The Lobster Trap - Bourne, MA

Just a short ride over the Bourne Bridge, one of the gateways to Cape Cod, the Lobster Trap is located at 290 Shore Road in Bourne MA, in a rustic Cape style building, right on the shore of the Back River.   Starting as a seasonal fish market in 1969, the restaurant is now open year round.  Plenty of parking, including valet is available. There is outside patio seating with nice views of the river available including a unique table for eight built around a live tree growing through the middle! A small railroad bridge spans the river decorated with bight nautical letters that we would learn spells out what else, LOBSTER TRAP!

We first noticed the huge “Welcome” sign at the far end of the spacious dining room, a cast iron ships wheel made in Maine mounted between two wooden piers.  The building features rugged post and beam construction and wide board flooring.  The décor is all about the Cape, including many nautical and seafood signs and buoys, well placed on the walls and beams.  Hand written chalkboards inform diners of daily specials and current draft beer offerings.

We chose to sit in the pub area just behind the ships wheel.  An array of tap handles are mounted on top of a beam directly over the bar.  Just below we could see that eight draft beers were being poured today.

The Lobster Trap menu includes a raw bar serving oysters, clams and shrimp and a nice selection of salads, starters, sandwiches, and rolls.  Entrees and sides consist of a wide variety of fried seafood and other main fares ranging from lobster to grilled and broiled seafood and steaks.  A kids menu rounds out the offerings.

 

We ordered our beers, an order of onion rings as an appetizer, and our lunch selections.  The Lobster Trap has collaborated with Mayflower Brewing Company in Plymouth, MA to create the Crusher Claw IPA, a New England style IPA offered only at the restaurant. At 6% ABV, smooth and refreshing, it is citrusy with great hop character without the bitterness.  We also selected All Day IPA by Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, MI.  A flavorful well balanced 4.7% ABV session beer that as its name indicates will not overpower you.  It’s a tasty balance of malt and hop bitterness. Whales Tale Pale Ale from Cisco Brewers on Nantucket Island is an English style ale with mild floral and malty aroma.  At 5.6% ABV, its amber in color with a contrasting white head.  A very drinkable beer with a touch of bitterness and maltiness at the finish.

Lunch arrived while we were enjoying our beers and the great tasting onion rings, and was well worth waiting for. The Lobster Roll was huge and delicious!  The meat was prepared cold with mayonnaise surrounded by lettuce on a on a fresh Brioche roll. We enjoyed it with a side of coleslaw. The Sword Sandwich was prepared with Cajun spiced swordfish and thousand island dressing served on grilled focaccia bread with lettuce, fried onion bits, and french fries - a great selection of ingredients. Fish and Chips is one of our favorite dishes and the Lobster Trap’s recipe was excellent.  Lightly battered fresh haddock was crisp on the outside, moist and fork tender on the inside, and was accompanied by generous portions of french fries coleslaw and tartar creamy sauce.The Lobster Trap is famous for its seafood, but we thought we’d also try something from the mainland!  The Angus beef Cheeseburger is a half pounder served with American cheese, lettuce and tomato on a fresh grilled roll.  We added onions and bacon and French fries.  It was cooked spot on to our order and a challenge to finish!

In addition to in house dining and take out, the restaurant still maintains its roots as a fish market.  The Lobster Trap is open year round closed only on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  If you are on Cape Cod in search of a restaurant offering fabulous seafood, great craft beers, friendly staff and atmosphere galore, The Lobster Trap is not to be missed.

For more information visit their website at www.lobstertrap.net, or on Facebook at The Lobster Trap