The Live Lobster Special at 15 East Restaurant in New York City

Is It OK to Eat Live Lobster?

March 2, 2011

What's it like to eat live lobster? In case you were wondering, Zagat has video that'll give you a pretty good idea. Here, three industry experts try the meal at New York's 15 East, where, according to Zagat, "At the beginning of the meal, you're introduced to your dinner, and during the first course of lobster sashimi, the crustaceans are still on the table, and still moving, while you munch away." Check out the video and share your thoughts on the meal. Would you try it if given the chance, or do you consider the concept to be inhumane?

20 Comments

2 years 6 days

It's a matter of taste and culture. My gfs and I LOVE to eat live fish and lobster. The taste is amazing and after the shock value of it all, it's pretty amazing being on top of the food chain and indulging on a creature lower on the food chain. We love the live fish at a local Asian restaurant. It lives throughout the whole meal even after we eat all the meat. Then we just sit and drink wine and laugh at it while it suffocates to death.

amber512 2 years 10 weeks

lol, Anon. That was one of my first thoughts. Eating it while it's alive is somehow messed up, but killing it is ok? ;)

2 years 10 weeks

I just don't understand some of the comments here. Some of you say that instead of eating the lobster live, you'd rather kill them "humanely" to eat them. How does one kill lobsters "humanely"? You don't euthanize lobsters. You throw them in live into boiling water. I don't think that getting lobsters drunk so they won't feel as much pain is any more humane. Really, there is not much difference in eating them live than killing and then serving them up.

orangek8 2 years 10 weeks

No way!!

Katie Sweeney 2 years 10 weeks

I don't understand how you eat it when it's crawling around. It just doesn't make sense to me.

lauren 2 years 10 weeks

Yep, I would have to agree with everyone! I couldn't do it! I like lobster but this is too far and just seems really mean!

ticamorena 2 years 10 weeks

I would have thought that there would be a law against something like this (eating a living creature whilst it's still alive). Or maybe it's not one that extends to fish & crustaceans? How somebody can derive any pleasure from this is crazy....

onlysourcherry 2 years 10 weeks

What a terrible way to die.

itsthatgaljay 2 years 10 weeks

Definately not OK! That is horrible. I think cooking them alive is horrible too, but this is even worse. I don't understand why the lobster can't be killed and cooked immediately. From what I understand, the central nervous system is a processing area, so purely the lack of one doesn't mean the lobster can't feel pain. It doesn't have to be alive for you to use all of it! That meal would taste just as good if it wasn't alive, I'm sure.

Jenkies 2 years 10 weeks

I can't bring myself to watch this video. I want to know the thinking behind this. I would also want to know if the chef is concerned about getting other animals for their menu that are raised humanely.

Choco-cat 2 years 11 weeks

i'd like the option of f*ck no!

Gdeeaz 2 years 11 weeks

I couldn't eat a live lobster.

2 years 11 weeks

Good work, anonymous! You've managed to be both racist and moronic in the same comment! I've been a vegetarian for a decade. I'm anti-animal eating, and I'm definitely anti-eating animals while they're still alive, but saying that an entire, very diverse continent of people lack respect for all living creatures is unbearably ignorant. Some parts of the world, not just some Asian countries, eat animals that North Americans primarily keep as pets (dogs, cats, guinea pigs,etc), and that's no more disgusting than people in North America eating chickens, cows, and pigs who are raised in horrific factory farming conditions. You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. People like you are why I'm embarrassed to tell people where I'm from when I go overseas.

fuzzles 2 years 11 weeks

Wow, Anon. Your comment is disturbing as well.

RoaringSilence 2 years 11 weeks

That is indeed very gruesome. Reminds me of the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, where you talk to the cow about what part you'd like to ear before she goes in the back and shoots herself. Or that episode of Futurama where a new delicious species of animal was discovered to be delicious, and people later found out that they could speak... and then there was a debate about whether or not it was still ok to eat them. I really don't know WHY anyone would want to eat the live lobster anyway. Extremely fresh, I understand. But you can't tell me that it tastes different when it's still alive than when it was killed a minute prior.

fuzzles 2 years 11 weeks

I agree. There is also no way in pheck that I will watch that video.

amber512 2 years 11 weeks

This beyond disturbs me.

Sandle 2 years 11 weeks

Wow... why would anyone do that? If you really want to eat raw lobster, just kill it humanely beforehand. This is completely unnecessary and disgusting.