THIS Is Louisville’s Best Lobster Roll: Longshot Lobsta
The lobster roll may have originated in New England, but Derby City can definitely hold its own. Longshot Lobsta, Louisville's original lobster truck, is serving up lobster rolls and more all over town. And no, they aren't out of business!
For nearly a decade, Phillip Goldsborough’s food truck, Longshot Lobsta, has been Derby City’s only mobile lobster eatery. Rumor has it that some competition might be coming soon, but Phillip is undeterred. “It’s a good market — maybe they’ll buy me out with an offer I can’t refuse,” he says with a laugh.
Phillip started Longshot Lobsta in 2013 after shutting the doors of Longshot Tavern, a Frankfort Avenue bar he’d owned for almost 20 years. He says that the first part of the moniker, “Longshot,” came from his sister, back when having a bar seemed like a pipe dream. “She said the chance of me ever owning a bar was a longshot,” he explains.
He proved her wrong, but eventually, he wanted out of the bar business — and the food truck idea came to him while at the Saratoga Race Course in New York. After noticing a long line of people trying to purchase something from a tent outside the racetrack, Phillip decided to see what all the fuss was about. He realized they were waiting for lobster rolls — and was immediately impressed and inspired. “I fell in love with the [New England] sandwich,” he says.
Though Phillip had never made lobster rolls on a commercial scale, he did have several years of baking experience under his belt and all the know-how to run a company from his days at the bar. He put $40,000 toward his new food truck endeavor — opting for a truck/trailer combo to eliminate mechanical issues — but had a horrible first day in business.
After not making any money on day one, Phillip was worried he’d made a mistake with his investment. Still, he took the truck out on day two. To his surprise, the lobster was (pun intended) on a roll. By the end of 2014, his lobster bisque and lobster rolls had grossed $140,000.
Today, Phillip and his general manager, Karen Richardson, serve up a small but mighty menu of rolls and soups. The Traditional Lobsta Roll is served cold; steamed lobster is tossed with mayonnaise, celery, and special seasoning on a coney roll. The warm version — a Connecticut Lobsta Roll — features lobster that has been tossed with melted butter. The truck also offers Lobsta Bisque and New England Clam Chowder, both of which are served with a warm, fresh-baked cheddar bay biscuit.
A quick online search of Longshot Lobsta will garner several rave reviews for everything on the menu. Customers have said they have the best cheese biscuits, with the delicious and tender rolls “stealing the show.” One patron said the meal reminded her of being in Maine, while another described the food as “perfect.”
Though these positive comments are plentiful, what’s not so easy to find are the truck’s upcoming locations. Some sites incorrectly list Longshot Lobsta as being closed, and its Facebook page is only updated occasionally. “[Phillip’s late] wife used to do [our] social media … so it’s kind of fallen by the wayside,” Karen explains.
She and Phillip now rely primarily on advertising and marketing for various events where Longshot Lobsta makes an appearance, but Phillip says customers can give him a ring any time. “Just give me a call, and I’ll tell you where we’re gonna be,” he says. That number’s (502) 262-2232 … you know, whenever you’re ready to roll.
All photography by Lennie Omalza.
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Lennie Omalza
Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.