Cousins Maine lobster brings lobster martinis to first brick-and-mortar location

Cousins Maine Lobster, known for its black, red and white food trucks with lobster rolls and lobster tacos, is opening its first brick and mortar location Thursday in West Hollywood.

After 15 food trucks in 11 cities and a brief pop-up at Live Mixx in Old Town Pasadena, owners Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis thought it was a good time to settle into a permanent restaurant location. So they asked their real estate agent to find something in West Hollywood.

“We both live in West Hollywood and we love the area, the community and it reminds us of the East Coast,” said Lomac. “The food quality is going to be the same, so if you love our food trucks, we’ve added some amazing new items.”

Those new additions include Maine fried clams, a dish Lomac says customers have been requesting for years. There’s also a new lobster BLT; a Maine harvest salad with Champagne vinaigrette, hazelnut, dried cranberries, butternut squash and goat cheese (you can add lobster or chicken if you want to); and a chicken sandwich.

But the biggest addition to the menu may be the lobster martini. Instead of a vodka martini garnished with a lobster claw, it’s a martini glass full of lobster, hold the liquor.

“For those who are super health conscious,” said Lomac. The glass will come with an olive and a side of drawn butter, if you want it.

As far as actual martinis, Lomac is working with the city on some creative BYOB nights.

The space features a walk-up counter to order, brick walls and a small outdoor patio that looks out onto Santa Monica Boulevard.

Cousins Maine Lobster will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Sunday.

8593 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, (424) 204-9923, www.cousinsmainelobster.com.

Hey, let go of my lobster roll! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @Jenn_Harris_