Foodstuffs: Lobster Roll In Southampton, Holiday Eats And Feast Of The Seven Fishes

On Friday, December 9, Lobster Roll, the iconic seasonal shack also known as LUNCH on the Napeague stretch, opened a second location at 32 Montauk Highway in Southampton. This is the latest addition to Lobster Roll’s legacy and the restaurant’s first year round location. The restaurant is housed in the space previously occupied by the Silver Lining Diner.

Co-owners Fred Terry, Andrea Anthony and Paul DeAngelis have teamed up with chairman and CEO of Tilray Inc., Irwin Simon, for this expansion. Simon’s extensive knowledge in business development will help take Lobster Roll to new depths, across land and sea. Together, they’ve plotted a dramatic expansion of the brand that will eventually include everything from new merchandise and grab-and-go food items to doggy apparel and now, the newly opened second Lobster Roll. The trio’s first product development endeavor launched this past Thanksgiving was the Lobster Roll’s hot or cold lobster roll kits which retail for $129 each.

The Southampton Lobster Roll evokes a modern nostalgic shack aesthetic, which embraces its beginnings as a seafood hot spot for East End visitors. Positioned right along Montauk Highway where County Road 39 becomes Route 27, it’s a perfect location for day-trippers and vacationers alike to stop for lunch, dinner and even grab a few late night cocktails.

“We go for a retro vibe, we’re from the ’60s, and we embrace that,” said Andrea Anthony, who plans to bring those nostalgic vibes to the restaurant all year long.

Even though Lobster Roll has built its reputation around serving lunch, the Southampton location is focusing on the dinner and cocktail menu for the late-night crowd. For guests looking to shake a towel in the wind, the beverage program focuses on essentials such as the Bacardi rum splashes, frozen daiquiris, and new additions like the Basil Hayden Manhattan and Belvedere cosmopolitan for East Enders looking to enjoy an elegant evening. Lobster Roll will also be debuting a finely-tuned wine menu that features a few local Long Island favorites such as Wölffer Estate rosés.

On the food side of things, in addition to the classic hot or cold lobster rolls, Lobster Roll is staying true to its roots by offering an elevated addition to the menu at the Southampton location. For starters, options include steamers and broth, fish n’ chips and clams on the half shell. To cozy up to cooler weather, Lobster Roll serves a lobster bisque or a hearty Manhattan or New England Chowder. Also available is a soup-n-slider option with a classic lobster salad slider served alongside a cup of soup.

Lobster Roll is also set to dismiss the controversy of seafood and cheese with its lobster grilled cheese (fresh lobster meat with choice of cheese), which will add some flair to the evening. For the main course, the baked stuffed flounder (a house favorite) features crabmeat stuffing with mild melted cheese and finished with scampi butter, and Paul’s famous seafood chili (a blend of shrimp, lobster, scallops and beans topped with melted cheddar cheese, sour cream and scallions), are highlights. Andrea Anthony wouldn’t let customers leave without trying a slice of her caramel apple crisp a la mode (cinnamon-spiced fresh apples baked with a buttery oat crumb topping, drizzled with gooey caramel and served with a choice of ice cream), which will bring any meal to a close in a decadent, yet festive manner.

Lobster Roll was purchased in 1965 by Frederick H. Terry Sr., and his dad, Richard C. Terry Sr., when it was a tiny roadside clam shack on Napeague. Even though it has long offered lunch and dinner, travelers came to associate the Lobster Roll with lunch, due to the now iconic sign in front of the restaurant. In 1978, Andrea Anthony joined forces with Fred Terry, and three years later, Paul DeAngelis came aboard. Fast-forwarding four decades later, Anthony and DeAngelis maintain the current ownership and management operations of Lobster Roll and have transformed the busy summer eatery into a quintessential restaurant for locals, celebrities and travelers from all over the world

The new Lobster Roll location at 32 Montauk Highway in Southampton is open Monday and Thursday from 11:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 11:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit lobsterroll.com.

Sag Harbor is one of those magical places in the tri-state area to celebrate the season and in recent weeks Baron’s Cove has become a beloved harbor-side hotspot with its charming holiday decor, festive Christmas cocktails, seasonal fare and wood-burning fireplaces.

To celebrate the season, Baron’s Cove is inviting diners to settle in by the fire for Christmas and New Year’s meals.

The Christmas feast will be served from 4 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 25. Chef Nicholas Vogel will prepare a menu featuring favorites like broiled oysters with chili butter and breadcrumbs; prime rib with glazed carrots, potato pave, and au jus and horseradish; glazed ham with roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes and Dijon; crab cakes with haricot vert and creamed polenta and poblano remoulade. The four course prix fixe is $100 ($30 for children).

On Friday, December 31, ring in the new year at Baron’s Cove. Dinner seatings are offered from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Chef Vogel will present a festive celebration filled with delicious cuisine, craft cocktails and a champagne toast to welcome 2022. Menu highlights include lobster gnocchi with truffle potato gnocchi and butter poached lobster; braised lamb shank with polenta and date; seared local tuna with cannellini beans and olives and preserved and candied lemon. The cost is $125 for a four course meal served until 8 p.m., and $175 for a six course meal from 8 p.m. to close.

Baron’s Cove is at 31 West Water Street, Sag Harbor. Call 631-725-2100 for information and reservations or visit caperesorts.com/barons-cove/dining.

Townline BBQ will be smoking hams for the upcoming holidays. A limited number of half bone-in hams (10-12 pounds) will be available for pre-order. Each ham is $160 and will serve approximately 12 to 14 people and must be ordered by calling Townline at 631-537-2271. Ham pickup will be on Friday, December 24, between noon and 5 p.m. Hams will come with reheating instructions and a house-made glaze. Suggested sides will also be available to order including: collard greens ($24 quart), maple sweet potato mash ($22 quart), brown sugar roasted acorn squash ($22 quart) and jalapeno cheddar cornbread ($30).

Townline BBQ is at 3593 Montauk Highway in Sagaponack. For more information, visit 631-537-2271 or townlinebbq.com.

Southampton’s newest waterfront dining spot, Manna at Lobster Inn will celebrate Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24, with a traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes. The special menu will be available from 5 to 10 p.m. for $55 per person for the dinner only and $85 per person for the dinner with beverage pairing. The menu includes a first course featuring shrimp cocktail with cocktail sauce, horseradish and micro basil, paired with a whiskey sour, a second course of branzino crudo with lemon, olive oil, fresh cracked black pepper, basil and Thai chili paired with Altaneve prosecco, a third course of crispy calamari, zucchini, shrimp and stuffed squash blossoms with ricotta and oregano paired with Sancerre by Karine Lauverjat, a fourth course of fruit de mer including linguini, mussels, clams, lobster and crab with a spicy pomodoro sauce and served with a cabernet franc from Paumanok, a fifth course of pizzelle cannoli served with Wölffer Late Harvest Diosa.

Manna at Lobster Inn is at 5 Inlet Road West, Southampton. For information visit mannarestaurant.com or call 631-728-5555.