Lukes Lobster
Sandwiches just keep going up in prices. First it was banh mi for more than $5. Then it was Num Pang for $8 dollar sandwiches. And now we have Luke's Lobster with $14 dollar lobster rolls. Compared to normal lobster rolls at seafood restaurants, the price actually is more approachable. At restaurants lobster rolls are generally in the $30 dollar range, if not more. For $14, it's a good deal for the city. When you just compare it to other take-out sandwiches places though, you're looking at a very expensive sandwich. Then again, who else has lobster sandwiches?
If you don't want to shell out $14 for a taste of this new lobster roll, they offer half of a sandwich at $8 dollars. That's more like my price range. How much lobster do you get for $8 dollars? 2 ounces. You got that right. TWO ounces. Yes, those are two tasty tasty ounces. It's still difficult to wrap my head around spending $8 dollars on a toasted buttered bread and two ounces of lobster. It's really just a light snack.
A few things to note about Luke's lobster roll... it's minimally dressed. It wasn't smothered in mayo or anything like that. That's the one positive point about this sandwich. When you buy a lobster roll, you want them to feature the fresh lobster, instead of goopy mayo. For that, I give them props. However, I probably would have felt more sated if I had just eaten my 50mm lens. Or went to Chinatown for a 95 cent custard bun.
Luke's Lobster is definitely worth a try if you're in the village. Only you can decide for yourself whether 4oz for $14 or 2oz for $8 is worth it. I used to believe that if you paid $8 dollars for food, it should be 8x as good as something that cost only $1 dollar. Btw, all you math wizzes at home, $8 nets you 40 dumplings at Propsperity, and you don't pay tax because it's Chinatown.
Now that I'm older and my body breaks down more easily, I have more time to rethink my old ways as I'm relaxing under the healing powers of bacon Advil. It's not really about how much more food you could get in Chinatown for one dollar. It's about whether the experience of trying Luke's Lobster is worth $8 to YOU. Food enjoyment is clearly a personal experience, and value is determined by your own wallet. For me, Luke's will remain a treat, when I want a more high-end sandwich. Most of the time you can just make me happy with a banh mi though.
Luke's Lobster
93 E. 7th St.
New York, NY 10009
860-391-4123
wow, i didn't realize 2 oz is so little! And I was going to stop by and try this place...
kim
October 6, 2009 7:53 am
it looks delish. but i kinda think spending the extra $6 would be worth it. i think i would feel really unsatisfied if i spent $8 for a bite.
Jonathan
October 6, 2009 12:03 pm
I miss Maine! You'd get more than a whole lobster in one roll! They were filled so much that lobster pieces would fall out when you bit into the roll.
On another note, lobster is cheap now. Maybe a homemade lobster roll feast is in order.
hungry
October 6, 2009 1:03 pm
Yea, the price of lobster rolls in NYC restaurants are crazy considering lobster is so cheap now, but I guess people are willing to pay cause they don't want to go through the trouble at home and/or are squeamish about killing a lobster. It's small but I think I'm going to give Luke's a try. At least they offer a smaller option. Other places don't even.
bionicgrrrl
October 10, 2009 4:32 am
@Kim,
It is soooo small! I had no idea either. It was a little crazy, but sometimes you just have to try it and see if it's worth it.
@Jonathan,
You're probably right, the thing was that I wasn't even hungry when I went. haha. Lunch was only three hours prior. I was a bit unsatisfied after the $8 bite... I took really small bites to prolong the experience.
@hungry,
Is lobster cheap here in NY too? I really have to travel up to Maine and see what the real deal is!
Danny
October 7, 2009 9:26 pm
We'll never get as cheap as Maine. But thinking about the cost of going to Maine, it's cheap enough here. What are they now? About $4.99-$5.99/lb. Get two 1 lb. lobsters. Get some bread. And you got a cheap and HUGE lobster roll.
Hungry
October 8, 2009 1:10 pm
Thats so small...
Lobsters are cheap now. I actually ordered some online last christmas. I'm from BC, Canada and lobster here is still like $18/lb. I found a nice little website that sold lobster and had fresh live lobster delivered to my house for $11/lb shipping included!
the website was www.yourlobsterpot.com. we're definately planning a christmas eve lobster party this year
Joseph
October 19, 2009 1:30 pm