City Lobster & Steak

(212) 354-1717

121 W 49th St (Bet 6th Ave and 7th Ave)
New York, NY 10020 40.759569 -73.981621

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Neighborhoods: Theater District - Times Square, Midtown

citylobster.com/

Years in business

Established in 2003

Hours:

Mon-Thu 1130 am-11pm

Fri-Sat 1130 am-12a.m

Sun 1130 am-10pm

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

Gift Certificate, Check, American Express, Cash, Visa, Discover, MasterCard, Debit Card

Restaurant Special Features:

Casual Date Spot, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Fine Dining, Theater District Dining, Business Dining, Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Happy Hour, Food Delivery, Carry Out, Notable Wine List, Private Parties

Cuisine:

Seafood

What People Are Saying About City Lobster & Steak

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Located between Times Square and Rockefeller Center, this family-friendly seafood restaurant, which seats 165, is a convenient place to go for an express lunch or pre-theater dinner. Menu highlights include stone crabs, yellowfin tuna steak, jumbo lump crab cakes, steak and burgers and Key lime pie for dessert.

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. The interior/ambience was perfect and much better than the other places in the neighborhood.
  2. Not necessary a great value for the quality of the food, but the great service and superb location warrant your serious consideration.
  3. The music was not too loud and we found the ambiance in our cozy corner just right.
dessert
68.75% positive
  1. The dessert was not good at all.
  2. The crab cake was good as well, but then the entree came.
  3. great key lime pie
  4. The chocolate cake was a little dry but it was ok since there was ice-cream on top of it.
  5. The crab cake was good, not great, just good.
  6. The bread was stale, shrimp raviolli was nasty, the crab cakes were very good but tiny (if this is just a sample because its Restuarant week, then you lost a customer because I feel it is always like that, not worth the second try).
  7. For dessert i had the warm chocolate cake, soft and so rich.
  8. The desserts were terrible.
  9. Key Lime pie was good.
  10. best crab cakes ever!
  11. And included the best crab cakes I've ever ate!
  12. She suggested great drinks, and we even opted for a dessert cocktail.
drinks
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. The server was attentive at first, trying to sell a bottle of wine.
  2. We had to ask if we could sit in the bar to have a few drinks and the hostess was very unpleasant.
  3. One of my favorite menus here is the surprisingly affordable wine list ($35-$200 a bottle).
  4. The wine was good and the seafood was very fresh!
  5. Not even the coffee was any good (stale).
  6. There was only one cocktail waitress, but we never had to wait for our drinks, which is great.
  7. We made reservation for 8:30 p.m. and we arrived a little bit early, so we decided to seat at the bar, where the bartender was very kind and nice, and we have some delicious drinks.
  8. The service was fantastic ,the wine list and the special cocktails were really good!
  9. The food was better then average the kitchen was very fast and there was a wine director working the room talking to every table which was amazing for a restaurant like this.
  10. She suggested great drinks, and we even opted for a dessert cocktail.
  11. The bar service was pretty great, but the bar was really busy.
  12. The one star given is for the bar, which was pleasant and charming, where I wish we had remained instead of being seated at a table.
food quality
72.2100019454956% positive
  1. eat out all the time and praise good service & food but this place is terrible
  2. The crab cake was good, not great, just good.
  3. We had the oyster appetizer, which was very good & fresh.
  4. The food was mediocre for the price and the manager is a cold fish ( French or Israeli--I could not palce is accent).
  5. My wedge salad was fresh and crisp and the blue cheese was delicious.
  6. Probably the worst seafood ever, No lobster in tank and horrible service.
  7. The food was nasty.
  8. The food was less than average and the service was the worst.
  9. Service was great, staff was very friendly and nice Crispy Atlantic Calamari was delicious!
  10. His fresh salmon was cooked to his requested temperature (Med) and prepared with a colorful compote-esque topper.
  11. lobster was delectable; sweet, filled with chunks of delicious meat, and properly prepared.
  12. there are so many wonderful places to eat in NYC that offer better food and service, and at a better price.
  13. Then we went to the dinning room, and had the restaurant week menu; which was really tasty and reasonable.
  14. Awesome food
  15. My husband and I went to this place to celebrate our aniversary # 25, and we had a wonderful time, the food was delicious our lobster was so tender and sweet, I enjoyed every bait.
  16. the actual meal was cold when served.
  17. highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to have a great experience, and who enjoys eating great food as I do.
  18. The mussels were a little over cooked but the lobsters were very fresh.
  19. Outside of the lobsters, the food is embarrassing.
