Searching for The Best and Biggest Lobster Rolls in New England
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The combination of a big and delicious lobster roll
is key. How many times have we tasted a tasty lobster roll, only to
find that it is gone in just a few bites? Or, how many of you
have tried a huge lobster roll with the taste of cardboard? What about
those chain restaurants that pride themselves on using real lobster
meat? Those lobsters must have come from the Bland and Tasteless
species.
Additionally, some mainstream media and travel guides often choose the
same places over and over again for best lobster rolls in New England.
Sure, we include some of those places on the "best of" list here -- no
need to deny the greatness of some of these lobster rolls -- but also
recognize other dining spots that rarely make the list...
Here are our top picks for best and biggest lobster roll in New
England:
Markey's Lobster Pool, Seabrook, N.H.
Lobster roll from Markey's Lobster Pool
Many higher profile seafood shacks around New England seem to use a lot of fancy adjectives to describe their high-priced lobster rolls. Markey's Lobster Pool, on the other hand, simply and humbly delivers the goods without a lot of fanfare. There's plenty of delicious lobster meat within the tasty bun with great value for the money. Order at the front desk, take in the seaside, marsh views from the inside dining room or deck, pick up your order and enjoy the straightforward but yummy lobster rolls (or one of the many excellent seafood dishes). Ultimately, there's something to be said about an unpretentious, coastal seafood shack dining experience and Markey's has been at the top of this genre since 1971. We love it here!
Markey's Lobster Pool is located at
420 State Route 286 in Seabrook, N.H., Tel. (603) 474-2851. Markey's Lobster Pool web site
Fox's Lobster House, York, Maine
Lobster roll from Fox's Lobster House.
Fox's Lobster House offers so many coastal New England joys within its humble, modestly-sized property including its own lobster pound yielding tender, delicious Maine lobster, the best wild Maine blueberry pie on the planet and amazing close-up views of the ocean and Nubble Lighthouse.
While the fresh Maine lobster is a specialty, Fox's lobster rolls are an absolute must-try, as well. The tail and claw taste like the lobster was caught minutes ago from the adjacent ocean. The New England-style sandwich roll is toasted to perfection. Mayonnaise takes a distant back seat so that lobster meat commands star billing. This is a classic, textbook example of the perfect Maine lobster roll -- and then some. It's in our top three lobster rolls in New England that we have tasted, to date.
The portion of lobster roll might not appear to be as ample as others served by local restaurants but it's a bit of an illusion. There's a lot packed into the roll with little filler and the taste not only treats the taste buds but satiates the appetite!
This classic New England seafood restaurant with equally pleasant waterfront indoor dining and an outdoor picnic-style setting serves many wonderful seafood dishes for lunch and dinner. We do recommend, however, opting first with a delicious cup of New England clam chowder, boiled Maine lobster and, of course, lobster roll. If you somehow have any room, be sure to top it off with that wild Maine blueberry pie accompanied a scoop of either homemade vanilla or blueberry ice cream!
Fox's Lobster House is located at 8 Sohier Park Rd. in York, Maine., Tel. (207) 363-2643.
. Fox's Lobster House web site
The Raw Bar, Mashpee, Mass. (Cape Cod)
Lobster roll from The Raw Bar
Too often, New England restaurants and seafood shacks that claim to serve "big," "huge" and "colossal" lobster rolls come up sort when serving those who can never get enough of this classic New England meal. Not so with The Raw Bar, however. This hidden, humble little seafood place tucked away in the Popponesset Marketplace in Mashpee serves enough lobster in its rolls to make even the most ravenous lobster roll fan stop short of eating the whole thing (me, as a shining example). The great news, too, is that it's not just a lot of filler. On the contrary, fresh lobster meat dominates between and coming out of the tasty bun with little mayo. The price roll might be higher than most but this lobster roll easily serves two people, thus yielding excellent value for the money. To date, this is VisitingNewEngland's top choice for the biggest and best-tasting lobster roll!
Oh, and as a strong recommendation to walk off some of those delicious calories, be sure to stroll the crushed seashell walkways and browse inside the shingled, locally-owned storefronts at this charming seaside shopping destination.
The Raw Bar is located at Popponesset Marketplace, 259 Shore Dr., Mashpee, MA. Tel. (774) 228-2327
. The Raw Bar web site
Champlin's Seafood, Narragansett, R.I.
Lobster roll Champlin's.
Champlin's Seafood serves some of the freshest tasting, ample lobster rolls we've experienced in all of New England. That's no surprise, given this classic waterfront seafood shack and market is located in the live fishing village of Galilee in Narragansett where commercial fishing vessels deliver food daily at Champlin's landing docks. A passage from Champlin's web site says it all: "(Champlin's) specializes in fresh lobster and shellfish from the deep off-shore waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and from the beautiful, pristine, and bountiful Narragansett Bay." But there's more, however, to just offering fresh seafood sourced locally. Champlin's has been around since the 1930s and expertly knows what to do with seafood once in the kitchen. As an example and in line with the theme of this article, the lobster rolls attain near-perfect status with abundant, tender lobster meat and a touch of mayo within a tasty buttered roll -- virtually no filler here. Champlin's lobster roll is also a great value, coming in at a lower price than many New England seafood shacks and restaurant. All in all, Champlin's looks, feels and plays the part of the classic seafood shack and a good place to start is with the lobster rolls. Just order at the window, pick up your meal(s) and let the magic begin while eating at the outdoor deck or inside restaurant with splendid bayside views!
