I've wanted to try Cousins Maine Lobster since 2012. That's when I first heard about them, back…read morewhen the food truck craze still seemed to be in its infancy. They started in Los Angeles, ended up on Shark Tank, and eventually became a pretty big deal. I even remember when they opened their brick-and-mortar location in West Hollywood in 2015.
Yet somehow, it took me 14 years to actually eat one of their lobster rolls.
It wasn't for lack of opportunity. I've seen them at the NC State Fair, but the lines were ridiculous. Their trucks have popped up closer to home a few times too, but it was always an inconvenient time, a little too far out of the way, or once again, a huge line.
Today I just happened to be in Southern Pines and spotted their truck outside Lowe's. I definitely didn't come here specifically for them, but after 14 years, I wasn't going to pass it up. I got there about 30 minutes after they opened and there was NO LINE.
Apparently today was finally my day.
I ordered the Garlic Butter lobster roll ($25.95), with warm Maine lobster, butter, garlic, parmesan, and herbs on a New England roll. I made it Combo #2 for another $7, which added tots and a drink. I went with a bottle of root beer.
They handed me a bag containing two boxes and my bottle of root beer. One box was noticeably larger than the other, so naturally, I assumed the larger one contained my $26 lobster roll.
Nope.
Those were the tots.
I opened the smaller box and immediately thought, "Wait...that's it?"
The lobster roll was probably about 1/2 to 2/3 the size I had imagined. There were plenty of tots, but when you're at $32.95 before tax for a lobster roll, tots, and a bottled root beer, extra potatoes don't really make up for a surprisingly small main event.
Now, the important part: the lobster roll was AMAZING.
The lobster tasted fresh, the garlic butter was delicious, and the parmesan and herbs complemented everything without overpowering the lobster. Taste and quality alone, this was easily 5/5. I just wanted about twice as much of it.
They also offer the traditional Maine roll, served chilled with a touch of mayo, and the Connecticut roll, served warm with lemon butter. I actually considered the $30 Lobster Roll Flight, which gives you mini versions of the Maine, Connecticut, and Garlic Butter rolls.
After seeing the size of my regular roll, I'm glad I didn't.
I think opening a box containing three "mini" versions might have sent me into shock. All three together might still be smaller than the regular roll I got.
Since it's a food truck, there wasn't really anywhere set up to eat. Luckily, there was a random bench tied to a tree in the Lowe's parking lot. I'm not sure if it's permanently there or if the other food truck parked nearby brought it, but either way, that became my table for lunch.
Fourteen years after first hearing about Cousins Maine Lobster, I'm glad I finally got to try it. The actual lobster roll absolutely lived up to my expectations.
The size and value? Not so much.
Taste and quality: 5/5.
Overall value: 3/5.
Unfortunately, after 14 years of waiting, my stomach was expecting a little more lobster for $25.95.
