We trod down a series of ramps to a picturesque pier on a still waterway. Ahead were brightly painted picnic tables, some under cover, some under open sky. We took a fire-engine red table next to the water and beneath a tent. A Boston whaler neared the tent, docked, and a family, including their black dog, stepped onto the pier for a meal. The Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier is a no-frills affair.
Diners bring their own side dishes, alcoholic beverages and table decor.
Neighboring picnic tables were dressed with tablecloths, a vase with flowers, candles. Some brought paper plates, more elegant than the cardboard trays the lobsters are served on. We keep it simple. If you want it fancy, you can do it. It also supplies nutcrackers for working the claws and plastic picks for digging out those stubborn morsels.