Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls brings the taste of a New England classic to Bradenton

James A. Jones Jr.
·3 min read

Since Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls recently opened in Bradenton, there’s something that regional manager Adam Miner has been hearing a lot from former New Englanders living in Florida.

“This is the closest to being home without being home,” Miner reports the customers say.

That’s because the lobsters and other menu offerings, including the sodas, are from Maine. Virtually everything on the menu is from New England.

Mason’s is serving its lobster rolls and other menu items in the Braden River Plaza shopping center at 4650 State Road 64 E.

The motto is “keep lobster simple.” And that’s the way it is with the menu, too.

The lobster rolls are served with “no bells, no whistles and no retention. We serve them only with the basics,” the company says.

The basics include lemon, butter and maybe a little celery.

There are four lobster roll choices: classic, served chilled with mayo and lemon butter; Connecticut, served warm with butter; a lobster roll salad, tossed in mayo, celery and lemon dressing; and a lobster BLT roll, served with bacon, lettuce and tomato. Each sells for $20.

Adam Miner and his partners recently opened Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls in the Braden River Plaza shopping center at 4650 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.
Adam Miner and his partners recently opened Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls in the Braden River Plaza shopping center at 4650 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.

Other seafood choices include a crab salad roll for $19, a shrimp salad roll for $15, lobster grilled cheese for $15 and a lobster mac and cheese for $15.

Soups and salads include lobster bisque and New England clam chowder.

There is also a children’s menu, including a Nathan’s all-beef hot dog, grilled cheese and mac and cheese.

Mason’s also serves breakfast.

Beer and wine are coming to the menu, as soon as the restaurant gets its license, Miner said.

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls recently opened in the Braden River Plaza shopping center at 4650 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls recently opened in the Braden River Plaza shopping center at 4650 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.

Monica Bartels was a returning customer this week, getting a lobster roll on one occasion and lobster bisque on another.

“Everything is awesome,” she said.

Miner and his partners also own Mason’s franchises in Fort Myers and St. Petersburg, and found that the Bradenton location was a perfect bridge between the other two restaurants.

Two months after opening the Fort Myers store last year, it was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. That restaurant has been rebuilt and reopened.

After the challenges in Fort Myers, the Bradenton store opening was a “breath of fresh air,” Miner said.

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls recently opened in the Braden River Plaza shopping center at 4650 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls recently opened in the Braden River Plaza shopping center at 4650 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.

The Bradenton restaurant has seating for about 50, including tables inside and outside.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Takeout and delivery are available at MasonsLobster.com. Catering is also available.

Company founder Dan Beck, a seafood buyer in the restaurant business, opened the first Mason’s in 2014.

“He paid regular visits to Maine, getting to know the lobstermen there. He was inspired by their centuries-old values and traditions, and learned to respect the ways of Maine’s waters,” according to the Mason’s webpage.

There are now 30 Mason’s restaurants. Other Florida stores are in Fernandina Beach, Miami, Orlando and Panama City.

Masons also operates in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Washington, D.C.

For more information about the Bradenton Mason’s call 941-213-1060 or visit the webpage at https://www.MasonsLobster.com/.

The motto at Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is “keep lobster simple,” and that’s the way it is with the menu. The restaurant recently opened in the Braden River Plaza shopping center at 4650 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.
The motto at Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is “keep lobster simple,” and that’s the way it is with the menu. The restaurant recently opened in the Braden River Plaza shopping center at 4650 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.