The lobster roll at Sanders Fish Market in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
The New Hampshire coastline is famously short, but despite its lack of miles it manages to have everything a good seacoast needs: picture-perfect water views, beautiful beaches, small towns, and at least one great little city for culture, shopping, and fine dining. In New Hampshire, that city is Portsmouth, and while it boasts some of the most talked-about eateries in the state, it’s also the ideal spot for enjoying a simple, fresh New England lobster roll. Just steps from the hustle and bustle of Market Square and the terrific Strawbery Banke Museum, you’ll find my favorite Portsmouth lobster roll at Sanders Fish Market.
Sanders Fish Market | Where to Find a Good Lobster Roll in Portsmouth, NH Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Featured in our Where to Find the Best New England Lobster Roll in Winterroundup for its year-round fresh lobster roll (or lobster sandwich, if you’re a stickler about lobster rolls being served only on New England hot dog buns), Sanders also nabbed a spot on our list of the 10 Best Seafood Markets in New Englandfor its daily fresh catch, including fish, shellfish, scallops, shrimp, lobster, crab, and seasonal items such as bluefish, shad roe, and smelts.
But let’s get back to the lobster roll, shall we? Here’s a look at my most recent lunch visit to Sanders Fish Market.
Sanders Fish Market | Where to Find a Good Lobster Roll in Portsmouth, NH
Sanders Fish Market sits on the Piscataqua River just a few minutes’ walk from Portsmouth’s bustling Market Square. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerBeyond made-to-order lobster rolls, Sanders has a case full of fresh fish, chowder, fish cakes, and more. It also carries gourmet foods, produce, snacks, and beverages. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerIn warmer months you can enjoy your food outside, but there’s a casual indoor seating area, too, with river and street views. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe Sanders Fish Market lobster roll features ¼ pound of fresh (never frozen) meat and comes on a buttered and toasted round roll. When you order, they’ll ask if you want lettuce and/or tomato. I would never want the tomato but didn’t mind the single leaf of lettuce for a little texture and to minimize bread sogginess. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerA pile of delicious and lightly dressed lobster meat. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThis is my favorite lobster roll I’ve had in Portsmouth so far. I even like that it’s more of a sandwich than a roll, because it lets me control the lobster-to-bread ratio in every bite. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Have you ever visited Sanders Fish Market? What’s your pick for the best lobster roll in Portsmouth, NH? Let us know!
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
