good warm lobster roll - convenient from Waltham?

[23dex]

Hi folks - I'm a bay area CH, staying in Waltham for a few days. I've read through some threads before I came out, and enjoyed a trip in to Island Creek Oyster Bar tonight. What I'd like to find now is a good place for a warm lobster roll - i guess a buttered one is the right way to describe it? Reading through threads, I see a lot of folks talking about Neptune's, but I was wondering if people could recommend any others that are convenient to get to from Waltham. I have a car, can drive in, but something easier to get to/into than Neptune, would be appreciated.

[hargau]

Hi check out this site. They rate the neptune and summer shack rolls among many others and include photos of them. They hated Neptune. http://lobsterrollchronicles.wordpres...

[CapeCodGuy]

I have to concur with their findings. My first ever Neptune roll was pure nirvana. Moist, tender and succulent. My second (and last) was tough, chewy, and sopping with watery butter. It weighed in my stomach for hours after. Very unpleasant. I know it's akin to blasphemy on this board so I've refrained from saying so too often. As so many here enjoy it so much, I figure it just may have been an off day.

[23dex]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. Some reasonable options to try out. Honestly I'd like to try Neptune anyway, so maybe I should try to get down there anyway. Taking the T will probably work better. Thanks again!

[CapeCodGuy]

You can also take the MBTA commuter train from Waltham (next to the common off Moody St.) which goes to North Station. Total ride is about 25 minutes and there's cheap parking at the train station. Much better than bus or driving to Newton IMO. From there it's an easy walk from North Station to the North End and Neptune. I find it's best to go for a late lunch/early dinner mid day around 2-3 PM and there's never a wait.

Schedule: http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_map...

[Science Chick]

Commuter rail is certainly closer, but have a few downsides: 1) doesn't come very often 2) much more expensive (Waltham is Zone 2 = $5.50/ride vs. Green Line from Newton = $2.00/ride). I'd rather do the 10 minute drive to Newton and take the T.

[LStaff]

I would bet if you asked around Waltham, people would look at you funny for even wanting a lobster roll to be warm. It would be the same look I got when I first moved to the area and asked people where I could get a hard roll :-)

Your best bet in the immediate area would be to go to Burlington Market Basket, have them cook you a lobster and make your own.

[catsmeow]

I've never been to Moultons which is somewhere not too far from Fresh Pond. It seems to get good reviews on the board for seafood so it might fit the bill.

[cassis]

Alive and Kicking on Putnam St just off River St in Cambridge is pretty easy to get to--park in the Whole Foods lot on River St (which is off Mem Drive). Huge very fresh lobster "sandwich" in a lobster shack setting.

[teezeetoo]

I love Alive and Kicking and I'd also recommend Cognac Bistro in Brookline, open for lunch and dinner, as their lobster roll is very good as is the rest of their seafood. Parking is easy there and you can catch a movie at the Coolidge Corner cinema too!

[Bob Dobalina]

Do these places do the warm roll? I thought theirs were the more typical ones.

[Science Chick]

Yes, I think these are all the "salad" type prep.....23dex, the warm roll is really more of a CT thing, although Neptune is one of the rare places around here that does offer one. If you don't want to drive to the North End (can't say I blame you), it's only a 10 minute drive south on Rt. 128 from Waltham to Riverside in Newton, where you can jump on the Green Line to Government Center or Haymarket. 5 minute walk to Neptune from there.

[Bob Dobalina]

Summer Shack at the Alewife T station comes to mind as a close option, although I don't know if its lobster roll is hot or cold. Lexx in Lexington also has a lobster roll, although that looks like a cold one too.

[StriperGuy]

I find Summer Shack just too darned inconsistent to recommend for anything.

[catsmeow]

I've only gotten a lobster roll once at Summer Shack. It was the cold version and it was horrible. It looked like it had a ton of meat but it turned out to be filled with chunks of chopped cucumber. I sent it back.

[Science Chick]

That is reprehensible

[cherrytomato]

I love their lobster roll and find the little bit of cucumber refreshing and delicious. They recently changed the sides to homemade potato chips instead of french fries and I liked the fries much better.

[fantundo]

I don't like their lobster roll, either. Meat chopped too fine and too much tarragon.

[C. Hamster]

Tarragon? WTF? I'd send it back. Can't abide it and it has no place in a lobster roll.