Even if you didn't grow up eating them on series of picturesque road trips through the northeast (we certainly didn't), there's something about the lobster roll that screams "vacation." Maybe it's something about the laid back seafood shack aesthetic, or maybe it's just the combination of pricey ingredients and eating with your hands, but the lobster roll manages to steep you in luxury and relaxation all at once. We're loathe to suggest that any old sandwich could equal the power of an actual weekend away, but if we had to pick one food item to do the work of a weekend away, it would be the lobster roll, and here's where we'd get 'em:

Brooklyn Crab
Okay, we love Brooklyn Crab for the seafood, but they also had us with their roof deck, patio, and shuttle, a short school bus that will pick you up from the Carroll St. station (F & G trains) and deliver you to the restaurant's doorstep.

Dutch Boy
If you've only ever hit Dutch Boy for their burgers, you're missing the terrific seaside-shack specialties, including one of Brooklyn's best lobster rolls.

Red Hook Lobster Pound
You can chase the truck, catch them at Smorgasburg, or just go direct to the source in Red Hook, where you can get a thick, well-buttered roll or serious lobster mac & cheese.

Mary's Fish Camp
Wildly fresh lobster rolls that now have the air of legend, you'll have to wait to get your hands on one, but the amount of butter coming your way is worth all the standing around.