Not much screams summer in the Northeast like a fresh lobster roll on the coast with your dog and a frisbee. At least not for me. I’m not one to escape to the Hamptons like the rest of city millennials, so I found the quaintness of Port Jefferson, and its dog beach, the perfect place to spend this years 4th of July weekend. Getting to eat some traditional summertime grub on the water was the cherry on top of this warm summer day cake at the Steam Room Restaurant.
The menu is huge. If you are one of those people who need to have limited options to focus, you are out of luck. And everything sounds desirable in this season. I had to go with my largest craving these days- a lobster roll to kick off the summer eating frenzy. Lobster rolls here are made with chilled Maine lobster meat, drizzled with lemon butter, and served on a toasted New England style roll. Sounds about right. Ordered with fries and a small side of cole slaw and a pickle, it really is exactly what it says it is. Not the best you’ll ever have (but nothing is as soon as you see a menu that extensive), but it hits the spot. The lobster is succulent, and chunks are thick, making sure you get that distinct flavor. Not overly acidic, the lemon butter is drizzled just enough to coat each chunk but not make you feel like you’re swimming in butter either (not that I would have hated that). Disappointing me was the bread, the New England roll. Hardly considered toasted and tasting as if it is straight from the Costco bakery section, for a lobster roll that was so simply made, you’d think you’d add a little pep to its step and butter and toast it up. I guess that made all the more for focusing on the luscious lobster.
To continue the seafood soirée, the shrimp ceviche with homemade chips for an additional side/app? Whatever it could be considered, it was brilliant! I did not expect to have such good ceviche somewhere that does not specialize in it. While perhaps not as traditional as some countries know it to be, the fresh cucumber, tomato, and onion plus lime drizzle and herb garnishes took this small bowl to big flavor places. Also, can’t believe the chips served alongside are better than the bread served for a lobster roll, did not see that coming. They weren’t oily and fried but sturdy enough to dip shrimp onto, bravo on the chips to these guys.
OK last and pretty much least was the lobster eggroll. Minced cabbage and lobster are fried up into eggrolls and served with dipping sauce. When it came with Kraft Sweet n’ Sour sauce, the pretentious New Yorker in me scoffed, I will admit. When I tasted the sauce, I remembered oh yeah, nothing beats a good sauce and an even better vessel for dipping into it. The vessel, or lobster eggroll in this case, was pretty good! Maybe it is a love of things fried that don’t make your fingers glossy, but it tasted quite nice with the different textures and flavors inside and the sauce bringing them out. I would not recommend getting it again but if you’re curious like I am, it’s worth a shot. If you’re looking to complete a day at the beach, a burger and fries is probably best here.
P.S. and mom’s business shout out: like these checkered sheets everything is served on? Pick them up for your next BBQ or picnic here.
P.S.S. the ultimate beach eats remains Nathan’s Hot Dogs and writing this has been a reminder that I have got to get out there before Summertime is over!
