A Veggie Lunch at...Burger & Lobster?!

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One look at the title and you probably think there’s been some sort of mistake. Burger and Lobster. Reviewed by Veggiebuzz. That can’t be right, can it? We were surprised too when we heard that this famous London import, which is best known for the two dishes in its name, had some vegetarian choices to offer.

With over a dozen locations around the UK, Burger and Lobster came to Dubai with a simple promise of two dishes prepared in a few different ways. It’s the kind of place that any veggie lover would know to steer clear of just by looking at the name. Yet, in a culinary landscape that is slowly becoming more veggie-friendly, even a restaurant defined by its non-vegetarian food couldn’t resist catering to the meat-avoiding crowd.

The vegetarian dishes at Burger and Lobster are, for now at least, exclusive to the Dubai outlet. It’s interesting that they were designed with the same philosophy that Veggiebuzz has: that vegetarians should be able to enjoy a good meal at a non-vegetarian restaurant. Thus, the Mushroom Burger, Black Bean Burger and Cottage Cheese Burger were born. Granted, it’s not super veggie-friendly, but for a place called Burger and Lobster, having even one vegetarian option is a huge deal, let alone three Well, technically four, as there’s also the soup of the day.

Burger and Lobster is located in Burj Daman, just beyond the main DIFC district. I’ve passed by it a number of times, notably when reviewing Carnival and The Artisan, and I never would have expected to find myself inside. It’s funny how things change!

The interior is a what I would call ‘industrial diner’, where old-fashioned electric bulbs and metal pipes contrast against rich scarlet dining booths and dark wooden tables. Without any appetizers to worry about, I launch right into the burgers. First up is the Black Bean, which has a nice Tex-Mex flavor to it and an almost crispy texture. It’s probably the closes counterpart to a traditional burger.

The Mushroom Burger might be more aptly called the Roasted Pepper Burger, as those are the dominant flavors. The portobello mushroom, which has been sliced into rounds rather than being presented as one single ‘patty’, is a bit too subtle in taste. Both burgers have a sweet and tangy honey pepper mayo, but while the mayo complements the flavor of the black beans perfectly, it overwhelms the mushrooms and pushes them further into the background.

Finally, we have the Cottage Cheese Burger, or the ‘Paneer Tikka’ burger. Thin slabs of cottage grilled cottage cheese in a tangy marinade, with a mint mayo. It’s interesting how each burger’s flavor profile is reminiscent of a different cuisine; it helps to add a little variety to each burger.

I finish up with the Choco Brownie, a warm, freshly baked brownie topped with salted caramel ice cream and hazelnuts. Salted caramel and chocolate has slowly become one of my favorite flavor combinations, so I polish this one off, despite being stuffed from the burgers.

Honestly, I’m not sure that Burger and Lobster is going to be the new veggie hangout, and I doubt that’s one of their goals right now. But if you’re out with some meat-eating friends and they want to have some burgers (or some lobster), rest easy knowing that you’ll still be able to enjoy a decent veggie meal. As surprising as it may seem, Burger and Lobster has you covered.

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