Award-Winning Chef Is the Secret to The Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando
In Central Florida’s seafood scene, few chefs represent authentic New England traditions quite like award-winning Chef Mike Rumplik, co-owner of beloved seafood restaurant in Orlando, The Nauti Lobstah. His deep coastal roots and respect for classic recipes shape every dish he creates.
Chef Mike has crafted a menu that brings the authentic flavors of New England straight to Orlando, one perfectly prepared meal at a time. From fresh Maine lobster and classic New England clam chowder to rotating seasonal seafood specials, his approach is simple: start with the best ingredients and cook everything from scratch. It’s this philosophy that has earned him a loyal following with guests, multiple local accolades, and a reputation as one of Orlando’s most respected chefs and The Nauti Lobstah as Orlando’s premier destination for authentic New England seafood.
A New England Background Rooted in Tradition
Chef Mike Rumplik’s culinary journey began with a love for the time-honored, comforting flavors of New England cuisine. Born and raised in Warren, Rhode Island, Chef Mike spent his days digging for clams in Narragansett Bay, eating lobster rolls in Newport, and finding the best clam cakes and chowder at Rocky Point Shore Dinner Hall at the historic Rocky Point Amusement Park in Warwick, Rhode Island. Beloved New England dishes he has happily recreated at The Nauti Lobstah seafood restaurant in Orlando, Florida.
As a graduate of Johnson & Wales Culinary University in Providence, Rhode Island, his career has taken him from New England to Europe, Texas, and Central Florida. Growing up around coastal cuisine shaped his appreciation for fresh seafood. Lobster, clams, mussels, and local fish were staples, and those early influences continue to define his cooking today. Rather than reinventing New England cuisine, he focuses on preserving its authenticity using classic culinary techniques honed while leading kitchens of fine hotels and restaurants, including 15 years as Executive Chef of the Rosen Centre Hotel, in Orlando’s famed International Drive convention center area.
At The Nauti Lobstah, he offers guests deliciously prepared dishes that reflect the flavors you’d expect to find in coastal Maine or at a neighborhood seafood spot in Rhode Island.
Scratch-Made New England Recipes Across the Menu
Every dish on the menu is made from scratch using classic New England recipes, staying true to traditions while offering something for everyone around the table. Chef Mike’s commitment to quality shines through in every bite. His approach leaves no room for shortcuts, only thoughtful preparation and the highest quality seafood.
New Englanders looking for a taste of home in Central Florida rave about these New England favorites at The Nauti Lobstah:
- Fresh Maine lobster, served Fisherman’s style, baked and generously stuffed with tender shrimp, scallops and fresh herbs, topped with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs. Chef Mike’s recipe for this New England classic was featured in the Visit Orlando Destination Cookbook!
- The Lazy Man’s Lobstah is named for the lucky guest who gets to enjoy a delicious Maine lobster without any of the work. Chef Mike created the stunning three-pound “Lazy Man’s Lobstah” as a Valentine’s special and then supersized it to a four-pound Maine lobster for the restaurant’s 4th anniversary! The fresh lobster meat is removed from the shell, cooked to perfection with white wine and lemon, stuffed with shrimp and scallops, drizzled with Hollandaise sauce, and presented in the shell with freshly drawn butter. For locals and visitors searching for a seafood restaurant in Orlando, this signature dish sets the Nauti Lobstah apart. It is perfect to share with a loved one or to enjoy all on your own!
- Classic lobster rolls piled high with succulent Maine lobster are always a guest favorite! Choose a New England lobster roll, served chilled and gently tossed in Chef Mike’s herbed mayonnaise dressing; the Connecticut lobster roll, served warm with drawn butter; or Uncle Tony’s style, double-stuffed for the lobstah lovers!
- The Biggest Lobster Roll in Florida is worth the drive! Chef Mike’s viral sensation, two-foot lobster roll stuffed with two pounds or more of lobster meat, has inspired locals and visitors to Orlando to make the drive to Apopka.
- Chef Mike’s New England clam chowder is a must! Made with freshly shucked clams and Chef Mike’s secret recipe, the creamy chowder is rich and comforting. He recommends adding his Rhode Island clam cakes, a nod to Rocky Point, the legendary Rhode Island spot famous for making clam cakes a New England tradition.
- Prized for their sweet and tender meat, traditional Gloucester steamer clams are steamed and served with drawn butter and warm broth for dipping. A New England tradition! Don’t be surprised if Chef Mike visits your table to show you how to properly eat his favorite delicacy.
