Best lobster rolls on Long Island: Critics' picks

Once the exclusive province of seaside shacks along the New England coast, lobster rolls have become a Long Island summer staple. They've become so ubiquitous, in fact, that the FeedMe team takes it upon themselves to compile a list of Long Island’s best.

You will find a wide range of prices out there, from the mid-$20s up to the $50 mark, and we've included examples at every level. Price can be related to size, but not all similar-size lobster rolls are created equal.

Some restaurants cook and shuck their own lobsters, an expensive proposition. Some buy freshly picked meat from a supplier (an even more expensive proposition) and some buy frozen lobster meat, which varies in quality depending on how it was frozen and defrosted and which part of the lobster it comes from: Big chunks of claw and knuckle command the highest price. The more shredded the meat (and the more meat there is from those skinny legs), the lower the price.

NASSAU COUNTY

Butler’s Flat

86 Orchard Beach Blvd., Port Washington

This stylish clam shack on Manhasset Bay serves up chowder, stuffed quahogs and fried whole-belly clams, but the lobster rolls ($33) are also a powerful draw. The menu advertises a chilled, Maine-style roll, but if you ask nicely — and Butler’s isn’t too busy — the kitchen will happily whip up a warm one of meat and drawn butter on a toasted bun. Wash it down with some Wölffer rosé. More info: 516-883-8330, butlersflat.com

Captain Ihab

193 Main St., Farmingdale

It’s a lobster roll summer at Captain Ihab, Farmingdale’s new fish restaurant. Whether you choose cold (veiled with rémoulade sauce) or hot (butter infused with Old Bay, garlic and lemon), the tender brioche bun is overstuffed with fresh-picked meat and nothing else. It comes with fries and coleslaw too. We’d pay top dollar for this baby but it’s a real bargain: $29 at lunch and weekend brunch (when it comes with a soda), $39 at dinner. On Mondays and Tuesdays, it’s $25 all day and all night and, for $5, you get a bowl of mussels marinière to start. More info: 516-586-4444, captainihab.com

The Clam Bar at Bridge Marine

40 Ludlam Ave., Bayville

At the entryway to Bridge Marine, a small sign reading "Clam Bar" is the only indication of this outdoor spot, where you eat under a canopy cooled by overhead fans. Here, the excellent lobster roll, $38.95, is made with lots of shellfish, some mayo, plus a little celery and chopped onion. More info: 516-628-8688, bridge-marina.com 

DJ's Clam Shack

Locations in Wantagh, Huntington and Stony Brook

Made with big hunks of knuckle and claw meat and butter-griddled top-split buns, lobster rolls here are available either warm (dressed only with butter) or cold (blended with celery and tarragon-scented mayonnaise). A cool $25 buys you a quarter-pound of meat but, for sheer crustacean decadence, you can get an overstuffed lobster roll ($49.50) with twice the filling. More info: djsclamshack.com

Driftwood

1 Grand Blvd. and the boardwalk, Long Beach

Former food-truck owner Remy Watts has converted Beach Burger on the Long Beach boardwalk into a lobster roll shack, putting out moderately priced rolls starting at $31 with a side of fries. The warm Connecticut-style roll features 4 ounces of meat glistening with butter. There's also a Maine-style as well as an "angry" roll with paprika and hot honey and the "grand" with 6 ounces of lobster meat for $45. Driftwood also offers a bite-sized, 2-ounce version of the split-top roll with their lobster flights where you mix and match out of the four offered flavors. More info: driftwoodlbny.com

Lazy Lobster

10 Front St., East Rockaway

The Lazy Lobster's rolls are studies in proportion, featuring heaps of claw meat on deeply toasted, buttered split-top buns. Choose from four versions: traditional style with mayo; Connecticut-style (aka warm) with tarragon-citrus butter; "Bayou lobster" with Cajun honey butter and topped with chives; and "angry," with a touch of spice. All are $32.95 and come with coleslaw. Add a side of fries for $3. Come on a Wednesday for $29.95 lobster rolls. More info: 516-837-8484, lazylobsterny.com

Maldon & Mignonette

243 Glen Cove Ave., Sea Cliff

The eatery's name refers to salt (Maldon, the English sea salt) and pepper ("mignonette" is a blend of peppercorns). These are the primary seasonings in its classic lobster roll, along with tarragon, lemon and lime zest. The buttery meat is piled into a brioche roll and the accompanying fries are ingeniously seasoned with a vinegar salt that bestows the tang of vinegar without getting the fries wet. New for 2026 is a roll filled with delicately fried lobster, garlic aioli and chipotle aioli. Both rolls cost $35. More info: 516-801-3250, maldonmignonette.com

Schultzy's

265 Bayville Ave., Bayville

Both warm Connecticut- and cold Maine-style rolls are on offer (for $38) at this sea-to-table establishment run by local fishing legend Jimmy Schultz. The former features a generous pile of claw meat that arrives glistening with butter, while the latter is a mélange of smaller pieces served on a dry bun. Still, the mayo-heavy filling more than makes up for its simple presentation. More info: 516-588-6240, longislandrawbar.com

