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Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck, Owner Doug Povich Licensing Red Hook's Brand with Trucks in DC and VA - Closed


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On 5/17/2010 at 2:06 PM, Billy DeLion said:

As far as the lobster rolls go, I've had a few lately and I would rate them Hank's, Tacklebox, Coastal Flats. Coastal Flats adds a good bit of Mayo and Celery, the other two were straight up Lobster with some seasoning on a buttered roll. To each his own !

Here's something to look forward to-according to the City Paper, the wildly popular 'Red Hook Lobster Truck' might be rolling into DC this summer.

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Seeing as how I've been bribed by the machine :( this opinion may not be valid. (Though I did write about them well in advance of any invites for any events.) What I had was pretty tasty. Really light on the mayo with a ton of lobster flavor. If they are on their a-game, the rolls are grilled to the perfect line of toasty without being burnt and not too buttery.

They're also doing Cape Cod chips.

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Very good. Not the best, but not a waste of $15 either. They were handing out free chips and soda today; I'm not much of a soda drinker, but the Maine Root vanilla creme was nice. Line was easily half a block long at 11:30 as I was walking away.

post-77-093776800 1282233360_thumb.jpg

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Very good. Not the best, but not a waste of $15 either. They were handing out free chips and soda today; I'm not much of a soda drinker, but the Maine Root vanilla creme was nice. Line was easily half a block long at 11:30 as I was walking away.

post-77-093776800 1282233360_thumb.jpg

Great pic---my lunch wants to be your lunch.

What's the reddish seasoning?

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What's the reddish seasoning?

Paprika. I was one of the fools who stood in line for about an hour today (I got in line at 11:30 and got my food at 12:30...but the line had DOUBLED by the time I left...those people were easily in line for 2 hours). The sandwich was good, especially for the price. Would I stand in line for that long again? Hell no. But if it's ever a lot shorter it'd be worth it. I also got the next to last whoopie pie they had (which is enormous and heavy) but am saving it for later. Will have to report back.

Lobster Rolls - $15

Lobster Roll meal (chips and a soda) - $18

Shrimp Roll - $8

Cape Cod Chips - $2

Maine Root Soda (ginger ale, root beer, orange creme, cream soda, mexi-vanilla, black cherry) - $2

Iced tea and lemonade - $2-3.50

Whoopie Pies - $3.50

PS- The garlic butter buns grilling smell really good when you get within a few feet of the truck. Mmm

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today they were in the great food desert that is SW DC. Colleague and I waited about an hour - I go the $15 lobster roll, he added the chips and soda for the $18 lobster meal. The sandwich was really good - lots of lobster,not overcooked at all, if there is any mayo, you cannot taste it, and the roll is nicely toasted and just buttery enough. I doubt that I have an hour many work days (fridays in SW) to stand in line that long, but I would do it as an occasional treat and departure from my standard lunch of last night's leftovers. It does motivate me to make these at home again.

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Are they doing alot of prep in their trucks? i.e. boiling lobsters a la minute? I'm just curious why the line is 90 minutes. Just the growing pains of a new operation? Or are they also toasting the buns per order (probably) and mixing the lobster salad per order (which would be admirable).

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Are they doing alot of prep in their trucks? i.e. boiling lobsters a la minute? I'm just curious why the line is 90 minutes. Just the growing pains of a new operation? Or are they also toasting the buns per order (probably) and mixing the lobster salad per order (which would be admirable).

Definitely toasting to order, couldn't tell if they were dressing the lobster as well. It wouldn't surprise me; there was no trace of wateriness that you might expect if the meat was sitting around already dressed. Honestly, the biggest slowdown appeared to be the ordering process. Lots of folks were paying with cards which seemed to add at least a minute to each transaction.

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Are they doing alot of prep in their trucks? i.e. boiling lobsters a la minute? I'm just curious why the line is 90 minutes. Just the growing pains of a new operation? Or are they also toasting the buns per order (probably) and mixing the lobster salad per order (which would be admirable).

Most popular trucks have long lines, be they due to ordering process, the time it takes to prepare the food, short staff, whatever.

But, no matter what you think of the process or how long it takes to get a sandwich, it's NOT lobster salad going on that roll. It's lobster.

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Maine-style roll last night. They are toasting and dressing to order. Could've used slightly more salt and slightly more acid to really make the sweetness of the lobster pop.

The delay appears to be as much or more in fulfillment than in ordering. The guy taking orders is a bit chatty, which adds to the delay some. Credit cards add a little. The extent of the menu (shrimp rolls; different kinds of drinks, only some of which appear to be able to be used in the "combo") doesn't help, either.

