Here's What Sets Connecticut-Style Lobster Rolls Apart From The Others

When the summer months begin to approach, there are many things that people look forward to — aside from the eternal sunshine, of course. Iced coffee becomes a need, not a want; weekend trips to the beach become more frequent, and certain foods begin to appear on menus once again. If you live by the coast, one of the most sought-after dishes is the humble lobster roll.

For the most part, a lobster roll recipe features two main ingredients: chunks of tender lobster meat and the bread roll itself. But while it may sound like a simple dish, it's very important to make sure those two components are prepared just right. As Michael Landgarten, the owner of Bob's Clam Hut in Maine, told Men's Journal, "lobster quality is very important." He added that people should "use just shucked hard shell knuckle and claw lobster meat" and make sure "the lobster is steamed but not overcooked." Even if you're far from New England, you can purchase some of the absolute best lobster rolls all over the United States.

Surrounding this simple yet luxurious dish is an age-old debate: Connecticut vs. Maine (via Food Network). Both of these New England states prepare the bun and lobster meat in different ways. For the most part, people tend to prefer one style over the other — but what defines a Connecticut-style lobster roll compared to the Maine variety?

There are two differences that set Connecticut and Maine-style lobster rolls apart. The first is the way that the lobster meat is prepared. On Maine-style lobster rolls, the lobster meat is dressed with mayonnaise, and occasionally, various greens or herbs are mixed in, including celery, scallions, and tarragon, as the Food Network notes. The Connecticut-style roll keeps things simple with only one additional ingredient: The lobster is tossed in warm, melted butter. The second key difference between the two lobster rolls is that the Maine-style lobster roll is served cold, while the Connecticut-style lobster roll is served hot.

While the Maine-style roll is the sandwich that the Connecticut roll is most often compared to, there's also a third, lesser-known lobster roll: the Manhattan lobster roll. According to Lobster Anywhere, the Manhattan roll is practically identical to the Maine-styled roll. It is served cold with mayo and occasionally celery.

As for which lobster roll is more popular? The jury is still out. Many restaurants choose to serve the rolls both ways, allowing customers to order their style of choice. At Arnold's Restaurant Lobster and Clam Bar in Eastham, Massachusetts, "the cold lobster roll is still the most popular, but not by a big margin," according to the owner, Nate Nickerson (via Delish). Meanwhile, at Neptune Oyster in Boston's North End, the Connecticut-style roll gets three times as many orders as the Maine-style sandwich (via Boston).