’Tis the season for indulgence. And though the pandemic isn’t behind us yet, vaccines have given us the opportunity to celebrate in a way we couldn’t in 2020—which is reason enough to go all out for the holidays.
Since this year’s fêtes deserve the absolute best, why not include one of the most luxurious foods as the centerpiece of your feasts? Besides being downright succulent and highly versatile to several preparation styles, lobster is an impressive addition to any occasion—and a crowd pleasing favorite. Now, thanks to exceptionally speedy or overnight shipping, it’s never been easier to get decadent lobster delicacies fresh from the ocean and onto to your holiday table.
To help you celebrate the festive season in style, we’ve rounded up nine of the country’s finest seafood purveyors that will ship their prized crustaceans—from whole (live or pre-cooked) to premium tails to lobster-laden feasts—directly to your doorstep quickly.
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Wellfleet Shellfish Co.
Image Credit: courtesy Wellfleet Shellfish Co. Located directly at the source on Cape Cod, Wellfleet Shellfish Co. was founded in 2002 to bring their famous, top-quality seafood to markets around the globe. The company gets pristine cold-water lobsters directly off local boats daily, then stores them in FDA-approved saltwater tanks until they the moment they are packaged for delivery.Elevate your holiday soirée by cooking whole live lobstahs from the Cape (either 1.5- or 2-pounders) shipped directly from Wellfleet Shellfish Co. or through Goldbelly.
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McLoons
Image Credit: courtesy McLoons This family-owned lobster shack overlooking the water on Spruce Head Island is a popular dining destination. However, if you’re not heading to Maine anytime soon, you can still enjoy McLoons’ award-winning favorites—including sweet, meaty lobster—at home thanks to overnight shipping on Goldbelly. McLoons sources directly from local lobstermen and offers whole lobsters—live or pre-cooked—ranging from one to three pounds in size, with the option to add local Casco Bay artisan sea salt butter. Or let McLoons handle your entire feast with their hearty Lobster Bake, which includes four whole lobsters, littleneck clams, red potatoes, all accoutrements and even whoopee pies for dessert.
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Lobster Trap
Image Credit: courtesy Chelsea Lowe Established as a lobster wholesale business in 1972, Lobster Trap has a robust e-commerce division, Lobsters-Online.com, which has been overnight shipping the freshest seafood nationwide since 1997. Their supreme quality lobsters are harvested by hand and sustainably sourced from the oceans in Downeast Maine. Selections include live lobsters (from 1-pound to jumbo 6-pounders), prime lobster tails and lobster meat shucked and cooked on-site. Round out your meal with specialty prepared seafood, lobster bisque and more.
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Legal Sea Foods
Image Credit: courtesy Legal Sea Foods Legal Sea Foods originated in 1950 when George Berkowitz opened a fish market in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1968, the family opened its first seafood restaurant right next door. A small mail order business was pioneered in the ’70s, shipping fish one by one around the country to those who had heard about the company’s uncompromising standards. Today, LegalSeaFoodsMarketplace.com continues the proud tradition—delivering their signature seafood from coast to coast.
Bring the New England seafood experience home with whole North Atlantic lobsters (available live or cooked), lobster dinner packages or the special holiday “Santa Claws” gift box: a festive meal (serving two or four) featuring premium cooked lobsters, velvety lobster bisque and decadent lobster mac and cheese. Use code RobbReport21 at checkout for 15 percent off your order.
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Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co.
Image Credit: courtesy Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co. Dating back to 1946, this family-run business based in Topsham, Maine, is renowned for their award-winning lobster. And for more than 20 years, Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co. has been shipping the legendary Maine delicacies nationwide, now through Goldbelly. Order a four-pack (or more) of tails—which are excellent prepared grilled, baked, stuffed or steamed—on their own, or as part of the Lobsterman’s Catch package, which includes shrimp, mussels, sea scallops, corn and baby potatoes drenched in herbed lemon butter.
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Get Maine Lobster
Image Credit: courtesy Leslie Brienza This gourmet retailer ships sustainably sourced Atlantic lobster straight from the Portland docks to your doorstep overnight. The prized crustaceans are wild caught using eco-friendly traps and expertly hand-selected to ensure the highest quality. Live lobsters (which come in various sizes) are presented in pairs—in quantities up to 20 to feed a bigger crowd. Or you can select freshly caught, flash-frozen tails, which range from petite to jumbo sized.
Also notable: The company is offering the world’s most expensive—and lavish—lobster roll kit ($1,000 for four rolls), which boasts decadent ingredients such as Royal Belgian Caviar, A5 Wagyu, white truffle aioli and edible gold flakes to extravagantly up the ante.
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FultonFishMarket.com
Image Credit: courtesy FultonFishMarket.com Established in 1822, New York City’s legendary Fulton Fish Market offers the world’s largest assortment of the finest quality seafood through their online retail shop: FultonFishMarket.com. Elevate your celebrations with everything from live cold-water hardshell lobsters sourced from Nova Scotia to premium lobster tails hailing from Penobscot Bay in the Gulf of Maine. There’s also outstanding holiday bundles to suit any occasion like the extravagant New Year’s Shellebration ($979.99), which boasts a spectacular selection of lobster, premium caviar, live oysters, king crab legs, sea scallops, smoked Scottish salmon and more.
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Cousins Maine Lobster
Image Credit: courtesy Cousins Maine Lobster Founded in 2012, Cousins Maine Lobster sources their seafood from the pristine, ice cold waters off the rocky coast of Maine. After becoming nationally recognized from their appearance on Shark Tank, the company has exploded in popularity and now operates multiple brick-and-mortar locations, several food trucks and even a catering service. Live Maine lobsters (available in various sizes and quantities in a minimum of two) can be shipped directly to you overnight. Cousins also offers tails, family meal bundles and all the accoutrements to impress holiday guests. Use code ROBBVIP15 at checkout (or use this link) for 15 percent off your order.
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Beal’s Lobster Pier
Image Credit: courtesy Beal's Lobster Pier Since opening in Maine’s Southwest Harbor in 1932, not much has changed at this famous, family-owned working lobster pier. All of their seafood is caught daily by local fisherman in their harbor and is shipped nationwide through Goldbelly. Beal’s offers multiple live lobster packs (either 1.5- or 2-pounders), as well as bundles of whole lobsters that have been cooked to perfection at their restaurant. All lobsters come with bibs and serving instructions, so all you’ll need is to “eat, drink and be messy” (the company’s motto). Additionally, an array of add-ons can further elevate your seafood feast.
