Ya know, I really couldn't say. Not that I don't like lobster bisque, but I don't notice it much when I'm looking for a lobster roll fix. Besides bisque seems more like a winter thing, lobster rolls more of a summer thing. Check out Atlantic Fish Co. in Back Bay to see if it has both.

Speaking of soups, if you really want something classic in BOS you should dress up and go to Locke-Öber for the famous and venerable oyster stew...JFK's favorite. There are also lobster preparations on the menu (like lobster Savannah, I think) but no lobster rolls AFAIK.

As a former sternman and lobster hauler (the cold pure waters off of ME), my whole family has a lobster roll habit.

The best lobster roll is cold. CT may know the hamburger, and the Polish kielbasa, but the warm roll just runs the wrong way.

When I make them, I use the crusher claw, knuckle meat, and mix in some hand-broken tail meat left over from the previous day's cook. (Steam them, let sit in the fridge *covered and sealed* overnight).

For each roll:

Two tablespoons Hellman's or a home-made aioli (light on the garlic, please)
1 teaspoon dijon mustard (or white-wine prepared mustard from powder)
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
Splash of salt, couple grinds of black pepper
Touch of apple cider vinegar to thin it all out

Heavily butter the outside of a New England hot dog roll. Place on a griddle, and crisp and flip until perfectly brown and golden. Bread should be more than just done, but butter soaked done :)

Mix lobster and dressing. Fill roll until roll nearly splits. Enjoy.

Note, adding a leaf of romaine is OK. Celery chunks are illegal. Pincer claw means execution.

Cheers,

-Andrew

+1.

It was worth the wait in the rain for our collection of lobster and full-belly clam rolls. At least we had the foresight to bring umbrellas - most of the other people just stood there and got soaked. Nobody left the line.

Red's fresh blueberry ice cream makes for a good finish.

Lobster Rolls
 

Every time I go to New England to visit my step-daughter, I gorge myself on lobster rolls. Some are better than others, but I don't really care. I know they are not a gourmet dish, but I am hooked. I sit here in California obsessing about them.

Has anyone found places in the west, especially in California, where you can get a good lobster roll? Maybe they will hit the gourmet menus the way lobster mac and cheese has! BTW, I really do not like those lobster mac and cheese dishes.

Fresh lobsters $3.99 a pound this week, and a few weeks ago short expiration date unsalted butter was 25 cents a pound (yes, four pounds for a buck, stocked up on probably a years worth of unsalted butter in the freezer)

All day long I've been thinking of poaching some lobster in some butter, and into a roll.......

I also love Lobster Rolls. My go-to restaurant is The Hungry Cat. Fantastic lobster rolls. Just had one this weekend.
http://www.thehungrycat.com

Lobster Rolls
 

If you are ever in San Diego, Bite of Boston in university city has great ones. Real New England bun also. I just had one today!

While ordinarily I might not merge into a four-year-old thread, in this case the previous thread, on the same subject, has information and opinion that is on-point to your questions.

cblaisd
Moderator, Dining Buzz

I've found Sam's Chowder in Half Moon Bay to be really good, though pricey. Their food truck always has a long line when they come through town.

New England Lobster near SFO recently started a food truck serving lobster rolls. I haven't tried them yet, but they seem to get good reviews.

After moving back to SF after 5 years in Boston, I also get my lobster roll cravings now and then. Luckily, I was able to get one at James Hook Lobster a couple of days ago while staying in BOS for business.

Damn. I'm far away from lobster country, and you guys have me craving the stuff. Thanks a lot. :mad:

Now I want one or two:D, time for a trip North:)

Finally made it to Red's last week after driving by for the past few years. I don't fancy standing in line for 50-mins and on top of that waiting another 45-mins for the food to be ready during the busy season.

Overall, the quality and quantity of the lobster meat can't be beat and I love how they offer a choice of either a hot butter side to dip/drizzle on or mayo. The bread (hot dog roll) was also perfectly buttered and toasted. However, the weather was foggy, drizzly, damp and cold and the chilled lobster meat though perfectly cooked (neither too raw nor overdone) just didn't hit the spot. At that exact moment I think I would've preferred a hot buttered lobster roll from Abbott's.

We also hit a few other lobster places (had the dog with us) while up in Maine although neither of us are lobster fiends. Young's Lobster Pound in Belfast was generous and again the meat was cooked perfectly, served on a toasted buttered kaiser roll. The Clam Shack in Kennebunk offered both the hot and cold versions, both excellent.

How appropriate as I fly to Boston this weekend to catch a cruise to Canada/New England - thanks for intensifying the craving by bringing this thread back up.

old port lobster shack is redwood city is better than sam's chowder house

I had a very disappointing lobster roll (my first one) at Legal Sea Foods in Boston, and my best one at Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing, CA.