160664 Sun Jun 27 14:14:04 -0700 2004 14 13 New England 0 861753 My family and I will be vacationing in Rockport, MA and Newport, RI in August and driving points in-between. My teens have never had lobster, so I want to have a great lobster dinner while there. Living in the Northern Sacramento Valley, good lobster is not to be found. I would like some suggestions for best lobster in either those two areas or possibly Providence, RI or Warwick or anywhere on the drive between. We don't want to stop in Boston, but we will be driving across MA to Stockbridge. If there are better inland lobster choices, do tell. I just figured best bets would be closer to the ocean. My husband and I had lobster in Gloucester 25 years ago, but I don't remember where, only that we chose the place randomly and we were not impressed. We want a dinner somewhere where we will be served, not a place where you get your lobster and go outside to eat. Nice view would be great, but more important is the quality of the dinner. Everyone here recommends Legal Seafoods. Is that really the best? Also, I have a naive question. I love lobster, but being a native Southern California, I am used to it being served as lobster tail rather than the whole lobster. I'm not fond of tackling the whole thing with the claw crackers and such. Are there places that either remove the lobster for you or at least crack it for you? Please don't tell me that cracking the lobster yourself is half the fun... My daughter watched a "Good Eats" on the food network, which was all about lobster. Alton Brown went through how to crack the lobster and access the meat. He showed how to remove the liver and other innards. My daughter was absolutely grossed out. If lobsters are served whole in New England, does the diner remove these parts? If so, I'm afraid my teens will get that far, be grossed out and not eat the remains of their dinner. So many questions....thanks for your so many answers and recommendations. Sun Jun 27 14:14:04 -0700 2004 0 Norcalgal 1 861755 Scales and Shells in Newport is great for seafood. It's a nice, sit-down type of place on Thames Street. You can always have a "lazy man's lobster" if you don't want to get all messy - the meat is removed from the lobster and baked with butter and bread crumbs and sometimes scallops. I don't think Scales and Shells does this dish, but many many places do and it's usually very good. The Black Pearl in Newport offers a version of this with puff pastry - I still have never had a bad meal there. Or, you could try a lobster cocktail. Just the meat is removed from the tail, served cold with a spicy sauce. No muss, no fuss. And, of course, the old standby lobster roll is always an option. I'm still on a quest to find the best lobster roll in RI. If anyone else has suggestions, I'd love to hear 'em. Betsy Link: http://blackpearlnewport.com Sun Jun 27 15:24:45 -0700 2004 861753 0 Betsy 1 861756 Many upscale restaurants in Gloucester, Rockport or Newport, RI, for that matter, would be what you are looking for. In the summer around the ocean, most people from around here, and visitors, love a good lobster bake, and yes it is a bit messy. The places I have named, will meets your needs. The Grand Cafe at the Emerson Inn By the Sea, Rockport. The Sea Garden Restaurant at the Seaward Inn, Rockport, has an entree, called Pierre's special, which is served completely shelled. However, any good restaurant, will serve Lobster to order, if you speak to your waitstaff before dinner. Sun Jun 27 17:18:17 -0700 2004 861753 0 mcel 1 861757 If setting is equally important as the lobster itself, I would suggest finding the restaurant that will most fit your needs and then call and ask if they will or can have lobster for you. August is generally a plentiful time for lobsters (soft shell)and many, many restaurants in the areas you mention will have "twin lobster" deals and other lobster options. I will be the one to say it, as I know others are thinking it, but if you want the "real lobster dinner experience" half the fun IS cracking it and hunting and searching for all the meat to be had. That said, if you call any of the restaurants to inquire, ask them if they would mind preparing them lazy style which does not have to be much more than the meat sitting in butter with some crumbs (this can be optional of course). On a whole lobster the tomaly (liver) is intact and easily removed before teens eyes can see it or simply just let them have the tails and claws. Keep in mind that the female lobsters will also have a bright red roe near the tail. All the more reason