1. If you're looking for a simple menu in a swanky 'hood, try Ed's Lobster Bar.
Get the lobster roll, which comes with fries and Ed's pickles. The menu at Ed's is classic and straightforward. Try your lobster roll with a side of fried Ipswich clams ($17).
Where: Two locations. 22 Lafayette St, Soho, and 52 Gansevoort St, Meatpacking District
Cost: Market price
2. If you need variety, try Luke's Lobster.
There's a reason Luke's Lobster has grown from a single NYC location to a cross-country franchise: Their signature lobster roll is just about perfect, filled with big chunks of knuckle and claw meat, chilled and dressed with lemon butter and spices, then served in a mayo-swiped split-top bun. Get the Taste of Maine sampler — which comes with 1/2 a lobster roll, 1/2 a crab roll, 1/2 a shrimp roll, two crab claws, and sides.
Where: Multiple locations in NYC and across the country
Cost: $24 at most NYC locations
3. If you really love mayonnaise, try Mary's Fish Camp.
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Some people shudder at the amount of mayonnaise on their lobster roll, but others swear by it.
Where: 64 Charles Street, West Village
Cost: Market price
4. If you want lobster but also need red meat, try Red Hook Lobster Pound.
Get the surf n' turf roll, which is filled with sliced prime rib and tender, butter-poached lobster. There are tons of other things to choose from, including lobster mac and cheese ($16) and six types of lobster rolls.
Where: Multiple NYC locations, but we love the original at 284 Van Brunt St, Red Hook
Cost: $28
5. If you're open to other crustaceans, try The Crabby Shack.
Get a lobster roll and a crab roll. The lobster roll is good, but the crab roll stands out as the best (and best value) item on their menu. Try it with a side of corn bread ($2) or crab mac and cheese ($11).
Where: 613 Franklin Ave, Crown Heights
Cost: $13 for the crab roll, $20 for the lobster roll
6. If bacon and avocado are staples for you, try Lobster Joint.
Get the lobster club roll, which is tossed with fresh herb mayo and includes avocado and crispy bacon and tastes great alongside a lobster claw bloody mary ($12). On weekends, Lobster Joint serves impressive brunch items like lobster rancheros and lobster benedict (both $24, including coffee and a brunch cocktail).
Where: 1073 Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint
Cost: $23
7. If you prefer to wash your lobster roll down with a frozen rosé cocktail, try Extra Fancy.
Get the Extra Fancy Connecticut lobster roll, which is filled with lobster tossed in warm brown butter, plus a super flavorful paprika mayo. Wash it down with a frozémonade ($10), a frozen rosé-lemonade slushie that will be your new favorite summer drink.
Where: 302 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg
Cost: $27
8. If you want a super classic, fresh lobster roll, try Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co.
Each New England-style lobster roll at Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. rolls contains the meat from an entire Maine lobster, steamed in-house that morning and dressed-to-order with mayo, celery, lemon, sea salt, and tarragon. The thick-cut steak fries are a great bonus, too.
Where: 114 Nassau Ave, Greenpoint
Cost: $27
9. If you want waterfront dining, try City Island Lobster House.
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This old school lobster house serves a ton of fresh-caught seafood, and it's the perfect way to feel like you're escaping the city without going any further than the Bronx.
Where: 691 Bridge Street, City Island
Cost: $20.95
10. If you're looking for an out-of-the-box date spot, try Littleneck.
Get the Maine lobster roll, and have your phone camera ready: This small Gowanus restaurant and all of its beautifully plated food is basically tailor-made for your Instagram feed.
Where: 288 3rd Avenue, Gowanus
Cost: $18
11. If you want just the right amount of kitsch, try Kittery.
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Their lobster roll is served on a brioche bun with a side of fries. Go hungry, and add on a side of corn on the cob ($6) and salt pork asparagus ($8).
Where: 305 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens/Gowanus
Cost: $21
Want more? We teamed up with New York Live's Lauren Scala to taste three of these lobster rolls. You can watch the video here.
