Maine is known for its large supply of seafood - especially its delicious lobster rolls - but you don’t need to make the long journey just to try them. Nowadays, many restaurants and food trucks across the country have added this popular food item to their menu, allowing lobster fans to enjoy them everywhere. Here are the nine best places for lobster rolls in the United States that you should add to your list of places to visit this summer.
Best Lobster Rolls: Here’s Where to Taste Them
1. Lobsta Truck - California
With trucks in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco, the Lobsta Truck is one of the most popular food trucks in California. Their lobster and bread are supplied directly from New England, and while lobster rolls are what they’re known for, the menu also includes crab rolls, New England clam chowder, Cape Cod chips, and fresh squeezed lemonade for the perfect East Coast dining experience.
Address: Locations vary. Visit la.lobstratruck.com for schedule.
2. The Lobster Dock - Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Located in Maine, the home of fresh lobster and seafood, The Lobster Dock is known for fresh casual dining with a stunning view in a harbor setting. Their lobster rolls are served in two ways: gently warmed with butter or cold made with a touch of mayo, and also include chips and a New York pickle. Visitors from far and wide also enjoy the raw bar which features jumbo shrimp, Glidden Point cocktail oysters, and Littleneck Clams accompanied by a pitcher of cold beer.
Address: 49 Atlantic Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, ME
3. JCT Kitchen & Bar - Atlanta, Georgia
The lobster rolls served at this Atlanta restaurant have their own special twist: an entire lobster is chopped up, tossed with mayo and chives, and served on a fresh baked bun along with a generous serving of French fries and sweet and sour apple slaw. Also try their truffle parmesan fries, egg ‘n’ olive sandwich, and “grown up” grilled cheese made with assorted cheese, roasted tomato, buttered semolina toast, and a cup of tomato soup.
Address: 1198 Howell Mill Rd #18, Atlanta, GA
4. Hinoki & The Bird - Los Angeles, California
Located in Los Angeles, Hinoki & Bird serves the most unique-looking lobster roll you’ve ever seen. The bun appears jet-black due to being toasted with charcoal powder, while chunks of fresh lobster are mixed with Vietnamese-style green curry aioli and bits of fresh Thai basil for an ethnic spin on a classic favorite. Other unique dishes include their pumpkin toast served with miso jam and goat cheese, as well as their caramel-braised pork belly sandwich with sides of collard greens and pickles.
Address: 10 W Century Drive, Los Angeles, CA
5. The Ordinary - Charleston, South Carolina
If you’re looking for an extra kick to your lobster roll, The Ordinary in Charleston does just that. The establishment was formerly a bank in the 1920s, and these days is an upscale seafood restaurant. Lobsters are shipped directly from Maine, and a half-pound goes into each roll, mixed in with Tabasco sauce, mayonnaise, lemon, garlic, mustard, celery, chives, shallots, and Old Bay for a flavorful experience. Also recommended are their oyster sliders, shellfish towers, and Caribbean fish stew.
Address: 544 King St, Charleston, SC
6. Pearl Oyster Bar - New York City, New York
Customers line up around the block to order the lobster rolls at this West Village hotspot in New York City. Inspired by the seaside restaurants in Maine, Pearl Oyster Bar features rolls butter-crisped in sauté pans, seasoned with a tangy, light mayonnaise and also include a lettuce bundle and chives. Other great dishes to try include their fried oysters, salt-crusted shrimp, and the homemade blueberry pie for dessert.
Address: 18 Cornelia St, New York, NY
7. Smack Shack Lobster - Minneapolis, Minnesota
The first thing visitors notice when they walk into The Smack Shack in Minneapolis is the custom-built tank that holds up to 400 live lobsters as a time. The lobster rolls feature huge chunks of meat tossed with lemon mayo, fresh tarragon, and diced cucumber, served in a custom-baked roll from a local bakery. Choose between the Smack Shack Original, which is the chilled version, or the Connecticut-Style, which is warmed and tossed in butter, lemon and chive.
Address: 603 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN
8. Jim’s Dock - Jerusalem, Rhode Island
Jim’s Dock is a cute little shack located right at the water’s edge in Jerusalem, R.I., and even charters boats out on the front dock. Their lobster rolls are the freshest possible, and include a buttered and grilled split-top bun lined with lettuce and decked out in lobster tossed with mayo. Just remember to stop at the ATM before dining here as they are a cash-only establishment.
Address: 1175 Succotash Rd, Wakefield, RI
9. Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar - Austin, Texas
The owners of this popular restaurant in Austin’s South Congress have the seafood shipped in daily from both coasts, and their lobster comes straight from Maine. It is blanched prior to being tossed with a house made lemon mayonnaise and herb sauce before being place into a homemade bun with Bibb lettuce and garlic butter for dipping. Their oyster or shrimp Po-Boy sandwiches are also delicious, served with shoestring fries or Daikon slaw, a Dill pickle and a French roll.
Address: 1400 S Congress Avenue, Austin, TX
This article was written by Kamala Kirk.
Image credit: Seanerobins.files.wordpress
May 03, 2016