to stick with the lazy concept! If you don't get enough of a fix for New England seafood before leaving the shores, stop in Worcester on the way to Stockbridge to the Sole Proprietor. Some mixed reviews on this board for that place but I've never had a bad meal there. All their fish is from Foley Fish of Boston, the best and freshest fish purveyor in Boston. Great chowder too. I would avoid Legal Seafood. Sun Jun 27 18:24:15 -0700 2004 861753 0 Noreaster 1 861771 You should go to Nordic Lodge in Charlestown, RI. It's AYCE lobster, shrimp, clams, and other seafood. It would be a good way to sample different foods. Mon Jun 28 09:10:26 -0700 2004 861753 0 fatboy 2 861786 But they're in the middle of a drive and probably don't want to pay $60/pp or whatever it is. Mon Jun 28 13:24:32 -0700 2004 861771 0 Joanie 3 861802 I went to their website. It is $65/person. That would be times four for us. Though it looks intriguing, and we are fortunate to be financially comfortable, I think that is a bit too much for food. (had a hard enough time with buying tickets for 3 Broadway shows). Got to admit, the place does look tempting... Mon Jun 28 16:19:47 -0700 2004 861786 0 Norcalgal 1 861772 Frankly, I think you should just get a lobster roll. Especially if your daughter has already been grossed out by lobster before, you never know, you might end up at a fancy place, with all the meat extracted from the thing and then have your kids hate it. What's the point? A lobster roll would be cheaper, and with all the meat packed in a hot dog bun there's no visual reminder at all that it came from a big ugly bug looking sea creature. Plus there are plenty of sit down places where you can order lots of different kinds of seafood AND a couple lobster rolls to try. It seems silly to pay for some big extravagant lobster dinner when you and your husband didn't like your lobster 25 years ago (it hasn't changed much), you don't want to go near the actual lobster itself, and your daughter already thinks it looks gross. Mon Jun 28 10:50:44 -0700 2004 861753 0 johnnym 2 861801 I love lobster, we just didn't have good lobster at the restaurant we chose in Gloucester. I have had some wonderful lobster in L.A. and an occasional bad lobster there--my palate knows the difference. Your point about ordering some variety in lobster dishes is well-taken. My husband likes lobster, but is more fond of other types of seafood, so he will likely opt for something different anyway. I have one daughter who is not likely to be grossed out by the whole "innards" issue; the other is likely to be. I've never had lobster roll, so it sounds like something I'll want to try while I'm in New England anyway. Mon Jun 28 16:16:44 -0700 2004 861772 0 Norcalgal 1 861776 Cherrystones Restaurant (www.cherrystones.net) in Warwick, RI, will meet all of your criteria. We have enjoyed the food, view, and service there a number of times, and it has become one of our favorite places for seafood. They also have a number of other items on their menu for those who want something other than seafood. All good restaurants will crack the claws and split the tail of a lobster if you ask them to (many do it automatically), making it a simple chore to extract the meat from those sections. Since 95% of the meat is in the tail and claws, you and you brood can just eat those parts and never need to venture into the body at all. Another option for your kids is a baked stuffed lobster in which the body is cleaned out and filled with seafood stuffing. For a really no muss no fuss alternative, Cherrystones' lobster salad plate is excellent (this will be cold lobster, of course). The Mooring (www.mooringrestaurant.com), which is right on the harbor in Newport, is another of our favorite full-service-with-a-water-view seafood restaurants. In August, dinner reservations are a must at popular restaurants along the New England coast. The best strategy for avoiding the crowds is to have a late lunch or early dinner. Lunch prices are generally somewhat lower, but for lobster this may not be true. Eating early will also tend to avoid the tragedy of arriving at the restaurant only to find that they have sold out of lobster. Mon Jun 28 11:15:49 -0700 2004 861753 0 groaker 1 861832 Uh oh... Make sure that as a Southern Californian you are sure that the "lobster tail" you order in New England is anywhere near what you see where you live. There are two definite species involved here; check out the websites of restaurants you are interested in and make sure what you are thinking of is what you'll get!! I'm inclined to