The New England style bun comes piled high with fresh, hot, buttered lobster.
Lenny and Joe Goldberg claim their namesake restaurants have served over a million lobster rolls since opening in 1979. Known for hot, Connecticut-style, buttered lobster rolls, Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale has certainly won a place in many New Englanders’ hearts. I recently visited one of these eateries to get a taste of what many have called “the best lobster roll in Connecticut.”Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale in Westbrook, Connecticut.
Is Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale the Best Lobster Roll in Connecticut?
Come summertime, people travel far and wide to find New England’s best lobster rolls. For many, that means journeying to Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale for a “Connecticut–style” hot buttered lobster roll.
The Background
The “tale” of Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale goes like this: Brothers Lenny and Joe Goldberg grew up in a New Haven suburb and spent their early careers working in food service. After they graduated from college with degrees in political science, they began to dream of entering into the restaurant business together. In 1979 the brothers opened a seasonal clam stand along Route 1 in Madison, Connecticut, with a dining area that consisted of four picnic tables on a screened-in porch. After 10 successful years, they expanded and built the Madison “Drive-In” restaurant, which still stands today and is open seven days a week, all year round.Spotted on the window of the kitchen at Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale in Westbrook. Now, given that there are locations in Westbrook, Madison, and New Haven, a visit to Connecticut means you’ll likely be a stone’s throw away from a Fish Tale, and each offers a slightly different dining experience. The New Haven restaurant has a deck that juts right out onto Long Island Sound, the Westbrook spot offers an expansive indoor dining room, and the BYOB Madison location has the best of both worlds, with both an indoor and outdoor space.Me? I drove out to the Westbrook restaurant to grab a bite.
The Experience
According to longtime Yankee contributor and resident lobster roll expert Mike Urban, this “shoreline favorite still hits it out of the park with its generously portioned and buttered hot lobster roll, which is served on a toasted split-top New England–style hot dog bun with butter on the side.” Although the age-old argument over hot and cold lobster rolls may never find resolution, Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale has found a clear winner in the eyes of patrons. As Mike put it in his recent NewEngland.com roundup of favorite lobster rolls in Connecticut,they “serve a good cold lobster roll here, though the hot version outsells it 10 to 1.”I ordered the hot buttered lobster roll, which rang up at $17.95 and came with all the trusty sidekicks: coleslaw, thick french fries, ample butter, and a lemon wedge.The New England–style bun comes piled high with fresh, hot, buttered lobster.
The Verdict
This lobster roll lets the meat take center stage. If you advocate for soft, warm, nothing-but-butter-and-lobster rolls, you’ll be a fan of Lenny and Joe’s. The meat was fresh and generously portioned, especially considering the price tag. If you’re looking for a breezy, oceanside experience, try one of the other Fish Tale locations, since this spot doesn’t offer any seaside views. That said, even though the family-style restaurant was packed and there was a substantial wait for a table, the lobster roll arrived at my table in less than 10 minutes. Whether hot and buttered or cold and crisp, any affordable lobster roll that arrives quickly gets a thumbs-up from me.Have you ever been to Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale? Which location is your favorite?
As the Associate Digital Editor for Yankee Magazine, Katherine writes and edits content for NewEngland.com, manages the New England Today newsletter, and promotes Yankee Magazine on social media channels. A graduate of Smith College, Katherine grew up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and currently lives in Maine.
