Better Lobster Roll: Columbia Harbor House or Contempo Cafe?

[keahgirl8]

Yes! I don't imagine I can go up to the northeast and find southern style sweet tea that passes muster. Or fried okra. Or any manner of other things commonly found here. That doesn't mean that what folks local there like is bad, if that's all they know then it's good to them.

Right? I am not a sweet tea drinker, but my dad definitely is. We don't even have sweet tea out here in California (we're transplants).

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

I've tried both; CHH's is nice for a lighter meal in the parks and Contempo is on par with CHH but really not worth leaving MK to bring it back. Plus I like sitting upstairs at CHH!

 

[keahgirl8]

I've tried both; CHH's is nice for a lighter meal in the parks and Contempo is on par with CHH but really not worth leaving MK to bring it back. Plus I like sitting upstairs at CHH!

Oh me too! It's a great escape from the heat and crowds. I go up there and hide in a corner. lol

 

[HopperFan]

There are some good ones on property, CHH is not one of them. I couldn't even make myself finish it, to the trash. (I'm not picky)

 

[pooch]

Well, us land locked folks here haven't anything to compare it to so we found the one at CHH tasty. I'd order it again. But I've never been to lobster country, guess it's a good thing we have unrefined tastes

Well you come on up north anytime! I will show you what lobster really tastes like ;-)!!
(Could you bring biscuits?!?!?)

 

[Lisa F]

It is possible to make a good lobster roll outside of new england. The local church here buys the pre-shelled claw and knuckle meat and assembles it into a lobster roll... they are not steaming and cracking and cleaning fresh lobsters to do hundreds of lobster rolls a week in the summer and are rated the best in the area. These big bags of pre-picked meat are available far and wide (they may even come frozen). It is still a delicious lobster roll due to the mayo to meat ratio and lack of other filler like celery. Lobster, a tiny bit of mayo, some salt and white pepper and then completely overstuffed onto a new england hot dog roll (griddled with butter or not) is all you need and you can do that anywhere. Around here there is that kind of a lobster roll and then there is also the "hot buttered" lobster roll which is just cold chunks of lobster on a griddled roll with warm melted butter poured over it.

What is at CHH is a high mayo, high filler version of a lobster roll. A good lobster roll is not cheap - even here where lobster is plentiful it will run you from close to $20 to $25+ for a meal with fries etc at a restaurant. Here is a picture of a $20 VFW lobster roll that I got at the street fair, mayo based:

and here is a pic I found of CHH's lobster roll... lots of mayo, lots of "other than lobster" stuff in it:

http://www.****************/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Columbia-Harbour-House-Lobster-Roll-Disney-Dining.jpg

If you like "protein salads" with very very heavy mayo then you'll probably like it... but that's why people who have them in New England don't.

The BW bakery used to have one that was well reviewed and it looked like this:

not super overstuffed and I don't like lettuce on my lobster roll (it's a way of filling out the bun with something other than lobster) but the right mayo to lobster ratio and no other filler mixed into it. It's too bad this was gone but I bet it would taste decent even if not very generous on the lobster portion. It is definitely possible to make a good lobster roll outside of new england but it will cost big $$ to do it. I doubt you will see it at disney at any place where you can get it for a QS credit, that's for sure.

 

[iheartglaciers]

If you want to go with something lobster, I would do the seafood mac and cheese from CHH instead of the lobster roll. I'm from the north east, so I'm more picky about lobster rolls but I thought the mac and cheese was yummy!

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2014/...nd-chicken-pot-pie-at-columbia-harbour-house/

 

[Mousemommy1]

That CHH lobster roll is a disgrace!!! Why all the mayo?!?!?!?!

New Englander here - so yeah, I don't eat lobster rolls at Disney.

 

[keahgirl8]

It is possible to make a good lobster roll outside of new england. The local church here buys the pre-shelled claw and knuckle meat and assembles it into a lobster roll... they are not steaming and cracking and cleaning fresh lobsters to do hundreds of lobster rolls a week in the summer and are rated the best in the area. These big bags of pre-picked meat are available far and wide (they may even come frozen). It is still a delicious lobster roll due to the mayo to meat ratio and lack of other filler like celery. Lobster, a tiny bit of mayo, some salt and white pepper and then completely overstuffed onto a new england hot dog roll (griddled with butter or not) is all you need and you can do that anywhere. Around here there is that kind of a lobster roll and then there is also the "hot buttered" lobster roll which is just cold chunks of lobster on a griddled roll with warm melted butter poured over it.

What is at CHH is a high mayo, high filler version of a lobster roll. A good lobster roll is not cheap - even here where lobster is plentiful it will run you from close to $20 to $25+ for a meal with fries etc at a restaurant. Here is a picture of a $20 VFW lobster roll that I got at the street fair, mayo based:

and here is a pic I found of CHH's lobster roll... lots of mayo, lots of "other than lobster" stuff in it:

http://www.****************/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Columbia-Harbour-House-Lobster-Roll-Disney-Dining.jpg

If you like "protein salads" with very very heavy mayo then you'll probably like it... but that's why people who have them in New England don't.

