Maine-style Lobster Roll
(Maine Lobster Roll)
One of New England cuisine staples, the Maine-style lobster roll consists of a chilled lobster salad tucked into New England-style split-top buns. The lobster salad, at its basic, is made with knuckle and claw meat that is dressed in mayonnaise and mixed with finely chopped celery, seasoned only with salt and pepper.
Variations typically include ingredients like lemon juice, mustard, and chives. Because the buns are buttered and toasted, the result is a lobster roll with contrasting texture and flavor: a warm, buttery, toasted bun vs. a cold, crunchy lobster salad.
It is unknown when it was invented and by whom. What is known is that it started to first appear sometime in the 1950s due to the explosion of summer tourism, but it boomed in the 1970s thanks to the increase in the roadside lobster roll stands. Red Eat's, the most famous restaurant on Route 1 in Maine, had a big role in popularizing it. Read more
Also, even though the Connecticut-style lobster roll appeared earlier, the Maine-style one is the more popular of the two. When it comes to serving, the most typical pairing is a Maine lobster roll and either creamy clam chowder or seafood chowder.
But at seafood shacks or food stands, it is typically served with salt and vinegar potato chips, coleslaw, pickles, and onion rings.
