Land and Sea (Land ‘N Sea)
“Land and Sea” (almost never written in the reverse as “Sea and Land”) is a dish of meat and seafood—usually filet mignon and lobster tails—that is cited in print from at least 1964. The name “Land and Sea” is somewhat similar to the popular phrase “One if by land, and two if by sea,” from the poem “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” (1863) by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882).
Benihana offers perhaps the most popular “Land ‘N Sea” combination, consisting of filet mignon and ocean scallops. Other similar restaurant menu item names include “Surf and Turf,” “Beef and Reef” and “Fin and Feather” (for seafood and chicken).
Benihana restaurants
Teppanyaki Specialties
Served with Japanese onion soup, Benihana salad, shrimp appetizer, hibachi vegetables, homemade dipping sauces, steamed rice, Japanese hot green tea and ice cream or sherbet
Rocky’s Choice
Hibachi steak, and moist chicken breast
Benihana Excellence
Teriyaki beef julienne with green onions and succulent shrimp
Benihana Delight
Plump chicken breast and succulent shrimp
Splash ‘N Meadow
Tender bite-sized steak, and grilled succulent shrimp
Land ‘N Sea
Filet mignon, and ocean scallops
14 November 1964, Traverse City (MI) Record-Eagle, pg. 5, col. 7 ad:
OUR LAND and SEA SPECIAL
SMALL LOBSTER
ANd Our Famous
SIRLOIN “SIZZLER” STEAK
Including a WOnderful Salad bar
ALL FOR $3.95
(Bowers Harbor Inn—ed.)
13 April 1968, San Antonio (TX) Light, pg. 2, col. 5:
A gourmet treat combines the “ultimate from land and sea” in the Steak and Lobster entree for $6.75.
(HemisFair tower restaurant—ed.)
12 December 1972, Waterloo (Iowa) Daily Courier, pg. 20, col. 1 ad;
LAND and SEA
Combination of U.S.D.A. Choice Prime Rib and 16-Oz. Live Lobster
Only $5.95
(Ormsby Room in Waterloo—ed.)
29 March 1973, Abilene (TX) Reporter-News, pg. 6C, col. 6 ad:
LAND AND SEA SPECIAL
2 Petite Lobster Tails
6 Oz. Ribeye Steak
Choice of Salad
Baked Potato or French Fried
Roll and Butter
Only $3.89
JAMAICA INN
8 February 1974, Syracuse (NY) Herald-Journal, “Dining and Night Life in Central New York” by Rick Fresina, pg. 14, col. 1:
Or you may select Americans specials of sirloin steak or the Land and Sea dinner of lobster tails and filet mignon at $7.50, of course, with champagne!
(Sky Chefs Restaurant at the airport—ed.)
4 November 1976, Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent, pg. G-7, col. 2 ad:
LAND AND SEA
(Grand Champ Sirloin and Lobster Tail) $7.95
(Col. 3—ed.)
WHARF AND RANCH
(Grand Champ Sirloin and Crab Legs) $7.95
Google News Archive
10 November 1999, Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette, diningsouth, pg. B12, cols. 2-3:
Benihana...
Former teppenyaki-style Samurai, bought by Benihana chain, has best of old menu (such as the samurai triple with shrimp, chicken and filet mignon) and ginger ice cream, plus new Benihana specials. One of the most popular: land and sea, with filet mignon, ocean scallops and garlic butter.