UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — His smile answered the question before his words did.
It was Monday, just after 11 a.m., and shortly after Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls at Promenade Saucon Valley opened its doors for the day.
The customer, the first of the day, had just finished a hearty lunch of a classic lobster roll and lobster bisque.
Nourished and warm on the mid-30-degree day, the gentleman approached the exit. Before he left, Mason’s Manager Richard Rudolph asked him how his meal was.
The man closed his eyes for a moment, inhaled, smiled and said, “It … was … delicious!”
“I’ve been hearing good things from everyone since we opened."Rich Rudolph, owner, Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls
Rudolph returned the smile and said he hoped to see him again.
“That’s what you hope to hear,” he said.
Rudolph, 23, and his father and owner, Rich Rudolph Sr., 58, said they have been hearing such praises since the grand opening of the franchise-type restaurant on Jan. 15.
“I’ve been hearing good things from everyone since we opened,” the elder Rudolph said. “I haven’t heard anything negative yet.
“I’ve heard from people who drive here from an hour and a half away. She got a lobster roll and her son got mac and cheese. The son tried the lobster and loved it.
"Then she ordered two more lobster rolls, ate them here and got five more to go.”
Clawing through the competition
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls was founded in 2014 by Dan Beck, a former seafood buyer in the restaurant business who had a vision to bring the fresh taste of Maine lobster across America.
The number of locations nationwide is 30 and counting.
The Promenade location is the first Mason’s Famous location in Pennsylvania.
The 1,500-square-foot venue with seating for 30 was bustling with customers Monday.
The lunch-dinner menu consists of a variety of lobster rolls on a traditional New England-style split bun. Other items include soups, sides, drinks, a children’s menu and desserts.
The lobster rolls consist of meat chunks and served in an assortment of ways.
The Classic ($22) consists of chilled lobster with mayonnaise and lemon butter on a toasted roll.
The Connecticut Roll ($22) is served warm with the lobster tossed in butter.
The BLT Roll ($22) is packed with lobster with bacon, lettuce and tomato.
The Shrimp Roll ($16) has jumbo shrimp tossed in mayo, celery and lemon.
The Bar Harbor ($28) is a larger item, with 50% more lobster than other rolls, with a full uncut tail.
The tail of how it came to be
Maine Combos offer the lobster roll with a cup of soup, a side and drink or a side and bottle of water.
Other menu items include lobster salad ($22) and shrimp salad ($16), both with tomato, cucumber, dried cranberries and goat cheese over fresh greens.
A side garden salad minus lobster ($8) is also offered.
Other items include lobster grilled cheese ($16) and lobster mac and cheese ($16).
“We used to go to the Mason’s when we’d go to Rehoboth... We loved it. And we asked ourselves why we didn't have one back home."Rich Rudolph, owner, Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls
Mason’s kids menu includes a Nathan’s all-beef hot dog with drink and fries, grilled cheese with drink and fries, mac and cheese with a drink, and a basket of fries.
A Whoopie Pie, not yet available, will be the dessert option.
The Rudolphs are Lehigh Valley natives; the elder grew up in Hellertown, the younger in Schnecksville.
So, how did they come to own and operate a lobster roll establishment in Center Valley?
“We used to go to the Mason’s when we’d go to Rehoboth" Beach, Delaware, the elder Rich said.
“We loved it. And we asked ourselves why we didn't have one back home. We knew we didn’t need another burger joint.
“So we looked into it. In December, my son and I went to [Washington] D.C. for three days of training with corporate. Now we’re here.”
Customers shelling out
The great reviews keep coming. Susan Klofach of Allentown sat down to enjoy a lunch of a Classic with a side of coleslaw and a refreshment?
“Everything here is just great,” she said.
Last Saturday, Mason’s Famous was doing incredible business. Due in part to a winter festival at the Promenade, the line of customers stretched from the register, across the dining area, out the door and down the sidewalk.
“All of our reviews on Google have been five-star... That makes us happy.”Rich Rudolph, owner, Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls
“We got crushed,” Richard said. “Usually, people only have to wait five minutes for something to eat. But Saturday, the wait was like 45 minutes. But people stayed. They like the food.”
The elder Rudolph's only prior experience in the food service industry was when he worked at McDonald’s as a teenager and later sold breakfast sandwiches at area gas stations he owned.
The reviews of Mason’s Famous have extended beyond the dining room.
“All of our reviews on Google have been five-star,” Rudolph Sr. said. “Everything online has been good so far. Everybody seems to like the food. That makes us happy.”
Rich Rudolph’s words revealed his pleasure.
But his smile beat them to it.
