Johnny Lobster
48 Willoughby Rd
Crows Nest, Sydney
With a name like Johnny Lobster you'd be expecting - well - lobster - and if you are you won't be disappointed! They do indeed have this crustacean on the menu plus there are also plenty of other choices there too. But the name does steer you towards seafood at least - and it did for us.
It's a casual place - relaxed - and there's plenty of buzz there too. While you can eat outside we chose a table just inside and started the process of choosing what (seafood) we wanted, even though the non-seafood dishes sounded good too.
Sir stayed true to the venue name and ordered the lobster. He had it in a bun. The lobster burger has Canadian lobster, crispy slaw and Old Bay seasoning. If you think they might skimp on the lobster - think again. There was heaps in the burger and it was beautifully tender and tasty. This was a big, tasty meal. It came with a serving of thin chips too - adding a nice crunch to the dish.
A side of onion rings was a nice accompaniment too. The rings were obviously not from a packet either. They were chunky, crisp and soooo good.
Mlady decided on trying something from the fish side of the menu - even though we'd heard great things about the fried chicken they have here. She chose the fish n chips. You get to choose between Young Henry's beer battered fish or grilled fish. Then you choose what type of fish from four varieties. Her decision - the Australian Barramundi grilled. It came with house slaw and salad - and plenty of chips. The Barra had a lovely crisp skin on tender juicy flesh underneath. She loved it. The tangy salad went well too.
Back to those chips. There were so many of them and they were lovely. Mlady did douse them in brown vinegar - a childhood habit that has stuck throughout the years. Fortunately, they have a huge range of sauces and condiments here - take a look at the end of the bar or just ask!
This place is casual - so we decided on beers for dinner. Why not - we do both love a good drop. Mlady went with the darkest available - a Brooklyn Brown Ale, while Sir went with a lighter Lord Nelson Pale Ale. They both hit the spot nicely. While they do have a selection of wines and spirits here, as well as some alcoholic "juices", there's a great selection of beers that's worth a close look.
For a relaxing night out is casual relaxed surroundings, Johnny Lobster hits the mark. The food and drinks are good too. The most difficult decision is what to choose to eat! The service was spot on too.