Coast (Lobster Nights)

Now we all know that Coast is Glowbal Group's seafood-focused spot on Alberni Street in Downtown Vancouver.  It is steps away from their sister restaurant Black + Blue and other high end shops.  Personally, I've had many great meals at Coast and it is nice to see that they are offering up a special lobster-themed menu on Sundays and Mondays.  Their Lobster Nights feature a choice of appetizer and entree while including a dessert.  All this for a reasonable price of $65.00 per person.  Jackie and I were invited to try out this menu and of course, we sampled every available option.

To start, we had an Amuse Bouche that was was a Mushroom Arancini with truffle aioli.  A nice little bite with cheesy risotto inside and a crispy exterior.  Truffle aioli added just another earthy touch.  Also separate from the Lobster Nights menu, we had the Chef's Selection of Oysters consisting of Barstool and Raspberry Point.  These oysters were shucked properly and also very fresh.  These were both very similar in taste with a brininess giving way to sweetness.  The Raspberry Points were bigger than the Barstools.

So onto the actual Lobster Nights menu, we tried their appetizers first. You have one choice from 3 including the Crispy Lobster & Prawn Roll. This was solidly constructed with shiso leaf, cucumber and soy paper on the outside.  The whole thing was definitely crispy with chewy sushi rice and crunchy cucumber.  To combat the dryness of the roll, we found a side of yuzu kosho & plum vinegar sauce.

The next appie option was the Lobster Bisque with dill, brandy cream and sourdough croutons.  This was an impactful soup where the lobster aroma really came through.  It was also rich and creamy with the brandy announcing itself throughout.  Interestingly, there was corn in the soup and it did add texture and pops of sweetness, yet, I personally would've left the bisque alone as it was perfect without it.

Last appie option was the Lobster Louie consisting of poached lobster, romaine, soft egg, heirloom tomatoes, radish and avocado.  As you can see, all of the components were fresh and vibrant.  It really showed in the texture as well.  Nice crunch and brightness.  The pieces of lobster were perfectly cooked with a moist rebound and sweetness.  As for the Louie dressing, it was subtle and I only wished there was more tanginess.

Onto the mains, you can also choose one of the following including the Lobster all'Amatriciana.  This pasta was fantastic with a considerable amount of al dente bucatini.  I really enjoyed the pomodoro sauce as it was balanced with enough tanginess that was offset by the fat from the smoked guanciale and pecorino.  There was added sweetness from the onion confit as well.  On top, we found big pieces of lobster tail and claw meat.  This was actually my favourite entree.

Next, you could also choose the classic 1lb Lobster Thermidor.  I honestly haven't seen this dish very often these days and it is primed for a comeback!  It truly helps when the one we were served was properly prepared.  The tender lobster meat was cooked just right and topped with a creamy Hollandaise and then gruyère.  The butteriness and cheesiness made this dish every so sinful, but delicious.  Even the side of chive & buttermilk mashed potatoes were on point.  So silky and well-seasoned.

Last option was the 1lb Grilled Lobster Provençal with chimichurri, jalapeño cornbread, baby carrots and clarified butter.  I was a little confused at first because the chimichurri was not a Provençal sauce.  But in the end, it was a good compliment to the sweet lobster meat.  The brightness and garlickiness combined with the butter was delicious.  Also, the cornbread wasn't just a throw-in, it was sweet and a bit spicy while going really well with that generous pat of butter.

If you were super hungry, you could make any entree a surf & turf for and extra $45.00 with a 10oz Prime Beef Striploin.  We asked for it be prepared medium-rare and it was done so with an even sear on all sides.  The meat was super tender while the exterior benefitted from caramelization and also proper seasoning.  Some red wine jus helped provide some more depth-of-flavour to the perfectly cooked steak.

For dessert, we had the Warm Banana & Coconut Butter Cake with crème anglaise and berries.  Upon the first bite, it was clear they didn't skimp on the butter.  So nutty and aromatic!  The cake was super moist, yet dense enough that there was body and texture.  It was coconutty and only a minor hint of banana.  The crème anglaise was mildly sweet with a vanilla finish.  So the 3-course Lobster Nights dinner is a steal in my mind.  For $65.00 you get enough lobster and food so you will be satisfied.  To top it all, the dishes we had were appealing and prepared properly.

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:

- All of the dishes available on the Lobster Nights menu are appealing

- Properly-prepared food

- Enough food to be satisfied

The Bad:

- Due to the special menu, Sundays and Mondays are quite busy, you need to be patient

- Would've loved to see a more impactful Louie dressing