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A Lobster a Day (and where to get the BEST lobster roll in Cape Cod)

August 16, 2013 By Marge Perry 13 Comments

Lobster roll

We’ve just come back from Cape Cod, where Ebo and I ate an average of one lobster a day. We didn’t have lobster every day, but one of us had two lobster rolls a few times, so… do the math.

 

I have already written about our romantic attachment to lobster and  how to make the perfect lobster roll. But more people eat lobster rolls out than make them at home– and on the Cape, it’s hard to travel one mile without passing at least one place (if not a bunch) that serves them. Not all are lobster rolls here are great, but many were pretty darn good. (The “good” percentage of lobster rolls was higher on the Cape than what we found on a lobster roll tasting tour of the Maine coast, which you can read about here. But we are willing to give Maine another shot in the interest of science.)

Just to be clear, the three defining characteristics of a perfect lobster roll are:

* obviously: sweet, tender, juicy lobster meat that is not chewy from over cooking, mealy from too much contact with acid nor fishy from spending too much time on earth.

* a top split, lightly toasted and buttered hot dog roll. I want to cry when I get perfect lobster on a white, doughy roll. It is a sin, and I think the perpetrator deserves jail time. Show me the crunchy golden toasty surface!

* no extra stuff with the lobster. No green, no crunch– just lobster, barely held together by a touch of mayonnaise. We like to say that the lobster has only glanced at the jar of mayonnaise before heading to the table. Think of mayo like salt; a condiment to enhance the flavor and texture of the lobster, not to distract from it.

We found the lobster roll that met these criteria– and was even generously sized. For the best lobster roll on Cape Cod, head to PJ’s Family Restaurant in Wellfleet, where you will experience lobster roll nirvana.

Here are some of the other pieces I have written about lobster (both here and for magazines). Several include recipes:

How-to buy, store, cook and eat lobster in Coastal Living (with a bunch of lobster recipes)

Tasting lobster rolls on the Maine Coast (with a lobster roll recipe) in Relish Magazine 

My recipe for Lobster Risotto, voted as one of Cooking Light’s best 25 seafood recipes 

The Lobster Love Story: how I met and fell in love with my husband (and why I call him Ebo)

(…and there are more, but that should keep you busy for a while)

 

A tray at PJ's

Worth noting: my lobster roll is on the top left of this photo, and contains about 5 ounces of lobster meat. (Large by NYC standards.) Ebo’s roll is that honkin’ big one on the right: it holds about 12 ounces of meat. He ate the whole thing. For lunch. (He claims I had two bites, but I don’t remember that…)

PJ's in Wellfleet

Filed Under: Restaurants and Travel, Seafood and Fish

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Comments

  1. Hope says

    August 16, 2013 at 12:49 pm

    Mmmmm, PJ’s!! Even my fish sandwich was heavenly, and it had nothing more than a huge chunk of fried cod on a bun! Simpler is better, it seems…

    Reply
  2. laurie r. says

    August 16, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    your lobster roll looks like a lobster roll on the picnic table in the garden of a doll house.

    Reply
    • Marge says

      August 16, 2013 at 1:34 pm

      Laurie– It was actually big– I was quite full after I ate it. How I wish I could find the camera angle that would make me look smaller like that…

      Reply
  3. Ebo says

    August 16, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    I want one. We must go to Cape Cod now!

    Reply
  4. Ebo says

    August 16, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    She ate 2 big bites!

    Reply
    • Marge says

      August 16, 2013 at 1:44 pm

      Did not.

      Reply
  5. FJB says

    August 16, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    Me want Lobster roll.

    Reply
    • Ebo says

      August 21, 2013 at 11:02 am

      Let’s go FJB!

      Reply
  6. Amy Nieporent says

    August 16, 2013 at 4:49 pm

    I am absolutely green (or red in the case of lobster rolls) with envy….I do love this babies.

    Reply
  7. Kurt Jacobson says

    August 17, 2013 at 1:44 pm

    It’s a worthy endeavor to search for the best lobster roll in any given North East town. My wife and brother helped me do a perfect lobster roll search two years ago on the road to Camden ME. There was an honorable mention but the winner was at Marriner’s Restaurant. It was just before they were changing over from breakfast to lunch and even thoughit wasn’t lunch time yet they went ahead and served us the best lobster roll money can buy. Give it a try if you are ever in Camden.
    BTW honorable mention goes to Legal Seafoods of Harvard Square, MA.

    Reply
  8. Bruce says

    August 17, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    Don’t forget those seaside towns in Rhode Island. I had some great lobster roll there. Its hard to believe lobster was served to slaves a 100 years ago because it was plentiful and not considered top quality stuff.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. One of the Best Steaks in the U.S. at Doe’s Eat Place says:
    June 13, 2014 at 10:57 am

    […] A Lobster a Day and Where to Get the Best Lobster Roll on Cape Cod […]

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  2. Cod and Scrod, New England Folklore, and a Fast, Easy Fish Recipe says:
    September 1, 2014 at 6:03 pm

    […] to daily as I could manage. (You can read about where to get the best lobster rolls on Cape Cod here.) Lucky for me, each day gives rise to at least three eating occasions, so I was also able to fit […]

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I make my living writing, teaching and speaking about food and travel. In the name of work, I (have to!) eat a lot, meet interesting people (many of whom, like me, are passionate about their work) and travel near and far to see where and how food is made, grown or raised. I am saved from a life of extreme obesity by the fact that I truly love to exercise, but I am always one forkful away from not being able to button my jeans. Mine is a sweet and savory life.

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