The Lobster Pot is Now Open, Celebrating Their 40th Year Serving Provincetown

This fine lobster was flambéed in brandy and roasted to perfection.

As May rolls around, Provincetown's 2019 season begins with favorite restaurants, like the Lobster Pot, springing open.
A friend took me there on Saturday, insisting that we needed to kick off the season with a little "lobster celebration." She was right.
We had a delightful meal in the upstairs dining room, with that fabulous view, watching the twilight slowly taking over as the Long Point lighthouse and various lights around the harbor flickered on.
With a few boats on the water lighting up as well, and the flock of people strolling Commercial Street, and with the throng of diners and revelers packing into the restaurant, it felt like the summer season was off to a pretty good start. 
A large, festive crowd had gathered at The Top of the Pot, celebrating the Kentucky Derby with a cocktail or two, and watching the race on the TVs at the bar as they each cheered on their favorite horse. There were folks with costumes or props, too, like top hats, outrageous jewelry, and even fur coats, since it was a bit chilly out. But I also saw sleeveless summer frocks paired with huge, flowery hats, despite the 49 degree temperature and a wind chill much lower. There's no one braver than a drag queen. 
 

I love the fresh bread basket at "The Pot."

Our dinner started off with the Lobster Pot's great bread basket, with dinner rolls, a crispy, herbed flatbread, and their signature pumpkin bread, made daily in their own kitchen.
We each ordered a house salad, served with a carousel of their from-scratch dressings. Most Townies, myself included, will tell you they drizzle a little toasted sesame dressing and creamy garlic on their salad for a unique taste. I'm also fond of the blue cheese.
My friend ordered a pound-and-a-half pan roasted lobster, pictured above. It's served on a pool of fine herb butter sauce, which has a surprising bit of sweetness to it, probably from the brandy they use to flambé the lobster before they slide it into the oven to roast. Served with roasted red potatoes, this is a very popular dish.

Being a bit of a purist, I most often order my lobster steamed (sometimes referred to as "boiled,") which is the old-fashioned cooking method that has made New England lobsters famous the world over. It's the simplest possible preparation of this noble crustacean, unadorned except for a dip in melted butter and maybe a squeeze of lemon. The deep, cold waters surrounding Provincetown are just right for raising happy, sweet, succulent lobsters.

This beautiful lobster was bigger than it looked on this huge platter.

My steamed lobster weighed in at 2 1/4 pounds, cooked perfectly, served with a side of roasted red potatoes.
Any size lobster in the tank can easily be served in myriad preparations, but part of the fun for me is in cracking it open myself, and spending 40 minutes or more, depending on its size, digging out all of those tasty morsels.
Since the two-pounders were all sold out, I happily bumped up my order. The biggest one in the tank on this night was a portly 11 pounds.

Of course, the Lobster Pot also serves a few wonderful Portuguese specialties, along with chicken, steak, burgers, vegetarian choices, and there's a gluten-free menu, too. "The Pot" serves nearly any kind of seafood you can name, any way you can imagine. Lobster alone is done in over two-dozen ways, from bisque to bouillabaisse, from lobster ravioli to lobster mac n' cheese.
There are great desserts as well, plus a full service bar, attentive service, and a view of the water from nearly every table. And the McNulty family couldn't be more gracious hosts. All of these things have made the Lobster Pot a favorite Provincetown restaurant ever since they opened their doors in 1979. We welcome them back for the 2019 season, as they celebrate their 40th year serving our community in so many ways.
There's no better place in town to get your lobster fix. Bon appétit! 

Bem-vindo ao Provincetown! It's PTown's Annual Portuguese Festival, Thru Sunday.

Portuguese flags and dancers in native costumes will be seen on PTown streets
during our 2017 Portuguese Festival and the 70th Annual Blessing of the Fleet.

Provincetown’s yearly Portuguese Festival, and the 70^th annual Blessing of the Fleet, will be taking over PTown's streets and harbor from now until Sunday night. Ryder Street, next to Town Hall, will be closed to vehicle traffic as Portuguese Square once again colorfully comes to life.

A stage area is being assembled and cables stretched to accommodate singers, musicians and Portuguese dancers in native costume. Over the next several days and evenings this spot will host face painting, a puppet band, live samba music for dancing and many other events.

