Thursday, May 16 brings Philly's first taste of Luke's Lobster.
The burgeoning quick-serve founded by 28-year-old lobsterman Luke Holden is opening six steps down from the sidewalk in the subterranean space that was Bonte waffles at 130 S. 17th St. (215-564-1415).
The look is coastal Maine: wood-clad walls, wooden picnic tables, corrugated steel ceiling, sailor's knots.
It's counter service, with an almost ridiculously simple menu of lobster roll ($15), crab roll ($12) and shrimp roll ($8) - each built upon a butter-grilled split-top Country Kitchen roll, plus a chips, a couple of chowders and bisques, craw claws, a dessert called The Blue Monster (Gifford's of Maine's Blueberry ice cream sandwiched between two large, homemade chocolate chip cookies); and Maine Root soda.
Based on an informal taste-test, it's the real deal. You just need a dock and a bottle or two of Shipyard.
Menu is here.
There are six Luke's in NYC, two in D.C., one in Bethesda, Md., and one on the way in Brooklyn.