Fire Up The Claws for National Lobster Day

National Lobster Day lands Friday, September 25, and Atlanta restaurants are coming in hot with drawn butter, truffle cream, Champagne sauce and plenty of claws. From classic Maine rolls and lobster mac and cheese to seafood chaufa, steak, tacos and pasta, here are the dishes making a strong case for a lobster-filled weekend.

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill

For lobster-roll loyalists, The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill offers three ways in. The hot buttered version keeps it classic with Maine lobster tossed in drawn butter, while the Old Bay roll brings lemon butter into the mix and the Mojo adds citrus, garlic and herbs. The longstanding Buckhead seafood spot also serves fried lobster tacos with corn and avocado, crab and lobster bisque, smoked gouda mac and cheese topped with lobster and a lobster dip made for anyone who believes drawn butter alone is not quite enough. The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill is located at 3279 Roswell Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305. For more information, visit thebigketch.com and follow @thebigketch on Instagram.

The Hampton Social

The Hampton Social settles the Maine-versus-Connecticut debate by serving both. Its chilled and creamy Maine-style roll offers the traditional New England treatment, while the warm Manhattan-style version arrives buttery. The most decadent option may be the truffle lobster melt, layering lobster, smoked gouda and truffle cream onto Parmesan-buttered sourdough with a side of bisque. The Hampton Social is located at High Street, 101 High Street, Suites 100 and 200, Dunwoody, GA 30346. For more information, visit thehamptonsocial.com/atlanta and follow @thehamptonsocial on Instagram.

Tio Lucho’s

National Lobster Day falls during Hispanic Heritage Month, making Tio Lucho’s seafood chaufa an especially timely order. From 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Arnaldo Castillo, the fried rice brings together lobster, crab and shrimp with Juan’s signature chifa sauce, serving up one of the roundup’s least expected and most satisfying preparations. Tio Lucho’s is located at 675 North Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. For more information, visit tioluchos.com and follow @tioluchos on Instagram.

Brasserie Margot

At Brasserie Margot, lobster becomes the finishing touch on the Gratin de Ravioles, a rich French dish of petite three-cheese ravioli with truffle, béchamel and Gruyère. Adding fresh lobster turns it into a particularly persuasive choice for dinner before a show or an unhurried night in Midtown. Brasserie Margot is located inside Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta at 75 14th Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. For more information, visit brasseriemargot.com and follow @fsatlanta on Instagram.

ENZO Steakhouse & Bar

ENZO Steakhouse & Bar gives spaghetti and lobster an inky Italian treatment. Squid ink pasta is paired with roasted tomatoes, lobster bisque and pangrattato, allowing the lobster to show up in both the sauce and the plate’s main event. ENZO is located at Town at Trilith, 300 Trilith Parkway, Suite 230, Fayetteville, GA 30214. For more information, visit enzo-itl.com and follow @enzoitl on Instagram.

Amore e Amore

In Inman Park, Amore e Amore is serving two nostalgic takes for National Lobster Day. House-made Maine lobster bisque begins the meal, followed by lobster ravioli finished with Champagne sauce and wild mushrooms. The combination feels especially at home amid the restaurant’s theatrical dining rooms. Amore e Amore is located at 467 North Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30307. For more information, visit amoreeamore.com and follow @eatamoreatl on Instagram.

Aria

Aria’s sweet corn agnolotti pairs butter-braised lobster with roasted chanterelles, demi-sec tomatoes and basil in a tomato and kaffir lime nage. It is a polished late-summer interpretation that delivers richness without burying the sweetness of the lobster and corn. Aria is located at 490 East Paces Ferry Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305. For more information, visit aria-atl.com and follow @ariaatlanta on Instagram.

TWO urban licks

TWO urban licks brings lobster into comfort-food territory with its Maine lobster mac and cheese. Rigate pasta, lobster cream and Parmesan are finished with sourdough breadcrumbs, Old Bay and lemon, giving the dish plenty of texture and just enough acidity to balance its richness. TWO urban licks is located at 820 Ralph McGill Boulevard NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. For more information, visit twourbanlicks.com and follow @twourbanlicks on Instagram.

Amasa Mexican Kitchen and Chichería Mexican Kitchen

Sister restaurants Amasa Mexican Kitchen in downtown Alpharetta and Chichería Mexican Kitchen in Atlanta’s Upper Westside pair grilled steak and Maine lobster with avocado crema, árbol salsa, pickled onions, cilantro and lime. Amasa adds another reason to head north with its exclusive shrimp and lobster quesadilla, filled with Chihuahua cheese, roasted peppers and char-grilled onions and served with guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo. Both restaurants operate entirely gluten-free kitchens. Amasa is located at 15 Academy Street, Space 1E, Alpharetta, GA 30009. For more information, visit amasamexican.com and follow @amasamexican on Instagram. Chichería is located at The Works, 202 Chattahoochee Row, Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30318. For more information, visit chicheriamx.com and follow @chicheriamxon Instagram.