Squid stew with a crust of bread and oyster crackers goes great with a
sandwich of grilled linguica and a bit of mustard on a fresh Portuguese roll.

We’ll find Portuguese food, a lobster bake and a dinner party showcasing dishes from several great local restaurants, all under a giant tent at the Bas Relief park, with comedy and music turning up there as well.
There will be a band concert in front of Town Hall, as well as a concert of Fado music inside. We’ll have a parade on Commercial Street, along with the procession from St. Peter the Apostle Church to MacMillan Pier on Sunday for the Blessing of the Fleet, featuring marchers carrying banners honoring our local fishing vessels, both past and present.

In the 1960s,Provincwtown had a few hundred kids in school, and no shortage
of young Catholic boys to make a lengthy procession from the church to the
pier for the Blessing of the Fleet, which was also much larger in those days. 

On Sunday a special Fishermen’s Mass at the Catholic church will lead up to a sort of parade of boats in the harbor, where boats line up to proceed past the end of the pier, where the priest blesses each one for safety on the water and a bountiful fishing season. Anybody, in any kind of boat, is welcome to participate. Decorating your boat is encouraged, with recognition for the one judged to have the best decorations. That makes the procession of the boats being blessed more fun as well.

This postcard of the Blessing of the Fleet dates to about the 1940s.

Music, along with more Portuguese dancers, and, of course, much more Portuguese food will be found on the pier as well, and giant puppets are likely to be found wandering the streets at some point during the festival. All in all, more than 30 events are scheduled, with more than 20 of them absolutely free! There are events and games tailored to kids and families, and plenty for adults, too. And anyone with a stomach will find oodles of dinners, parties and food courts to satisfy any appetite.

Giant puppets are likely to turn up around town.

One of my favorite events is the Portuguese soup tasting, with the chance to try soups from many Outer Cape restaurants, and just $7 for all you'd care to eat. This event also includes entertainment by the Dory Bar Blues Band. 
The Fado concert and band concerts are always excellent. I hope to get to the lobster bake as well, and the food courts at the Bas Relief, behind Town Hall, and the Tasca cafe set up at the end of the pier.
Dancers in elaborate, traditional costumes will perform at Portuguese Square, on the pier, and will appear in the parade as well. Don't miss the chance to enjoy this splendid bit of Portuguese heritage. 
Get out and enjoy this wonderful time in Provincetown, celebrating the fishermen and other Portuguese settlers who brought their beautiful culture to this little New England fishing village.
Check out the full schedule of events for the 2017 festival and 70^th Annual Blessing of the Fleet, below. I’ll update it if I find out new info about events slated for the Surf Club, which was damaged in the Memorial Day fire.

• Thursday, June 22, 2017

5:00pm - 10:00pm

Seamen’s Bank Compartilhe Na Nossa Mesa or “Share Our Table”. A showcase of Provincetown’s best restaurants held under the Seamen’s Bank Tent at the Bas Relief near Portuguese Square. Music by the New Beach Band. Reservations are required.

 8:00pm - 10:00pm

Dancing to the music of the New Beach Band under the Seamen’s Bank Tent at the Bas Relief near Portuguese Square. Tickets at the door are $5.

• Friday, June 23, 2017

12:00pm - 2:00pm

Capt. Manny Phillips Fishing Derby for Kids at MacMillan Pier. A Free event!

12:00pm - 3:00pm

Portuguese Soup Tasting the Seamen’s Bank Tent at the Bas Relief near Portuguese Square. It features soup from fine restaurants in Provincetown, Truro & Wellfleet! Entertainment by the Dory Bar Blues Band at the Bas Relief. All you can eat for $7. Tickets at the door.

 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Face Painting in Portuguese Square. A Free event!

2:00pm - 4:00pm

Portuguese Writers & Poets read at the Harbor Lounge. Harbor Lounge is located at 359 Commercial street across from the Public Library. A free event!

2:30pm - 4:00pm

The Great Lobster Crate Race for kids of all ages at MacMillan Pier. A free event!

3:00pm - 6:00pm

Music & Dancing on stage in Portuguese Square. A free event!

