We left the house to do some errands late this morning. First we stopped at Home Depot, where we picked up a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet for the inside of the POD. Then we headed back toward home to do the grocery shopping. We were forced off I-95 by weekend beach traffic (what a surprise), and as we wound our way through Branford, Jim remembered that we had talked about getting lobster rolls this weekend.

So we ducked through the center of town and headed down to the river, to a little place that makes what might be the best lobster rolls on the planet. I know, I exaggerate — or do I? It’s called The Lobster Shack, and it’s on the industrial waterfront of the Branford River, in other words, the place where the commercial fishermen in town tie up their boats. There’s a lobster wholesaler there, and last season, or maybe the year before, they were inspired to set up a little take-out trailer in the parking lot. They’ve put some tables out by the docks and they serve the basics: lobster rolls, chowder, clams on the half-shell, hot dogs, and sausage and peppers on a roll. There are soft drinks and bottled water to be had (help yourself from the appropriately marked cooler) and a freezer with ice cream bars in it.

The folks who dish out the food couldn’t be friendlier. The place, for a parking lot, is immaculately clean. The lobster rolls are, in a word, perfect. These are elemental lobster rolls — nothing but warm lobster, butter, and a New England style (split-top) hot dog bun. In the ongoing debate between hot lobster rolls (with butter) and cold ones (with mayonnaise and sometimes a bit of chopped celery and the like), hot wins hands down every time with me, and these are superb. They’re also a decent size, and well worth the $14 they cost. Oh, and bring cash, ’cause they don’t do the plastic.

So we parked the van and strolled up to the order window. They had music on — a bit of Springsteen. I can’t think of anything better for the day. We got lobster rolls and a couple of bottles of water and parked ourselves at a picnic table by the river and watched a clamming boat come in and dock. I love this place.