Miss Easton's Beach twin lobster rolls? Head down the street but lines are already forming

MIDDLETOWN – Salty’s partner Evan Enos says lobster rolls last year did not make it on the top 5 list of items sold at the beach’s concession stand.

In fact, they might not have even been within the Top 10.

This year, thanks to Barry Botelho partnering with Salty’s and bringing his signature lobster rolls one town over to Middletown, the lobster rolls are the top-selling item on the menu.

Enos is one of three partner’s of Salty’s, which runs concession stands at beaches all over Rhode Island.

“Barry is the real deal,” Enos said of the signature twin lobster rolls, which Botelho noted are known all around New England and even all over the country.

Like lobster and mayo – or hot butter – a partnership is formed

Botelho for 25 years sold his lobster rolls at Easton’s Beach’s concession stand in Newport.

The new official partnership with Salty’s began earlier in the year. In December, the Newport City Council decided not to renew Botelho’s lease and in March decided to demolish the concession stand building due to structural deficiencies.

Newport has now opted to allow food trucks to sell out of the Easton’s Beach property and a mobile kitchen.

Botelho, who has known Salty’s partners for 10 years and had a good rapport with them, decided to collaborate with them and move his product only a few miles down the road

“We’ve exceeded what we’ve expected right now,” Botelho said.

As Botelho made this comment on a cool and slightly overcast Saturday morning, people started lining up at the concession stand, which had just opened up.

Both Botelho and Enos say that this trend should continue throughout the summer as the days get hotter and the beach gets busier.

Both paused and reflected that summer has not even officially begun.

So far, less than three weeks after Memorial Day Weekend, people are lining up for a taste of the seafood delight – ranked by many Rhode Island voters as the top lobster roll in the state.

Citing one poll last year, Botelho said his twin lobsters received more votes for best roll than all of the other state lobster rolls combined.

Other local and national media outlets have also touted Botelho’s lobster rolls.

Botelho comes with much experience and media sources have noted that his recipe is hard to replicate.

Botelho has been working in the restaurant business since 16 and once owned and operated a restaurant chain in Newport.

Botelho also used to operate cafes on the Newport Naval base.

For 30 years, he has been making his signature lobster rolls, which were once a food staple at Easton Beach.

Now, Second Beach users can look forward to Botelho’s rolls.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Easton's Beach lobster rolls now available at Second Beach, Middletown