Champlin's Seafood is located at 256 Great Island Rd, Narragansett, RI. Tel. 401-783-3152. Champlin's Seafood Facebook page
Coast Guard House, Narragansett, R.I.
Lobster roll from the Coast Guard House.
What's better than a huge, tasty lobster roll? A huge, tasty lobster roll in a restaurant with incredible water views!
The Coast Guard House could have gotten by on good looks with its stunningly beautiful waterfront location but this iconic southern New England restaurant just keeps getting better and better by continuing to focus on sourcing seafood locally and preparing its food with creativity and expertise without being pretentious. The Coast Guard House's lobster roll serves as one of its signature dishes with tender lobster meat overflowing out of the bun. The Coast Guard House version also gets an upgraded taste with fresh herbs, citrus aioli and lettuce on buttered brioche. While the lobster meat could certainly stand on its own, the combination of flavors comes together unlike any other lobster roll this writer has tasted in New England. What's more, the Coast Guard House prices it lobster roll quite reasonably -- that value for the money is rare for waterfront restaurants.
Coast Guard House is located at 40 Ocean Rd., Narragansett, RI. Tel. 401-789-0700. Read more about the Coast Guard House
Lobstah On A Roll, Boston and Salem, Mass.
Kenny Dupree, chef and co-owner at Lobstah On A Roll, creates huge lobster rolls. Photo source: Lobstah On A Roll Facebook fan page.
Lobstah On A Roll had a big vision when opening its tiny Boston location in Nov. 2017 in the form of huge lobster rolls up to five-ft. long with 16 lbs. of lobster meat. It can feed as many as 50 people! If that lobster roll size is a tad too big for you, no worries -- Lobstah On A Roll also creates "smaller" sizes. These smaller lobster rolls come packed with more lobster meat far beyond the industry standard. No matter what size, however, the locally-sourced lobster for the rolls tastes great -- no dried out version here.
An added bonus: Lobstah On a Roll uses sweet Challah bread instead of the traditional hot dog roll to wonderfully complement the ample lobster meat. What's more, there is no filler, thus allowing the lobster roll lover to enjoy the full taste without obstruction. The lobster rolls can be ordered New England-style with a little mayonnaise or Connecticut -style with warm butter. Lobstah On A Roll also recently opened its second location in downtown Salem, Mass. with more seating space than the Boston location.
Boston location of Lobstah On A Roll: 537 Columbus Ave. Tel. (617) 903-4005.
Salem location of Lobstah On A Roll: 135 Lafayette St. Tel. (978) 594-8226. Read more about Lobstah On A Roll
Red's Eats, Wiscasset Maine
Red's Eats lobster roll. Photo credit: Red's Eats.
This seasonal seafood stand not only packs in a lot of lobster in its
lobster roll, but also the crowds on Route 1 -- sometimes up to two
hours. The pound and a half lobster roll includes the tail, claw and
knuckle meat, further enhanced by warm butter and mayo. When best
lobster rolls in New England come up in local conversation, Red's
almost always finds a way into the heated debates and casual
discussions. Red's Eats, 41 Water St., Wiscasset, ME. Tel. (207)
882-6128
Beach Plum, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Epping, N.H.
Lobster roll and lemonade from the Beach Plum.
Bob Lee, co-owner of the Beach Plum
with wife Nancy Lee, is a coastal New Hampshire native who knows a good
lobster roll when he sees and tastes one, as well as having an uncanny
knack of knowing what the customer wants. Lee prefers sourcing hard
shell lobster as he firmly believes this version yields a better
tasting, more developed lobster that is richer in protein. The
result: a spectacular, mouthwatering lobster roll with tender lobster
-- overflowing out of the lightly toasted, buttered bun -- that I feel
is the best lobster roll in New England. The Beach Plum puts more
lobster in its lobster roll than any other we've experienced, to date,
so no matter what size -- five, six, eight or 10 oz. -- customers are
definitely getting their money's worth (there's just a touch of mayo,
and no fillers). Add a cup of delicious New England clam chowder or
lobster bisque, choose from one of the 78 ice cream flavors, and you
have one of the great, local summertime meals! The good news, however,
is that the Epping and Portsmouth locations are open year-round. The
seasonal 800 sq. ft., flagship North Hampton Beach Plum stand at 17
Ocean Blvd. (Tel. 603-964-7451) -- with ocean-view picnic tables right
across from the state beach -- is open from April 1 to Nov. 15 and is
part of the fabric that makes summer by the sea in New Hampshire so
special. The Beach Plum seafood restaurant in Epping is located in the
Brickyard Square shopping center at 24 NH-125 (Tel. 603-679-3200) and
the Portsmouth restaurant at 2800 Lafayette Rd., Route 1 (Tel.
