Red Hook Lobster Pound Gets a New Dining Area

Alex Van Buren

More for lobsters to worry about.

Good news for lobster lovers and cranky Yelpers: Red Hook Lobster Pound, the popular crustacean-slinging shop on the Red Hook waterfront, is expanding its sit-down area by 40 seats in about two weeks. Seating at the Pound, which sells wholesale lobster and shrimp rolls and lobster rolls "to order," currently consists of two modest benches out in front. An exclusive first peek at the space with co-owner Susan Povich revealed plans for hand-hewn reclaimed wood benches made by her husband and co-owner, Ralph; a whole bunch of buoys; and a general feel Povich calls "as much as Van Brunt Street can take from the docks of Maine."

"It's nothing fancy," says Susan of the space. "People need a place to sit." She plans on white walls, shiny metal lamps, ceiling fans, a poured cement floor, and a huge screen door to cover what is currently a tall pull-down metal door -- to let the breeze in. Ralph Povich, also the owner of Brooklyn Farm Table, will be making all the seating. The space is currently being used as a bike port by company employees.

There won't be table service, although there will be a "lobster station" of sorts with crackers and lemons -- a small rolling cart that she bought from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As for liquor, she's just not sure: "I gotta look into that." That might be for the best, as there's no bathroom yet, and none, for now, in the works. Still, as Susan says, the new space is "more a convenience" for people, especially those with kids, and "definitely not a restaurant."