Someone posted this in SPAM, but I didn't see it in DiningBuzz.

http://www.thepalm.com/promodetail.cfm?promo_id=41

$75/$85/$95, includes lobster (4-5-6 lbs), salads, sides, coffee thru AUGUST 19TH

So, now to the big question ~~ anyone ate at THE PALM? How is it?

The wife and I had our anniversary dinner at The Palm in San Antonio. I have no idea how their lobster is because we were there for the beef! And, I have to say that it was truly one of the best meals I've ever eaten. My filet was done to perfection and it was so tender that I could have cut it with a fork instead of using a knife.

If you get sides, ask for 1/2 portions. A half portion of the fries and onion rings and another half portion of the mushrooms was too much for two of us.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

This is a great price. I'm going. Thanks!

See, now you've done it....you're gonna make me want to drive allll the way to L.A. to eat there Of course, we would be having lobster -- hope they do that as well as they apparently did your steak I have HEARD of The Palm in L.A., but a) didn't know if it was just a trendy place to go, and b) that it was actually a quasi-chain.

Thanks for the feedback tho

Just to add another opinion. The Palm is pretty much a full-blown steak house chain with over 30 locations. And I've probably eaten at half of them , many several times. I personally like the chain but not for the steaks/seafood which I don't rank anywhere near the top. The best thing on their menu is, IMO, the asparagus friti which is lightly breaded, pan-sauteed in lemon butter and finished with fresh Parmesan. That and their generous drinks and the ambience of the restaurants are the Palm's main draw for me. I like their clubby atmosphere. The caricatures of local celebrities that are drawn on the walls are also a unique characteristic of The Palm.
For an entree I usually get one of their veal dishes which they do a decent job with.
If you go, enjoy but don't expect a life-altering experience.

The annual lobster special is one of the best deals around! Since The Palm usually sells lobsters for $20+ per pound, this is a great deal. The hash browns are THE best around and ask for the marinara sauce with the string beans. Their lobsters are absolutely delicious, I highly recommend going for this special. There's nothing like seeing a restaurant full of people wearing bibs eating lobster. This deal has been around since the end of June and we usually hit it twice per summer at The Palm in Tysons Corner. Enjoy

There are TWO in L.A. -- one in Santa Monica + one in downtown. Can anyone recommend one over the other?

If you have equal access to either, I'd chose the Santa Monica location. The downtown one is across the street from Staples Center and can get congested at times.

Disclaimer: I'm not a regular lobster eater.

But, I've always been confused by lobster comparisons, how one place is better than another. If you catch two lobsters from the same location, and they're steamed at two different restaurants, shouldn't they taste the same?

It's not like beef, where they can be aged/marinated/grilled differently.

I'm a regular lobster eater and can't tell the difference either. But the lobster pound I eat at most often in Maine sends their boats on a four hour RT daily to catch lobsters that they could catch 50 yards from their dock. They swear that the lobsters they catch in Vinalhaven, ME are much sweeter than any others. And this pound has customers waiting in long lines to eat there everyday.
So there may be something to their theory.
Plus this pound boils them in ocean water and they claim that's a "secret" to better taste as well.

I'll add my 2 cents, IMO the fresher the lobster the sweeter they taste. Freshness is how long the lobster has been removed from the ocean as opposed to sitting in a tank. Which is why lobsters at pounds tend to taste better than at restaurants.

Forgive me -- I live on the West Coast Why are they called 'pounds' instead of restaurants?

Excellent deal, even if it is a restaurant.

Hey, I live in CA too. You have to get out of the state more often.

Lobster pounds are where large amounts of trapped lobsters are kept alive to either sell in bulk to other dealers, to ship to restaurants or to sell to consumers for a meal/carryout. A lobster pound is not primarily a restaurant although most do have indoor or outdoor dining facilities.
Here's a little blurb on lobster pounds:

So........I made a reservation for later this week. It seems this is just an on-going promo, so I don't have to print anything out. Right? Thanks