Sea Bar

7 Great Neck Rd., Great Neck Plaza

As the name suggests, this stylish spot (clad in tiles and nautical hues) is dedicated to all stripes of oceanic life, including two spins on a lobster roll — a warm, butter-kissed Connecticut-style version and another served chilled with herb mayo. Both come on toasted brioche buns with hand-cut fries and cost $33. More info: 516-441-5708, seabar.life

Whiskey Down Diner

252 Main St., Farmingdale

The modern diner's buttery lobster roll, $38, arrives warm, laden with a row of picture-perfect whole claws atop smaller chunks piled into a soft oversize bun. It is served with a side of still-more melted butter and crispy fries. Enjoy it outside in a charming alleyway dining area. More info: 516-927-8264, whiskeydowndiner.com

317 Main

317 Main St., Farmingdale

Chef-partner Eric LeVine wasn’t entirely satisfied with his excellent traditional lobster roll (7 ounces of house-shucked meat barely bound with mayonnaise and lemon juice, piled into a split-top brioche and garnished with sunflower sprouts, $38), so last year, he introduced a 3-foot version served on an onion roll that feeds four to six people ($175). This year, he’s gone in the other direction with a flight of five mini rolls — traditional, truffle, Tajín spiced, barbecue-spiced and lobster-avocado. The quintet comes with roasted corn salad, pickles and watermelon and costs $48. More info: 516-512-5317, 317mainstreet.com

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Babylon Burger Bar

1 W. Main St., Babylon

Co-owner Roy Feicco grew up in New England and felt it was his Yankee duty to offset the burgers with a classic lobster roll (mayo-dressed in a toasted potato roll, with chips, $38). It's on the menu through Labor Day, when it accounts for up to half of all orders. More info: 631-620-3362, babylonburgerbar.com

Catch Oyster Bar

63 N. Ocean Ave., Patchogue

A warm roll generously laden with knuckle meat is the specialty of this small, friendly seafood eatery. Sparked with lemon mayo, the sandwich makes for good last-minute fortification on the way to Patchogue’s nearby Fire Island ferry to Davis Park. With chips, it's $40; substitute fries for $44. More info: 631-627-6860, catchoysterbar.com

Claws Seafood Market

20 Main St., West Sayville

One of Long Island's best fish markets specializes in fish-shack favorites, including a warm, "naked," butter-basted lobster roll ($29.95) that can be gilded with bacon or sriracha and jalapeño for $32.95. On the cold front, a classic, chilled mayo-dressed lobster roll on a lettuce-lined toasted bun starts at $29.95 but you can double your lobster fun for $54.95 or triple it — with nearly a pound of meat — for $75.55.  More info: 631-256-5900, clawsseafoodmarket.com

The Fifth Season 

34 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson

It looks a bit unconventional, but the open-faced lobster roll at The Fifth Season makes a lot of sense: Instead of all the buttery juices draining into the bun’s hinge (and then, onto the plate or into the diner’s hands), they soak into the "meat" of the brioche for a relatively neat eating experience ($36). More info: 631-477-8500, thefifth-season.com

Jackson Hall American Bar & Grille

335 E. Main St., East Islip

Jackson Hall has become Long Island's Lobster Roll Central thanks to chef-partner Mike Landesberg's ever-expanding roster of creative takes on the classic sandwich. His menu starts with traditional warm and cold varieties, then branches out into a surf and turf (with filet mignon), two lobster-crab combos (one name-checking Maryland; the other, California) and so on. New for 2026 are "the bank roll," filled with lobster scampi (garlic, butter, white wine and parsley), and the chilled "green day," featuring bacon, lettuce and tomato with lemon aioli and topped with fried onions. All are $38.95. More info: 631-277-7100, jacksonhallny.com

Little Gull Cafe

54 N. Phillips Ave., Speonk

This charming cafe inside Speonk's old train station specializes in breakfast and lunch, and patrons would do well to remember that there is no law against ordering a lobster roll ($39) for breakfast. Chef-owner Will Pendergast poaches his own lobsters and he makes the split-top buns that, buttered and griddled, are overstuffed with sweet, tender chunks of meat lightly dressed with mayo and chives. More info: 631-801-2176, littlegullcafe.com

Porters on the Lane

19 Bellport Lane, Bellport

Bellport, one of Long Island’s most picture-perfect villages, has a friendly tavern to match. Have a seat on Porter’s front porch and enjoy a warm lobster roll stuffed with house-shucked, butter-poached meat. The split-top bun has a layer of lettuce and tomatoes underneath the lobster, and a drizzle of dill aioli on top of it ($38, includes fries). More info: 631-803-6067, portersonthelane.com

Salt & Barrel

61 W. Main St., Bay Shore

Oysters on the half shell are the stars of the show at this chic-casual seafood restaurant, but if you're craving something warm, order the lobster roll, stuffed with butter-poached lobster, pickled celery and tomato aioli. It's $44 and is served with house-made chips. More info: 631-647-8818, saltandbarrel.com

