Luke’s Lobster
93 E. 7th St.
New York, NY
(Photo via Immaculate Infatuation)
For the strangest reason I’ve been craving a lobster roll for WEEKS. I’m not sure what sparked it. Problem is, there aren’t a ton of places in Toronto where I can get one (if you have suggestions please send them my way). So I planned a trip to NYC so that I could have one. Ok, it wasn’t the only reason I planned the trip but it was one of the first things to occur to me.
My experience with lobster rolls isn’t extensive. I’ve had them from BLT Fish Shack in New York and from various Legal Seafoods in Massachusetts, D.C. and New Jersey. Both experiences were delicious but on the expensive side. Enter Luke’s Lobster.
I first heard about Luke’s in this article from New York Magazine. A little bit of digging revealed that Luke’s is quite the spot for lobster rolls these days for a number of reasons.
Reason #1: The price. $16 gets you a lobster roll, Miss Vickie’s chips and Maine Root pop (my new fave). If you want just the lobster roll it will be $14. Having not grown up in lobster country $16 is a steal (most popular spots charge $25 and up).
Reason #2: The food. The lobster roll is no joke. You don’t get mashed up mystery seafood you get HUGE chunks of meat that is identifiably lobster. They also don’t drown the lobster in a ton of stuff to hide the flavour. You get a fresh buttered (toasted) roll, and lobster that’s been hit with a BIT of mayo and spices.
Reason #3: Freshness. The owner of Luke’s, Luke Holden comes from a seafood family. His dad owns Portland Shellfish. The two of them worked together to source quality purveyors of Maine lobster to feed hungry New Yorkers some of the freshest lobster around. Oh, and apparently it’s sustainable too.
I went to the East Village location on Thursday night at around 8PM and the place was hopping! The place is small but there is some seating (give or take 10 people) which we managed to snag. If it’s a summer evening you could definitely take your food over to Thompson to sit and chill for a bit. There’s also a location on the UES.
My mom ordered the shrimp roll (she doesn’t do lobster, oh the shame!) and really enjoyed it too. It was dressed in a similar fashion to the lobster roll with some really delicious and sweet shrimp. My mom can be picky and she said she wouldn’t mind eating there AGAIN during our 4 day trip. Trust, this is a ringing endorsement.
All the buzz that you’re hearing about Luke’s is worth it. Something tells me this might just become a mini-empire. Oh, and I love that they accept NYU Campus Cash. If Luke’s had been around during my NYU days it would have been lobster everyday!
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Shrimp & lobster rolls FTW on vacation!! RT @wonTONfm: {new blog} On The Town: Luke’s Lobster http://bit.ly/bxQNKS @fiestafarms @momwhoruns
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Luke’s will make make my list next trip to NYC!!