603-433-3339). Read more about The Beach Plum
Quahog Republic, Onset, Falmouth, New Bedford Mass.
Quahog Republic lobster roll.
Quahog Republic owners Erik Bevans and Tom Hughes grew up on Cape Cod
digging for quahogs, fishing and boating as a major part of their
upbringing. To no surprise, veteran restauranteur Bevans and
businessman Hughes offer many seafood gems at Quahog Republic,
including a small lobster roll that comes across as large and a large
lobster roll -- called the "Monsta Lobster Roll" -- that looks extra
large. Served with separate warm butter and Parmesan truffle fries on
the side, the lobster roll is an absolute culinary masterpiece that
most likely, for many, requires a take-home box for either size. Locations: Quahog Republic Dive Bar in Falmouth, Mass. (97 Spring Bars Rd., Tel.
508-540-4111), Whalers Tavern in New Bedford, Mass. (24 North Water St., Tel.
774-206-6303) and the seasonal Quahog Republic in Onset (Wareham) at 197
Onset Ave. Tel. 508-295-9300. Read more about Quahog Republic
Kelly's Roast Beef, Revere Beach,
Mass.
Kelly's Roast Beef lobster roll.
This legendary year-round seaside roast beef and seafood stand has a
great local reputation for serving delicious lobster rolls, but somehow
often gets left off the lists for the "best of" New England. The
lobster meat is about as tender and flavorful as it gets with not a lot
of filler. What's more, Kelly's offers a huge portion of lobster meat
that even the heartiest appetite might have trouble finishing. Kelly's
proves that just because a dining spot is popular amongst the working
class doesn't mean that it can't rank amongst the elite when it comes
to lobster rolls. The populist's taste buds know this to be true in the
real world. Kelly's Roast Beef, 410 Revere Beach Blvd., Revere MA. Tel.
(781) 284-9129. Read more about Kelly's Roast Beef
Warren's Lobster House, Kittery, Maine
Lobster roll from Warren's Lobster House. Photo credit: Warren's
Lobster House.
Warren's is much like Kelly's in that crowds of people from all walks
of life come to this long-time large waterfront restaurant for lobster.
Because many tourists vacationing on the southern New Hampshire and
Maine seacoast comes here in droves, elitists and other garden variety
snobs have the tendency to ignore Warren's for its delicious lobster
rolls and lobster dishes, as well as a phenomenal 60-plus item salad
bar. The lobster is served on a 12-inch sub roll with lobster meat
piled high. Warren's perhaps uses even less filler than Kelly's, so the
overall taste is a tad better. Warren's also has an advantage over many
other lobster restaurants with its own on-site lobster pound capable of
holding 28 tons of lobsters! No wonder the lobster in the rolls taste
so fresh! Warren’s Lobster House, 11 Water St./U.S. Route 1, Kittery,
Maine. Tel. (207) 439-1630. Read more about Warren's Lobster House
Abbott's Lobster in the Rough,
Noank, Conn.
Lobster roll from Abbott's Lobster in the Rough.
Photo credit: Abbott's Lobster in the Rough web site.
Abbott's frequently makes the "best of lists" and it's easy to
understand why. When it comes to warm, buttered lobster on a toasted
roll, the Abbott's OMG Lobster Roll might just the the best we've
tasted in New England -- piled high in a block-like shape. Plus, the
indoor and outdoor waterfront dining views are, on its own, worth the
visit. Note: Abbott's is a seasonal operation. Abbott's Lobster in the
Rough, 117 Pearl St., Noank, CT . Tel. (860) 536-7719. Read more about Abbott's
Lobster Pot Wareham, Mass.
Lobster Pot lobster roll with New England clam chowder.
Located on a highway that looks like it has been hit with the ugly
stick too many times, this fast food restaurant with a fish market
delivers on the promise of its well-known, appetizing local TV
ads. The lobster roll is deceiving, being a lot bigger than it
actually looks. Chunks of lobster meat with a touch of mayo overflow
from the basic but tasty roll that results in a classic New England
lobster roll. The Lobster Pot is open most of the year; call ahead to
make sure they are open. The Lobster Pot, 3155 Cranberry Highway,
Wareham MA. Tel. (508) 759-3876. Read more about The Lobster Pot
Woodman's, Essex, Mass.
Woodman's lobster roll. Photo credit: Woodman's.
As the birthplace of the fried clam, Woodman's is best known for
serving some of the best fried clams in New England. The same can be
said about the lobster roll, too, at this classic New England seafood
shack located on the North Shore of Massachusetts. With emphasis on a
large quantity of absolutely delectable lobster meat overflowing from a
perfectly toasted standard size roll, this lobster roll is to be
savored with every bite. Once finished, the next thought is typically,
"When can we come back here for more?" Woodman's, 121 Main St., Essex
MA. Tel. (978) 768-6057. Open year-round. Read more about Woodman's of Essex
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