The BW bakery used to have one that was well reviewed and it looked like this:

not super overstuffed and I don't like lettuce on my lobster roll (it's a way of filling out the bun with something other than lobster) but the right mayo to lobster ratio and no other filler mixed into it. It's too bad this was gone but I bet it would taste decent even if not very generous on the lobster portion. It is definitely possible to make a good lobster roll outside of new england but it will cost big $$ to do it. I doubt you will see it at disney at any place where you can get it for a QS credit, that's for sure.

1. I want to visit your VFW! That looks amazing!

2. Seeing that BW Bakery lobster roll makes me sad. It was so good! I went there this year to get it and they didn't have it any more. I was shocked and the people who worked there were too! They said they sold a ton of them!

 

[Lisa F]

1. I want to visit your VFW! That looks amazing!

2. Seeing that BW Bakery lobster roll makes me sad. It was so good! I went there this year to get it and they didn't have it any more. I was shocked and the people who worked there were too! They said they sold a ton of them!

you just have to take a trip to martha's vineyard in the summer. maine might be cheaper though

 

[Darklord77]

For a lobster roll at Disney try the Crew's Cup Lounge at the Yacht Club. The lobster roll at CHH has become more of a mayo soup bread bowl.

 

[ajjoplin1]

I agree, Florida is NOT the place to order lobster. I recommend the Clam Shack in Kennebunkport!!

Well you come on up north anytime! I will show you what lobster really tastes like ;-)!!
(Could you bring biscuits?!?!?)

Y'all should come to Louisiana and try the South's version of lobster...crawfish! LOLOL

Seriously, this post was helpful. I was considering CHH for a CS meal on our upcoming trip....looks like I'll be sticking with Pinnocchio's Village Haus!

 

[ajjoplin1]

@Laura's Dad It looks like we're going on the same day! Cool!!

 

[iheartglaciers]

Seriously, this post was helpful. I was considering CHH for a CS meal on our upcoming trip....looks like I'll be sticking with Pinnocchio's Village Haus!

Don't totally give up on CHH! I really like it, lobster rolls aside It's also a nice place to sit and get away from the hustle and bustle of MK, on the second floor.

 

[2hapykdz]

We are planning on attending MNSSHP in the near future. My wife has volunteered to line up early for Jack and Sally and we were planning on getting a Quick Service meal for her while she waits in line. She has expressed an interest for a lobster roll. I know that Columbia Harbor House would be very convenient but have heard wonderful things about the lobster roll at the Contempo Cafe. I would be willing to leave the MK by monorail to go to the Contemporary and walk back with the meal if it is worthwhile. I have two questions:

1. What is your opinion of the lobster roll at Columbia Harbor House compared to the Contempo Cafe's version?

2. Would they let me bring the Contempo Cafe's meal into the MK. I will not have anything but the meal in a sack.

Any help would be appreciaated.

They're the same! Must be a corporate recipe. Good ...but not great. Like other people said it's a Lobster salad roll....lots of veggies and mayo. Think about it...a real lobster roll is $13-15 at a seaside shack...with real huge chunks of lobster....if that were in Disney...they would have to charge $20+. I love them there because it's a relief from a burger or dog. Tomorrowland Terrace...when open...has/had them...if you're over in Tomorrowland. Don't go to the Contemporary to get one...that's an hour round trip away from the family!

 

[2hapykdz]

Yes! I don't imagine I can go up to the northeast and find southern style sweet tea that passes muster. Or fried okra. Or any manner of other things commonly found here. That doesn't mean that what folks local there like is bad, if that's all they know then it's good to them.

Angi...I'm a NY'er in Charlotte now....and I can fry ya up a mean okra!!!!LOL

 

[anniemae]

That CHH lobster roll is a disgrace!!! Why all the mayo?!?!?!?!

New Englander here - so yeah, I don't eat lobster rolls at Disney.

LOL

 

[AngiTN]

Something dawned on me recently, for any who remember when Subway did a Seafood Salad sandwich option. The sandwich at CHH is very much like that was. At least from what I can remember about it. It's been a long time since that sandwich was sold, at least around here.

 

[Mousetopia]

We are planning on attending MNSSHP in the near future. My wife has volunteered to line up early for Jack and Sally and we were planning on getting a Quick Service meal for her while she waits in line. She has expressed an interest for a lobster roll. I know that Columbia Harbor House would be very convenient but have heard wonderful things about the lobster roll at the Contempo Cafe. I would be willing to leave the MK by monorail to go to the Contemporary and walk back with the meal if it is worthwhile. I have two questions:

1. What is your opinion of the lobster roll at Columbia Harbor House compared to the Contempo Cafe's version?

2. Would they let me bring the Contempo Cafe's meal into the MK. I will not have anything but the meal in a sack.

Any help would be appreciaated.

On a side note, Paddlefish will have a lobster roll when it opens!!

 

[keahgirl8]

Y'all should come to Louisiana and try the South's version of lobster...crawfish! LOLOL

Seriously, this post was helpful. I was considering CHH for a CS meal on our upcoming trip....looks like I'll be sticking with Pinnocchio's Village Haus!

Don't totally give up on CHH! I really like it, lobster rolls aside It's also a nice place to sit and get away from the hustle and bustle of MK, on the second floor.

I love CHH! They have really good salmon.