Burger & Lobster: London dreams become Manila reality
The Soho branch of the restaurant chain known for serving gourmet burgers, wild-caught lobsters, and more was offering a special Christmas menu and I did not want to miss it.
It began with a generous starter platter that included a lobster croquette, calamari, and a hot dip, followed by Burger & Lobster’s famous lobster roll served with fries, a salad, and Burger & Lobster’s killer lemon and garlic butter sauce.
I was stuffed but the server said, as she set down a final plate in front of me, “You are gonna love this cheesecake.” I dug in and she was right—the mince cheesecake was glorious, so good that I still think about it years later. It was an unforgettable meal.
Often, when I have really good food abroad, I find myself wishing someone would bring the restaurant to the Philippines. But with Burger & Lobster—a must-visit for many Filipinos traveling to London—I never dared dream. Burger & Lobster? In Manila? Nah, it just seemed impossible.
Global expansion
“Now you know, anything is possible,” Brian Chong, Burger & Lobster’s brand development chef, said with a smile as we walked inside Burger & Lobster in SM Aura Premier.
Burger & Lobster, which was started by four friends in 2011, has been expanding to different parts of the world, including the Philippines.
“Manila’s love for bold flavors and communal dining makes it the perfect home for Burger & Lobster. We’ve taken the best of what has made the brand a global favorite and infused it with a distinct local flair—ensuring that every visit is a mix of indulgence, excitement, and familiarity,” said Eric Teng, Burger & Lobster Manila managing partner.
Riccardo La Monica, managing director of Burger & Lobster Asia, said, “This is where people can eat with their hands, crack open lobsters, and indulge in gourmet flavors without the fuss.”
Lifestyle got an early taste of Burger & Lobster’s offerings at its lovely location at SM Aura Premier. (Check out the mural by artist Lee Caces and try counting the hidden lobsters.)
The Originals
Diners can enjoy The Originals—the three menu items that made Burger & Lobster the success it has been: The Burger, also known as The Mayfair; The Lobster, a classic whole Canadian lobster, steamed or grilled, served with lemon and garlic butter sauce, fries, and salad; and The Lobster Roll, chilled lobster meat, lemon mayo, and chives in a toasted brioche roll, served with lemon garlic butter sauce, fries, and salad.
Chong recommends that first-timers go for these first. Choosing just one is hard so you might want to go for The Combos. B&L Combo One includes The Mayfair, a whole Canadian lobster plus fries, house salad, and that delicious lemon garlic butter sauce.
Our table shared a B&L Combo Two: The Mayfair, a whole Canadian lobster, two portions of fries, two salads, and two servings of the lemon garlic butter sauce.
When restaurants bring their concepts to a new market, there is a lot of focus on making sure they get it exactly like the original—taste-, quality-, and experience-wise. Burger & Lobster did that, of course—perfecting the brioche alone took so much work.
But they also wanted to create new offerings just for Filipinos. “We make regional specials for everyone,” said Chong. “There’s a lot of research done, learning the culture, the flavor profile.”
Manila exclusives
Research meant eating everywhere—and that’s how a burger steak from a popular Filipino fast-food chain inspired the Manila-exclusive Honcho Burger (smashed double patty, button mushrooms, cheese, onions, peppercorn cream sauce).
“I think it fits perfectly with the palate of the Filipinos… It’s just exclusively for the Philippines.”
Another favorite of the chef? The Spicy Chili Lobster, a Southeast Asian offering that in the Philippines is served with delicious garlic butter rice. “That rice could be a new beginning for many, many opportunities. We can do many other dishes with the rice,” said Chong.
There’s also the Manila Roll—prawn, lobster, and mango dressed with calamansi-mayo and served in Burger & Lobster’s brioche roll.
Serving these regional specials is important, he said. “I think it’s needed, because I find certain recipes very comforting. You need to have an emotional tie to the food.”
Our Burger & Lobster feast began with the cheesy and comforting Lobster Mac & Cheese and the Moules Marinières (steamed mussels in white wine cream, parsley, and lemon). Everyone raved over the buttery toasted brioche that came with the mussels.
Armed with disposable gloves and crackers, bibs protecting our clothes, we attacked the lobsters, determined to get every last bit of meat out of those claws.
‘No time for table manners’
The phrase “This is no time for table manners” was on the back of servers’ shirts and on the paper lining our platters, a playful reminder that eating at Burger & Lobster is no stiff affair.
We oohed and aahed over the different dishes, picking our own favorites. The Canadian lobster meat was dense, just as we were told. The Lobster Roll was even better than I remembered. I wanted to drench everything in the lemon garlic butter.
“It’s just three ingredients. We don’t mess around with it. Our recipe is well-known,” said Chong.
And while generous portions of the sauce come with the food, those who want more can order extra—it’s on the menu, along with other sauces. Fries can be upgraded to truffle fries as well, and bacon and cheese can be ordered as add-ons to combos.
There’s also a Surf & Turf Platter—short ribs with lobster. Oyster lovers will be happy to know that Burger & Lobster also serves freshly shucked Gallagher oysters.
Burger & Lobster’s menu has certainly grown from those three original offerings. They also have a lobster chowder, a prawn remoulade, different kinds of burgers, a chili-garlic roll, a crab and prawn gratin, a seafood linguine, and the prawn fritters, which are another favorite of Chong’s.
It’s impossible to try everything Burger & Lobster has to offer in one visit. “I think it’s a restaurant that you need to come to back over and over again,” said Chong.
Even the drinks are worth going back for. The B&L Iced Tea, served in bags, caused a stir, reminding everyone of sari-sari store soda. The fresh and fruity Lobstar Martini is my pick.
For dessert, we had hazelnut, banana, and chocolate bread pudding topped with caramel ice cream. “It’s hot and cold. After a good hearty meal, it’s a comforting dessert,” said Chong.
Burger & Lobster also serves salted caramel churros, pistachio cheesecake, and ice cream.
Burger & Lobster is on the ground floor of SM Aura Premier in BGC, Taguig. It’s open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
