Now here’s a neat little novelty shop that deserves a visit. It’s a tight space, with a sign outside, confusingly facing the wrong way, which states “only 7 people at a time” are permitted inside. Luckily I’d showed up at 11 o’clock and my wait outside was short lived.

Inside, I immediately loved the minimalist display cases containing the fresh fish, mollusks, and bivalves. Prices are steep, but this is a specialty shop, not your everyday grocery store.

I’d heard whisperings of traditional lobster rolls being served here, which regularly sell out every Wednesday, and ultimately that’s what drew me in. As sad as it sounds, one of my bucket list items is to eat an authentic lobster roll in Maine. But since I’m a couple thousand miles or so away, I figured that the $26 Lobstah Roll from Nelson’s was a nice compromise.

As a first time lobster roll consumer I had no idea what to expect. But I could tell the lobster was delicate, meaty, and fresh. As for flavor, nothing really jumped out at me beyond the toasted and buttered roll. So either I’ve got Covid-19 and don’t know it, or I’m just not keen on lobster generally. My exploration into the Lobstah Roll experience was interrupted by an alarming crunch, and I pulled a piece of shell from my mouth, luckily avoiding permanent damage. That could’ve been bad!

In summation, it’s a sweet little shop unlike any other in Arizona. You want quality and freshness? I doubt you’ll find it anywhere other than Nelson’s. Is it a regular stop for you? Depends on your income level, I’d say. Considering how heavily I’ve missed the mark of my parents’ expectations for what I “could” have been, I won’t be able to afford any sort of regularity. But if I could, it would be for the fresh fish in the display cases, seeing as how the novelty of the Lobstah Roll was just kinda meh.