Lobster Roll in Indianapolis: Where to Find One at Caplinger's and How to Plan Your Visit
Where to find real seafood in Indianapolis, and what makes it worth the trip.
Where to find real seafood in Indianapolis, and what makes it worth the trip.
If you are looking for a lobster roll in Indianapolis, Caplinger's Fresh Catch has Lobster Roll and Lobster Melt on its menu, and the lobster roll is named at the Pendleton Pike seafood kitchen and at The AMP downtown. Offerings vary by location and by day, so the simplest plan is to call the kitchen you want to visit before you drive. This guide explains where to look, what to ask when you call, and what to pair with a lobster roll if you are making a night of it.
Caplinger's runs four locations in Indianapolis, and they do not all work the same way. The Shadeland market on North Shadeland Avenue and the South Side market on South Meridian Street are built around the fresh seafood counter, where you buy fish, shellfish and oysters to cook at home. The kitchens are where prepared food happens.
The Pendleton Pike seafood kitchen, at 9535 Pendleton Pike, serves Lawrence, Oaklandon, McCordsville and Fort Harrison. The AMP downtown kitchen, at 1220 Waterway Boulevard, Container 1. Those are the two places where the lobster roll is named. If a roll is the point of your trip, start with one of them.
Seafood is a fresh product, and a kitchen cannot always have every item on every day. The menu is the same list of dishes, but what is available can change with the day and the delivery. Calling ahead takes a minute and saves you a trip. When you call, ask whether the lobster roll is available today, what time the kitchen closes, and whether you can order for pickup so it is ready when you arrive. Caplinger's is closed on Sundays, so plan around that.
If the roll is not available, ask about the Lobster Melt, which is also on the menu. It is a different dish, and some people prefer it. Because the kitchen knows what came in that day, the person on the phone can usually tell you which one to order.
A lobster roll is a lighter meal, so a lot of people add something on the side or share a few plates. A dozen raw Virginia Blue Point oysters on the half shell make a good opener, and fried fish and shrimp round out a bigger table. Many fish and shrimp dishes can also be grilled or blackened if you want something lighter. Our guide to what to order when you eat in at the seafood kitchen goes through the menu. One caution: the kitchens cannot guarantee that any dish is gluten free, so tell the staff about any allergy when you order.
Some people would rather make their own. Caplinger's sells live lobster as a special order with one day's notice, so call at least a day ahead. Once you have it, our guide on how to cook live lobster walks through the steps. Special order shellfish also includes king crab, and the same one day notice applies. Our king crab legs guide covers how to buy, store and cook them. For a broader look at where to buy seafood in the city, read our guide to the best seafood in Indianapolis.
For a gathering, you may want more than a few rolls. Caplinger's caters seafood boils for 10 to over 200 guests, and sells boil it yourself bundles from the Shadeland and South Side markets. Raw bars can be catered too. Our post on planning seafood catering explains how to work out the menu and headcount. If the party is small, a shrimp party tray from the market is an easy centerpiece.
The two sides of the business answer different needs. If you want to cook, the Shadeland and South Side markets are the place. The fish counter is stocked daily, the raw Virginia Blue Point oysters are iced and turned daily, and they are sold by the dozen or by the count. If you want a plate made for you, the kitchens are the place, and that is where the menu lives. A lot of customers use both: a lobster roll lunch at a kitchen one day, then a bag of oysters or a fish fillet from a market on the way home another day.
If you are shopping for an event, bring that up on the call. The staff can tell you whether a tray, a boil bundle or a catered order makes more sense for the size of your group, and how much notice each one needs.
Addresses, hours and the full menu for each location are on the Caplinger's locations page. Hours differ by location, so check the one you plan to visit. The market and kitchen sides of the business work differently, and the page lays out which is which.
Which Caplinger's locations serve a lobster roll? The Pendleton Pike seafood kitchen and The AMP downtown kitchen name it. Offerings vary by location and day, so call ahead.
Is the lobster roll always available? Not necessarily. Fresh seafood changes from day to day, so confirm by phone before you go.
Can I buy live lobster to cook myself? Yes. Live lobster is a special order with one day's notice.
Is Caplinger's open on Sundays? No. Caplinger's is closed on Sundays.
To find the closest kitchen and plan your visit, see the Caplinger's Fresh Catch locations.
NOAA Fisheries maintains a plain guide to sustainable seafood for anyone curious where crawfish and the rest of the case come from.