/cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46328192/CH-200.1431964160.png)
From our sponsor
/cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46328192/CH-200.1431964160.png)
The East End's 10 Best Lobster Rolls for Summer
This feature was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and Cole Haan. Vox Media editorial staff was not involved in the creation or production of this content.
When it comes to summertime eats on the East Coast, the lobster roll reigns supreme. Served hot and cold, the seemingly simple sandwich is nearly ubiquitous from Nova Scotia to Brooklyn as temperatures rise. While the warm lobster roll (served with butter instead of mayonnaise) has its roots in Connecticut, the cold lobster roll hails from Long Island. From seafood shacks to dockside markets to an upscale 150 year old hotel, we explore the best lobster rolls of Montauk and Eastern Long Island.
Dressing the part is essential to getting most out of a journey to Montauk's seafood shacks. Forget business casual and leave your leather jacket in the city. Cole Haan's Pinch Weekender mixes seaside comfort with a touch of bohemian edge. From the sand to the surf to sundowners, Pinch Weekender footwear and apparel is the perfect complement to Long Island's east end.
Clam Bar (Amagansett)
Just across the highway from The Lobster Roll restaurant, sits Amagansett’s Clam Bar. The all-outdoor restaurant serves fresh, honest seafood with a carefree vibe to match. If you think of lobster rolls as a snack, the generous serving at Clam Bar will change your mind: these are a full-on meal. Best of all, every lobster roll at Clam Bar comes with a side from fresh Atlantic Ocean breeze.
Inlet Seafood Restaurant
At Inlet Seafood Restaurant, just across the channel from Gosman’s, freshness is the name of the game. Founded by six commercial fisherman, you can just about guarantee the finest seafood on the line will end up on the table at Inlet—often hours after it was caught. The combination restaurant and seafood wholesaler (the lobsters are unloaded feet from the dining room) serves up both classic East Coast seafood fare as well as sushi and Asian fusion.
The Dock House (Sag Harbor)
While the Dock House might appear to be a humble fisherman’s hut from the outside, it houses world class seafood within. Set on Sag Harbor’s Long Wharf, the salt box shack serves award-winning chowders, lobster rolls, salads and seafood. Dine outside to enjoy the bounty of megayachts that call the harbor home. Expect the lobster rolls to be exceptionally fresh and generous.
For rail-commuting lobster lovers, look no further than Duryea’s Lobster Deck. A short walk from the Montauk train station, this casual self-service eatery doubles as a wholesaling business that dates back to the early days of Montauk’s commercial fishing history. Awe-inspiring views and fresh-off-the-boat seafood make this a perfect welcome to Montauk and will have visiting New Yorkers in beach mode in no time. Red Hook Lobster Pound may have gotten its start in Brooklyn, but the family-owned outpost is right at home on the shores of Montauk. What started as a pop-up quickly turned into a permanent fixture on "The End" of the island. Drawing on deep relationships with the Maine lobstering community, husband and wife team Ralph Gorham and Susan Povich pride themselves on serving only the best and freshest lobsters—and their award-winning rolls are proof. Between Montauk and Southhampton, Wainscott’s The Seafood Shop is a convenient stop near Town Line Beach. Offering quick and easy take-out lobster rolls, the combination seafood shack and fish market was founded by two local schoolteachers as a summer project. Pull off the Montauk Highway, pick up a few lobster rolls served on potato hot dog rolls, and head straight to the beach. Of course, Montauk is home to more than just seafood shacks. The eastern tip of Long Island is home to a host of world class dining destinations and South Edison is one of the relative newcomers. Sandwiched between the beach and downtown, South Edison puts a modern spin on the classic roll. Instead of a lobster salad, Chef Todd Mitgang serves a whole lobster across three brioche buns. With a side of homemade seasonal pickled vegetables, it’s an unconventional, must-try take on the regional specialty. While purists might need to relax their standards, the lobster BLT at The American Hotel in Sag Harbor is surely worth a stop. Harkening back to the grandeur of the area’s whaling era, the impeccably styled yet comfortable hotel was once the haunt of literary greats like Truman Capote and E.L. Doctorow. Served on gently toasted white bread, the sweetness of the lobster is complemented by the saltiness of the bacon. Even the most hardline lobster roll-lovers will appreciate switching things up with The American Hotel’s lobster BLT.Duryea's Lobster Deck
Red Hook Lobster Pound
The Seafood Shop (Wainscott)
South Edison
The American Hotel (Sag Harbor)
This feature was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and Cole Haan. Vox Media editorial staff was not involved in the creation or production of this content.