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    Lobster Lab

    4.6 (307 reviews)
    ModerateSandwiches, Seafood
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Lobster Lab Takeout or Delivery

    Lobster Lab Photos

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    LOBSTER LAB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Trendy
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Lobster Lab

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    Lobster roll
    Daniel L.

    Wow had an amazing experience here. The ,"co owner, Ridvan, was present and he was very helpful. I was unsure what I wanted and he made some amazing recommendations for the warm lobster roll and as I ordered the grilled cheese as well he recommended I get the lobster grilled cheese so I changed my order according to his recommendation. 100% did not disappoint. All his recommendations were spot on. My wife and baby loved both dishes as well did I. The food hall is pretty nice where it's located and not hard to miss. However it can get loud if there is live music playing.

    Lobster Rolls Maine Style XL (left/cold) and Lobster Roll Connecticut Style XL (right/warm)
    Violette S.

    Delicious East Coast style lobster rolls, located in a southern California food hall! We ordered at the kiosk and received a buzzer to alert us when our food was ready. We ordered the caviar on brioche as well as two lobster rolls, both XL (one hot and one cold). The caviar was served on buttered and toasted brioche topped with egg and cream. For the price, it was a pretty small serving of caviar that was hard to taste over the more creamy ingredients, but still tasty. As for the lobster rolls, they were heaping servings of lobster meat!! I always prefer the cold style, but my husband ate the warm one with melted butter and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Would definitely stop by again if in the area!

    Lobster Roll - original
    Richie F.

    Love this place! It made a real lobster roll lover out of me and my wife Already planning our next trip back! The OG Lobster roll , hot and slathered in butter is amazing! Very cool food hall with a lowkey vibe. This place is perfect for meeting friends for a drink or for pleasing indecisive eaters

    Lilian W.

    The Lobster Lab is located in the Windmill Food Hall. They not only serve lobster-related menu items. I got the premium tuna melt sandwich and it was very much worth it to me. The portion size was huge! It was the most beautiful tuna melt I've ever seen, packed with tuna and veggies. It came with a side of hot sauce packets. There's not much of an ambiance. It's just a stall/booth at the food hall. You'd order, get a device that buzzes when your order is ready, and find an available table at the food hall to enjoy the meal. Overall, I enjoyed my sandwich and I'd gladly come back to have it again.

    Lobster roll, clam chowder. Drink was from another vendor.
    Michelle F.

    Delicious! We had the lobster roll and clam chowder. The lobster roll was SO good! The bread as perfection. Not just some dried out hoagie roll. It was toasted by soft and fluffy. I thought the lobster portion was generous. The calm chowder paired well. Not the best bowl I've ever had, but still good. You order at the counter and get a buzzer to pick up your food. The guy at the counter was cordial enough. It is a food hall, so there were lots of choices of cuisine. I'm glad we choose Lobster Lab. There are QR codes at each table so you can order there. Although we ordered at the counter ($30), we did check out the QR code. We were disappointed to see that for Lobster Lab, that the roll was cheaper ($29) in the app (no added fees to use the app). A dollar cheaper, but still a dollar! Overall, I'd go again.

    food hall
    Grace F.

    YO this place was AMAZING. I totally lagged on writing this review, but I had to come back and give it a rave. First off, I was helped by the nicest lady behind the counter. She was so sweet and gave great recommendations. She probably upsold me and honestly... no regrets because the food was fantastic. I ended up going with the XL Lobster Roll and Caviar. The lobster roll was creamy, tender, tangy, fresh, and delicious. She was absolutely right about splurging for the extra lobster. The bun was perfectly toasted--soft and buttery in the middle with crispy edges. 10/10. The caviar came on brioche with herbed cream cheese, shaved egg, and chives. SO good. I already love anything with caviar, but the flavor combo here made it feel extra special. 10/10. It's also located inside a fun food hall with tons of different food options. It was honestly hard to decide what to try, but I followed my lobster-loving heart. Great spot for a group, or just to grab food, drinks, and people-watch. I was only in the area for the week, but I'll definitely remember this place next time I'm in Carlsbad.

