Lobster Month(s) at Route 6

            My family and I recently had the great opportunity to dine at Stephen Starr’s new restaurant, Route 6. Route 6 had deemed October “Lobster Month”, offering half priced lobster, lobster roles, New England clam bakes for two, and other seafood items. The deal was then continued through November, where I had the chance to take part in the experience.

            The restaurant is located in North Philadelphia, but once you step into the restaurant you feel like you have been transported to Nantucket or another northern east coast beach town. Although the restaurant is pretty large, there is an element of warmth and home. From the wicker chairs to the beach-style nick-knacks, I felt like I was in the comfort of someone else’s beach house. The open kitchen fed more into the glamorous lobster shack theme.

            Of course the food! We started off with an order of the New England soft shell clams that were served with a garlic and butter broth that you dunked the sweet delicious clams into. That broth was so tasty, perfect for soaking oyster crackers and sharing to the very ending wishing there was more! We then shared an order of the fried Point Judith calamari, which gave you a little surprise of a fried hot cherry pepper in every other bite.

            Surprisingly for our main courses, only my dad ordered a whole lobster, the rest of us got other seafood dishes. When presented, the steamed lobster was delivered on a large beach-style platter, beautifully cooked and smelling of the ocean. My mom ordered the lobster roll, which was served on a plank of wood, with a side of French fries. The buttered split top roll was stuffed with large pieces of lobster lightly tossed in mayo. Finally we come to my main dish, the seafood stew. The stew felt as if it was comprised of the whole menu of seafood, including: shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, calamari, white fish, and potatoes in a garlic filled tomato broth. Each sip and bite was increasingly more mouthwatering than the next. I was experiencing a plethora of amazing flavors, which I thought were never going to end because of the size of the bowl.

            What is the point of experiencing a restaurant without ordering dessert? To end our fabulous meal we share the chocolate bread pudding served with homemade banana ice cream with bourbon and caramel sauce. The pudding was so decadent and scrumptious, but not overly sweet like some bread puddings. Once the bread pudding was gone, we raved to our waitress about how amazing it was, when she then told us that the pastry chef came from the famed restaurant Le Bec Fin, a smile was brought to our faces.

            If you have not been to Route 6, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of their continued half-priced deal! Even if you do not get there in time, if you are looking for a comforting and delicious seafood meal, Route 6 is the place to go.