Actually, he’s already here. And you don’t have to worry about the 21-pound crustacean devouring your poodle. Vince (yeah, his name is Vince) has been in captivity since Oct. 19 at Burger & Lobster over on W. 19th Street.
At three feet long and with claws larger than football (more than 15 inches long and 8 inches wide) Vince is the largest of the five million lobsters that B&L has had in its tanks worldwide since the international mini-chain first opened in 2011.
He will be accepting visitors for the foreseeable future, though he is not for sale in honor of his size and age, which is around 60 years, according to the University of Maine’s Lobster Institute. The chances of seeing a creature of this size in captivity are less than 1 in 5 million, mainly because most places with commercial lobster operations ban the landing of any of such giants. Canada, which is the provenance of all Burger & Lobster crustaceans, is an exception to this rule.
As a seasonal salute to Vince, anyone showing up at Burger & Lobster on Halloween in a lobster costume will have a chance to bite back. receive a complimentary order of either…
- lobster bites — lobster and shrimp wrapped in pastry with lemon zest and onions, served with a housemade sweet chili sauce, or
- burger bites, a signature beef blend wrapped in pastry with cheese and pickles, served with a signature burger sauce.
(If you’re afraid of walking the streets of New York City dressed up as lobster — and justifiably so — any sort of lobster paraphernalia, such as a pin, sweater, or cap, will qualify.)
The Halloween giveaway will also be honored at Burger & Lobster’s new Times Square/ Bryant Park location at 132 W. 43rd Street, where Vince’s little cousin, who weighs in at a mere 17 pounds, is attracting gawkers.
Vince can be visited at Burger & Lobster, 39 W. 19th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
The name Vince, in case you’re wondering, was borrowed from the restaurant’s operations manager.
See also…
- Burger & Lobster Opens its Second NYC (and U.S.) Location
- Should Kids Be Given Candy on Halloween? What’s Your Opinion?
- Happy Pumpkin: Activities and Eats for Halloween
