2 of the Hamptons' best lobster rolls are served right across the highway from each other, and the best one comes with bigger chunks of meat

Sophie-Claire HoellerJul 29, 2020, 05:24 IST

They both come with coleslaw and a lemon slice.Sophie-Claire Hoeller

Two seafood shacks in the Hamptons, New York, reign supreme: The Lobster Roll and Clam Bar.
Both are known for their lobster salad rolls, and they happen to sit right across the highway from each other, so we tried one at each eatery.
My husband, who helped with the taste test, preferred the lighter, more tangy lobster roll at Clam Bar, while I preferred the heftier, crunchier version at The Lobster Roll.
They're both delicious and a filling meal on their own.

Roadside seafood shacks are a Hamptons staple, and no two are more iconic than Clam Bar and The Lobster Roll.

The Lobster Roll — which is also affectionately known as Lunch, for the eponymous retro sign that welcomes visitors outside — has been open since 1965, while Clam Bar opened in 1981.

The two have been serving lobster rolls mere feet away from each other, on either side of Montauk Highway in Amagansett, New York, for almost 40 years.

Locals are divided on which is the best; the spot you frequent is telling, and it's rare to switch your regular haunt.

So, we put the two lobster rolls to the test by trying them side by side.

The Lobster Roll oozes Americana with its patriotic red, white, and blue awning. It features a beautiful, plant-covered outdoor patio that makes you forget just how close to the highway you're sitting.

The Lobster Roll's lunch sign is iconic, hence its nickname, Lunch (though it serves dinner, too). Sophie-Claire Hoeller

The Lobster Roll oozes Americana with its patriotic red, white, and blue awning. It features a beautiful, plant-covered outdoor patio that makes you forget just how close to the highway you're sitting.

You might recognize The Lobster Roll from Showtime series "The Affair," where the spot featured prominently as one of the main characters' workplace. Paper placemats brag about the show and the dozens of celebrities that have reportedly dined there.

My brother and I pose in front of the original, iconic sign in 2019. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

You might recognize The Lobster Roll from Showtime series "The Affair," where the spot featured prominently as one of the main characters' workplace. Paper placemats brag about the show and the dozens of celebrities that have reportedly dined there.

Clam Bar is a lot more low-key and describes itself on its website as "roadside rustic" with a "no-frills ambiance." It has outdoor dining only, at plastic tables in the shade of yellow-and-white umbrellas.

Clam Bar doesn't have any interior seating and is open during the summer only. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

Clam Bar is a lot more low-key and describes itself on its website as "roadside rustic" with a "no-frills ambiance." It has outdoor dining only, at plastic tables in the shade of yellow-and-white umbrellas.

The Lobster Roll is often credited with inventing the cold lobster roll, known as a lobster salad roll. It describes its version as "100% pure, cold-water lobster meat mixed with the finest mayonnaise and just enough celery for texture."

The Lobster Roll now has outdoor pickup, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

The Lobster Roll is often credited with inventing the cold lobster roll, known as a lobster salad roll. It describes its version as "100% pure, cold-water lobster meat mixed with the finest mayonnaise and just enough celery for texture."

Clam Bar, which describes its locally sourced lobster as having been "at the bottom of the ocean two hours before you ate it," says that its lobster salad roll has only three ingredients: lobster, mayonnaise, and celery.

You can order Clam Bar online for pickup. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

Clam Bar, which describes its locally sourced lobster as having been "at the bottom of the ocean two hours before you ate it," says that its lobster salad roll has only three ingredients: lobster, mayonnaise, and celery.

We ordered a lobster salad roll at each place (online at Clam Bar, and by phone at The Lobster Roll), swinging by both to pick them up 20 minutes later to eat at home.

With fries, they each cost $30. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

We ordered a lobster salad roll at each place (online at Clam Bar, and by phone at The Lobster Roll), swinging by both to pick them up 20 minutes later to eat at home.

With fries, they both ended up costing around $30. At The Lobster Roll, the roll itself is $27.95 and fries are $2.75. At Clam Bar, the roll is $26, and fries are $4.

They both had generous amounts of lobster (Lobster Roll is on the left, Clam Bar on the right). Sophie-Claire Hoeller

With fries, they both ended up costing around $30. At The Lobster Roll, the roll itself is $27.95 and fries are $2.75. At Clam Bar, the roll is $26, and fries are $4.

Both come on a toasted potato roll and with a side of coleslaw.

Lobster Roll's roll, on the right, has more celery, and a more toasted bun. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

The first thing we noticed was that the roll from Lobster Roll had bigger chunks of meat, more celery, and a more red hue. Its bun was also more toasted than that of Clam Bar.

Lobster Roll on the right, Clam Bar on the left, after we took a bite out of each. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

The first thing we noticed was that the roll from Lobster Roll had bigger chunks of meat, more celery, and a more red hue. Its bun was also more toasted than that of Clam Bar.

The coleslaw at Lobster Roll was monotone: At Clam Bar, the coleslaw had purple cabbage and shredded carrot mixed in.

They both come with coleslaw and a lemon slice. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

Both my husband, who helped me with this taste test, and I preferred the coleslaw at Lobster Roll, which was creamy and sweet. Its recipe definitely includes sugar.

The coleslaw from Lobster Roll looks a little bland, but it's sweet, creamy, and delicious. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

We found that the coleslaw at Clam Bar was a little more vinegary and tangy. Though lighter and more refreshing, I like my coleslaw creamy and heavy, like the one at The Lobster Roll.

The coleslaw at Clam Bar has purple and green cabbage and shredded carrot. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

We found that the coleslaw at Clam Bar was a little more vinegary and tangy. Though lighter and more refreshing, I like my coleslaw creamy and heavy, like the one at The Lobster Roll.

