Although it was still quite chilly, I was surprised to see clover blossoms instead of frost covering the lawn just around a tiny inlet next to The Lobster Shop along Ruston Way. Who couldn’t fall in love with the site of our port area beneath the blue cascade foothills and possible storm clouds floating their way north? We saw rain at four that afternoon.
Peg and I were on our way to lunch with my friend Pat Steel. Pat is a friend from Rotary and a good citizen for Tacoma and Pierce County. Pat was president of the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 in 1987/88. I was president in 1996/97. The three of us chatted and laughed for about two hours. The Lobster Shop is Pat’s favorite restaurant. Although it’s one of our favorites, we hadn’t been there is some time. We used to stop in at happy hour once a week. As we ate and talk, we discovered that Pat is involved with the American Lake Veterans Golf Course. They have a fundraising tournament planned for Saturday September 12th. Peg is involved with P.E.O., a women’s sorority, and they are having their annual golf tournament fund raiser on Friday September 11th at Oakbrook Golf Course. I’m pretty sure there will be an article about the two tournaments in The Suburban Times in August. That’s just a prediction of course.
As we talked and nibbled on excellent bread served with an olive oil dip we looked over the menu. There were so many choices . . . old favorites and new.
Pat ordered the Lobster Carbonara, which features Maine Lobster, sherry, garlic, shallots, lobster cream sauce, bacon, sweet peas, cracked black pepper, and linguine. It looked like quite a bit for lunch. Lobster at The Lobster Shop is usually a must. Pat had the lobster bisque as a starter. I enjoy lobster and the lobster bisque, but on this day ordered the beet salad and shared with Peg. I could have eaten another plate of the beet salad and a cup of lobster bisque, but I didn’t want to take a nap for the rest of the afternoon.
Peg ordered the fried oysters with broccolini. She loved the tartar sauce and of course the oysters. She gave me two. They were delicious. We both like the same foods, so it’s easy to share and taste. The oysters had just enough crust for crunch and soft meat on the inside for flavor.
I ordered the shrimp and spicy grits. Our friend Donna would have loved the grits. She was born and grew up in Alabama. She makes incredible grits. Although the menu mentioned spicy, it wasn’t spicy or hot for me. The shrimp were perfect. Stuck into the grits were two more slices of the crusty bread. Dipped in the grits and sauce they were wonderful. Accompanying the grits was a large spoon. I could have spooned a few more grits into my mouth, but the serving was probably perfect for lunch. I love grits.
Peg and I shared a berry sorbet at the end of the meal. It was cool and smooth and even had a lite perfumy aroma. It was the perfect end to the meal.
We had two hours of fun talking and eating. Peg and I only had a mile drive to get home, while Pat was heading to Lakewood on an errand then would finish the trek to his home in Steilacoom.
The Lobster Shop is a fine dining establishment – http://wp.lobstershop.com/
I haven’t been able to find ANY resturant on WestCoast that serves Lobster Thermidor la Bode’. Most out here just drizzle a Thermidor sauce over tails. Recipe; Steam/boil under cook, just to seperate meat from shell. Cube meat bite size pieces, mushrooms same size, add shallots, garlic, celery(fine/optional) Combine all ingredients with butter & i use a flour & Knorr Newburg sauce mixed, make rue. Then use heavy cream instead of milk, cream sauce should be extremely thick & look unpalatable. Place mixture back in body & tail, sprinkle parmesan & Italian bread crumbs on top, bake 300° until golden brown. That muck mixture will rise to the MOST DELICIOUS sauce you’ve ever had.
George,
You had me until you mentioned Knorr. I think they traditionally use too much sodium for me, but I haven’t tried them in some time. I will take your word and wait for an invitation . . .
A few years back Peg and I visited Cape Cod and I was determined to eat lobster twice a day. The best we had was from a fish shop that had just boiled the lobster meat. We took it out to the car gave it a couple squirts of lemon juice. We nibbled on the lobster and listened to romantic music and watched the waves roll in. We enjoyed both Cape Cod and the lobster . . . at least twice a day.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
The pictures do NOT inspire me. It may taste great and look better in person, but the pictures would make me push the plate away.
J. Mathew.
Thanks for reading and for your comments. I’m sorry you didn’t like the photographs. We don’t stage the photos. We pretty much shoot what is delivered. I usually shoot two version of each dish. I wasn’t happy with wither image of the lobster dish, but I’ll stand by the shrimp and grits. After reviewing it, I’m ready to go back and eat it again.
Thanks for sharing, however. Please continue reading and commenting. I appreciate our readers.
Don
I’m glad to read a good review about the Lobster Shop. I and my children did not enjoy the same when we wen there for my birthday in December. Service poor and food not up to remembered excellence.
Jean,
I’m sorry to here this. I’ve only experienced problems there when there were more customers than they could handle with on-duty staff. There might have been a shortage of people at the time. We’ve experienced varying degrees of excellence, but mostly good food and friendly service. We hadn’t dined there for so time, but looking over the Happy Hour selections my mouth began to water . . . so sometime in the upcoming weeks we’ll return for Happy Hour and see what happens. If you go back, and please do, send me a note about the food and service.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
If I hadn’t read a word, the pictures would have had me! Looks delicious! But your commentary is always such a joy to read. Thanks for including a picture of Pat! It has been far too long since we have enjoyed the pleasure of his company. Please pass along our greetings to him….as well as you and Peg! PS….shrimp and grits are one of my absolute favorites! By the way…..this is coming to you from San Carlos, SON, Mexico!
Judy,
I knew you were a traveler of the world. Too bad you’ll miss Lakewood Rotary this Friday. I”ll be speaking about Hannibal and the Punic Wars. Pat Steel will even be there!
Use sun screen.
Don
Don, Didn’t you start the Hannibal Pubic Wars?
Dennis,
Thank you for your comment. You know, you can self start a Pubic War at any time . . . I probably would have hated Hannibal in person. But his mind as it with surprises and ambushes must have been amazing. I like people that have a Plan B, Plan C, etc.
Thank you dialing down and getting to the root of my discussion.
Thanks for sharing.
Don