Lobster rolls may be a staple of New England cuisine, but down here, some of us don’t even know what they are. I learned once on a weekend in Boston that they’re essentially made by putting chopped lobster meat on a hot dog bun and dousing it in butter or a light mayo. Not a bad idea, right?
So, while it’s a little foreign to us, the opening of La Salle’s Crawfish and Lobster Rolls in the Acadian Perkins Plaza has given us an opportunity to try the northern speciality without leaving Louisiana.
A quick stop into the nautical-themed restaurant, and you’re faced with a variety of options, like a lobster au gratin roll (comes with cheese melted on top) or a lobster slaw roll (topped with coleslaw) or even a BLT lobster roll. But for a maiden voyage, I opted for the classic lobster roll: knuckle and claw lobster meat lightly seasoned, with your choice of butter, honey butter or garlic butter.
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Even for the no-frills version, be prepared to drop more than a few dollars on lunch: The classic comes in at $14.80, though you can get a mini (in Louisiana terms, a full po-boy versus a half po-boy) for $7.40. La Salle’s serves its rolls on a sturdier French-style roll rather than a basic hot dog bun, which you’ll appreciate once you’ve soaked it through with lobster juices and melted butter. My advice: Go with the garlic butter, and ask for extra for full coverage of your roll.
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For fast counter-service, the meat still tastes fresh and not fishy, just a little decadent like lobster is supposed to taste. I’m not sure how honey butter would go with this roll, but the garlic butter cuts through any brininess in the meat and makes everything warm, melty and flavorful.
As the restaurant’s name suggests, the menu also offers Cajun-themed crawfish rolls—including one with boudin. There are also seafood tacos, bisques and salads to choose from, as well as Cajun sides like dirty rice. It’s not the place for an authentic New England experience, and it’s not trying to be. This is the lobster roll served up in a way Louisianans can understand and appreciate.
La Salle’s Crawfish and Lobster Rolls is at 3617 Perkins Road, Suite 1E, in the Acadian-Perkins Plaza Shopping Center, and is open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.