What Should A Maine Lobster Roll Look and Taste Like?
Maine lobster roll.
Article, photo by Eric Hurwitz --
created for VisitingNewEngland.com on 3/9/2022 @newenglandinfo
Maine lobster rolls comes in all sizes
and tastes. The question is, how can you identify a true Maine lobster
roll through taste and sight?
There's no one easy answer but here are some of the essential tenets
that give us a clue to the real thing versus an impostor or
underachiever...
1. A Maine lobster roll must display chunks of real lobster -- not a
mix diluted by too much mayonnaise and other fillers. Avoid shredded lobster
meat, that's a red flag! A balanced mix of claw and knuckle meat chunks
is ideal. Some celery (but not too much) adds a nice, traditional touch.
2. A Maine lobster roll should obviously have its lobster sourced
locally, preferably as close to the restaurant or other food place as possible.
3. A Maine lobster roll must have its lobster meat flowing out of the
bun. Unfortunately, many places -- often located in tourist
destinations -- try to get away with favoring fancy menu adjectives that
translate into high prices instead of focusing on the bottom line of
serving lots of lobster meat for the hungry customer.
4. The bun must have a good taste -- not some stale store-bought
brand.
I personally liked a split-top grilled hot dog roll with a little
butter to bring out the best taste in a Maine lobster roll. Also, some
food experts say not to include lettuce in a lobster roll as it has a
non compatible taste. I disagree -- a little won't hurt the lobster
roll, in my opinion.
5. The lobster roll meat must have a tender taste. It's possible for a
restaurant or seafood shack to serve a huge lobster roll that is also
flavorless and/or containing tough, chewy lobster. Quantity is not
everything.
Many Maine restaurants and seafood shacks meet the critical criteria for a tasty Maine lobster roll. If I had
to pick one place, however, it would be Warren's Lobster House in Kittery, Maine. The
picture at the beginning of this post illustrates that Warren's version
of a Maine lobster roll is ultimately yummy and meets all
requirements, as mentioned. They also have an adjacent lobster pound
that holds up to 28 tons of lobster -- talk about fresh and local!
I also like Warren's for its ideal location by the southern New
Hampshire coastal border and just minutes from the Massachusetts line
(and less than an hour from Boston). Additionally, its waterfront
location and a 60+ item salad bar makes things that much better.
If it just came down to the lobster roll, however, Warren's version
could definitely stand on its own.
Happy lobster roll dining in Maine!
Booking.com
Also check out...
Where to find the best lobster rolls in New England
Diners
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