LobsterCraft Opens New Restaurant In Downtown Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — LobsterCraft, which started as a food truck in 2012, recently opened its newest brick-and-mortar location at 1814 Post Road in Fairfield, the company's four spot.

Captain Mike Harden, a licensed lobster fisherman out of Norwalk, started the chain by selling delicious hot buttered lobster rolls from the food truck, and the business has grown into a hit.

The other Connecticut locations are in Greenwich and West Hartford; there is also a site in Sarasota, Florida, and a fifth restaurant is scheduled to open on Block Island later this month.

"This has been a great ride!" Harden said in a statement. "When the lobsters died off in Long Island Sound, and I still had bills to pay, it was time to go to work! I loved the boating and lobstering, but we needed to make ends meet and the only other passion I had to offer was cooking. When I found the food truck, it all came together – cooking, the interaction with people, my addiction to their joyful response, and all while being able to support the lobster industry. It's been a journey of ebbs and flows. One truck, then two, then two stores, then back to one truck. But I always knew we had a winning formula so I pressed on. One might say I became an 'accidental restaurateur.' Ten years later, we are growing in all directions!"

LobsterCraft's signature lobster roll, the "Coastal Roll," has been featured on Food Network and Flavored Nation as "The Best CT Style Hot Buttered Lobster Roll in the Country," according to the company. It is made with "the best soft toasted buns filled with the freshest and sweetest claw and knuckle lobster meat bathed in butter."

From the LobsterCraft announcement:

Lobster roll cravings are also satisfied with customer favorites such as the Heat Wave laced with serrano and habanero pepper infused butter, the LBLT filled with lobster, bacon, lettuce, and tomato, and topped with garlic aioli, and the Dirty Maynard, a Maine-style cold lobster salad roll dressed in seasoned mayonnaise. And no matter the style, the lobster remains front and center. Lobster mania specialties include tacos, sliders, creamy mac-n-cheese, grilled cheese, pot pie, bisque, and scratch-made creamy New England/Newport style clam chowder brimming with locally sourced Copps Island clams from Norm Bloom & Sons in Norwalk, CT.

While the LobsterCraft brand expands upon its concept, its deep roots within the lobster/fishing community remain. Sourcing from local fishermen is a company standard. Captain Mike and his crew continue to make those long hauls up and down the coastline, sourcing the best, sustainable, cold-water lobster possible from Montauk to Maine.

For more information, visit www.lobstercraft.com.