PJ Lobster House By Sidney Scott

To find the best food in any town, you have to go where the locals eat. Since 1995, seafood fans in Port Jefferson have flocked to PJ Lobster House Restaurant & Fish Market for what owner James Luciano assures is "the ultimate seafood dining experience."

A proud supporter of the local fishing industry, Luciano is committed to buying directly from Long Island Sound commercial fishermen and diggers whenever available. "We specialize in live lobsters and stock sizes up to 3 pounds," he explained. "Our fresh fish market receives deliveries seven days a week to maintain quality and freshness."

With a full-service casual dining room on the premises, seating can be accommodated for up to 100 guests for dinner or for a special occasion.

"Customers can come down and watch the local games on our brand new plasma TVs and enjoy appetizer and beer specials for Sunday football games," Luciano said.

Diners can begin their meal with an order of Oysters or Clams on the Half Shell, served with a side of cocktail sauce and lemons. The Firecracker Calamari is a great starter of crispy calamari dusted with Peppadew seasoning and teamed with roasted corn and avocado in a scallion cream dipping sauce. Larger parties or groups, may want to try the Seafood Appetizer Sampler, offering two baked clams, two Maryland crab cakes, popcorn shrimp and fried calamari.

Among the winning salad selections, there's the Sea Scallop Salad, featuring scallops encrusted with special chick pea, cumin and Cajun panko breading that are served over baby greens with red onion, tomato, cucumber, kalamata olives and feta cheese and tossed in a champagne vinaigrette. House specialties are ideal for either lunch or dinner. Must-haves include the Long Island Lobster Roll, consisting of 1/3rd-pound of lobster salad made with handpicked Long Island lobster meat mixed with fresh celery and Hellmann's mayonnaise served on a choice of panini toast, Italian hoagie or a hot dog bun. Other popular selections are the Angus Beef Burger Platter, an 8-ounce burger topped with lettuce and tomatoes; and the Crispy fish taco-dillas, with spicy tempura buttered tilapia wrapped with a cool cilantro lime slaw by a cheese quesadilla.

You don't want to leave PJ Lobster house without trying one of several lobster dishes. The Twin Lobster Tails features two 4-ounce lobster tails broiled with butter and garlic; the Surf & Turf is 12 ounces of shell steak and 1-1/4-pound steamed lobster; and the Downeast Dinner for Two is made with 1-1/4-pound lobsters, two pounds of steamer mussels, two cups of soup and two garden salads.

Mahi Mahi Piccata, a pan-seared Mahi sautéed with fresh artichokes and capers, is served in a lemon butter sauce; and the Honey Mustard Salmon is a pan-seared fillet topped with a sweet and spicy honey mustard horseradish sauce.

PJ's offers a complete dessert and take-out menu and on- and off-premise catering services. Local and imported beer and wine selections are available, too. All-you-can-eat specials are offered Monday through Wednesday; and on Thursday, it's a Lobster Fest.