On the fulfillment side, if someone wants to take away an order in a bag, there is an extra minute added as the fulfiller adds a lid to the foil tray (think small disposable loaf pan), gets a bag from behind her, etc. Plus, it's almost always the case that a bag request only comes after the fulfiller/expediter has attempted to hand the patron their sandwiches a first time. This delay also leads to human interaction and chattiness, which slows the process further.

All in all, there's probably, on average, 0.5-1 minutes that can be cut from the ordering and fulfillment process without adding staff making more sandwiches more quickly.

And now you know what kind of dopey stuff Jake does at his day job.

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They are also serving the rolls "Connecticut style" - hot lobster in drawn butter instead of mayo. It's my personal preference if you ask me.

They had a booth at the Landon Azalea festival and I really enjoyed the Connecticut style roll, too. At the booth they kept promoting their future truck and for some assine reason I've been waiting for them to drive around my suburban neighborhood to give that damn ice cream truck some competition. A guy can dream...

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The line moved at a steady pace tonight in Adams Morgan. I waited less than 10 minutes to get to the front with more than a dozen people in front of me and the food was ready in less than 5 once I ordered.

No whoopie pies until Friday :(

Not much else to say about the lobster roll itself beyond what has already been said. Stuffed full with tasty lobster meat, a few scallions and just enough mayo to hold it all together but not overpower the roll.

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Went today at McPherson square. The wait is out of control - I got there around 11:30 to find a line around the block. I decided to stick it out as we were told about 45mins from the back of the line. Try 90++ before I got to order and another 15 before my order actually came up. Ouch! Had to sneak back into the office - I've never taken a lunch that long in 3 yrs.

This was my first roll ever, so I dont speak with any authority but this was truly amazing! Buttered/grilled bun tastes just like the outside of a grilled cheese. Pile of lobster is sizable - you can pick a bunch off it and still have a sandwich full. Such a clean sweet flavor.

As said above - would never wait that long again but the roll is worth every cent.

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Now we're waiting an hour + for a lobster roll served out of a truck? What is up with the residents of the DC metro area? :(

Latest hipster fad. Also I wonder if as many people would be able to take a 1.5-2 hour lunch break in a city that didn't employ so many government workers.

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The Masochist's Lunch: Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck followed by Georgetown Cupcake for dessert.

Sadly, I bet some people do that combination. On this board people would more likely go to Tackle Box and Baked & Wired. Just my guess...

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There is no lobster roll* for which I would wait in line for 1 1/2 hours. This is absurd, especially when you can order a perfectly fine one over the phone at Liberty Tavern for the same price and it will be waiting for you to pick up at the Liberty To Go counter with a wait time of zero, and it comes with your choice of a side.

*or anything else

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Having grown up in New England and missing lobster rolls, I decided to make the trek to get one. Took the metro (from Gaithersburg) to McPherson Square and waited in line for almost an hour. Sounds a like a bit much for a lobster roll, but honestly it was worth it!

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Sadly, I bet some people do that combination. On this board people would more likely go to Tackle Box and Baked & Wired. Just my guess...

While I am not a huge fan of Georgetown Cupcake, I do not know why you have to say "sadly." I am involved with a locally owned restaurant and friends own many more, and I am happy to see any locally owned and operated or small business succeed in this current market. You can disparage Georgetown Cupcake all you want, but its success has added many jobs to that shop, allowed it to open a second location, and paved the way for Baked and Wired (I would bet) to increase its sales of cupcakes, and other cupcake/macaroon/whoopie pie shops to take the plunge in this area. I know Red Hook is a NY based company, but its success will add jobs here and may lead to a storefront, just like Pupatella did. I cannot go to Tackle Box or Liberty Tavern for lunch, and food trucks make few stops in SW DC, so when Red Hook is there, and I have time to stand in line, I will.

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I just got my lobster rolls, and I do like the "Connecticut" one the best of theirs. Had no shrimp rolls today. As far as the cold Maine style, I think Tackle Box is still king, at least IMHO. The wait in line was about 30 min, but they were like a block away from the office. The line was pretty long by the time we got our rolls.

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Apparently they will be serving lobster rolls and $3 beers with Chinatown Coffee tonight over in Chinatown (475 H, I think). Might be a good option for people who want to try this place out but have a hard time making it to the truck for lunch, like me. I might just pop over there...

