Can’t make it up to Cape Cod for a lobster roll any time soon? Not a problem. Come and try Steven Starr’s new restaurant, Route 6, on North Broad Street in Philadelphia.
This restaurant is named after the famous highway running from Provincetown, Massachusetts to the center of Cape Cod and serves up the much-loved cuisine of the New England coastal towns including lobster rolls, clam chowder, daily fish specials, and fried clams. The laid back, beach vibe will automatically transform you into a state of relaxation.
Warning: you may be tricked into believing that you are actually at the beach with your friends at a clambake until you step out in to the chilly Philly weather. You can practically feel the ocean breeze and feel the warm sand against your toes as you enter. Every detail of this restaurant adds to the New England experience. From the numerous jars filled with shells to beach buckets as trash cans in the bathrooms to anchors hanging from the ceilings to all of the hardware emulating that on a boat, the atmosphere is flawless. At the entrance to the restaurant, there is a bar and a lounge with a fireplace and large, cozy chairs to relax on. Additionally, there is a chef’s counter that seats up to twenty people where one can watch the chefs cooking in the open kitchen.
Now onto the most important part: the food. This was one of the best meals I have had in a very long time. The servers will bring out bread knots right away that are perfectly crunchy and will complement every dish. The appetizers my family and I ordered included the fried clams, crab deviled eggs, clam chowder, and the Caesar salad. The fried clams tasted right out the ocean. The crab deviled eggs were impeccably flavored with a hint of spice and as a Caesar salad lover I can say that the Caesar salad was one of the best I have ever had. My favorite entrée was the crab cake with coleslaw, which did not have too much mayo, but instead was perfectly baked and seasoned to perfection. The Maine lobster roll was also incredible. I wanted to savor each creamy bite and the sweetness of the brioche roll was the consummate accompaniment. Even the sides were delectable: the sweet Brussels sprouts to the roasted cauliflower to the Boston Baked Beans. Before I forget about dessert, Route 6 offers a selection of homemade pies that taste as good as your grandmother’s. The warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream and the pecan pie were my favorites.
One last thing. For those hot summer days, they have a large courtyard with picnic tables so one can sit outside. So, if you cannot make the time to plan that beach trip anytime soon, eating at Route 6 is definitely a good start.