5:00pm - 8:00pm

The Lobster Pot restaurant & Cape Tip Seafood presents the Lobster Bake in Seamen’s Bank Tent at the Bas Relief near Portuguese Square Fest on Twin Lobsters and more for $30 plus a cash bar for oysters, clams and shrimp. Beer & Wine available too. No Reservations required. Brought to you by The Lobster Pot and Cape Tip Seafoods.

6:30pm - 7:30pm

Music for all ages with Rick Anthony on stage in Portuguese Square. A free event!

8:00pm - 10:00pm

Music for all ages with on stage in Portuguese Square. A free event!

9:00pm - 1:00am

Homecoming Get Together with the Old Jug Band at the Surf Club. A Free event!

• Saturday, June 24, 2017

10:00am - 12:00pm

Motta Family Kids Games & Cookout at Motta Field. A great place for the whole family to enjoy fun and food. A free event!

10:30am - 2:00pm

Live Entertainment and Portuguese Dancers in Portuguese Square. Free!

11:30am - 7:30pm

Lions Club Portuguese Food Court in Seamen’s Bank Tent at the Bas Relief near Portuguese Square. A feast of Portuguese food and more plus beer, wine and music. Food & Beverages are priced individually. No cover charge!

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Entertainment for kids of all ages by the Toe Jam Puppet Band. A favorite with the little ones! It’s on stage in Portuguese Square. A free event!

3:00pm - 5:00pm

Portuguese Festival Parade on Commercial Street. A highlight of the Festival with a fantastic group of Dancers, Musicians, Floats and more will start at the Harbor Hotel and travel through town to Franklin Street. Come early to get a good spot!

4:30pm - 5:30pm

Entertainment in Portuguese Square continues A Free event!

6:30pm - 7:30pm

Comedy by the Portuguese Kids in the Lions Club Portuguese Food Court under the Seamen’s Bank Tent at the Bas Relief near Portuguese Square. A free event!

7:30pm - 9:30pm

An early evening FADO concert at the Provincetown Town Hall. Courtesy of the Provincetown Banner, enjoy amazing performances of traditional Portuguese folk music! Contributions at the door are appreciated! Town Hall is a handicapped accessible building.

9:00pm - 12:30am

Cap off a great day with live SAMBA music under the stars! Join the fun and dance the night away in Portuguese Square. A free event!

• Sunday, June 25, 2017

10:30am - 11:30am

Fishermen’s Mass at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown. Celebrated by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha S.D.V

11:30am - 12:30pm

Portuguese Dancers perform authentic routines wearing fabulous costumes in Lopes Square while you wait for the Procession. A free event!

12:00pm - 1:00pm

After Mass at St. Peter the Apostle Church a Procession leaves as a group for the short walk to MacMillan Pier for the 70th annual Blessing of the Fleet. They are bearing banners that honor the fishing fleet past & present.

12:00pm - 4:00pm

TASCA Portuguese Cafe on MacMillan Pier. Sample the taste of Portugal with a host of delicacies including a Beer & Wine cash bar!

1:00pm - 3:00pm

Follow up the Blessing with Portuguese Music and Dancers! They are performing out on MacMillan Pier. A free event!

1:00pm

70th Blessing Of The Fleet. Honoring a tradition in Provincetown, boats decked out in their finest parade before Bishop Edgar Da Cunha S.D.V. to receive their blessing. The fleet will be judged for their decorations too. A free event!

4:00pm - 5:00pm

Enjoy a Traditional Band Concert in front of Town Hall featuring St. Anthony’s Band from Cambridge, its a free event!

4:00pm - 7:00pm

Get Together and celebrate the last day of the Festival at the Surf Club at the foot of MacMillan Pier. Ed Sheridan and friends will be performing live. A free event!

The Hot Lobster Roll at The Coffee Pot Warms This Cool Provincetown Weather

In PTown, The Coffee Pot's hot lobster roll is a delicious lunch time bargain.

