Take That, Maine — ATL Chef Makes Best Lobster Roll

ATLANTA — The Mainers may not have liked it. But Atlanta's reputation as a great food town got a surprising, big boost last weekend, when a local chef took top honors in Maine's own quest to crown the best lobster roll.

Andrew Isabella, executive chef at BeetleCat, Ford Fry's oyster bar and cocktail lounge in Virginia Highlands, took top honors at Down East magazine's World's Best Lobster Roll competition in Portland, Maine. Isabella made a roll with fresh Maine lobster meat served on a toasted slider bun.

Ten semifinalists, including last year's winners from Utah, competed at the event Saturday, with chefs coming from as far away as Paris, France.

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While we all know what a foodie haven Atlanta has become, the result was, let's say, a bit surprising for folks up in Maine, where lobster roll is a regional specialty. (The top competitors from Maine finished in third.)

And they were more than a little defensive about the whole thing.

"Most Maine restaurants probably don't even participate," one follower wrote on the magazine's Facebook post announcing the winner. "This is their peak season, and they don't have the time or staff to spare. We know who's best anyway!"

"... those famous Georgia lobster rolls," wrote another, with what we're guessing was more than a little bit of snark.

"Maine has been inundated with hipster doofus foodie syndrome," snarled a third.

But some folks who were actually there had high praise for Isabella.

"Congrats to Beetlecat ... awesome lobster roll. Got my vote," one follower wrote.

At the event, more than 400 attendees tasted all 10 of the finalists, then voted on their favorite.

Beetlecat, opened in 2015, is located at 299 North Highland Ave. in Atlanta.

Photo by Dave Dostie/Courtesy Down East magazine.