13 Feb Get your claws into some fine food at The Noisy Lobster
Seafood somehow always tastes better when you’re by the water, so it doesn’t get much better than The Noisy Lobster at Avon Beach in Christchurch.
In a restaurant that’s just a step up from the shingled shore and the skim of a stone away from Christchurch Harbour, the seafood hauled in by the fishermen from Mudeford and Lymington is as fresh as it gets.
And it’s a good job the food is as excellent as it is, as it’s very easy to get distracted by the uninterrupted views towards the Isle of Wight and the Needles, especially in the evening as the sun melts into the sea.
You can enjoy the Noisy Lobster at any time of day and for any occasion, with three different options on offer – from the deli, shop and bakery to the takeaway coffee cabin and Lobster Hatch, and the more refined seafood restaurant with indoor and terrace seating.
They’ll even rent you your own beach hut where you can enjoy some fantastic fish and chips by the sea.
Head chef Steve Hall and his talented team serve up gorgeous plates of seasonal fare – of course there’s the seafood, but there’s also plenty for meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans too.
At lunch, a Noisy Bap and chips (make them truffle and parmesan? Oh, go on then!) is a must, from the Shrimp Po’Boy with crispy Cajun fried prawns, aioli and cherry tomato relish, to the lobster with either a Bloody Mary aioli or warm garlic butter.
For a special evening meal, sharing platters are a favourite.
The Seacuterie starter for two offers white crab remoulade, treacle trout pastrami, maple cod ham, lobster oil and balsamic and a warm homemade sourdough boule with seaweed truffle butter and lobster thermidor butter.
The Noisy Platter, the Shellfish Platter and the Surf & Turf aren’t cheap (the Surf & Turf is £140 for two), but you do get what you pay for.
The Surf &Turf serves up a juicy 20oz sirloin steak, a whole lobster, tempura prawns and seared scallops with cauliflower cream, aioli, peppercorn sauce, chips and a house salad.
Of course, there are plenty of dishes for one if you don’t fancy sharing.
On Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, you can also enjoy breakfast by the water, with all dishes cooked to order using Fluffets Farm’s free-range eggs and bespoke sausages from the local Gillets Butchers.
You can go full on Gale Force 8, with sausages, bacon, eggs, flat mushroom, tomato, beans and toast, or glam things up a bit with the Lobster and Avocado Benedict with lobster, lobster oil, hollandaise, smashed avocado, toasted muffin and poached eggs.
Whether you’ve enjoyed breakfast, lunch or dinner at this fabulous restaurant, the best bit is piling onto the beach afterwards to walk off all that delicious food. It gives you the perfect excuse to go back for more!
