Lobster; simply say the word and almost immediately sighs of pleasure are audibly heard. There is something about the sweet meat of this crustacean that makes us all giddy with excitement. Served whole with a bib and shell crackers in a seaside village, or just the tail accompanying a perfect steak in the finest restaurant, or, perhaps best of all, casually tossed into a toasted hot dog bun for on the go meals- lobster is a much loved protein. Of course, lobster isn’t an everyday food. Lobster is a luxury, however, it wasn’t always that way. In the 18th and 19th centuries lobsters were so plentiful in the New England waters that they would wash ashore and form massive piles on the beaches. They were known as a poor man’s food, they were used as bait, as fertilizer, and routinely served to prisoners. It wasn’t until the mid 1800’s that people began to see the greatness of the lobster and began eating it as a delicacy. By World War II, lobster had become a hot commodity and prices skyrocketed.
Today, Lobster prices keep its status as a special treat, however there are no shortages of great spots to indulge in a decadent lobster roll around Boston. We make them in both the traditional style (lobster meat tossed with just drawn butter and served warm) and in the state of Maine’s signature style which uses mayonnaise and chilled meat. Both varieties are plentiful, and luckily Boston knows how to make an appropriate lobster roll - which means each roll is packed to the gills with fresh lobster meat.
Kicking off the Maine-style lobster rolls is James Hook and Co., a lobster and seafood shipping company that opened its doors in 1925. Primarily a lobster distributer, the Hook ships its lobsters all over the US, both in wholesale and to individuals through their online store. The real treat of the James Hook, however, lies in its walk-in storefront/counter service restaurant. Sitting right on the Harborwalk, at the gateway to Boston’s newly redeveloped Seaport district, the unassuming structure is easily missed. However those who find it are treated to bowls of fresh chowder, select entrée options, such as lobster mac and cheese, and, above all else, lobster rolls made to order. There isn’t anything “fancy” about this roll, a simple top opened hot dog roll, toasted or not (customers preference) and then stuffed full of huge hunks of lobster meat dressed lightly with mayonnaise alone. Take it to go, and enjoy on the gorgeous harborwalk, it’s a perfect Boston meal.
Further into the Seaport area there sit two more spots to feast on lobster rolls, the newly opened Row 34, and Yankee Lobster which has been in operation both in wholesale and retail since 1950. Row 34 is owned by the management team behind Island Creek Oyster Bar in Kenmore Square and Lineage in Brookline. This means that chef Jeremy Sewall has once again reached out to his cousin, the lobster fisherman, to source fresh lobster every day. They have a few lobster rolls on the menu, and encompass both the traditional and the Maine style, and both come in the standard top split hot dog roll, lightly buttered and grilled to perfection. Yankee Lobster creates their roll in the Maine style, chilled lobster meat spilling from the bun, dressed with mayonnaise and then enhanced with just a bit of celery and seasoning. Yankee Lobster is a very low key restaurant, with their wholesale operation in the back, and their location directly on the water in the seaport district. Eating here is like taking a step back in time when the area was full of seafood processing facilities, and before the fancy new spots moved in. It’s no frills approach is often referred to as “real Boston”, and is definitely one for the books.
The most talked about lobster roll in Boston however is served at a tiny restaurant in the North End known as Neptune Oyster. The wait for a table can be quite long, however their roll, served in either variety is well worth it. My preference here is their warm traditional roll. This decadent feast can only be eaten with a fork and knife as it is far too large to handle otherwise. My favorite thing to do, wander in here at an off time in the afternoon, dine on an enormous lobster roll with its accompanying French fries and sip a class of something sparkling. That is a truly perfect meal.
While lobsters may not be as readily available as they once were, no matter your preference for lobster rolls, you won’t be disappointed in Boston. They are made throughout the city, each in their own signature way, and are sure to satisfy!
