Real Good Maine Lobster in Florida (2024)

Maine lobster has become famous for its bountiful meat and rich, delicious flavor. While it’s always best to get your genuine Maine lobsters delivered directly to your doorstep, sometimes you just want to be pampered with some good Maine lobster, especially on vacation.

Florida does have its own unique variety of lobster it just doesn’t compare to the sweet, tender texture of Maine lobster. The southernmost state celebrates this northeastern delicacy in every way. From beach side shacks where flip-flops are mandatory to fine dining, white glove service, there is truly something for everyone. Let’s dive into the tastiest places to find Maine lobster in Florida.

Florida Lobster Versus Maine Lobster

In Florida the local lobster is called a rock or spiny lobster (Panulirus argus). Unlike Maine lobsters, Florida lobsters do not have claws. It is a crustacean related to crabs, shrimp, crayfish. Florida lobsters average 1+ pound each, and one third of its weight is in the tail.

The spiny lobster is caught off the Keys and around the southern tip of the state from waters of the Atlantic Ocean near the Florida Reef Tract. Fishery regulations specify a harvest season from August 6 to March 31. In the Bahamas the Florida lobster is one of the island nation’s chief exports. These warm water lobsters are primarily sold as frozen tails. You can find these cheaper tails on cruise ship buffets or at your local warehouse club.

People expect the cold-water Maine shellfish when they order lobster in a restaurant, not the clawless warm water species which are very different in texture and flavor. Luckily, even in Florida, you can still enjoy the amazing taste of Maine lobster. The good news is most restaurants will let you know, but when in doubt, ask.

The Panhandle

Let’s kick off our trip around the Sunshine state in the northern panhandle of the state. Peg Leg Pete’s is beloved by locals and tourists alike. With their prime beach location and laid-back vibes, you’ll instantly feel like you’re on vacation. Not only do they serve up the classic steamed lobster but they also offer a lobster boil for two that includes shrimp and crab legs. Is there anything better than a seafood feast beachside?

For a more upscale dining experience George Bistro and Bar combines chilled Maine lobster with a basil aioli, microgreens, and cucumber for a fresh take on the lobster roll. You can also add butter poached Maine lobster to any entree.

Pearl and Horn in Pensacola is smashing the Maine lobster game. They offer up a duo of lobster rolls. Their New England style has a basil lemon aioli. For their Connecticut style they keep it classic. Think beyond the split top bun however. Their smash burger is topped with butter poached lobster and a truffle aioli.

For an ode to steamed seafood, Old Bay Steamer in Fort Walton Beach offers up succulent, sweet steamed Maine lobster tails in an eclectic and colorful setting. In addition, they also serve up prime steaks available with a decadent beurre blanc laced tail, and a trio of grilled seafood including grilled lobster tail.

The Historic Coast

Keep going across the panhandle and you’ll hit the beautiful Atlantic and some of the nation’s oldest cities. OP Fish House and Oyster Bar in Orange City offers up a cornucopia of Maine lobster options. From the classic low county boil with the addition of whole lobster to lobster topped grits, they have something for everyone.

Sister restaurants River and Post and River and Fort in Jacksonville and St. Augustine serve up classics like lobster Louie salad and lobster rolls with fresh, vibrant ingredients such as asparagus, fennel, and red pepper bisque. The River and Fort even has a fresh take on lobster thermidor with a shrimp and chorizo stuffing and gouda mac and cheese.

Head to the Oldest City and you’ll find a restaurant new to the St. Augustine scene but not new to lobster lovers. With two locations in Boston, Lobstah on a Roll is already making a splash on the historic first coast. Serving up not just Connecticut style and Maine lobster rolls, but also lobster tacos, lobster mac and cheese, and other Boston specialties, they have something for everyone.

The St. Augustine Fish House and Oyster Company offers up a variety of Maine lobster delights. In addition to the classic steamed lobster and lobster roll they also have decadent lobster ravioli and a low country boil you can add whole Maine lobster to.

The City Beautiful

If you’re headed to Florida on vacation, there’s a good chance you might be flying into Orlando. It’s a vacation destination and tourist capital for a reason. Aside from the obvious draw of theme parks, Orlando offers up a colorful and wide variety of dining options.

