North Naples resident Samantha Slater fell in love with Mystic lobster rolls after trying her first one while visiting family on Long Beach Island off the New Jersey coast. Because she said she noticed a major gap in the Naples area when it came to lobster rolls, her love for them inspired her to open a local franchise here.
On April 7, Slater launched Southwest Florida’s first franchise for Mystic Lobster Roll Co. The location in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt in North Naples is the chain’s first franchise with a bar that serves beer, wine and hard seltzers. Lobster rolls are the main attraction, of course, with a menu that includes lobster mac and cheese, lobster bisque, lobster tacos and more.
In Florida, Mystic also has locations in Boca Raton and Juno Beach with one on the way in Orlando. The growing chain has seven restaurants and five coming soon to New Jersey, where Mystic started in February 2020, as well as more locations planned in the Hamptons, Myrtle Beach and North Carolina.
“There are a few things that really set Mystic Lobster Roll Co apart, one of which is the large pieces of 100% fresh Maine lobster we put into every roll,” Slater said.
Mystic specializes in traditional and untraditional lobster rolls for lunch or dinner. “All of the lobster is directly from Maine with the most popular item being the Maine Lobster Roll, which is fresh lobster with mayo in a lightly buttered roll,” Slater said. “The other most popular item is the Connecticut Lobster Roll, which is fresh lobster in melted butter served warm. We also have a variety of specialty rolls which are a huge hit. One of which is the Surf and Turf Roll, which is filet mignon and lobster served cold or warm with the option of butter or mayo.”
The 10 untraditional rolls top the freshly shelled lobster meat with ingredients such as cheese sauce on the Philly Roll, fresh mozzarella and tomato on the Italian Roll, and mango caviar and coconut on the Hawaiian. Any lobster roll can be substituted with lettuce or a gluten-free roll.
For those who may not be a fan of shellfish, Mystic’s menu also includes a variety of sliders and tacos made with either grilled chicken or Black Angus ribeye steak. A kids’ menu offers chicken fingers and white cheddar mac and cheese.
Mystic Lobster Roll operates locally at the former address of Pretty is Pink boutique, which closed at the end of August 2020 at 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 148. The new casual restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
