As innkeepers at The Carriage House Inn, the second most asked question (right behind where is the beach) is where do we find a great lobster roll. Now Cape Cod is known for its "chowda" but lobster rolls are just as popular here on the Cape as they are in Maine. They are almost too popular in Maine because even the McDonald's up there sell lobster rolls although they are a poor excuse for one.
Many of the Cape Cod restaurants are very proud of their own version of the lobster roll. Now we are talking about the New England style lobster roll with the traditional squared off roll usually sauteed on the sides in butter and split from the top filled with a mayo based lobster salad. The kind we are looking for are fresh and full of nice lobster chunks with not too much mayo or other filler. So with that in mind we are off over the next several months to search and find the best (5 starfish) lobster roll on the Cape and report our findings back here.
Impudent Oyster -One of our favorite spots in Chatham for dinner, they also have quite a lunch business, so it is here that we start our search. Open for 35 years, the Impudent Oyster with delicious food and large portions is a Chatham institution. The atmosphere is casual with wood paneling and plant filled wooden beams. A comfortable large u-shaped bar takes up most of the lower level. Insiders tip..this is where you will find most of the locals dining on a busy day or night. The lunch menu is big with both sandwich and seafood entree choice plus a daily special sheet with no less that eleven additional items. Of course we zeroed right in for the lobster roll from the regular menu. Listed on the menu for $14.95 it is served with your choice of fries, cole slaw, potato salad or chips. It comes in a nicely sauteed New England style bun with a too large piece of lettuce surrounding the lobster in the roll. There were good size chunks of claw and knuckle meat. (Knuckle meat is the meat between the claw and body of the lobster). The meat was a bit dry and maybe a bit too much onion and celery. Overall we would rate it 3 starfish.... pretty good, but not the great, fabulous roll we are in search of. The Impudent Oyster's food and service is very good overall and a great place for lunch or dinner, but I probably would not go there for just a lobster roll.
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