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Tried it last night at Chinatown Coffee. I had some work to do so I snagged a table around 2. At 5 there were no free tables, and by 6 the place was packed, standing room only. At 6:15, I stepped outside to get in line while my fam remained at the table. At 6:25, the line was long enough (well past my view, around the corner of the block) for some passing guy to heckle us. "Lobster?!? Y'all f***ing standin' in this line, in this heat, for lobster?!?"

At 6:30, I was about 10 back and was served in about 10 minutes. They anticipated the initial rush by having a bunch of toasted buns ready, but it was still a delicious offering. Chinatown Coffee was pretty crazy by then, good for them but a bit too loud for baby.

All in all, I'd rather hit Bobby's Crabcakes and enjoy a more relaxed setting. But I'm glad I tried it, and maybe I'll do it again if it's only a 10 or 15 minute wait.

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At 6:25, the line was long enough (well past my view, around the corner of the block) for some passing guy to heckle us. "Lobster?!? Y'all f***ing standin' in this line, in this heat, for lobster?!?"

I did a poor job of capturing the bizarre randomness of which I and the others in line felt a part, as we stood in line that fateful Friday evening. The puzzlement for being targeted as a mere lobster-goer, willing to brave the elements. What did we ever do to deserve such scorn??

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They're in Tenleytown (Wisconsin and River Rd) today so I had a chance to sample their wares (a coworker picked one up for me) and I have to admit, even after a 20 minute trek back to the office it was quite the treat. The role was still warm and crusty with buttery goodness and the filling offered the barest hint of mayo among the copious amount of claw/tail meat.

It very much reminded me of lobster rolls I used to eat in Maine when I was a kid, and thats perhaps the best compliment I can give them. Hopefully they return to the area.

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They're in Tenleytown (Wisconsin and River Rd) today so I had a chance to sample their wares (a coworker picked one up for me) and I have to admit, even after a 20 minute trek back to the office it was quite the treat. The role was still warm and crusty with buttery goodness and the filling offered the barest hint of mayo amount the copious amount of claw/tail meat.

It very much reminded me of lobster rolls I used to eat in Maine when I was a kid, and thats perhaps the best compliment I can give them. Hopefully they return to the area.

Are you freakin kidding me!? I worked there for two years and the best that I could do was the Guapo's or Subway close by, now they have Masala Art and the damn lobster truck is hanging out there!? Man, I have bad timing.

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I don't know if I'm willing to wait an hour or so for one, but I DO like the fact that they serve up something that is known to be great quality for LESS money than any of the area brick-and-mortar places, which is a big beef of mine concerning food trucks in this area. At this point, every food truck I've bought from (and it's been around 4 or 5 of the newish popular ones by now) has been slightly-above-average AT BEST and horrible at worst...with the only unifying characteristic being that they are pretty much all overpriced for the amount of food you receive.

I just might track down Red Hook the next time I have a day free to walk around the city and no schedule to adhere to! If it beats Tacklebox's lobster roll (which I think is great), then why the hell not?

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Clam Chowder, really good. The cold weather may have added to the allure. Truck parked at 19th and L Street. Line about ten people long at 1:30. Maybe the novelty has worn off.

say "hi" next time! Tried myself to get the clam chowder 'bout a half hour after you, but they were sold out. Whenever they are at 19th and L, the line is very long closer to noon and then diminishes within an hour+. I never encounter a line when I go from 1:30-2. But then I also risk them selling out items, like today.

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They're at L'Enfant Plaza tomorrow. Let's say a girl and her dog were thinking of heading into DC for a stroll around DC since it's the girl's birthday. What time would be best for not having to wait in line?

Or is there another food truck you'd recommend over this one (said girl being a MD resident and employee and therefore unable to partake of the food trucks typically)?

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They're at L'Enfant Plaza tomorrow. Let's say a girl and her dog were thinking of heading into DC for a stroll around DC since it's the girl's birthday. What time would be best for not having to wait in line?

Or is there another food truck you'd recommend over this one (said girl being a MD resident and employee and therefore unable to partake of the food trucks typically)?

Happy Bday! Today is also Mr. S's bday 1.11.11 should be a great day. Hope you got to make it downtown for a celebratory lobster lunch!

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I liked the Maine lobster roll I had a couple weeks ago. And immediately felt stupid for paying $15 for a snack from a truck.

One might argue that given the in-chassis self-serve soda dispenser, ipad point of sale "register" and affiliation with NY-based brick and mortar retail and Maine-based processing facility, this is a "truck" in name only. Sort of a truck in the same way that certain other countries call their huge vacation mansions "cottages." Not sure if that makes the $15 feel better but it is an excellent roll. Just don't fall for the ballcap ruse--they don't even have it customized (yet) for DC.

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