And the lobster roll voted BEST in Newport Beach is…
By GARY SHERWIN
On a bright, slightly humid summer day in 2018, I was sitting in a weathered seafood place overlooking the water in what we affectionately call “The Other Newport,” Newport, Rhode Island.
I was taking a break from attending the city’s famous jazz festival when I ducked into this place for a short lunch before the next set. I took a peek at the menu, and there it was.
In large letters, it said, “Newport’s Best Lobster Roll.” I had never had one before, but given that I was in New England, I knew this was an iconic dish, and of course, I ordered one.
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Courtesy of Visit Newport Beach
Gary Sherwin
Simply put, it was glorious. It was served cold and there was a copious amount of large lobster spilling out over a soft and buttery brioche bun. It was unforgettable.
Fast-forward a few years, and now Newport Beach has adopted this dish seemingly everywhere. VEA, Pendry, Pelican Hill and Balboa Bay Resort all have it on their menus. When the new RH Ocean Grill opened last year at Fashion Island, they offered some mini rolls while sprinkling caviar on top, which is a very Newport Beach thing to do. Nearly everyone is seemingly onto this trend.
The decadence of large chunks of lobster served in a soft roll that can be consumed while gazing out to sea just seems to match the vibe of our casually elegant city.
So last week, Visit Newport Beach and Stu News, along with you dear readers, made the big call: Who has the Best Lobster Roll in the city?
The readers submitted their nominations, voted and then the top three went to the mat with a live taste test. We enlisted three foodie experts: Noted chef and TV food personality (and founder of the new gourmet food event here in town named “Relish”) Jamie Gwen, John Wortmann, a member of the Balboa Bay Club Board of Governors and the prestigious culinary Escoffier Society and Councilman Noah Blum, who owns several restaurants, including the very popular Arc Butcher & Baker, as well as a few more opening soon.
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Photo by Ed Olen/Courtesy of Visit Newport Beach
The judges used a specific set of criteria to judge the lobster roll finalists
Based on your voting, three finalists – Bluewater Grill, Circle Hook and Lighthouse Café – made the list. Each judge received a roll from each of the finalists served in a numbered container, so the judges had no idea from where the rolls came.
Thanks to Ashley Johnson, Visit Newport Beach’s Marketing Guru, a set of very specific criteria was developed, so the judges had to compare all the elements: the overall lobster quality, the texture of the bun, whether there was mayonnaise or if it was served raw, and if it was hot or cold.
I mean, this was serious business.
Our friend Ed Olen videoed the entire experience, which can be seen here:
In the end, the judges made their decision, and the clear winner was Lighthouse Café at Marina Park. All the judges applauded the taste, the seasonings and bun quality. While the jury enjoyed all the finalists, Lighthouse was a true favorite.
Now that the victor has been named, Stu News Publisher Tom Johnson and I will head to the Lighthouse shortly with the pretty impressive-looking Golden Trophy proclaiming them the Best Lobster Roll in the city. But if I were you, I’d also try the other two finalists’ creations, as they were pretty good, too.
Now that summer is in its waning days, we hope you can go out and try it for yourself and see if you agree. Food is a personal thing, and maybe you have your own favorite, but know that you have lots to choose from throughout Newport.
Are our Lobster Rolls as good as what I tasted that summer in Rhode Island? Honestly, I think so. All three finalists, in my opinion, were equal to my experience in the “other Newport.” It turns out, not surprisingly, that we do seafood pretty well, too.
So, what’s next? How about French fries? Everyone loves those. But let’s first celebrate and digest our winner here at Lighthouse. It’s yet another tasty reason to hang out at Marina Park on the peninsula.
Gary Sherwin is President & CEO of Visit Newport Beach.
