Another Chance for Stuffed Lobster at Bluewater Grill

This holiday season Bluewater Grill is keeping with their tradition of stuffing the lobster instead of the bird.

When people think of holiday feasts during November and December, one prominent main dish comes to mind:  turkey.  There are plenty of great proteins out there to stuff; why not lobster?

Traditionally, Bluewater Grill’s Stuffed Maine Lobster makes its seasonal debut in early November during the restaurant’s Second Tuesday Tasting Series.  After that, the dish stays on the menu into early January, giving lobster lovers plenty of time to sample the dish and also come back for seconds and thirds.

This time around, the November tasting was popular to the point of being sold out.  To keep the peace, Bluewater Grill has added a second stuffed lobster tasting for the December Second Tuesday event as well.

“Our annual November Stuffed Lobster tasting was so popular, we felt we owed it to our regulars to repeat it in December,” explained Bluewater Grill co-founder Jimmy Ulcickas. “It has become a Bluewater tradition for both Thanksgiving and the holidays.”

There has to be some love for regulars because lobster dinner served during the event is a great deal.  For $38.95, diners get:

• A sustainably harvested whole Maine lobster with a shrimp and panko-crumb stuffing
• Choice of New England or Manhattan clam chowder plus two sides and unlimited fresh sourdough bread
• All paired with an Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand

With all the hype, I headed to the Redondo Beach location to update my stuffed lobster research.

I’ve always been pleased with the staff and service at Bluewater Grill and this visit was no exception.  They explained the specials and set us up with the tools needed to really get into the lobster without making a mess.

I was accompanied by my wife Nicole; she opted for the New England clam chowder and I chose the Manhattan.  Both stood on their own with the New England being true to its classic, creamy texture and the Manhattan is more like a hearty, tomatoey, vegetable soup flavored with seafood.

The star of the show was the main dish, a perfectly cooked, full-sized lobster with the tail stuffed to overflowing with a firm mixture of breadcrumbs and shrimp.  Oh, the tail meat was in there too!  Thanks to the chefs, the lobster was scored across the claws and other key areas to make cracking and shucking a breeze.

While the stuffing and tail were filling and enjoyable, my goal was the tender, savory claw meet.  Since the lobster was prepped so nicely, I was able to extract the claws easily which made them perfect for dunking in the supplied butter.

With all that stuffing and wine, I would advise you to save room for dessert.  It’s not included in the lobster tasting, but the dessert of the month during my visit was Bread Pudding served with fruit and vanilla ice cream.  

Now, I’m not a very big fan of bread pudding.  I will quickly overlook it for any other option that might be available.  Also, I’m a fan of Key Lime pie (see the liner notes) and I know that Bluewater Grill makes a great Key Lime pie.  But trust me on this one:  the bread pudding was amazing.  Dense and creamy, it was the perfect balance of light and hearty textures without being doughy and dry like I often find bread puddings to be.  If you think you might share a dessert with fellow diners, just take my advice and get everyone their own.

If you’re looking for the bread pudding, call ahead to make sure they have it.  If not, you’ll be pleased with their other desserts as well.

While you’re at it, go ahead and call to make your reservation for the December Second Tuesday Tasting!

Bluewater Grill Stuffed Maine Lobster is available until early January.  The tasting special is available on Tuesday, December 12 at all locations except Avalon (sorry, Catalina!).  Tell them South Bay Foodies sent you.

• Bluewater Grill
  • 665 North Harbor Drive
  • Redondo Beach, CA 90277
  • (310) 318-3474