    Shrimp roll (normal)
    K Q.

    This was my third time coming. I got the lobster roll in an attempt to try Something new each time. It was pricey but as an occasional treat, worth it. Especially since they don't skimp on toppings. I got the regular and it was over flowing with shrimp. The larger with 6 oz would have been too much. I worry that the prices will scare most costumers away. Every time I went they had the shortest wait/lone of all the food spots in the food hall. Lowering the prices by a couple bucks might hurt profit per item but bring in more customers. The food was great though so I do think it's worth it so far. Next time I'm in town I'll be going again.

    Lobster Rolls Maine Style XL
    Richard R.

    Lobster Lab at the Windmill Food Hall is worth checking out. I went with the lobster roll and it was really good. Fresh, well put together, and satisfying. If you're walking through the food hall and trying to figure out what to get, this is a solid choice.

    Maggie O.

    I came here while doing some shopping and was hungry. Lobster lab is inside Windmill Farms food court and there are a lot of great restaurants here! I was craving something seafood and the crab roll sounded delicious. Crab roll (regular) - $22, the portions are huge! They may look smaller in pictures but I can assure you that you are getting your moneys worth. Flavor was refreshing and delicious Clam Chowder (cup) - $12, piping fresh and hot, the clam chowder comes with 2 pieces of their delicious bread. Also worth the money in my opinion! I will definitely stop by again next time to try their lobster roll! Service was great and the man working was kind and patient with everyone. He even brought out an order for a customer.

    Clam chowder
    Taylor E.

    We are huge lobster/seafood lovers so definitely wanted to check out the Lobster Lab on our trip to Carlsbad. First off loved the food hall and the ability to get food items from different spots and make your own meal. I got the clam chowder and it enjoyed it but wasn't the best I've ever had. My husband got the lobster grilled cheese he felt there was too much cheese compared to the lobster portion and really did not enjoy the lobster bisque. He felt the lobster bisque had a strange sweet flavor to it and lacked lobster flavor and meat.

    XL Maine roll
    Angela P.

    Best lobster roll of my life. They better be, for what I paid for them! LoL I still think about it weeks later though. I got the XL Maine roll. Lobster was overflowing, perfect amount of mayo. Delicious bread. We also got the grilled cheese. My toddler loved it. Got takeout after a long day at Legoland. Close to the Legoland hotel and open later than restaurants at the park. Great reward for a tiring day.

    Shrimp Roll and Slaw
    Sterling B.

    OK, this almost got derailed! We saw the Lobster Lab (a weakness of this New Englander) and walked into - a gourmand's paradise of small boutique restaurants, colocated with a big-arse bar/patio. Everything looked fabulous (as it does when hungry!) A blood-orange beer helped me focus, back on the lobster rolls. And oh, were they done to perfection. Lightly toasted rolls with a hint of sweetness, lemon, butter, lobster and love. My son had shrimp, but I am not responsible for his eccentricities... Soooo good! Just have to stay focused!

    Caviar Toast
    Mina L.

    This spot does NOT skimp out on the crustacean! Even the clam chowder there were good chunks of clam. The ratio on the toasted bread with the meat is perfectly balanced. Quality is there and I enjoyed every bite!

    Caviar on toast

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    1 month ago

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    Ridvan C.

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    29 days ago

    Best smoked Salmon samich everrrrr ! and the staff is great, on my list for good and I'm in LA

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    1 month ago

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    10 days ago

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    20 hours ago

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    17 days ago

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    26 days ago

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    19 days ago

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    5 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    30 days ago

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    Lobster Lab Reviews in Other Languages

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    King's Fish House - Carlsbad - Chincoteague oysters

    King's Fish House - Carlsbad

    4.2(1.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    Went on a Friday evening with our 4 year old, sat outside & had a wonderful meal…read more From the super cool kids menu/activity book to the warm complimentary bread to the delicious desert, we had a wonderful meal!!!! Husband and I shared a cup of clam chowder. Husband had scallops, baked potato and zucchini. I got the grilled Chilean sea bass with baked potato and Mac n cheese and the little had grilled cheese. Hubby and I each had a nice cold Stella Artois. And then we all shared the butter cake dessert. Everything was delicious. I do wish all the meals were a bit warmer but they were still good. Our waitress was very attentive and even offered to bring us a new kids menu to bring home. If we lived closer we would definitely return. We do have a Kings fish house local to us, we may have to see if the service is just as good.