  20. Good food, good value, good service
  21. Fabulos seafood, Fantastic service!
  22. Horrible food!
  23. The staff was really knowledgeable and the food was amazing.
  24. My wife and I started with appetizers, both of which were quite tasty!
  25. My Daughter and I enjoyed the delicious menu with the Sea Scallops Entree being the highlight recommended why our waiter.
  26. We spent the weekend in NY again and had a very good meal here.
  27. The food is just ok and the cost is too expensive for the price.
  28. ... Bad food.
  29. The food is not extremely flavorful; rather the freshness of the fish is highlighted.
  30. Poor Reservation system, rude managers, and bad food.
  31. Overall the food was great for a great price.
  32. had lunch here yesterday and the food was excellent.
  33. The huevos rancheros with shrimp was the best i've ever had!
  34. The food was better then average the kitchen was very fast and there was a wine director working the room talking to every table which was amazing for a restaurant like this.
  35. The wine was good and the seafood was very fresh!
  36. She said the piece of lobster was slightly overcooked but otherwise the dish was very good.
  37. The shrimp cocktail was very poor quality and the lobster was awful - the clams and mussels were so dry so I didn't eat them.
  38. Received bad service, Small portion size for the outrageous price & the food was mediocre.
  39. The crab cake was good as well, but then the entree came.
  40. My sea bass would have been good if the whole middle of the fillet wasn't the "black fat" of the fish.
  41. Food was delicious!
  42. best crab cakes ever!
  43. My Boyfriend and I weren't impressed at all, the food had absolutely no seasoning.
  44. The lobster Roll arrived & it looked more like a Stale Lobster Coleslaw, with burned fries (Cost 21.95 each) it had no flavor, & left us with a bad taste.
  45. The three course meal was well worth it, big portions and fresh seafood.
  46. Everyone was quite happy with the food.
  47. And included the best crab cakes I've ever ate!
  48. He enjoyed the flavor of the soup but felt he would have preferred a bit less substance and a little more soup.
  49. The bread was stale, shrimp raviolli was nasty, the crab cakes were very good but tiny (if this is just a sample because its Restuarant week, then you lost a customer because I feel it is always like that, not worth the second try).
  50. had the oysters and calamari for appetizers, oysters here are always fresh and the slection is always different.
  51. love lobster, but my lobster didnt taste real, seemed sort of rubbery and my husband didnt like the way his salmon was prepared.
  52. Restaurant Week menu was in effect; the spinach salad and its dressing was excellent as was the bread in the bread basket.
  53. Then the lobster bake with clams, mussels, and yummy corn.
  54. If you want good seafood NYC has many other wonderful places like Pearl Oyster Bar, Mary's Fish Camp, BLT Fish a few that come to mind that are exceptional.
  55. Not necessary a great value for the quality of the food, but the great service and superb location warrant your serious consideration.
  56. The food at the restaurant was delicious, but I will never willingly put my hard earned money in the pocket of such a person.
  57. The striped bass was surprisingly tasty and very moisted.
  58. had to drench it with fresh ground pepper.
  59. We made reservation for 8:30 p.m. and we arrived a little bit early, so we decided to seat at the bar, where the bartender was very kind and nice, and we have some delicious drinks.
  60. The sauce created for this lobster was in plain words "disgusting
  61. (d) Lobster Brioche -- decent lobster meat stuffed onto a tiny slab of over-buttered bread, served with a side of soggy fries.
menu variety
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. One of my favorite menus here is the surprisingly affordable wine list ($35-$200 a bottle).
  2. The menu during restaurant week was great and fulling.
  3. Our server was very charming and attentive, and drew our attention to the pre-fix menu.
  4. Then we went to the dinning room, and had the restaurant week menu; which was really tasty and reasonable.
  5. My Daughter and I enjoyed the delicious menu with the Sea Scallops Entree being the highlight recommended why our waiter.
  6. Service is horrible - they don't know the menu, cast aside responsibility, and leave you waiting.
  7. Restaurant Week menu was in effect; the spinach salad and its dressing was excellent as was the bread in the bread basket.
overall
90.0% positive
  1. We had a great experience at this restaurant and will definately be back!
  2. eat out all the time and praise good service & food but this place is terrible
return potential
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. It was a horrible dining experience and I would never go back.
  2. We had a great experience at this restaurant and will definately be back!
  3. sure liked this place and I will come back!
service
58.24999809265137% positive
  1. We made reservation for 8:30 p.m. and we arrived a little bit early, so we decided to seat at the bar, where the bartender was very kind and nice, and we have some delicious drinks.
  2. Friendly staff.