tell you to have a lobster *roll* - and that's for lunch - and to go for something else for dinner; I'm not sure if you sound like the lobstering type. Tue Jun 29 15:12:20 -0700 2004 861753 0 bunnyr 2 861833 From the menus I've perused online, it doesn't look like one can order "lobster tail" in New England. Must be a strictly So Cal thing. I know you usually order a whole lobster. This was the basis of many of my questions. The lobster we got on a previous trip to New England was not up to snuff, but I am the "lobstering" type, just want to make sure I get the best around. I have failed to mention up to this point, but will now, that my hesitation for ordering a whole lobster that I must crack myself is that I have neuropathy in my fingers due to chemotherapy. It would make the task difficult. I'm not just being lazy or refusing to have the whole experience. Heck, I can barely button my clothes--I don't think cracking and accessing meat from a lobster would be an easy task. I don't want to share my whole life story with a waitperson--so what I know in advance for getting to that delicious lobster can only be helpful. Tue Jun 29 15:25:48 -0700 2004 861832 0 Norcalgal 1 861926 In my limited experience, lobster tails, which are often on menus far away from New England, are usually South African or Australian lobster tails -- a very different species from the Maine lobster. I don't remember ever seeing lobster tails on a menu in New England. Maine lobsters are usually served whole -- not as tails. But you don't have to go through the cracking and picking, if that is not for you. Try ordering a lobster salad or a lobster Newburg. Lobster rolls are great in New England, too. Also, some restaurants have wonderful lobster stew, chock full of delicious lobster meat. There are lots and lots of wonderful places to get delicious Maine lobster all over New England -- and very few places where Maine lobster is not good. I think you will do fine! I found this web site (below) which pictures various varities of lobster tail. (Click on the picture for a larger image.) Link: http://www.coasttocoastflorist.com/product.cfm/iteID/742 Fri Jul 02 19:41:18 -0700 2004 861753 0 jhammon 1 862000 I'm a Newporter and have grown up on lobster. Folks from away who have only had lobster tails are not used to tackling the clawed critter. What to do? Lobster in restaurants is usually served either boiled or broiled. It is rare that a boiled/steamed lobster arrives to the diner pre-cracked. It just ain't done that way. So, yep, you're gonna have to get down 'n dirty and use the lobster cracker/tool to extract the tail and the claws at any rate. Baked lobster is another story. The poor critter is split stem to stern, stuffed with scallop or some seafood/bread stuffing and then baked. It's quite easy to pull out the meat in the tail. But, you'll still have to pull out those pliers to crack the claws. At some places, you can buy lobster totally out of the shell. Typically, it's served in butter and may be baked. You'll see names like lobster saute. This is much easier to eat. I think if you really want to just get your fill of lobster that I'd be tempted to go to a fish market and buy a pound of lobster meat and have at it! I've seen it recently in the $20-25 pound range. In Newport, there are 2 very well known fish markets: Aquidneck Lobster off of Thames St and Anthony's Seafood on Aquidneck Ave in nearby Middletown. There are a bazillion places you could be sent in Newport, but there is a place in nearby Bristol (on the waterfront) called The Lobster Pot. They do a very good job with lobster and serve it many, many different ways. Have fun. Tue Jul 06 18:28:21 -0700 2004 861753 0 Paul 1 862019 I've had an entertaining time reading all of the responses that you've gotten and alot of those folks are right on the money. One key thing to remember is that Newport is a tourist town and when I worked in the restaurant biz there our job was to accomodate guests. You should not have a difficult time ordering a "lazy man's" lobster. Just tell the server du jour that you need to kitchen to crack up the bug for you. Scales and Shells is a great choice but no view, the Moorings has a great harbor view and the Inn at Castle Hill (though expensive) cannot be touched as far as the scenery. The Black Pearl is a Newport standard and in all of the years I lived and worked in town it remains to this day one of my favorite places to go. Enjoy your time in New England and don't forget to try a stuffie (stuffed clam) if you get a chance. Wed Jul 07 00:59:49 -0700 2004 861753 0 TEB