At first bite, the lobster rolls tasted nearly identical. The toasted buns certainly were, and both rolls featured generous, overflowing amounts of lobster meat.

They're both solid meals on their own. Soohie-Claire Hoeller

The Lobster Roll's roll had a little more heft to it: It was chewier, thanks to its bigger pieces of lobster. It also had a little more crunch, in my opinion, as it featured slightly more celery.

Lobster Roll's roll has big chunks of lobster meat. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

The Lobster Roll's roll had a little more heft to it: It was chewier, thanks to its bigger pieces of lobster. It also had a little more crunch, in my opinion, as it featured slightly more celery.

Clam Bar's roll had lobster that was a little more shredded, and thus felt more like eating an actual lobster salad, in my opinion. It had a little more bite and a slight tang to it, and tasted a touch saltier and more seasoned to me.

The lobster meat on Clam Bar's roll was a little more shredded and tasted more seasoned to me. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

Clam Bar's roll had lobster that was a little more shredded, and thus felt more like eating an actual lobster salad, in my opinion. It had a little more bite and a slight tang to it, and tasted a touch saltier and more seasoned to me.

My husband preferred the lobster roll at the Clam Bar, calling it "lighter" and "refreshing," despite it having the same amount, if not slightly more, mayo.

Clam Bar's lobster roll had a more tangy touch. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

For me, the roll at The Lobster Roll had the edge thanks to its big and chewy chunks of lobster meat. Every bite was hefty and satisfying.

The Lobster Roll's roll offered hefty bites of lobster. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

That said, they are truly both perfect lobster rolls, and solid, filling meals on their own. You really can't go wrong with either.

At the restaurants, it may just come down to the ambiance. Sophie-Claire Hoeller

Read more:
A winery in the Hamptons sells drive-thru rosé that's the perfect socially distanced way to stock up
I spent a single night in a camper van with my husband and have a newfound appreciation for people who do it full-time
Summer travel won't be canceled this year, experts say — but they predict it will look very different
My husband and I turned a dilapidated cabin into a dreamy beach house with virtually no DIY experience
This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author(s).

Read more:
A winery in the Hamptons sells drive-thru rosé that's the perfect socially distanced way to stock up
I spent a single night in a camper van with my husband and have a newfound appreciation for people who do it full-time
Summer travel won't be canceled this year, experts say — but they predict it will look very different
My husband and I turned a dilapidated cabin into a dreamy beach house with virtually no DIY experience
This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author(s).

A couple lives in a 187-square-foot school bus with 2 kids and a dog

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

2 of the Hamptons' best lobster rolls are served right across the highway from each other, and the best one comes with bigger chunks of meat

The Lobster Roll oozes Americana with its patriotic red, white, and blue awning. It features a beautiful, plant-covered outdoor patio that makes you forget just how close to the highway you're sitting.

You might recognize The Lobster Roll from Showtime series "The Affair," where the spot featured prominently as one of the main characters' workplace. Paper placemats brag about the show and the dozens of celebrities that have reportedly dined there.

Clam Bar is a lot more low-key and describes itself on its website as "roadside rustic" with a "no-frills ambiance." It has outdoor dining only, at plastic tables in the shade of yellow-and-white umbrellas.

The Lobster Roll is often credited with inventing the cold lobster roll, known as a lobster salad roll. It describes its version as "100% pure, cold-water lobster meat mixed with the finest mayonnaise and just enough celery for texture."

Clam Bar, which describes its locally sourced lobster as having been "at the bottom of the ocean two hours before you ate it," says that its lobster salad roll has only three ingredients: lobster, mayonnaise, and celery.

We ordered a lobster salad roll at each place (online at Clam Bar, and by phone at The Lobster Roll), swinging by both to pick them up 20 minutes later to eat at home.

With fries, they both ended up costing around $30. At The Lobster Roll, the roll itself is $27.95 and fries are $2.75. At Clam Bar, the roll is $26, and fries are $4.

Both come on a toasted potato roll and with a side of coleslaw.

The first thing we noticed was that the roll from Lobster Roll had bigger chunks of meat, more celery, and a more red hue. Its bun was also more toasted than that of Clam Bar.

The coleslaw at Lobster Roll was monotone: At Clam Bar, the coleslaw had purple cabbage and shredded carrot mixed in.

Both my husband, who helped me with this taste test, and I preferred the coleslaw at Lobster Roll, which was creamy and sweet. Its recipe definitely includes sugar.

We found that the coleslaw at Clam Bar was a little more vinegary and tangy. Though lighter and more refreshing, I like my coleslaw creamy and heavy, like the one at The Lobster Roll.

At first bite, the lobster rolls tasted nearly identical. The toasted buns certainly were, and both rolls featured generous, overflowing amounts of lobster meat.

The Lobster Roll's roll had a little more heft to it: It was chewier, thanks to its bigger pieces of lobster. It also had a little more crunch, in my opinion, as it featured slightly more celery.

Clam Bar's roll had lobster that was a little more shredded, and thus felt more like eating an actual lobster salad, in my opinion. It had a little more bite and a slight tang to it, and tasted a touch saltier and more seasoned to me.

My husband preferred the lobster roll at the Clam Bar, calling it "lighter" and "refreshing," despite it having the same amount, if not slightly more, mayo.

For me, the roll at The Lobster Roll had the edge thanks to its big and chewy chunks of lobster meat. Every bite was hefty and satisfying.

That said, they are truly both perfect lobster rolls, and solid, filling meals on their own. You really can't go wrong with either.