  3. The server was attentive at first, trying to sell a bottle of wine.
  4. there are so many wonderful places to eat in NYC that offer better food and service, and at a better price.
  5. Not a friendly place for out of town visitors
  6. We had to ask if we could sit in the bar to have a few drinks and the hostess was very unpleasant.
  7. This took forever and the manager was not very nice.
  8. Not necessary a great value for the quality of the food, but the great service and superb location warrant your serious consideration.
  9. The Manager (who was at the hostess desk upon arrival) was very rude, and un accomodating.
  10. Received bad service, Small portion size for the outrageous price & the food was mediocre.
  11. Great lobster and service
  12. They seated us & though there may have been less than 5 tables occupied, the service was very slow, In the beginning our waitress was pleasant & we both ordered the Lobster Roll & my spouse had a cocktail (12.95) which he said wasn't too bad.
  13. My Daughter and I enjoyed the delicious menu with the Sea Scallops Entree being the highlight recommended why our waiter.
  14. There was a serious overcharge problem with my bill and the manager was rude and was not helpful at all.
  15. Probably the worst seafood ever, No lobster in tank and horrible service.
  16. Manager & staff are very rude.
  17. Good food, good value, good service
  18. The staff was really knowledgeable and the food was amazing.
  19. Fabulos seafood, Fantastic service!
  20. The wait-staff and management are excellent but they need a new chef!
  21. when i called to have the dispute resolved the manager was not helpful, i had to involve my credit card company.
  22. Service was great, staff was very friendly and nice Crispy Atlantic Calamari was delicious!
  23. The whole experience was pretty enjoyable except for the multiple arguments we noticed going on in the front of the restaurant amongst the management and employees
  24. The server then tried to sell us the most expensive bottle.
  25. have never had a bad experience with the service.
  26. The best customer service!
  27. Had a great window seat and the service was flawless without being pretentious.
  28. The bar service was pretty great, but the bar was really busy.
  29. The Worst Food & inattentive staff
  30. The service was fantastic ,the wine list and the special cocktails were really good!
  31. The food was less than average and the service was the worst.
  32. eat out all the time and praise good service & food but this place is terrible
  33. Our server was very charming and attentive, and drew our attention to the pre-fix menu.
  34. The food was mediocre for the price and the manager is a cold fish ( French or Israeli--I could not palce is accent).
  35. Our server was delightful!
  36. Poor Reservation system, rude managers, and bad food.
  37. The manager Jennifer was rude and disrespectful and because of her attitude it reflected in the tip we left.
  38. The waitress was rude and the restaurant engages in fraudulent activity.
  39. Our waiter, Shaun,was quite pleasant and efficient.
  40. There was only one cocktail waitress, but we never had to wait for our drinks, which is great.
value
65.27999877929688% positive
  1. Good food, good value, good service
  2. there are so many wonderful places to eat in NYC that offer better food and service, and at a better price.
  3. $1 oysters at this kind of place is a very good deal, not only do they have $1 oysters, but they also have great prices for lobsters.
  4. One of my favorite menus here is the surprisingly affordable wine list ($35-$200 a bottle).
  5. Drinks were really good but pricey.
  6. Coming to you at the very reasonable price of $25!
  7. All aspects of this restuarant are good at this price.
  8. The server then tried to sell us the most expensive bottle.
  9. The food is just ok and the cost is too expensive for the price.
  10. Overall good value.
  11. The food was mediocre for the price and the manager is a cold fish ( French or Israeli--I could not palce is accent).
  12. Overall the food was great for a great price.
  13. Not necessary a great value for the quality of the food, but the great service and superb location warrant your serious consideration.
  14. Received bad service, Small portion size for the outrageous price & the food was mediocre.
  15. The three course meal was well worth it, big portions and fresh seafood.
  16. The bread was stale, shrimp raviolli was nasty, the crab cakes were very good but tiny (if this is just a sample because its Restuarant week, then you lost a customer because I feel it is always like that, not worth the second try).
  17. The food at the restaurant was delicious, but I will never willingly put my hard earned money in the pocket of such a person.
  18. its T.G.I.FRIDAY'S - just more expensive and with lobster
wait time
75.0% positive
  1. They seated us & though there may have been less than 5 tables occupied, the service was very slow, In the beginning our waitress was pleasant & we both ordered the Lobster Roll & my spouse had a cocktail (12.95) which he said wasn't too bad.
  2. If you work in midtown its the perfect place to have a great dinner after a long days work/ before
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/23/11

