Seafood Showdown: Maine vs. Connecticut Lobster Roll

Lobster lovers, this one’s for you!

I grew up on the East Coast chomping on crustaceans. As an adult, I lived in Connecticut for a year, and ate my fare share of everything lobster. Years later, I am still a die-hard lobster roll fan!

This year in particular, I have had so many exceptional lobster rolls. And I have definitely picked my favorite between the Maine and Connecticut lobster roll styles!

Will my favorite be yours? Let’s see. Here’s everything you need to know about Connecticut and Maine-style lobster rolls to help you choose.

But before we start the Maine vs. Connecticut-style lobster roll showdown, let’s look at some fun facts.

Maine vs Connecticut lobster roll — Maine vs. Connecticut Lobster Roll, which is best?

Lobster and Lobster Roll Fun Facts

Lobster was once considered “the poor man’s chicken.” In the 1700s, lobsters were so plentiful they were fed to slaves and prisoners.
The first lobster roll was the Connecticut roll; it was invented in 1927 at Perry’s in Milford, CT.
Maine produces over 100 million pounds of lobster every year—it’s the United States leader.
The largest lobster on record weighed in at 44 pounds, was 42 inches long, and lived to be over 100 years old!
In the 1970s, the restaurant Red Eats in Maine helped popularize lobster rolls, cementing their place in foodie culture.

Many consider Maine lobsters to be the best in the world.

Popularity of Lobster Rolls

What is a Lobster Roll? 

The simple answer: For both a Connecticut or Maine-style roll, you can expect succulent lobster meat with seasonings and a dressing on a toasted hot dog roll or brioche bun.

The “it depends” answer: Depending on the type of lobster roll, it’s what’s inside the toasted bun that will be different. It may contain warmed or chilled lobster meat, and the meat may be mixed with warm butter or chilled mayonnaise.

Lobster Rolls in Restaurants

Lobster rolls have surged in popularity in recent years, and not just with New Englanders.

The sandwiches were originally common in New England lobster shacks. Today, many seafood restaurants from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, list them on their menus.

I even had one recently outside of Steamboat Springs at Vista Verde Ranch, Colorado, and it was amazing!

Lobster Roll Food Trucks

The U.S. obsession with lobster rolls keeps growing. More than half the states in our nation even have lobster roll food trucks.

They can be found in California, Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington D.C., to name just a few locations.

Since these trucks specialize in tasty lobster sandwiches, many of them offer both Connecticut and Maine lobster rolls. Additionally, many have developed creative new recipes for other types of lobster rolls, from Asian to Cajun.

A non-traditional New England lobster roll with crispy onions

Maine vs. Connecticut Lobster Roll

Let the showdown begin!

The fame of this popular sandwich and its contending styles has sparked a fierce debate between Maine and Connecticut over who makes the best lobster roll.

Even Massachusetts wants a piece of the action! Perhaps rightly so, as lobster is definitely a food Boston is famous for, and it’s a must-have item on the U.S. food bucket list for any Cape Cod vacationer.

In this article, however, we will stick to the two most famous lobster roll styles, Maine and Connecticut.

Maine Lobster Rolls

Maine style lobster roll — Maine lobster rolls get their creaminess from their mayo dressing.

Since the majority of the lobster in the U.S. comes from Maine, it’s no wonder that the state is called the “Lobster Capital” of the U.S.

In addition, the lobster species that’s the star of these lobster rolls is most often called “Maine lobster.” Although, we should note that it can also be called Atlantic lobster, Northern lobster, and Canadian lobster. That’s right, these delicious crustaceans are not just off the New England shoreline, they can be found off Canada’s coast as well.

Maine Lobster Roll Key Ingredients

A classic Maine lobster roll features fresh Maine lobster meat. It can be cold lobster tail, claw, or knuckle meat.

The meat is mixed with mayo, creating a creamy texture. Some variations add celery for crunch. Others might use herbs like dill or chives for flavor. Purists just add salt and pepper.

The bread for both types of New England lobster rolls is the same—a buttered and toasted split-top bun. It can be a simple hot dog roll or a brioche top-split bun like the ones fancy places use.

Temperature of a Maine-Style Roll

Traditional Maine rolls are served with cold lobster meat. It’s not really a cold lobster roll though, because the bun is warm and toasty.

How Does a Maine-Style Lobster Roll Taste?

The Maine-style lobster roll offers a rich and creamy flavor, and the sweetness of the fresh lobster shines through in each bite.

Because the cold meat is mixed with mayo, I think of the Maine version as a lobster-salad roll.

Connecticut Lobster Rolls

Connecticut Lobster Roll Key Ingredients

Connecticut-style lobster rolls feature fresh lobster meat as the star; it may or may not come from Maine.

The meat is lightly dressed in melted butter. Some recipes include a dash of lemon juice for added zest.

Therefore, with only a couple of simple ingredients to enhance the flavor, the choice of lobster is even more crucial for the Connecticut version. Chefs typically choose a combination of warm claw and lobster-tail meat.

For all of you butter people, yes, it is OK to ask for extra butter. And if you have the chance to try a brown butter version, do it! But, you probably already knew that.

Temperature of a Connecticut-Style Roll

Since the Connecticut lobster salad recipe is mainly melted butter, Connecticut rolls are served with both warm lobster and warm roll.

What Does a Connecticut Lobster Roll Taste Like?

Heaven. Yup, two of my favorite foods, lobster and butter, on a toasted brioche. It does not get any better than this.

And in case that description was too subtle, the rich, buttery Connecticut lobster roll is my favorite. The sweet lobster meat really shines through.

But it’s a matter of personal preference. This may not be yours. To help you decide, I’ll summarize the differences for you.

Differences Between Maine and Connecticut Lobster Rolls

Maine lobster roll — Maine-style lobster roll

1. Lobster Salad Preparation

Maine and Connecticut lobster rolls feature distinct preparation styles.

Maine typically uses mayonnaise to bind the lobster meat. This creates a creamy texture. In contrast, Connecticut opts for melted butter, giving a rich flavor.

2. Lobster Salad Temperature

Lobster preparation also varies. While both use cooked lobster meat, Maine serves cold, chilled lobster and Connecticut serves warm lobster, straight from the pot.

Cooking methods influence tenderness too. Warm lobster tends to be more succulent, while cold lobster may feel firmer.

3. Taste and Texture

The texture of these rolls differs significantly. Maine's version offers a creamier mouthfeel due to mayonnaise. Conversely, Connecticut’s roll provides a more buttery and savory taste with its warm lobster meat.

Which Classic New England Lobster Roll will you choose?

You can't go wrong with either choice, as long as it’s a fresh lobster roll. Which one you decide on simply depends on your taste buds.

If you enjoy cold seafood salads, go for the Maine style. If you prefer rich and buttery flavors, opt for the Connecticut version.

Of course, the best way to choose a favorite is to try both! I’d love to hear what you decide. Please let me know in the comments!