Lobster ME prides itself on Maine course

New Yorker and local restaurateur Zach Conine yearned for a taste of the East Coast, specifically the lobster rolls he grew up eating.

So he opened Lobster ME in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

"I grew up in upstate New York, and one of our investors spent time in New England," Conine says. "We were thinking about things that would work in Las Vegas, things that would play to a good concept but one that people can get and enjoy. And the lobster roll kind of jumped out at us. We thought wouldn't it be great if there were a place in Vegas where you can get a similar experience to what you'd get on the East Coast?"

Lobster ME strives to hit all the points of dining on an authentic Maine lobster roll. The lobsters are flown in from Maine almost daily. Even the rolls are a brioche-style split-top roll baked by a guy in New England that "we begged to send us his rolls," Conine says.

And if that's not Maine enough for you, the restaurant is even styled after those East Coast eateries that put the iconic lobster roll on the map. Lobster ME is fast-casual, so you walk up to a window, order your food, and what you do next is up to you, Conine says. You can walk around and eat or take a seat in a general dining area in the mall.

The menu offerings are simple -- lobster in a few different ways -- with a couple of surprises in the mix.

There's lobster ice cream, not for the faint of heart but noteworthy for its texture, Conine says. And for the truly curious diner, they offer an off-menu lobster milkshake.

"We find that people really like it or really don't like it," Conine says. "And in the middle are people who say: 'What? That was interesting.' "

Lobster ME is open 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Breakfast is served 9 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Reservations are not required.

Appetizers: shrimp cocktail, $9; ceviche, $7.50; lobster shooters, $4

Soups and salads: New England clam chowder served in sourdough bowl, $8; lobster bisque served in bread bowl, $9; shrimp salad, $11

Entrees: small lobster roll, $16; large lobster roll, $22; lobster, eggs and tots, $9.50; lobster and waffles, $9.50

Dessert: Lobster ice cream, $8.50; various flavors of ice cream, $4 a scoop.

By SONYA PADGETT