Lobstercraft, the Connecticut-based chain of lobster-roll fast-food restaurants, opens its newest location at 981 Farmington Ave. in West Hartford Center on Friday. It is the fourth restaurant in the chain, which has locations in Fairfield and Greenwich and a delivery- and takeout-only ghost kitchen in Norwalk.
Michael Harden, the veteran lobster fisherman who founded Lobstercraft, said the menu is identical to Fairfield and Greenwich. One thing Lobstercraft fans will notice right away is higher prices than there used to be in those locations. This remedies a decades-long underpayment problem in the lobster trade, he said.
“Lobster prices have been steady year to year on average for many, many years. It fluctuates throughout the year but year to year it’s very similar,” said Harden. “Pricing for lobster, all the way down to the lobstermen, hasn’t changed. Guys have been getting the same price at the dock for 40 to 50 years.
“Now it’s starting to go up and they’re starting to make more money for their hard work. I feel pretty good about that,” said Harden, aka “Captain Mike.”
But lobster rolls never have been a budget lunch, and people who want lobster really want their lobster. Harden isn’t worried about sales. He said higher pricing “probably will end up as the new normal.”
Lobstercraft offers a wide variation on rolls. The “Coastal” roll, Connecticut-style, with hot buttered lobster in a toasted bun, sells for $29. That same roll with Serrano and Habanero peppers, called the “Heat Wave,” is $29.50. The “LBLT,” a hot dog bun BLT with lobster, is $31. A “California”-style roll with wasabi soy sauce, cucumber and avocado, is $31. Lobster tacos, with salsa, lettuce, tomato and avocado, are $28. The “Dirty Maynard,” a Maine-style cold lobster salad roll, is $29. A flight of sliders with one each of the Coastal, Heat Wave and Dirty Maynard is $35. Rolls are served with potato chips on the side.
Gluten-free lobster bisque is $9 for a cup and $32 for 32 ounces. Lobster mac-and-cheese ($24), lobster salad ($29) and a dinner for two to be heated up at home ($58) complete the lobster menu.
Non-seafood eaters can order a “Landlubber” steak grinder for $16. Sides include French fries, sweet potato fries and mac and cheese. Beer, wine and soft drinks are sold, including Hosmer Mountain sodas of Willimantic, New England Sea Hag of Woodbridge and Two Roads beer of Stratford. Chocolate chip cookies and Key Lime pie are offered as desserts.
Harden’s boats fish about two miles off Montauk, New York. His lobster is processed in Portland, Maine. Soups are made in Norwalk every day and brought up to West Hartford, along with the rolls. He said the West Hartford location has a warming kitchen, not a full kitchen, for foods sent up daily from Norwalk.
Lobstercraft has 24 seats outdoors and eight indoors, with two café tables on the sidewalk. Hours are Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. lobstercraft.com.
Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.