Todd English’s Bluezoo Restaurant adds some spice to their Maine lobster by frying it and adding soy glaze for a Cantonese feel. They also have an impressive wine list to accommodate any palate. These restaurants are in a high price range, but their amazing Maine lobster leaves nothing to be desired.

One of the most popular restaurants at Disney Springs, The Boathouse, boasts a beautiful waterfront view and impressive seafood menu. Start with their Maine lobster bisque before moving on to their Maine lobster tail Oscar. You can also add this option to any of their steaks.

Maine lobster gets treated to pure southern hospitality at SOCO in downtown Orlando. This award winning restaurant will charm you with dishes like lobster, tomatoes and burrata. Their lobster mashed potatoes and take on chicken and dumplings with lobster dumplings will tantalize your taste buds and have you craving the next bite.

Making a splash on the foodie scene and helmed by the incomparable Richard Blais, Four Flamingos does lobster in a big way. The idea of the traditional lobster tank gets that chef’s kiss of creativity. Pick a whole or half lobster and three different ways of preparations, blackened, grilled with an herb butter, or butter poached. Be aware however that this restaurant also celebrates local Florida seafood. The Florida spiny lobster finds its way into other dishes like their bisque and crab ravioli.

Central Florida

New to the food scene in Central Florida is the Nauti Lobstah in Apopka. This restaurant just outside of Orlando boasts lobster every which way, from both Connecticut and New England style lobster rolls to broiled and boiled lobster. You can even get their lazy man lobster where all of the work has been done for you. The lobster comes cracked, shelled, and served in butter, white wine, and lemon.

Volusia County – The Surf Coast

A little northeast of Orlando headed towards the east coast is Aunt Catfish’s on the River in Port Orange, Florida. This Florida staple offers a down-home southern feel and a varied seafood menu to accommodate everyone. The highlight of their menu is their delicious Maine lobster and lobster tails. Depending on the season, they also offer a tasty Maine lobster stew that combines the rich taste of Maine lobster with other local flavors. Aunt Catfish’s is a great place to get Maine lobster year round! And don’t miss out on trying their legendary cinnamon rolls.

Hull’s Seafood in Ormond Beach was started in 1981 by Captain Jimmy Hull. After several decades spent on the water commercial and charter fishing, he jumped at the chance to open a seafood market. In 2005 it expanded to include a small seafood kitchen which has since grown to include dine in options and both indoor and outdoor seating. This is where you come when you want to get messy cracking into that whole Maine lobster feast. Don’t forget the extra napkins for sopping up the butter!

Cafe Heavenly in New Smyrna Beach is renowned for their 100% Maine lobster dishes. Start with their award-winning lobster bisque. And then the question is lobster roll or lobster BLT? You can also go cheesy with a lobster grilled cheese or artisanal woodfired lobster pizza. This is where you want to kickback with a cold beer after a day at the beach!

The Space Coast

With a name like Jazzy’s Mainely Lobster and Seafood, you know you’re in for a good time at this Cocoa Beach favorite. You’ll find all of the favorites from fried lobster bites and lobster rolls to a fresh steamed lobster dinner. This wharf style restaurant sources its seafood directly from Maine and the waters of Florida offering up the best of both.

The Treasure Coast

Head over to the southeast Atlantic and the laid-back atmosphere of the Tresure Coast. This is a taste of true Florida where you’re more likely to sip on a margarita next to a local than a tourist. Because this area is home to so many northern transplants, you’re also likely to find a really good Maine lobster dinner.

The New England Fish Market and Restaurant in Jensen Beach brings the taste of Maine to Florida with both a classic Maine lobster dinner available in several sizes, and also a traditional Maine clambake with lobster. They also have a generously loaded lobster roll and a couple of days a week have daily specials called a bug in a box with chix, or one pound, lobsters.

Kyle G’s Prime Seafood delivers incredible food with a spectacular ocean front view. Whether you’re craving chilled, cracked whole lobster or a decadent lobster and waffles for brunch, this Jensen Beach restaurant has you covered. With creative sides like lobster fried rice and a luxurious lobster carbonara, there’s a reason this restaurant is so popular.