Yummy Steaks!

by shortonline

City Lobster & Steak serve some really EXCELLENT steaks. You could probably predict that based on its name, but their steaks really are much better than some other more famous steak houses. Also, if you go, try to get Sandra to be your server. She's excellent, funny, knows everything about the menu, and cute as well. Enjoy!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/04/11

Great Service

by big pasta

The food was great and our server Rudy was amazing . Will be back soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/19/11

A fantastic pre-show dinner !

by Eden Taki Decker

My one and only time here , they seemed to have addressed all of the gripes I just read about ie: hot wet towel to wipe my hands after eating,fast food delivery (1,2,3) ,many eyes on me to see if I was needing anything but not stopping unless they got a nod ( I like attention but not having to swallow good food too fast to say all is well) I did however catch a mistake on my bill that was immediately rectified.This is my post to City Lobster and Steak web site! "I had the greatest lobster dinner there last night! Thomas and Emiliano attended my every need. The oyster appetizer was very flavorful. The huge 2.5 lb lobster was just so sweet I went through 3 hot butters! And then the cheesecake desert was light and creamy! all washed down by some ice cold Stella Beer. Thank you so much for a most excellent meal before enjoying Janet Jackson down the street at Radio City. Great work ,keep it up and I will make it a point to bring friends next time! "

PS all with no reservation !

1 Star Rating: Poor

02/24/11

City Lobster & Steak

by braco

Running the restaurant comes with more then having a food.

People that think they invented the world.

I love sea food but will never go to them.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/25/11

Delicious Fresh Seafood!!

by TReprise

Seafood was so fresh and amazing. Was with a pretty large group and we all had steamed lobster. Also, Had crabcakes to start (im a sucker for good crabcakes). Agree with review below..food was outstanding and the service was very on point. I wouldn't say its fast which is good cause I hate to feel rushed when I'm dining out. Can't wait till I go back..

The Details on City Lobster & Steak

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • great bar service
  • highly recommend place
  • very nice server
  • great whole experience
  • best crab cakes
  • not helpful manager
  • favorite restaurant week menu
  • really good drinks
  • very bad dining experience
  • worst service
  • great price
  • worst seafood
  • very good oyster appetizer
  • not good dessert
  • quite pleasant shaun
  • quite tasty appetizers
  • rude manager jennifer
  • delicious lobster meat
  • great value
  • charming bar
  • relly good music
  • best city lobster
  • nice staff
  • much better interiorambience
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