7 Lobster Rolls You Need to Try

by Natasha Wolff | July 20, 2016 12:00 pm

Lobster and bread are two of our favorite foods on their own. But what happens when you put them together, like the inspired geniuses at Perry’s of Milford, Connecticut did for the first time in 1929? You get an even tastier treat — lobster sandwiches.

Seafood-loving chefs generally honor the classic style — filling a hotdog bun or similar open-style roll with lobster meat soaked in butter — but are also embracing new twists and variations. The grilled or toasted roll can be buttered on the outside or spread with mayonnaise and is often accompanied by chips, fries, coleslaw or pickles. To spice things up, fresh takes feature herby, green garnishes like rosemary, celery and chives, while others toss in crunchy bacon bits.

While lobster rolls are typically associated with the New England area, the classic sandwich has become popular all along the East Coast and in restaurants across the country. Here are 7 essential lobster rolls to devour this summer:

1. WILLI’S SEAFOOD & RAW BAR (San Francisco)[1]

Though it’s located in Healdsburg, the heart of California wine country, Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar pays homage to New England with its warm Maine-style lobster roll, fixed up with garlic butter and fennel.

Photo provided by Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar.

2. B&G OYSTER BAR (Boston)[2]

A classic New England plate in the summertime, the lobster roll at B&G Oyster Bar comes on a beautifully buttered roll with sweet, fresh lobster and optional bacon, plus butter pickles and french fries on the side.

Photo provided by B&G Oyster Bar.

3. LURE FISHBAR (New York)[3]

In the Classic Lobster Roll at Lure Fishbar, seafood salad is tucked into a fresh, plush brioche and paired with tangy vegetable slaw.

Photo provided by Lure Fishbar.

4. HINOKI & THE BIRD (Los Angeles)[4]

For a take with exotic flair, dive into the lobster roll at Hinoki & the Bird — accented with green curry and Thai basil and enveloped in a black charcoal bun.

Photo provided by Hinoki & the Bird.

5. FLEX MUSSELS (New York)[5]

Don’t let the name deceive you, Flex Mussels delivers many outstanding dishes along with its namesake mussels, including a lobster roll prepared on a crunchy, toasted bun and garnished with citrus aioli, celery and a side of flex fries.

Photo provided by Flex Mussels.

6. ISLAND CREEK OYSTER BAR (Boston)[6]

Sourcing its lobster locally from Cousin Mark’s Lobster in York Harbor, Maine, Island Creek Oyster Bar brings the flavors alive with fresh herbs, delivering the lobster on a rosemary roll with coleslaw and kettle chips.

Photo provided by Island Creek Oyster Bar.

7. DITCH PLAINS (New York)[7]

Ditch Plains, a New York-style oyster bar and seafood shack, honors chef/owner Marc Murphy’s love of Montauk with a stuffed lobster roll served over a basket of chips or fries.

Photo provided by Ditch Plains.