With four locations in Florida including Stuart, Lola’s Seafood Eatery brings New England inspired cuisine to the Sunshine State. The generous chunks of Maine lobster find themselves stuffed into split top rolls or as an option for salads. Be sure to check out their daily specials as well!

Tampa and Beyond

Head over to the central Gulf coast of Florida and it will be a feast for all of your senses. From the beckoning white sand beaches to the warm turquoise waters, everything about this area will have you craving seafood.

There are a few ionic restaurants in Florida and one of the top ones is the legendary Bern’s Steakhouse. Since 1956 this iconic restaurant has been wowing its patrons. This is where you go to dress up and experience a meal that will instantly be a lasting memory. Start your dinner off with Maine lobster bisque or an impressive shellfish platter. Add a Maine lobster tail to any of the impressive list of steaks they offer. They also offer up a showstopping pan roasted lobster with pasta and shish*to pepper pesto. Don’t forget to add a bottle of wine from their over half a million bottle collection.

The Lucky Lobster Co. in Dunedin offers up an entire section of their menu to Maine lobster. In addition to steamed whole lobsters they also have fun dishes like lobster pot pie, lobster cobb salad, and lobster BLT sliders. They even have seafood pizza featuring lobster.

Come for the view and stay for the food at Fresco’s St. Pete. This waterfront restaurant located on the pier with a view of the marina boasts Maine lobster brunch, lunch, and dinner options. Pop open the bubbly and enjoy a lobster benedict or keep it classic with grilled or steamed lobster tails. They also serve both a cold Maine lobster roll and hot buttered lobster roll.

Where to Find Maine Lobster in South Florida

In Lantana, visit the Station House Restaurant. The Station House Restaurant is renowned for its seafood offerings, especially their fresh, authentic Maine lobster that is widely regarded to be some of the best in Florida, even by visitors from Maine! Depending on the season, they may have traditional lobster offerings or special lobster themed dished, each more delicious than the last.

With two locations in Miami, The Lobster Shack celebrates the mighty clawed crustacean in a big way. In addition to the classic live Maine lobster dinner, they also offer up lobster tacos and six different kinds of lobster rolls.

Fire things up with wood fired Maine lobster tail basted in a chili lime butter at River Oyster Bar in Miami. They also offer a decadent buttery lobster bun on brioche and lobster co*cktail.

Head all the way down Seven Mile Bridge to Key West and you’ll find The Key West Lobster Shack which claims to have the best tail in town. The offer up a variety of lobster rolls including the Key West lobster roll served with hot butter and squeeze of key lime juice.

Where to Find Maine Lobster in Southwest Florida

In Longboat Key near Sarasota, FL there is a placed call the Lazy Lobster. With an entire section of their menu devoted to lobster you can find everything from classic broiled lobster tails to lobster quiche Lorraine and lobster “scargoat”. Be sure to sample their lobster mac and cheese made with fresh steamed lobster meat, macaroni and white cheese baked with toasted crumbs.

It doesn’t get any more lobster centric than Lobster Lady Seafood in Cape Coral. Start with hot lobster dip, and end with an impressive seafood tower. They also have lobster sushi, a surf and turf hoagie, and lobster melts along with many other options.

Mr. Big Fish in Naples brings bold flavor with the Angry Lobster. This pasta dish is similar to fra diavlo. They also serve up a wicked good lobster bisque.

You will be in a tropical state of mind at the Island Gypsy Cafe in Naples. In addition to their take on the lobster roll they also offer up a fun take on a lobster Reuban, a bright and crisp lobster sald perfect for cooling down with, and lobster and shrimp mac and cheese.

Lobster on Vacation or at Home

Thankfully with the next day shipping from LobsterAnywhere, it’s possible to have Maine lobster delivered directly to your doorstep anywhere in the continental United States. From our hardshell Maine Grade A lobster tails available in a variety of sizes, to our lobster roll kits, we have you covered. If you’re taking a road trip our expertly frozen lobster, shrimp, and scallops are cooler ready and perfect for hitting the road. We even have dessert covered with Maine favorites blueberry pie and whoopie pies. Next time you hit up that beach rental, don’t forget to make LobsterAnywhere part of those memories.