Are you interested in eating lobster, sipping on some bubbly and having an amazing view of Manhattan on a chic rooftop? If so, look no further than Penthouse 808 in Long Island City!
Image credit: www.pintrest.com
Every Wednesday Penthouse 808 at the Ravel Hotel (8-08 Queens Plaza South) hosts a Lobster Bake called “Maine Squeeze” with live music, great food and killer views.
The lobster bake is located on their rooftop, which is a lounge and restaurant. It also means that is mostly outdoors (I’m sure they provide heaters and close the windows during the winter months.)
Feat. my brother, photobombing as usual.
As soon as you walk out of the elevator, it’s as if you’ve been transported to a different time period. Jazz artist Dandy Wellington and His Band are set up perfectly to compliment the bridge in the background. They played Dixieland Jazz, which is traditional jazz developed in New Orleans during the 20th century. They wore vintage Jazz clothing, which added to the classic ambiance.
Once you are seated you are able to take in the beautiful view. When we arrived the sun was still up, so it was cool watching the sunset while eating dinner. The color of the whole restaurant changes throughout the night.
I suggest you start off with a drink. My mom and I got Blueberry Mojitos, which is made with silver rum, blueberries, mint and lime. So. Good.
You can pick one of five lobster options for dinner. Main Squeeze offers the traditional Lobster Bake, which includes a whole lobster, steamed clams, baked potatoes and corn on the cob. And it is HUGE.
Each item is so fresh and delicious. It comes with giant pieces of celery and a side of melted butter. Here is my brother discovering that it is, indeed, melted butter:
He’s got trust issues after eating too many globs of butter thinking it was scoops of ice cream at IHOP.
Another lobster dish you can order is the Lobster Po’boy Sliders, which includes two sliders, crispy battered lobster, picked red onions and chili spiced mayo. You can also order the Summer Lobster Salsa, which is chopped lobster, mango, tomato, onion, cilantro and jalapeno served with crisp shrimp chips and a matcha green tea avocado puree. Or get the Lobster Roll, which is a sandwich overflowing with lobster salad and served on a toasted potato bun.
I got the Lobster Pasta, which was so good: full of life and lobster.
It was Buccatini Pasta (which was a thicker, hardier pasta) in marinara sauce, and includes half a lobster, baby tomatoes and basil. I recommend!
The restaurant was packed full of hungry people ready to take in the sunset. Many people went out onto the patio and took advantage of the pink, orange and yellow sky.
Penthouse 808 is an Asian fusion restaurant, and so we ordered Mochi Ice cream for dessert, which is pounded sticky rice cake filled with assorted ice cream flavors.
It came with green tea, vanilla and strawberry ice cream. I loved them; it’s just like handheld ice cream. And what’s better than handheld, no cone or cup, ice cream?
Come check out the Lobster Bake at Penthouse 808 in Long Island City! It’s a year round event. It starts at 5:00 p.m. and goes on till 11:00 p.m. A meal will cost you at most $34.00, depending on what you get.
It’s the perfect excuse to dress up fancy and it’s also a great date night destination!
This place makes you feel like you’re in Manhattan when in Queens.
