Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls Opens in Virginia Beach
A new fast-casual franchise is opening in Virginia Beach to give diners a taste of New England-style lobster rolls. On Thursday, Nov. 10, I attended the VIP Party for Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls’ first Virginia Beach location.
About Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
Annapolis, Maryland-based Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls locations have been popping up along the East Coast and other parts of the country. Dan Beck, a seafood buyer in the restaurant business, opened the first location in Maryland’s capital city back in 2014. The lobsters used are sustainably caught directly from the waters of Maine and prepared authentically.
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls in Virginia Beach
The eatery is conveniently located off Shore Drive, at the intersection near the Lesner Bridge (the old Sugar Shack for locals that remember). The Shore Drive location is the first in Coastal Virginia, with another set to open at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Co-owner Wes Leonard describes the Shore Drive restaurant as “one for the locals,” complete with an outdoor patio that’s outfitted with heaters for the approaching cold-weather season. The forthcoming Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls on 17th Street and Atlantic Avenue will be geared more towards tourists and embrace Virginia Beach’s laid-back, coastal vibe, from the décor to the to-go cocktails perfect for hitting the beach. For now, Wes is focused on establishing this first location, with the possibility of expanding inland to Town Center, Greenbrier and more.
While Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is a chain, it’s also a family affair locally. At the exclusive event, I saw almost everyone in the Leonard family working—from parents Craig and Deborah to their sons Wes and Colt. The Leonard family are Coastal Virginia natives from Chesapeake who also own several Rally’s locations in the region. With decades of experience across the generations, Wes explained to me that everyone in the family gets involved with all aspects of their restaurants. Wes even got his young son in the mix, as I watched him try his first lobster roll at the event.
Lobster Rolls & More
Simply put, Mason’s does lobster rolls, but a few variations of the seafood dish. The Classic Lobster Roll is straightforward, with mayo and lemon butter, served cold. Similarly, the Lobster Salad Roll has chunks of lobster meat tossed in a celery, mayo and lemon dressing. The Connecticut Roll is served warm and tossed in butter, a nice option for those who don’t like mayo. The Bar Harbor is the most bountiful roll on the menu—any lobster roll topped with 1.25 pounds of lobster, including the much-sought-after tail meat.
I believe that bacon is better on everything, and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls tests out that theory with a Lobster BLT Roll. In addition to lobster rolls, the menu also includes a shrimp salad roll, lobster mac and cheese made with creamy cheddar and two ounces of lobster, lobster grilled cheese on thick-cut Texas toast, soups, salads and a kid’s menu.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the lobster meat from Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, given that it is a chain restaurant (this was before I read about their goal of serving “from Main to Mouth.”) The chunks in my roll were meaty and sweet, almost as if they were caught fresh from our local bay. They certainly don’t skimp on the portions at Mason’s either. I had to check myself before each bite to make sure I didn’t drop a lump of lobster or an Old Bay-covered shrimp into my lap as I ate.
My table was in agreement that both the lobster and shrimp salad could use more celery and mayo to really differentiate from the Classic Lobster Roll. I will say that when we chatted with both Wes and his father Craig, they were very receptive to the feedback. That’s something that can be lacking with some chain restaurants. The Leonards truly have an appreciation for the food and their customers, and you can feel it as soon as you walk through the doors and are warmly greeted.
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is located at 3273 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach.