Luke’s Lobster, New York
Luke’s Lobster in New York brings something new to the party. In this wonderfully food-addled city, could lobster be the next fried chicken (which is currently the new pizza, which was the next ramen, which was the next burgers)? With Lobstah Feast specials, fish shacks, and chowder bars popping up all over town, we’ve probably eaten more crustaceans these past few weeks than we did all summer. And now comes Luke’s Lobster New York, a spanking-new, absurdly inexpensive East Village eatery. We joined the crowds–and crowds there definitely were–on Luke’s opening night last week, and gorged on most of the menu, including the big draw: the $14, four-oz Luke’s lobster roll.
Luke’s Lobster Roll in NYC: very good; very cheap
Luke’s Lobster NYC offers lobster-lovers a simple concept, well-executed. This is a tiny place, geared for takeout or a quick bite on one of the stool-countertop combos. But what Luke’s lacks in style points it more than makes up for in lobstery goodness. Luke’s Lobster Roll is the star here, and rightfully so. For $14, Luke and his crew pile a full quarter pound of plump, juicy claw and tail meat onto a toasted buttered roll, and, other than a sprinkling of celery salt, that’s it for Luke’s Lobster roll. No mayo. No celery. No fillers of any kind. Luke’s lobster is so cheap, and so good, because proprietor Luke Holden gets his crustacean straight from the source: Luke is a native of Cape Elizabeth, a town on the coast of Maine, and his father Jeff Holden owns the Portland Shellfish seafood company.
Also on the menu at Luke’s Lobster in NYC is a Shrimp Roll (which is even less expensive than the lobster, but which is also less good), a Crab Roll (which we did not sample, though we will next time), and Empress Crab Claws which were meaty and sweet and, at four for $5, made for a nice side dish to our lobster and shrimp feast.
Luke’s Lobster NYC details
Luke’s Lobster New York is located on East 7th Street, between First Avenue and Avenue A., and is open from 11:00 a.m. to midnight on Sunday through Wednesday, and until 2:00 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday nights. For more information, please see the Luke’s Lobster NYC website, here.
Posted in NYC Dining, Other Neighborhoods |
