18 places to savor lobster

Mary Beth Faller; The Arizona Republic; Jun. 25, 2007 12:00 AM

In other parts of the country, a lobster dinner means sitting at a picnic table, cracking open a tough shell with your hands and then yanking out the sweet meat while melted butter drips off your elbows. You can find the traditional steamed dinner here, but you can also try lobster in more sophisticated dishes, including some of those listed below. Lobster is a market delicacy that's not always available, so be sure to call ahead to make sure it's on the menu.

West Valley

Verrado Grill
Lobster shows up in an innovative dish at this golf club restaurant. The lobster street taco features a saffron masa tortilla with sautéed leeks, shiitake, yellow tomatoes and chipotle dressing. You can also get a tail poached in Serrano lime butter with cilantro angel hair pasta. Details: 4242 N. Golf Drive, Raven Golf Club at Verrado, Buckeye, (623) 388-3000, ravenatverrado.com

Skye
An appetizer choice at this upscale eatery is rock lobster corn dog, served with chive cream, asparagus, bacon and red pepper slaw. You can also find lobster in the macaroni and cheese. Details: 16844 N. Arrowhead Fountain Center Drive, Peoria, (623) 334-0010, skye-restaurant.com

East Valley

Kai
This top-rated restaurant offers one of the best lobster dishes of all time: butter-braised lobster tail, lobster roe, avocado mousse and tomato salsa on Indian fry bread. It's offered as an appetizer but you may never want to eat anything else again. Details: 5594 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler, (602) 225-0100, wildhorsepassresort.com.

C-Fu Gourmet
This popular Chinese restaurant serves lobster several ways: with spicy pepper salt, with supreme sauce, with black bean sauce, with ginger and green onions or steamed. Details: 2051 W. Warner Road, Chandler, (480) 899-3888, cfugourmet.com.

Phoenix

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Fit for Phoenix: The lobster here is chilled in a salad, with scallops and shrimp over greens with a creamy citrus vinaigrette and toasted cashews. You can also get a basic steamed lobster or an Australian lobster tail. Details: 11501 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, (602) 331-3434, pappadeaux.com.

Barrio Café
Lobster has a Mexican flavor at this authentic restaurant. Quesadilla de Langosta Borracha is garlic and tequila lobster in a corn tortilla with melted Oaxacan cheese. Enjoy with a glass of Mexican wine. Details: 2814 N. 16th St., Phoenix, (602) 636-0240, barriocafe.com.

T. Cook's
For the most high-class comfort food, try the risotto with lobster, tomatoes and asparagus. Lobster bisque with fennel confit is on the lunch menu. Details: 5200 E. Camelback Road, Royal Palms Hotel, Phoenix, (602) 840-3610, royalpalmshotel.com.

Vincent's on Camelback
Southwestern touches accent the lobster dishes here: grilled Maine lobster with habanero pasta, lobster chimichanga with basil pesto and chipotle lobster ravioli. Details: 3930 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, (602) 224-0225, vincentsoncamelback.com.

Northeast Valley

The Salt Cellar
If you want a lot of lobster, you can get 3- or 5-pounders here. This seafood mecca also offers lobster stuffed with scallops and crab or served with steak. Details: 550 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale (480) 947-1963.

Methode Bistro
This restaurant serves upscale Mediterranean fare aimed at a sophisticated crowd. Grilled lobster is served "with a touch of paella." Shrimp and wild rice gnocchi has a lobster sauce with it. Details: 6204 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, (480) 998-8220, methodebistro.net.

Wildfish Seafood Grille
Get two half-pound Australian lobster tails served the classic way - with lemon and drawn butter. Interesting side dishes include wok-seared sugar snap peas with Portobello mushrooms, crab-fried rice with scallions and mushrooms or truffled macaroni and cheese. Details: Scottsdale and Camelback roads, at the Waterfront, (480) 994-4040, wildfishseafoodgrille.com.

Mosaic Restaurant
Lobster gets an Asian twist at this chef-owned restaurant. Lobster tails are marinated in lemongrass and served with forbidden rice, green curry beurre blanc and Chinese long beans. The dish is also served as part of a tasting menu, with a salad, foie gras, almond and walnut-crusted lamb and bananas foster crème brulee. Details: 10600 E. Jomax Road, Scottsdale, (480) 563-9600, mosaic-restaurant.com.

Asia de Cuba
This is a place to see and be seen, but you can eat lobster while you're doing it. Try the lobster with rum coconut curry sauce or the lobster mash, made with Caribbean white sweet potatoes. Details: 7353 E. Indian School Road, at the Mondrian Scottsdale, (480) 308-1131.