A Pincher Of Perfection
Photo Courtesy of Portland Lobster Company
A perfectly steamed lobster, with melted butter, corn on the cob and potatoes on the side, is one of those iconic summer images universally linked with New England. It’s only rivaled by the region’s other succulent signature dish, the lobster roll. There is no lack of seafood places to indulge in up and down the coast, but we’ve paired up some of our favorite lobster spots with luxurious digs where you can clean up and relax afterward. After all, eating lobsters can be a delicious, but sometimes messy, experience.
Martha’s Vineyard
In the tiny fishing village of Menemsha, located on Martha’s Vineyard, is a little gem of a spot, Larsen’s Fish Market, one of the more remote places to get oh-so-fresh lobster. Whether you walk up and order, then take your hot, buttery lobster roll to the back porch, or you head to the beach, mere steps away, is up to you. No matter what you do, it’s a meal you won’t forget. Plan ahead to enjoy the legendary sunset on the sand. After that experience, make the easy 30-minute drive to your room at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Charlotte Inn in Edgartown to freshen up, then have an after-dinner drink in the romantic English country-style gardens to toast to a perfect summer day.
Battery Wharf’s Daily Catch, Photo Courtesy of Battery Wharf Hotel
Boston
It’s one thing to enjoy a freshly caught lobster dinner; it’s another thing entirely to be the one snagging it. The Keep the Catch Lobster Excursion at the Battery Wharf Hotel in Boston offers this special experience on Saturdays where you head out for more than two hours on an authentic lobster boat to learn how to bait, drop and haul in lobster traps. In between how-to sessions, take in the sights and sounds of Boston Harbor and learn about its history. Upon your return, the chef will prepare your catch served over outdoor fire pits at Aragosta Bar & Bistro so you can enjoy the fruits of your labors in style. The property is ideally located along Boston’s pedestrian-friendly HarborWalk, steps from the historic North End and close to the Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
Portland
In Maine’s biggest city, the Portland Lobster Company gets kudos for everything from its lobster, of course, to its waterfront views. This is an old-school kind of seafood restaurant, where you order from a cashier and sit outside with your beer under tents along the water. Lobsters are delivered to the restaurant live twice a day — about as fresh as it gets — and all lobster dinners include your choice of fries or baked potato, corn on the cob, homemade coleslaw and drawn butter. Another option is its lobster roll, with fresh-picked meat from a one-pound winner, brushed with sweet butter and served on toasted bread. After you eat your fill, head to nearby The Portland Regency Hotel & Spa, less than five minutes away by foot. Make sure to book a room on the fourth floor, where some of the units have private decks to further enjoy the looks onto the harbor and the city skyline. A treatment at the full-service spa is icing on the cake.
