Lobster lovers had better hurry, because time is running out on lobster roll season. Yes, there really is such a thing as lobster roll season, and it’s generally considered to be from late May to Columbus Day, around mid-October.
According to Weathervane Seafood Restaurants, “Lobsters are harvested year-round in Maine and New Hampshire; however, the majority are caught between late June and late December, when the lobsters are the most active.”
“Lobster fishing is the most active in the Gulf of Maine,” Weathervane said.
Connecticut vs. Maine Style: The Ultimate Lobster Roll Debate
Lobster is served many different ways, but around these parts, there is nothing like a lobster roll on a hot summer day. So when ordering a lobster roll, do you prefer it warm or cold?
Mashed.com said Massachusetts generally serves lobster rolls the Connecticut way, warm with melted butter on the side, and the Maine way, cold with mayo and some greens or herbs mixed in for good measure.
Getty Images/iStockphotoMassachusetts Lobster Rolls Draw On Connecticut And Maine Versions
The site reported, “At Arnold’s Restaurant Lobster and Clam Bar in Eastham, Massachusetts, ‘the cold lobster roll is still the most popular, but not by a big margin,’ according to the owner, Nate Nickerson (via Delish).“
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“Meanwhile, at Neptune Oyster in Boston’s North End, the Connecticut-style roll gets three times as many orders as the Maine-style sandwich (via Boston),” according to Mashed.com.
Lobster Anywhere said, “Most top restaurants in New England now offer both preparations because each has passionate devotees.”
Is There a Third Style of Lobster Roll?
However, there is a third lobster roll option to consider.
“The third and far less common style of lobster roll is known as the Manhattan-style or Long Island style,” according to Lobster Anywhere. It most closely resembles a Maine lobster roll “in presentation and ingredients.”
READ MORE: Why the Cold Lobster Roll Wins the Summer Food Rivalry
The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association claims the largest lobster caught off the Massachusetts coast weighed 37.4 pounds in 1974.
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Radio host Katie Killourhy shares her top lobster rolls in New England.
Gallery Credit: Katie Killourhy
15 Places Mainers Say You Need to Try for a Lobster Roll
Gallery Credit: Allyssa Marson