    IT'S NOT THE COOL PLACE IT USED TO BE…read more I've lived long enough in this area to have experienced this restaurant before it was corporate owned/operated and truly a gem for the locals as well as visitors - fresh delicious food, friendly service and the perfect Carlsbad/beach ambiance. Alone or with a group, it was a super cool place to go. IT'S NOT THE COOL PLACE IS USED TO BE I gave up a few months ago ordering the whole broiled artichoke which used to be amazing but now is always small, tough and burned. The sand dabs I ordered last night were mushy, greasy and tasteless. The Parmesan 'crust' was soggy. I had to ask the bartender 4 times for lemons (none came with the dish) because she would only give me 3 tiny slices at a time - perhaps they are being rationed due to Strait of Hormuz related supply chain issues? It's possible the complimentary sourdough bread is being rationed as well. IT'S NOT THE COOL PLACE IT USED TO BE In the past this restaurant was lively with all kinds of fun and warm interaction between staff, regular customers and tourists; now it is just hectic and loud. In the oyster bar area there are screens literally everywhere so the vibe is more sports bar-like than the vibe of a quality oyster bar. I no longer trust the quality of the food (i.e. I suspect seed oil based butter-like substances are being used instead of real butter) and I no longer enjoy the staff who's attention is vapid rather than warm and welcoming. IT'S NOT THE COOL PLACE IT USED TO BE

    Photos
    King's Fish House - Carlsbad
    King's Fish House - Carlsbad
    King's Fish House - Carlsbad - Miso Chilean Sea Bass--so yum!!

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    Miso Chilean Sea Bass--so yum!!

    Fish 101 - Fish Tacos

    Fish 101

    4.4(1.5k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    I tried fish101 this Thursday night and it is definitely a great spot to grab a quick and casual…read morebite. There was a long line - this place is so popular - but thankfully the line didn't take very long. The wait in the line was a good amount of time to give me the chance to take a look at the menu before ordering so I didn't mind it at all! It was easy to order at the restaurant. Grab our order number and find a seat and just wait for the food to come out. I was worried the food would take a while because so many people were there. The food came quickly, so there was no issue. I got a bivuoac berry cider which was delicious and very drinkable. I opted for some clam chowder, rocket salad, and the seafood curry as well. The clam chowder was delicious and creamy. Not TOO rich and not too salty. The rocket salad was pretty standard. I don't order any fish with it since I was ordering so many items already and I didn't want to be too full! Just wanted to add some veggies to my meal. The seafood curry had some great flavor. I was a bit surprised that the curry was more of a soup consistency. I was expecting a thicker and more saucy consistency but it was still good. I think it could've been a bit more flavorful. I liked the fish, shrimp, and veggies in the curry and I loved that they cooked the fish perfectly. It was nice and soft and had a delicious char on it. Overall, great meal and I thought the meal was decent value. Expected to come back and try more menu items.

    Fish 101 in Leucadia was so good we came back twice during our stay. Everything we tried was ono…read more Highly recommend ordering the mahi mahi à la carte--great quality and a very fair price compared to bundled menu options. It's light and perfectly cooked, and the fries were a really nice contrast without feeling too heavy. The IPA was also excellent and paired well with the food. My husband loved his poke, and the shrimp burrito bowl was another standout--ordering it bowl‑style with all the verde sauce was the right move. Fresh, flavorful, and satisfying without feeling overly indulgent. Casual, consistently good, and clearly a local favorite for a reason. We'll absolutely be back next time we're in the area.

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    Fish 101 - Inside

    Inside

    Fish 101 - 2 piece Fish  and  Chips

    2 piece Fish and Chips

    Fish 101 - Thirsty Thursday!!!!

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    Thirsty Thursday!!!!

    Bluewater Grill - Welcome to Bluewater Grill!

