Lobster Shack

Lobster Shack ist eine kleine Bude am Hafen von North Berwick mit einem superfrischen Angebot an Backfisch, Muscheln und fangfrischen Hummer. Hier gibt es keinen Schnickschnack, dafür was reeles als Snack. Überraschenderweise waren die Pommes zum halben Hummer ausgesprochen lecker. Ach ja, Zahlung nur mit Cash.

And lo! the intrepid explorers made their way to North Berwick in search of the fabled lobster shack. And they found it. And it was good.
It was good, truly. For £12.95 you could get a delicious half lobster and chips. Mmm! The lobster was smothered in garlic butter, and presented in one of those brown cardboard boxes so beloved of trendy takeaways nowadays. If you wanted one of those cracky things you had to ask, but you didn’t really need one if you were prepared to put in a bit of elbow grease yourself. It was delicious, the only problem being that there isn’t a huge amount of eating in a lobster. But hey ho, for that price I didn’t mind.
The real star of the show was the chips. Omigod. I haven’t had such good chips in ages. Little and chunky, and gloriously crunchy, I could see why people were happy just to buy chips by themselves.
Drinks are fairly pricey (£3.70 for a Thistly Cross cider), but not totally unreasonable, and you will have to wait for your food (you get given a number), but it’s worth it. In fact it’s worth the trip through to North Berwick, and while you’re there you may as well go to the beach! Have yourself a rather splendid summer day.

I wish it was the start of summer again. I would of visited this place so many times more. The side sauce — was lovely too. The chips were well seasoned. For drinkies i had a lemon juice and i thought this was quite a nice combinaton for a fishy dish!
The staff are super friendly and the lobster and chips super tasty.
It is outside. So you HAVE to bear with the scottish weather! Please don’t think this is a five star inside restaurant it’s not! It’s a hut with a few tables and chairs — hence that’s why it’s called the lobster shack!
With one weekend to go before they shut for winter, get down pronto or you will have to wait until spring time appears again.
I will be back in that queue next spring for another lobster.

Like most people, I’d heard the hype around the lobster shack and was intrigued. On paper, this is my kind of joint — simple, high quality food, close to source and with a minimum of restaurantish fuss. So, having missed the unofficial Unilocal outing the previous day, I jumped on a train to North Berwick to take a look for myself.
I’m pleased to say it lived up to all my hopes and expectations. Perched right on the harbour wall, with a small covered seating area, the Lobster Shack really is just that; a tiny cabin, crammed with hard-​working cooks, serving waxed cartons of piping hot seafood.
Some patrons chose the other tasty-​sounding options on offer — sea bass, mussels, etc — but the vast majority were only there for the main event: grilled lobster, smothered in herby butter and served with freshly fried hand-​cut chips.
Once you’ve placed your order and been handed a numbered token, there’s a 15 – 20 minute wait while they kill, prepare and grill your lobster — it really is that fresh. Factor in the queueing time on a busy Saturday in June, and you’re looking down the barrel of an hour-​plus wait for lunch.
It’s honestly worth it through. The fresh lobster is hot, sweet and buttery, while the chips are crispy and fluffy in all the right places. I’ve always enjoyed the process of eating lobster — cracking open the shell to get at the best bits of meat, accompanied by plenty of scooping, sucking and general bad table manners. That’s why this is really the perfect lobster setting in my opinion: sat on the beach, with a cold Peroni, watching the colourful sails of the local yachting club zip by.
Heaven.

Right off the boat fresh…
Is seasonally open…
Worth the trek out to!

Yes, you will get rained on if it rains… and this being Scotland. the chances of rain are high… but you will be eating the sweetest freshest lobster so you probably really won’t care…
I know I didn’t…
Doesn’t get much better than sitting by the sea. getting to meet your lunch before you eat it… and then going for a walk along the beach at North Berwick after a delicious meal.
Seriously, you could be doing worse things…

My review would make you sell your grandma to go here, like right this second!
So I am trying a very selfish tactic… dont go! You wont enjoy the freshly cooked grilled lobster drenched in garlic butter with proper chips and a salad on the side all served in a fancy brown paper take out box I promise you. Its awful sitting in the lovely North Berwick harbour enjoying the sun (or even the rain) on an evening or lunch with a glass of french wine or a thistly cross cider munching on your seafood. Terrible.
Leave such hardships for the rest of us as I hate queueing!
The lobster shack is cash only and serves mostly over a lunch time. They have a seaside variety of mussels, fish and chips, pint of prawns and even a steak sandwich if you dont like fish. The Rocketeer is just up the way and it is also cash only but has a toilet! They both have the same menu and are usually pretty darn busy but it is worth the wait.

Alfresco lobster dining on the harbour, lobsters fresh and cheap, with beautifully fried chips. What could go wrong really. Wonderful, absolutely wonderful! The reason I’m not giving this place five stars is because I’ve had a couple of experiences when I’ve been looking forward to getting stuck in only to be told they were on a 1-​hour hiatus. This is because they’re a very small and very popular operation and they just hit capacity sometimes and have to clear up, prep again change oil, and all the stuff that’s necessary for their food to be great — all in the back of a van! Understandable, but mildly irritating when you’re feeling hungry and jealous. Highly, highly recommend.

This is pretty much what my idea of heaven is!!!
Sitting by the seaside — glimpse of sunshine and the freashest lobster I could ever hope to have. The Lobster shack is something of an institution down North berwick way, for £17.50 you get a whole lobster and a generous portion of fries all covered in garlic butter.
If this was in France it would be heralded as the heart of modern cuisine simplified and personified. Its well cooked, its as fresh as can be and well its awesome!
JD — in heaven!