On National Lobster Day, throwing caution to the wind at Picnic

The sinfully rich Lobster Roll at Picnic on the Square, a Ridgewood restaurant that offers the contemporary American cuisine of Chef Christine E. Nunn. 

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Butter. Full-fat cheese. Mayo. Bread.

For diet or health reasons, the list of foods I avoid is long, but today, I threw caution to the wind and splurged on lunch at Picnic on the Square in Ridgewood with two friends.

We shared a Spinach Artichoke Dip made gooey with plenty of melted cheese ($10), then moaned with pleasure over the Lobster Roll ($22), seasoned with tarragon and a little lemon juice.

I'm happy with just a spritz of lemon on freshly steamed lobster, so these delicious morsels of tail and claw meat, bound in plenty of mayonnaise, were really over the top.

The Lobster Roll wasn't on Picnic's lunch menu, but we had been coveting the roll since Labor Day, when we saw a photo in the food pages of a newspaper, and luckily, the kitchen came through for us.

I used my fork to eat four or five pieces of tender lobster and some salad, then distributed the rest of the meat evenly, picked by the split-top bun and took three or four big bites until it was gone. 

Terrific.

Today also just happens to be National Lobster Day, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than this wonderful roll.

Spinach Artichoke Dip with fried pocket-bread triangles.

Make a reservation

We made a reservation, a good thing as Picnic on the Square has only about 40 seats and nearly all of them were full today.

We caught a glimpse of Chef Christine E. Nunn behind a curtain between the dining room and kitchen.

Her first Picnic restaurant was in Fair Lawn.

A glass of  unsweetened Iced Tea was $3. A large bottle of Perrier sparkling mineral water was $7. French-press coffee was $3.50 a cup with a refill.

Table accents.

The lunch menu.

In North Jersey's biggest restaurant town, Picnic on the Square has about 40 seats inside and out.

Details

Picnic on the Square, 26 Wilsey Square, Ridgewood; 201-444-4001. 

BYO, metered parking. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Lunch served Tuesdays through Fridays.

Web site: A picnic with table service