Summer bucket list: 8 Westchester lobster rolls you have to try before season ends
Warm weather calls for simple pleasures like lightly-dressed claw and tail meat snugly nestled inside a well toasted buttery roll. And while this quintessential New England delicacy can't help but taste better by the ocean, Westchester eateries offer plenty that easily transport you to a beachside shack.
Whether you like yours hot and buttered (Connecticut-style) or chilled-with-mayo (Maine), now's the time to celebrate this summery flavor. What follows are eight of my faves where every bite lets the lobster shine.
Open since last October, this newcomer — which has both indoor and outdoor seating — serves the kind of lobster rolls dreams are made of in cold and warm versions. The buns are perfectly toasted, the seasoning is spot on, the lobster is impeccably cooked and there's a nice meat-to-bun ratio. Even better, during the week the rolls, which normally sell for $30.11, are often reduced to $20 (check their social media or call to double-check days available). This is also one of the only spots in the county where you can enjoy your lobster roll on a gluten-free bun. The seafood market, popular for its fresh fish and sushi, has a dedicated gluten-free fryer.
For those who want to go big or go home, try the "Big Daddy," an overflowing sandwich stuffed with 12 ounces of meat ("normal" rolls are five ounces) on a 12 to 14-inch brioche bun. Wayne Ivines Jr., who owns the seafood market with his wife Becky Lusk, is also planning to get creative later this summer with, possibly, a Japanese-style lobster roll or some other other fun versions. "I need to play around with them first before selling them," he said. "But I'm definitely going to mix it up." 1137 West Boston Post Road, 914-662-0099, sound-seafood.com.
Choose between a warm buttery bun with hearty chunks of meat or chilled with light mayo and a splash of green onions with lemon on the side (and, often, a watermelon slice). Westchester County native and third-generation commercial fisherman Anthony DiMeglio fishes on Long Island's South Shore weekdays, securing fresh seafood that comes directly from what he catches. His store, which also have live lobsters, has a few outdoor seats though the place is mainly takeout. This is a nothing fancy spot but the rolls are A+, light and simple with gorgeous chunks of sweet meat that tastes like they were plucked from the water just hours ago, which, in many cases, they were. 26 Main St, Dobbs Ferry, 914-625-8402, dobbsferrylobsterguys.com.
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This dense lobster roll, served cold with tarragon aioli and a few secret ingredients, is pure wow, thanks in part to its generous portion and view of the Hudson. Also, who can resist an alfresco bar that at one point was a sea-worthy sailboat? The restaurant, with a nautical theme, also has a winter Connecticut-style roll starting late fall to early spring served on a buttered toasted bun with a warm brandy butter sauce. 46 Westerly Road, 914-923-6466, ossiningboathouse.com.
"Tastes like vacation" is the motto at Bread & Brine, which has a coastal New England vibe and lots of lobster choices. Aside from a lobster roll — served cold with mayo and scallions or hot with butter and scallions — you can opt for a lobster BLAT (chilled lobster, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, mayo, white toast), a lobster grilled cheese (with 1/4 pound of lobster meat, cheddar white and toast) or lobster mac and cheese. Another bonus? Gluten-free buns — and a lunch discount. Lobster rolls, normally $30, are $20.24 from noon to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday's. 19 Main St, Hastings-On-Hudson, 914-479-5243, breadandbrinehoh.com.
This buttery brioche roll, piled high with lobster meat and lightly adorned with herbs and lemon zest, elevates what's normally a simple sandwich to star status. Taking it up a notch? The word KEE artfully imprinted on the bun and house made Old Bay chips. No surprise this was a "This was a "Best Thing I Ate" pick in 2023. 126-128 E. Post Road, 914-437-8535, keeoysterhouse.com.
Impeccably cooked meat is the "secret sauce" at both Farmer and the Fish locations where buttery buns hold their own against tender tail, knuckle and claw meat. Options include "warm and buttered" or "cool" with "cucs" and lemon aioli. At the Sleepy Hollow location, there's the added plus of a river view so your meal comes with a complimentary breeze and the kind of waterfront vista that true lobster-roll eating is all about. 100 Titicus Road, North Salem, 914-617-8380 or 11 River St., Sleepy Hollow, 914-631-8380, farmerandthefish.com.
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This is the closest you may get to a seaside shanty and that's OK because the no-frills takeout stand offers picnic-perfect lobster rolls brimming with fresh chunks of heavenly meat — with a bag of chips — ideal for taking to a patch of greenery or sitting on a bench. Prefer a whole lobster? Come on Thursday starting at 5 p.m. for a $45 deal of New England clam chowder (or Caesar salad) and a 2 1/2 pound lobster with corn on the cob, cole slaw and coffee. 110 Halstead Ave., wellingtonssoupshack.com.
The buttery griddled roll, heaped with plump, super-fresh lobster, makes the Connecticut roll at this low-key neighborhood spot a favorite, especially when eaten in their breezy outdoor terrace. Also a contender: the Maine lobster roll drizzled with Old Bay mayo. 413 Midland Ave., 914-967-0868, kellyssealevel.com.
Want more details on dining in the lower Hudson Valley? My weekly newsletter is free — and often includes behind-the-scenes info I don't always share in my stories. Sign up at profile.lohud.com/newsletters/manage.
And if you have news on openings or closings — or just want to say hi — email JRMuchnick@gannett.com.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Summer bucket list: 8 Westchester NY lobster rolls you have to try
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