Dueling Lobster Pounds
Two is Always Better Than One
If you drive up Route 286 in Seabrook, New Hampshire, you will eventually come across two lobster pounds, only separated by the two lane road. On the south side, you will find the blue and white painted building called Markey’s and across the street is the yellow and brown building known as Brown’s. Both have been there for decades, family owned and operated, and highly successful.
But what makes these two summertime hot spots so special? Both are packed to the hilt in the heat of July, with long lines waiting to place their order for the tastiest seafood around after a long day at the beach. Those waiting in line, mostly “locals” from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, mixed in with tourists who heard about the two famous lobster pounds will tell you waiting is “part of the experience” and “the food is worth the wait.”
Bruce Brown and Tom Markey have carried on the businesses that their father’s started. Whether it is the fresh seafood or the lobster in the rough atmosphere typical of New England, the 350 seats in both restaurants are always packed in the summer. Because there is plenty of business for both restaurants, they are more friends than rivals. When one runs out of paper plates or napkins, the other is happy to help out.
While they are similar with the freshness of their food and friendly service, there are some differences. Brown’s has a wide open seating area with rows of picnic tables, including outdoor seating overlooking the Blackwater River. Markey’s has sections of tables and chairs, also with a covered outdoor dining area with a view of the river.
Brown’s touts a “bring your own beer” atmosphere, a long lasting tradition from Bruce’s mother who didn’t approve of beer and wine, but had no problem with people bringing it in to enjoy with their meal. Markey’s has a beer and wine license, offering a wide variety of domestic and imported beer. This can be a deciding factor for the customers, especially if they didn’t plan ahead and bring their own beverages.
What about the food? Word on the street is Brown’s has a better fried seafood batter, deliciously salty and flavorful. Markey’s has a raw bar, on top of one of the best lobster rolls around. Both have the freshest seafood available, with their lobsters kept in saltwater, chilled tanks.
I don’t know if this helps you make a decision, but in my honest opinion, you can’t lose with either option. Sometimes the decision comes down to just aesthetics – will you go to the choose blue or brown today?
by L.A. DiNardi
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