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A trendy summer seafood spot in East Rockaway has added a new year-round restaurant in Massapequa.
The second Lazy Lobster restaurant is now up and running at 5089 Merrick Road. And just like the original, Massapequa’s menu offers three types of lobster rolls, a variety of tacos and signature cocktails. Unlike it’s westward, outdoor predecessor which opened in 2016, the Massapequa location is a dine-in spot open all year.
“We just want to expand because we have such a good following,” said Keith Gleason, one of two managing partners of the new restaurant and the head chef in East Rockaway. “We’d like to ultimately franchise the place because of how well we’ve done in East Rockaway… the whole ‘eat, drink, and get lazy’ thing catches on. People line up down the block almost every night.”
Over the years, Gleason tested specials that became well-demanded menu hallmarks, such as the Po’ Boy Sandwich, the warm Connecticut Lobster Roll and some of his other favorites.
“The tuna nachos was a special I did for a long time, and people just kept asking for it, so it made it onto the menu,” Gleason said. “The jumbo shrimp is my personal family favorite. I make it the same way my dad showed me how to make it when I was a kid.”
More locations could follow
While the original location allowed Lazy Lobster founders Paul Pandolfi, Marco Lionetti and Joe Maniscalco to offer a full summer experience — good eats, drinks and live music in a beer garden — Massapequa allows the trio, plus Gleason and new managing partner Rob McDermott, to expand their seasonal offerings.
“Right now, we do a clam chowder and a shrimp and corn chowder,” McDermott said. “We’re talking about a shrimp and a gumbo soup coming for the winter.”
While seafood soups are sure to be popular as winter arrives, Gleason said he will develop more specials for those who will enjoy turf options, along with the all surf choices.
“I really enjoy making good food for people. It makes me happy when people say how good everything is and how they enjoy our food.”
To embrace the restaurant’s signature “lazy” lifestyle — customers can order up red and white sangria, beers on tap or the Lazy Lobster famous Froze, a frozen strawberry wine.
While the new year-round Massapequa Lazy Lobster is still fresh, Gleason and McDermott both expressed interest in spreading the Lazy Lobster brand across the island.
“I had so many people say they wish we were open all year round and that they wish they could get this in the winter,” Gleason said. “So now here we are, we’re available all year long, and hopefully we’ll have more stores like this to follow in the next few years, as long as this one does well.”