This big, hot lobster roll at The Coffee Pot really hits the spot as PTown weather begins cooling off with the changing season. I added an order of their terrific French fries, too. Fresh from the fryer and still sizzling, these are some of the best in town.
This very generous lobster roll starts with a big bun that's split open and grilled a bit, face down. The tender inside gets warm and toasty, and the outside is just a bit crusty, and perfect for the delicate filling that's coming…
It's lined with a leaf of fresh iceberg lettuce, then stuffed with 6 ounces of succulent, warm lobster meat doused with melted butter. This great sandwich is so simple, but sooo good! It has about 50% more lobster than most others in town, and the textures of the bun and filling are great together. Add a little crunch from an order of fries and this satisfying lunch or supper has got you covered, all for a price that's less than most others as well. You just can't beat it.
Find the Coffee Pot at Lopes Square, in the heart of Provincetown, where Standish Street crosses Commercial and heads down toward the pier. Eat-in or takeout, or carry your meal out to their patio seating for a little people watching while you eat. You might get one of their fresh baked goodies for dessert, too.

Check Out This Lobster Bargain at PTown's Post Office Café

The Post Office Café lobster special is among Provincetown's best deals, just $18.

I stopped in for lunch at the Post Office Café the other day, just in time for their lobster special. I got the last one before their afternoon delivery would arrive a few minutes later, bringing in another batch of lively lobsters, right out of the water.

My fresh, tender, local lobster was served with coleslaw in a light, mayo-based dressing with just a slight sweetness to it. I’m not a big fan of coleslaw, but I ate every bite of this one. There was also a big ear of corn on the cob, and this quintessential New England seafood meal is just $18 when ordered with a drink of $3.50 or more. I had an Arnold Palmer, blending a big, frosty glass of iced tea with pink lemonade. Other soft drinks are also available, along with beer and wine, and an array of specialty coffee drinks and cocktails from their full bar.

P O's Arnold Palmer, made with pink lemonade.

Seating at the Post Office Café is indoors or outdoors on their patio, or you can grab a stool at the bar, and if you have dinner here, you’ll get priority seating for shows in the Post Office Cabaret, above the dining room. There will be a full lineup of performers of all sorts for Columbus Day and Women’s Week celebrations, October 10^th to 16^th, so keep an eye on the marquee box in front of the P O to plan the shows you’ll want to see.

In the meantime, stop in for a lobster while this special is going on. I’ve read all the ads I can find, and searched menus in other Cape Cod towns I’ve visited recently, and haven’t found a better deal on a lobster lunch or dinner anywhere on the Cape. Bon appétit!

PTown's Best Lobster Roll, Chapter Two

As I mentioned in chapter one of this series, choosing the best lobster roll from all of the dozens available in Provincetown is quite subjective, and depends on individual tastes. So I'll continue to describe them, and you can see which ones look and sound the best to you as we make our way around the town.
This week's chapter on lobster rolls is written entirely at The Red Shack, a little walk-up counter service joint at Lopes Square. It has no seating of its own, but you can usually find a seat on the benches that surround the square, or sometimes I'll carry my meal to the far end of the municipal parking lot adjacent to Lopes Square, and find a spot beneath the trees on the benches that span the width of a tiny town park that runs right along the edge of Provincetown Harbor, stretching between MacMillan Pier and Fishermen's Wharf. I'll watch all the whale watch boats, the ferries, and the Long Point Shuttle coming in and out of the harbor while I enjoy my meal sitting right at the edge of the water, with a seagull or two waiting to see if I drop anything.
Each of the lobster rolls in this week's chapter comes from The Red Shack, serving it five different ways, each one having 4 ounces of choice lobster meat, mostly the claws and knuckles. Each sandwich sells for $13.95, and each is served on a large Portuguese roll, made daily at the Portuguese bakery, right around the corner at 299 Commercial Street. That's a great spot to stop for a little dessert after your lobster roll, too.

We'll start with The Red Shack's Classic Lobster Roll, simply lobster dressed in a just a little mayo, with a bit of chopped scallion, served with leafy green lettuce and sliced tomatoes.

Next is The Connecticut, served hot with just the naked lobster, drizzled with melted butter on a toasted bun, plain and simple, one of their best selling lobster rolls.

The Californian has a bit of mayo and crumbled bacon mixed in with the lobster, served on leafy lettuce and sliced tomato, and topped with sliced avocado.

