QUICK BITE: The "Best" Lobster Roll

When you visit any area as a tourist, your instincts are inclined to find the "best" signature food item from that place.  If you are in Chicago you would want to know who has the best deep dish pie or Chicago dog.  When in Philly, you might want to know who has the best cheese steak.  I have to imagine that the staff at bars and restaurants get inundated with these requests.  We saw the bartender at our hotel here in Portland Maine about who has the best lobster roll. And she just kind of shrugged and said they are all good.  And she is right. Each lobster roll you can buy is likely "the best" for at least one person. Everyone's taste is not the same.  That is why it is often challenging to recommend food for someone else. "Will I like the food at this restaurant?", someome might ask.   Impossible to tell you unless I know what other food you like. Do you think Riblets at Applebee's are the greatest gastronomical invention ever?  Or is a Thomas Keller 12 course meal at French Laundry more your style?

It is no different for lobster rolls.  Just look at Yelp reviews or the intewebs in general and you'll see everyone telling you who has the best in town. 

Lobster isn't even a food that is at the top ten of my favorite foods.  I think it is okay but would would put Alaskan King Crab way ahead.  Or a dozen freshly shucked east coast oysters. Or a great piece of fried chicken. Do I like lobster?  Yes.  And I like a lobster roll prepared a certain way. And I found that "best" way at High Roller Lobster in Portland.  This is not to say that other places can make it just as well. But to me, this was the best. 

A lobster roll to me should be just that. Lobster on a roll. No muddled mayo.  No extra seasoning to overtake the flavor. No celery or other chopped veggies.  A nicely toasted roll for some crunch.  And a drizzle of melted butter.  They up the game here with lobster ghee which is lobster infused butter. They take lobster shells.and probably some leg meat and steep it in some butter. So good good for extra lobster flavor.  There is some lettuce at the bottom of the roll to keep it from getting  too soggy. That's it. Very simple and delicious.  

Now if this doesn't sound like your best lobster roll, Highroller does allow you to make your best one.  The menu has many different options. 

So the best time you ask someone for the best version of a particular food item, keep in mind that their tastes may not align with yours.