Jordan’s Lobster Dock

A couple of weeks back, I got the urge to check out Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. This is a part of Brooklyn located North East of Brighton Beach and Coney Island, and for some reason, it kept popping up on my radar. A year ago a friend’s friend had mentioned his family’s business out there, then my uncle had been to a car dealership around the area, and then TimeOutNY had mentioned a must-try (which we did not try) restaurant in the neighborhood. With all of that, I decided it was day trip time.

We started out in Coney Island and walked up from there along the boardwalk, dipping into the interior when we got to Brighton Beach to check out the various foodstuffs in which the neighborhood specializes. We then walked up to Emmons Avenue, essentially the main strip along the bay (the Sheepshead Bay).

It was altogether otherworldly; at least, non-New Yorky (err Manhattan-y?). There were mini cruise ships lined up along the dock advertising sea bass tours. The people were urban in terms of diversity, but the shops were set up in a series of small strip malls interspersed with yacht clubs. We walked the entire bay until finally, we came to Jordan’s Lobster Dock, set back just one street from the bay, but still at the head of the Atlantic Ocean. It was my friend’s family business! The bare bones seafood shack was perfect—one of those places you’re sure doesn’t exist anymore in New York. But this place was hopping—no table service resulted in brisk dining and no-frills cashiers yelling numbers for patrons to come pick up their various seafood platters. We saw fish and chips, battered shrimp, and thick cut steak fries go by on treys before we made a decision.

We went for a classic lobster roll, which came with sweet potato fries. The roll was comprised of first a toasted hot dog bun, then a crisp piece of lettuce, and then a heaping—I mean supersize-it heaping—mound of straight up lobster. A few packets of mayo plus a lemon wedge came alongside it so that we could individually doctor our roll. With the delicate fries, it was plenty to feed two people, but we wanted one more thing and so went for the crab cake, of which lately I’ve eaten a ton. This one is professional—a little small, but very professional.

After lunch, we walked outside to the distinct smell of movie popcorn. Following our noses, we walked right into an afternoon matinee: one more reason to make the trek to this wonderful and authentic part of town!