The Moroccan has a bit of mild, yellow curry and a touch of mint mixed in with the mayo, along with a few chopped scallions and a bit of pineapple. This one's served on a toasted bun, and a tasty way to have your lobster if you're a bit adventurous.

The Mexican has a mild salsa and a bit of cilantro along with leafy green lettuce and sliced tomatoes. It's just a bit of spice, and different from any other lobster roll in town.





The Red Shack is open daily in season for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and they sell a lot of lobster rolls, with some choices that are very different from others in town, so stop in and give them a whirl.

PTown's Best Lobster Roll, Chapter One

There's some pretty stiff competition for best lobster roll in Provincetown, with some surprising differences between some of them, and the title of "best" is pretty subjective.
It may take four or five installments to taste our way around the town on a quest for the best. We'll start our odyssey with five of them, each served with a side dish, and three of these are among the largest lobster rolls in PTown. Here we go…

Pepe's serves a tasty, BIG lobster roll and excellent fries.

The lobster roll at Pepe's Wharf
is nearly the biggest in town, weighing in at 5 1/2 ounces of choice lobster meat, mostly the claws and knuckles, dressed in a tiny bit of lemon aioli and just a hint of Old Bay seasoning, and it's delicious, with a slightly different flavor than any other in town. No lettuce, just a sprig of parsley, on a roll that's been toasted a bit in the oven.
It's served with a lemon wedge and a mound of fries that have been barely dusted in a bit of flour, making them extra crispy on the outside with insides that kind of melt in your mouth. They're finished with a sprinkle of kosher salt, and are some of the best fries in PTown.
This plate filled me up, which doesn't always happen with the average lobster roll, which generally has 4 ounces of lobster, so at $21, this is a strong contender for the title of best lobster roll, at a good price for a filling meal. Open seasonally for lunch and dinner at 371 Commercial Street, Pepe's Wharf has table service indoors and out, on two decks right at the edge of magnificent Provincetown Harbor.

The Canteen's lobster roll on brioche bun, with slaw and pickle.

The Canteen makes their lobster roll with 4 ounces of impeccably fresh lobster meat mixed with a little mayo and a bit of chopped celery, served on a brioche roll, sprinkled with fresh chives snipped from their garden. It's served alongside their herby Asian slaw and a house made pickle spear. They'll also serve it hot, just the naked lobster meat drizzled with butter.
You can taste how fresh the lobster is. At the height of the summer, The Canteen has been known to have live lobsters delivered to them twice a day, steaming and shucking a batch in time to keep up with demand for this popular plate, which will cost you $18.99. Many folks name this one as their favorite lobster roll. Read my first blog about The Canteen on their opening day last year. The Canteen is a walk-up, counter service restaurant with seating indoors and out, with a new deck looking out over the harbor, open seasonally 11 AM till about 11 PM daily at 225 Commercial Street.

Mac's lobster roll has the barest little bit of dressing so far.

Mac's makes their cold lobster roll with 4 ounces of hand picked lobster dressed with barely any lemon aioli, a little shallot and a little celery. It's served on a crisp lettuce leaf in a hot dog style brioche roll, which you can have toasted or not. This is one of the least dressed lobster rolls found in Provincetown, and sooo fresh. It comes with a lemon wedge, a pickle spear, and a pile of their medium-thin, crispy fries for $19, and it filled me up.

At $27, this is still not the costliest lobster roll in PTown.

Mac's also makes a hot version of their lobster roll, with a whopping 6 ounces of lobster sautéed in garlic butter with lemon and parsley. It comes with that huge pile of fries and will set you back $27, not quite the most expensive lobster roll in town.
Mac's has a firm policy of buying as much of their seafood as possible from small, independent, local fishermen who each practice sustainable methods of harvesting the catch, so they're likely to spend a little more to bring you seafood of this quality and conscience.
Mac's is found at 85 Shank Painter Road, with table service indoors and out, and a busy takeout window as well. I got each of these orders to go. Mac's has plenty of free parking, open daily for lunch and dinner all summer.

Vorelli's great lobster roll is big, and a bargain at $18.95.