    Bluewater Grill

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    Food was PHENOMENAL- every component was well prepared, seasoned, and plated! It was delicious - we…read morereally enjoyed the misoyaki butterfish as well as the sanddabs! Also, the portion sizes were great - especially for the kids meals!!! Service was very patient and friendly with us, even though we had 3 kids & a double stroller. The host, server, and manager made us feel welcomed & important! It was a great environment for our family - I was a bit concerned at first because it's a nicer restaurant BUT we were met with GREAT HOSPITALITY! There are RESTROOMS inside, along with a changing table available. There is a plethora of both outdoor seating and indoor seating; along with bar top seating.

    I've been coming to Bluewater for years now. I have to say I've had some good experiences and some…read morenot so great. This night was bad. I arrived to meet friends who were already seated. They had bread, but ordered more for us late comers. It was a while before a server came to the table, long enough that when he came to take our drink orders we had viewed the menu and were ready to order our food too. He was friendly and patient though. We again requested the bread that never came prior. They were somewhat busy as it was happy hour so we waited a bit. We just chatted and caught up. After a while we once again requested bread as it still hadn't been brought to us. Third time was a charm and we were finally brought bread. The bread was the highlight of the meal. Served warm, it is soft inside and crunchy out side with a soft butter accompaniment. Shortly thereafter, our food arrived except for one of our party's orders. Two people ordered firecracker shrimp and they were cold upon arrival. One decided to send it back. Sadly my scallops were so rubbery that the provided fork and spoon could barely cut through it. I hate sending food back so I ate it but it was pretty bad. The missing order arrived and it was supposed to be blackened fish tacos. The ratio of cabbage and salsa on top to the small amount of fish in the taco was disappointing, as was the lack of seasoning. Also, we would have liked more water but it was never offered and we didn't see the server until we waved him down for the check. I've tried a lot of items on their menu over the years but the lack of quality and consistency I experienced on this night may have me rethinking that choice, unfortunately.

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    Bluewater Grill
    Bluewater Grill - Bluewater Grill, Carlsbad.

    Bluewater Grill, Carlsbad.

    Bluewater Grill - Crab Cake perfection!

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    Crab Cake perfection!

    Ocean Buffet - Crabs

    Ocean Buffet

    3.8(160 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I've been to this buffet a few times while visiting The Shoppes at Carlsbad. Occupying the former…read moreSouplantation building, the restaurant offers a consistent weekend price for both lunch and dinner. On weekends, they feature a premium all day menu that includes all you can eat crab legs. Between the cold and warm crab leg options, I found the warm ones to be superior as they're less salty and much more flavorful. The buffet offers a solid variety of Asian fusion staples, such as fried rice, orange chicken, and honey shrimp, alongside a surprising selection of sushi and decent sashimi. My personal favorites were obviously the crab legs, stir fried whole mushrooms, clams, string beans, and the scallops with vermicelli served in the shell. The service is quite attentive; the staff is quick with drink refills and clears finished plates promptly. They also provide practical extras like crab crackers and disposable gloves. While the dining area is spacious and relaxed, I would suggest skipping the dessert section, as those offerings were not appetizing. Overall, it is a reasonably priced spot for a wide variety of food in a comfortable environment. A solid 3.5 stars.

    FOOD POISONING WARNING‼I was going to write a longer review on our experience here but I'm…read morerewriting to cut to the point. This was not a good experience for us. Upon arriving there were a few questionable items being served as far as sanitary and temperature. With that being said my family has and is currently experiencing the symptoms of food poisoning, since we were here earlier for dinner. If you are visiting double check the temperature of the sushi, the texture of the chicken, and mold in the fruits. There was also cream cheese ragoons, I was wanting eat but as soon as I took it apart there were black spots in it , so I set it aside. Something we ate here was just not right as our entire family is experiencing sickness. We are in Carlsbad for a vacation and this was not in the plans for to dine in and later experience diarrhea and vomiting! It was definitely the food, so please be warned.

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    Ocean Buffet
    Ocean Buffet - Seafood

    Seafood

    Ocean Buffet - Peel shrimp

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    Peel shrimp

    Lobster Lab - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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