Salted. On the Harbor

14 Woodbine Ave., Northport

The "Lawbsta Roll" ($46) at this harborside bistro is a study in largess and can easily feed two. The kitchen stuffs a toasted, buttered brioche bun with hunks of lobster meat until they can't fit any more; the claws reach skyward, the mayo-based dressing is creamy and studded with slivered celery, and a layer of Bibb lettuce gives the entire thing extra crunch. More info: 631-651-2600, saltedontheharbor.com

Varney's

2109 Montauk Hwy., Brookhaven

You can't miss Varney's sign proclaiming "lobster rolls" in letters larger than the restaurant's branding — and you shouldn't miss the lobster rolls, available either chilled with mayo or warm with butter. Both are served on split-top, toasted brioche rolls, $36. Served with homemade coleslaw and crinkle-cut fries. More info: 631-286-9569, varneysrestaurant.com

The Wayward Kitchen & Cocktails

98 W. Main St., Sayville

Sayville’s 4-year-old modern pub scores with two versions of the classic lobster roll, each made with claw and knuckle meat and served in a brioche bun. The warm roll features lobster chunks bathed in warm butter (and served with more butter); the cold features a meaty salad brightened by red onion and celery. Both are $32. More info: 631-567-6345, thewaywardsayville.com

EAST END

Billy's by the Bay

2530 Manhanset Ave., Greenport

This casual spot prepares plenty of seafood, from steamers and oysters Rockefeller to oyster tacos and including lobsters up to 4 pounds. Lobster rolls are available warm ($33) or cold ($32) either on white toast or in a toasted bun. More info: 631-477-8300, billysbythebayrestaurant.com

Bostwick's Chowder House

277 Pantigo Rd., East Hampton

East Hampton's O.G. casual seafood spot scores with two classic rolls ($36), cold or hot, both stuffed with lobster and served on griddled hot dog buns with your choice of coleslaw, fries, potato salad or chips. (The cold version is also available at Bostwick's on the Harbor; 39 Gann Rd., East Hampton). More info: 631-324-1111, bostwickschowderhouse.com

Haskell's Seafood Market

77A Main St., Westhampton Beach

Haskell’s is the rare fish market that serves only local fish — no salmon, no Chilean sea bass, no Gulf shrimp. For the lobster rolls, Montauk lobsters are shucked and chunked, the meat nestled into top-split buns, $36. More info: 631-288-7287

Jerry and The Mermaid

469 E. Main St., Riverhead

This riverside stalwart has been serving local seafood and more since 1994. The hot and cold lobster rolls, $39.95, are both made with freshly picked meat piled into brioche rolls, served with coleslaw, pickle and waffle fries. The cold roll is dressed with mayo and celery, the hot with clarified butter. More info: 631-727-8489, jerryandthemermaid.com

Lobster Roll

1980 Montauk Hwy., Amagansett, and 32 Montauk Hwy., Southampton

Roll lovers everywhere rejoiced in December 2021 when a second location of the beloved East End landmark — a year-round one! — opened down the road in Southampton. The Amagansett original, popularly known as "Lunch" owing to its landmark sign, has featured a lobster roll on the menu since its inception in 1965. Both places showcase a classic take — just lobster, celery and mayo on a toasted bun — as well as a hot version made with butter. Both are $40. More info: 631-267-3740, 631-283-3460, lobsterroll.com

North Fork Table & Inn

57225 Main Rd., Southold

The landscaped seating area adjacent to the restaurant's food truck is an idyllic setting to indulge in either the hot lobster roll served with drawn butter, confit fennel, celery salt and wild chives — or the chilled lobster roll with mayonnaise, celery and fennel sea salt. Both are $34. More info: 631-765-0177, northforktableandinn.com

Southold Fish Market

64755 Rte. 25, Southold

Half this exemplary fish market is occupied by a counter-serve eatery, and there are tables out on the lawn. A highlight is the lobster roll containing big hunks of freshly picked claw and knuckle meat from a 1¼-pound lobster, mixed either with mayonnaise and celery (cold, $32) or melted butter (warm, $34). Both come with coleslaw and your choice of salad (perfectly good) or french fries (fantastic). More info: 631-765-3200 

Shinnecock Lobster Factory

42 Montauk Hwy., Southampton

If you’re heading to the Hamptons, it’s worth getting off Route 27 once you cross the Shinnecock Canal. Not only will the scenery improve, but you’ll also pass right by Shinnecock Lobster Factory, a collaboration between Shinnecock tribal leader Lance Gumbs and Sicilian-born chef-caterer Marco Barrila. Lobster rolls here come in guppy ($31), shark ($35) and whale ($39) sizes and in six varieties, from classic or BLT-style to diablo (with spicy tomato sauce) or "Shinnecock" (with extra-virgin olive oil and lemon). There’s also lobster bisque, lobster salad, lobster tacos ... you get the idea. Dine on the porch or at picnic tables on the lawn out back. More info: 631-259-3334, shinnecocklobsterfactory.com

Newsday's Andi Berlin, Dorothy Guadagno and Marie Elena Martinez contributed to this story.