The Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., isn’t officially at the western end of Route 66. But it’s only a block or so away from that terminus, and it’s a symbolic end of the Mother Road for many travelers.
Other than a hotdog stand or two, the closest place to have a meal at the Pier is at The Lobster, at 1602 Ocean Ave. And according to this review in Jaunted, it appears to be a nicely historic place in an idyllic setting:
The Lobster has fine dining seafood at fine dining prices like $52 for the pan-roasted lobster and $32 for the classic. Yet since it’s steps away from the beach and attached to the pier, fine dining attire is not required.
The Lobster has its own bit of history too, starting out as a small lobster shack in 1923. It was later redesigned in 1999 to give it a more modern luxe California feel. Thus the remodel gave the Lobster a dining room enclosed with glass windows on two sides.
Hit up the tables in this main dining room and request a spot longside the windows to maximize your view of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Pier, which actually looks romantic from a distance. As for the food, you have to try the Lobster. We say stick to the Classic Lobster dish rather than the pricier pan-roasted one. And even though you’re next to the water, the Lobster (thankfully) uses fresh Maine lobsters for its dishes.
Not down for dinner? The Lobster has a small bar in front and an outside patio where you can sip on margaritas as the sun goes down. And really, that’s the best time to hit up the Lobster.
Here’s a CitySearch entry about The Lobster, complete with a video.