Restaurant Review: Craving Lobster? Crab? Shrimp? Try Luke’s Lobster City Hall

One of my favorite memories as a kid was traveling by car to New England. This Midwestern girl was fascinated by the shrimp, crab and lobster shacks that dotted the Atlantic coast, from Massachusetts to Maine. For me, I associated lobster and crab with elegance and sophistication. Here, it was served the same way you’d have a Big Mac… on a bun, with fries or chips, and a soda. But they were so good! 

Now, the fish shack of my childhood has come, in upscale form, to the Chicago Loop. Luke’s Lobster City Hall, is a family-owned Maine seafood business, founded by third-generation lobsterman Luke Holden. According to their website, Luke’s began as a tiny lobster roll shack in New York City, where Holden was unable to find an authentic, high quality Maine lobster roll to feed his craving for home in 2009. He, partner Ben Conniff, and their team launched and built their first ten shacks sourcing the world’s best lobster from fishermen through Luke’s father, Jeff’s seafood production business. 

In Chicago, a note on the menu indicates that their “rolls are served with sustainably-sourced lobster, crab, or shrimp in a toasted New England-style split-top bun—the way Luke grew up eating them in Maine.” Their crustaceans are sourced directly “from fishermen we know and trust, in an industry Luke’s family has been part of for three generations.”

The menu in Chicago relies on the items they know best. Luke’s Lobster Roll is four ounces of chilled, wild-caught lobster in a butter-toasted bun with mayo, lemon butter, and Luke’s Secret Seasoning. Their 6-ounce rolls offers 50% more seafood on the same bun.Their Jonah Crab Roll is served Maine-style: chilled crab with a swipe of mayo, lemon butter, and of course, Luke’s Secret Seasoning. Crab Roll isfour ounces of chilled, wild-caught crab in a butter toasted bun with mayo, lemon butter, and Luke’s Secret Seasoning. Combo the sandwich with a drink and Cape Cod Kettle Chips, or splurge and order their New England Clam Chowder (that’s the white chowder) or a rarity in these parts, a Lobster Bisque. Sides include a Poppyseed (Cole) Slaw. 

Google reviewers were gaga over what they ordered recently. 

“Amazing lobster roll!!,” said one reviewer. “Wow wow wow. The bread is so soft and buttery and it’s really great. You feel that you dont want the sandwich to finish. The service is very fast and the employees are nice (and) helpful. The soup was okay because im not a very big fan of it anyway.”

“Damn that was good,” wrote another. “The seafood was very fresh and perfectly seasoned and delicious but the star was honestly the rolls. Buttery and crispy on the outside. Clam chowder was amazing too. Great meal.”

Luke’s Lobster City Hall is located at 134 N. La Salle Street. They are open seven days a week from 11am to 7pm, and are also home to catering, takeout and shipping across the country. For more information, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago