In what is perhaps the feel-good story of early 2009, City Crab on Park Avenue agreed this past Friday to release back to the sea an approximately 140 year-old 20 lb. lobster named “George.” City Crab had purchased the lobster that was caught off the coast of Canada a couple weeks ago for about $100. We first heard about City Crab’s tremendous gesture early Saturday morning and decided to head over there on Sunday to see if we could get some more info on this story that has been receiving national and international attention. According to a manager, Tom, who sat down to speak with us, calls have been flooding in from all over the world to show appreciation for the restaurant’s compassion. “We had no idea the reaction we would get from releasing George, but it just seemed like the right thing to do,” said the manager. “We have been receiving calls from people in Italy, Canada and New Zealand to thank us and an 8-year-old girl even called up yesterday crying and pleading for us not to release George into waters ‘where he’s just going to get caught again.’” Apparently no one had told the young girl that PETA drove George up to Kennebunkport, Maine and released the 20 lb lobster in protected waters less than a mile from former President George H.W. Bush’s summer home. More on this story and if you can still bring yourself to eating a lobster, a big Recession Special offer for Wined & Dined readers, after the jump…

In a blog post on the PETA website, PETA writes that the next step is to “ban catching lobsters completely.” We asked Tom if he feels the decision to release the lobster could set a dangerous precedent for City Crab and other restaurants as far as PETA is concerned. He said he doesn’t think so and responded that the vast majority of lobsters City Crab sells are in the 2-2.5 lb. range with a few reaching as big as 4-5 lbs. This gives you an idea of just how big “George” is and how unusual it is for a restaurant to get its hands on a 20 lb. lobster. He thinks, if anything, this will lead to some restaurants “scaling down the size of the lobsters they buy and sell.” 

We then asked Tom how City Crab has been faring in these tough economic times. He said they are feeling the effects of the recession like most big Manhattan restaurants. Many of the big companies and firms around the city that typically hold their holiday parties at City Crab bowed out of their holiday party reservations at the end of last year. 

In terms of special offers to lure diners, Tom said that City Crab is currently running a promotion for 15% off your meal. The catch is you have to have already dined at City Lobster and filled out a promotion card with your email address and other info.

As if releasing George hasn’t already built enough goodwill and PR for the restaurant, City Crab told us they will honor the 15% off deal on-the-spot for customers (without having to wait until a return visit) that mention they heard about it AND if you order a lobster that is 2 lbs. or bigger, City Crab will give you 1.25 lbs. of lobster for free. 

And for all you PETA fanatics out there, all we can offer you is this.

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