1. Mary’s Fish Camp
64 Charles St., at 4th St.; 646-486-2185
The recipe is simple—just titanic hunks of lobster given the Hellmann’s treatment and shoved into a Pepperidge Farm top-loader. But the result is astonishing.
2. Pearl Oyster Bar
18 Cornelia St., nr. Bleecker St.; 212-691-8211
In style, quality, and sheer, ecstatic crustacean delight, virtually identical to Mary’s.
3. The Mermaid Inn
96 Second Ave., nr. Fifth St.; 212-674-5870
In a neatnik break with tradition, Mermaid serves its lobster roll on a racy brioche hamburger bun.
4. Tides
102 Norfolk St., nr. Delancey St.; 212-254-8855
A fine lobster roll from a Mary’s Fish Camp veteran.
5. Ditch Plains
29 Bedford St., at Downing St.; 212-633-0202
The latest addition to the burgeoning clam-shack category, Ditch Plains serves a decent lobster roll from seven in the morning till 2 A.M.