Abe and Louie’s, Boston, MA, USA

Ordered at Abe and Louie's, a Back Bay Steakhouse in Boston, Massachusetts.

Where to have lunch in Boston… it seemed like such an easy question, but having lived abroad for 2 years, I really wasn’t sure about an answer. Compounded with the fact that the person I was meeting (Josh Chaim – a friend from Beijing who was in town for business) wasn’t too familiar with the local lunch scene, we were pretty clueless on where to go.

And then it hit me: all I wanted was some American beef. A hamburger, a steak, a petite filet; I didn’t care, I wanted some meat. Josh seemed down for the same, so I quickly chose Abe and Louie’s, a “Back Bay Steak House” located in the heart of Boston, and more importantly with easy parking access and right next to the Mass Pike (as I was headed to Northampton after our meal).

With no seating available outside, we sat in a booth in the back and checked out the menu. I was excited for steak – there’s no questioning that – but as my eyes rested upon the filet club sandwich, they quickly moved to the Lobster Club, where they rested and fell in love. Yes, I will be ordering the Abe and Louie’s Lobster Club. And Josh decided to go for the steak club. Add the fact that we both went with Arnold Palmers, this lunch was looking to be the perfect comfort meal before a two hour drive.

The same waiter I had had 3 years ago took our orders with a smile, asked if we had any questions, and brought our club sandwiches out right away – we couldn’t have been happier with the service and classic Boston steak house ambiance; I was definitely home.

I wasn’t too sure of what to expect from a Lobster Club. In a city full of lobster rolls, this sandwich was going to have to stand out. And it did. While not quartered (for obvious reasons – the lobster needs the support of a halved sandwich), the lobster meat was lightly mayonnaise’d and full of flavor. It was a perfect ingredient to center this club around and made every bite enjoyable. The small but thick, ripe tomato complemented the sandwich well, as did the crispy piece of lettuce you’d normally find in a caesar salad. The bacon, while I have to admit a bit unnecessary, actually added some nice flavor and crispyness to the club which was thoroughly enjoyable and only enhanced this meal. All of this was sandwiched in between two slices of bread that simply held the club together well and allowed you to enjoy each bite of lobster without getting your hands messy.

I loved this lobster club – and while Josh also enjoyed his steak filet club (which I will try next time), I could tell he was a little jealous. I was slightly disappointed to find out how expensive it was in the end (it said market price and I didn’t ask) as lobster is at its cheapest in 20 years, but I guess somehow it’s still a luxury item. Oh well – at least he got the sweet potato fries, which were yummy and a bit better than my regular ones. Abe and Louie’s was just how I had remembered it, which is exactly what I wanted.

When you live abroad for so long, some things (especially people) you expect to change, you almost want them to evolve and grow and it’s disappointing when you realize they haven’t changed at all. That was not the case here – I couldn’t be happier Abe and Louise’s hadn’t changed, and I hope they never will.

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