Vorelli's makes their excellent lobster roll with 5 ounces of lobster chunks tossed with a lemon infused mayo. It's served on crisp lettuce leaves in a big fluffy roll that's been toasted in the oven, with a pickle spear and a bag of chips for $18.95.
This sandwich has 25% more lobster than the average 4 ounce serving, and somehow more flavor than others I've tried. The texture of the bun is also part of the reason that this is among my favorite lobster rolls in PTown. Vorelli's is located in a charming, historic building at 226 Commercial Street, open daily for lunch and dinner in season.

So there's the first chapter in our search for PTown's best Lobster roll. Next week we'll visit The Red Shack, which serves lobster rolls five different ways. Call TheYearRounder at 424•23P•TOWN, or e-mail me at theyearrounder@gmail.com with your favorites, so I can try each one for future chapters. Soon we'll also make the rounds for PTown's best breakfast sandwiches, so call, textl or e-mail with your faves.

Last Call for PTown Summer Favorites

The Red Shack's hot lobster roll is crazy good.

Columbus Day and Women's Week bring the 2013 season to a close for a number of PTown businesses. This is the last hurrah for some of our 90 delis, restaurants and bakeries as they get ready to board up for the winter.
The Red Shack, on Lopes Square, will stay open through women's week this year. I was just there the other day for a hot lobster roll before they close. They make it on a big toasty roll, freshly baked each morning at the Portuguese Bakery, right around the corner. They stuff it with big chunks of lobster meat, whole claws and knuckles, with a little melted butter. Heavenly... And now that I know they're open for another week, maybe I can get there for another one before they close.

Provincetown's Best Lobster Roll May Well Be at John's Footlong, a Best Bite

I had read and heard many times that a lot of folks think that the lobster roll at John's Footlong is the best in Provincetown, so after having tasted many lobster rolls all around the town this summer, I finally had to taste John's for myself. I believe the claims of countless Townies are correct, because out of all the many lobster rolls I tried over the course of the summer, the one at John's Footlong was my very favorite. Who would have thought it?
It was absolutely brimming over (just as everything served at John's is brimming over) with enormous, tender chunks of sweet, plump lobster claws and knuckles, mixed only with the barest little bit of mayonnaise and piled onto a couple of garden-fresh, crisp lettuce leaves which sat atop an equally fresh, nicely grilled New England style hot dog bun... a purist's delight.
If you look up John's address you'll have a hell of a time finding the place. It's one of those wacky PTown addresses that make no sense at all. It's listed as 309 Commercial Street, which you would think would be roughly right across from 310 Commercial, which happens to be Lewis Brothers Ice Cream, but noooo... It's around the corner from Commercial Street, on the way down to MacMillan Pier, on what ought to be called Standish Street since it extends from Standish down toward the pier and the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, by the way, inexplicably has the official address of 307 Commercial Street, even though it's even farther off Commercial Street than John's is, regardless of the smaller number of its address, and is well over a hundred feet off Commercial Street as you head toward the pier from the intersection of Standish and Commercial Streets.
Don't try too hard to make sense out if it. After all, this is Provincetown, where not everything is going to make sense, or even really needs to be understood. So instead of trying to find John's from its address, find Lopes Square, the little plaza with all the seating benches and the huge anchor in the middle, just south (toward the pier) from that same intersection at Standish and Commercial. If you stand in front of Lewis Brothers, on the northwest corner, and look south toward the pier and the harbor, John's is on the right side of the street, halfway toward the Chamber of Commerce, right across the street from that great big anchor in Lopes Square. It's a walk-up, counter service joint with a seating area of its own up the stairs on the south end of the building, or you can usually find a place to sit on a bench in Lopes Square.
I also like to take my meal down to the harbor, just at the far edge of the big parking lot that sits between MacMillan Pier and Fisherman's Wharf, where you'll find a tiny little neighborhood park made up of a string of trees and benches looking out over the harbor along the seawall that runs between the wharf and the pier. Those two words are interchangeable, by the way. A wharf and a pier are virtually the same thing: a dock where boats pull up to take passengers and goods on and off the boat.
Anyway, it's worth looking for John's if you've never had the pleasure of chowing down on their huge servings of impeccably fresh seafood, their very tasty Portuguese kale soup, or, of course, their venerable footlong hot dog. TheYearRounder names John's lobster roll as a Best Bite. And just looking at the photo above makes me want to dash over and have another one before they up and close for the season.