Luke’s Lobster has One of the Best ‘Lobstah’ Rolls in Philadelphia

Story, photos by Meg Arbo

I am a  lobster snob. In fact, I am so particular about lobster, I don’t even eat it outside of New England. Heck, I don’t even eat it outside of Maine; that is how much of a lobster snob I am. I  take my lobster very seriously.

Then Luke’s Lobster changed all that when they came to Philadelphia four years ago. Simply put, Luke’s Lobster makes the best “lobstah roll” you can get outside of New England. So you can imagine how excited I was to hear that Luke’s Lobster was opening a second location in Market East!

Luke is from Maine and the man knows lobster! He is so passionate and particular about lobster, he started his own fishing co-op, consisting of “14 fishermen and Luke”. Why bother with this? Because Luke’s Lobster is very concerned with where their lobster comes from. They believe that “transparency, equals  sustainability.” This isn’t just the best lobster roll you can get in the area. This is the most ethical lobster roll you can get in the area. You can actually feel good about eating it because the lobster you are enjoying is ethically and legally sourced, wild caught and held to the highest standards. At the soft opening, I met Jamie, one of the fishermen, and he taught us a bit about lobsters. It occurred to me that I had probably just met the man who caught my dinner. I told him this and he said, in a perfect Down East accent, that he “reckoned he likely did” That is not going to happen at corporate-owned chain seafood restaurant. Luke’s Lobster is special.

But what about the lobster roll? Buttery, silky, bursting with freshness and downright seductive were thoughts that instantly came to mind when I bit into my made-to-order lobster roll. Chunks of fresh, toothsome lobster meat are nestled into a deceptively humble looking, roll topped with just the right amount of mayo and, a “secret blend of spices” as Luke claims, to show it off.  That’s it. Fresh, simple. Perfect.

I also had a shrimp roll (the shrimp was caught in Quebec, again by the co-op) which had a delightful mouth feel and I really enjoyed the freshness of it.It seemed like each shrimp was bursting with flavor. Not a mushy or overcooked shrimp in the bunch. You can taste that the seafood is not frozen, which is amazing. The shrimp roll was delicious but the lobster roll is the star of the show.

A range of side salads, including the Wild Blue Salad, featuring Maine blueberries, and a mayo-free coleslaw are also available to round out your meal. Small batch, boutique sodas from Maine are available to wet your whistle. My inner child was delighted to see Famous 4th Street Cookies available for dessert.

All in all, a welcome addition to the Market East neighborhood. Check them out for lunch or a casual dinner. You will thank yourself that you did.