.A. (India Pale Ale)


What can I say about this ale? Not a beer connoisseur, I stick to my basic likes when it comes to this beverage. The Harpoon I.P.A. hit the spot right on for me: light and goes down smooth - a real thirst quencher that goes really well with seafood.

Bucket of Steamers (Ipschich clams)


These clams were delicious for the most part. You take the clam, clean it a few times in the warm broth, and then dip it in the melted butter before eating. The warm broth (in which they were cooked) is suppose to wash most of the sand from the clam, but I found the clams still to be pretty sandy. However, as I was to find out to be common for most dishes at Ed's, these clams tasted like they were just out of the ocean: very tender and fresh!

Ed's Oyster Sampler

(notice that two have already been eaten)

This was my favorite entree of the night. The clams were organized alphabetically (alpha, beta? They all tasted the same to me - deliciousness). They were raw, of course, and sooo tasty. The sauces on the place included mignonette (red wine vinegar, peppers, and bit of shallot), horse radish, and spicy cocktail sauce. Seriously, best oysters I've ever had in my limited experience.


An oyster up close.

Steamed Whole Lobster


I'm going to admit it upfront: I've never had a whole, entire lobster on a plate. As a result, the initial attempts of eating this were laughable at best. I poked here and there, tried to break the legs individually, and was, generally, just very frustrated with my lack of competence and lobster eating. Thankfully, the waitress came to the rescue and revealed to me the fact that the underside of the lobster had been neatly cut and opened for me to enjoy. That made the rest of my experience much more pleasant. The lobster was so fresh: It very well could have been Sebastian (as a lobster) singing "Under the Sea," caught in a trap off the coast of Maine and airmailed to my plate in NYC on the same day. Yes, that fresh.

Undoubtedly, Ed's Lobster Bar was one of the most enjoyable seafood experiences for me. The service was phenomenal (the cook even came out to show the correct way of eating the clams and lobster), and the food was top notch. Although on the pricey side ($40+ per person), the quality of the dishes was worth it. Seriously, the freshness and deliciousness of the seafood literally made my taste buds orgasm. My dinner date and I did not converse for almost twenty minutes because we were savoring in the food. If you are in the neighborhood, go to Ed's Lobster Bar-- you won't be disappointed (I hope).

Ed's Lobster Bar
222 Lafayette St (SoHo)
New York, NY 10012
www.lobsterbarnyc.com
(212) 343-3236