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Food & Drink in Attleboro
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Sangria's
Tapas and Desserts for Two or Four at Sangria's (50% Off)
Savor Spanish- and Portuguese-style cuisine, from oven-baked goat cheese to pan-seared chorizo
Attleboro
$50 $25
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Sakura embraces the gustatory traditions of Japanese and Chinese cuisine by forging an eclectic menu with vibrant sushi, sizzling hibachi items, and classic Chinese dishes. The hibachi chefs combine showmanship, culinary skill, and fire-safety lectures as they dexterously shuffle chicken, steak, or seafood across a grill erupting with flames, creating toothsome entrees directly in front of their hungry spectators. Meanwhile, kitchen staffers drape double-cooked pork with a spicy hoisin sauce, and sushi-smiths artfully slice fresh, fire-retardant fish for each order of sashimi and roll maki in a cylinder of rice and seaweed.
Within the dining room, crimson walls sport such personalized decorative accents as a stenciling of the restaurant's name and a finger-painting of its business license.
809 Washington St
Attleboro,
MA
US
Native North Enders Vinnie Amato and Steve Costa opened Cafe Porto Bello to revisit the Italian cuisine of their childhoods and re-create the atmosphere of dinners with family. For more than a decade, the café's chefs have prioritized freshness by preparing every dish to order with spices blended in-house and by garnishing gourmet, hand-tossed pizzas with their own roasted red peppers. The dining room is warm and softly lit, with sturdy wooden tables and seating for up to 100. In the adjacent lounge, bartenders pour Italian and American varietals in syncopation or ragtime with live jazz sets.
6 N Washington St
North Attleboro,
MA
US
At Scorpio's, adept culinary artists handcraft robust pizzas, saucy pastas, and savory entrees from zesty spices, an array of organic ingredients, and signature family recipes. Hand-tossed pizzas are made to order with a choice of toppings, such as roasted garlic, artichoke hearts, and house-made meatballs, whirling from piping hot ovens to fill plates with cheesy slices of Sicilian-style pie ($13.99+). Or, opt for one of the restaurant's specialty selections, such as an onion- and mozzarella-slathered barbecue chicken pizza ($13.99 for a large) or the self-named Scorpio, which combines pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, green peppers, onions ($14.99 for a large), and an affinity for long walks on the beach into one hard-to-resist dish.
55 Park St
Attleboro,
MA
US
A local tradition. our own recipe all natural jumbo all beef hot dogs served on freshly baked buns and topped with all your favorites from mustard to bacon, to kraut. also Great chicken and steak sandwiches, curly fries, wings, salads and loaded baked potatoes
999 South Washington Street
North Attleborough,
MA
US
Drawing on the zesty flavors of Portugal and Spain, cooks at Sangria's craft an eclectic selection of shareable small plates. Here, tapas range from peppadews filled with goat cheese and shrimp steamed in Old Bay seasoning to gluten-free helpings of pork belly piled atop grilled oranges. Entrees include dishes such as classic paella and marinated cornish game hen char-grilled with piri-piri sauce.
To complement feasts, bartenders pour red and white wines from the U.S. and abroad, as well as mix plenty of classic cocktails and martinis. Then, of course, there are 10 blends of Sangria?s namesake made in-house every day, including the Portuguese Passion, a medley of riesling, champagne, and passionfruit vodka. Served amid intimate lighting and exposed brick, meals unfold as flat-screen TVs broadcast the latest stateside sports and parliamentary rugby matches.
59 Park Street
Attleboro,
MA
US
The aroma of simmering beef and baking bread wafts out of Stack-a Burger kitchen all day, as chefs prepare fresh, never frozen, burgers, and pile them high with an array of toppings. Alongside Stack-a Burger, diners can also visit Spike's Junkyard Dogs, where 100% all-beef hot dogs are sandwiched into warm, soft french rolls. Beef links are decorated with banana peppers, barbecue sauce, baked beans, and other hearty toppings that test hand strength like a shadow-puppet performance of Hamlet. Customers can indulge in these towering burgers and sauce-slathered dogs, or opt for a more wholesome feast by ordering low-fat veggie dogs, curly fries dunked in cholesterol-free canola oil, and a collection of fresh salads, soups, and paninis.
999 South Washington Street
North Attleborough,
MA
US