- Freshly shucked James River Blue Point oysters, served raw, steamed, or as Oystahs Casino topped with bacon and Casino butter.
- The classic New England Fish & Chips is one of Chef Mike’s favorite dishes growing up. The generous portion of haddock fillet is beer-battered and golden-fried to perfection. Served with French fries, housemade tartar sauce, and malt vinegar.
- For a true New England experience at The Nauti Lobstah, you must order Aunt Peggy’s Wicked Whoopie Pies to complete your meal. Chef Mike begged his Aunt Peggy, who lives in Canton, Massachusetts, for her secret family recipe, and she delivered. The classic New England treat is a staple at every family gathering. Chef Mike recounts, “Every visit to Aunt Peggy’s house, we always left with a bag of freshly made whoopie pies to take home, which the kids, and now the grandkids, would help her prepare.”
Chef Mike’s Latest Featured Creations: Rotating Seasonal Specials
One of the many highlights of dining at The Nauti Lobstah is experiencing the rotating selection of Chef Mike’s Latest Features. These limited-time dishes allow Chef Mike to showcase new regional inspirations, seasonal ingredients, and creative twists on classic seafood dishes.
From pan-seared fish and crab-stuffed shrimp to whole yellowtail snapper, Florida stone crab claws, and massive tomahawk steaks, these specials change regularly, keeping the menu exciting for repeat guests. Each creation reflects Chef Mike’s culinary expertise, creativity, and respect for his New England culinary roots. Look for the most popular specials to make their way onto The Nauti Lobstah main menu.
Chef Mike Rumplik Featured in the Inaugural Visit Orlando Destination Cookbook
Chef Mike Rumplik’s influence extends beyond the restaurant’s walls. He was one of 60 local chefs proudly featured in the first-ever Orlando Destination cookbook created by Visit Orlando. Written by award-winning local author Pam Brandon, Orlando’s Kitchens: Recipes and Stories From Our Neighborhoods celebrates the area’s diverse food scene and showcases the vibrant flavors, neighborhoods, and culinary talent of Central Florida. You can purchase the cookbook at the Downtown Orlando office or online.
This inclusion highlights Chef Mike’s role in shaping Orlando’s vibrant culinary scene. It places the Nauti Lobstah among Orlando’s most notable dining destinations, reinforcing its reputation as a top seafood restaurant in Orlando and a place where visitors and locals alike can experience a truly special dining experience.
Chef Mike chose to share his recipe for his favorite New England-style preparation for Maine lobster – Fisherman’s Style Baked Stuffed Maine Lobster with shrimp and scallops, topped with buttery cracker crumbs.
In addition, “The Biggest Lobster Roll in Florida,” Chef Mike’s impressive two-foot lobster roll stuffed with two pounds of succulent Maine lobster was also featured in the book’s “Over the Top!” section, showcasing Orlando’s most outrageous indulgences! For travelers seeking standout food experiences, Chef Mike’s New England seafood has become a must-try.
Award-Winning Local Chef and Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando Awards
Chef Mike Rumplik’s dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. He has been recognized by local publications with honors including Best Local Chef, and The Nauti Lobstah has received numerous readers’ choice and local food critics awards, along with viral shared experiences by popular influencers. A testament to both the kitchen and the hospitality behind it.
Orlando locals love his flavorful menu of New England seafood favorites, voting The Nauti Lobstah as Best of Orlando finalist for Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando, Best Restaurant Overall, and Best Sandwich from Orlando Weekly readers, along with The Nauti Lobstah being named Critic’s Choice Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando by the Orlando Sentinel.
Each award carries its own significance while reflecting the unique audiences of the media outlets. The awards and media accolades reflect more than popularity; they speak to consistency, craftsmanship, and a genuine connection with the local community. Guests come for a delicious meal served with warm hospitality and return time and time again.
The Nauti Lobstah’s many awards & accolades since opening in September 2021 include:
Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards Critic’s Choice for Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando
The Nauti Lobstah was selected by Orlando Sentinel’s food critic Amy D. Thompson as the Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando in the Orlando Sentinel’s yearly Foodie Awards for two years in a row! This is high praise as it reflects Chef Mike’s ability to deliver outstanding food and service on a consistent basis.
Highlighting Chef Mike’s excellence in creating seafood dishes worthy of the Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando title, Thompson says: “Rhode Island native Chef Mike Rumplik is the real deal, and he’s not a ‘placist,’ either. When he and his partners took the beloved Catfish Place over a few years back, they trained alongside its staff and held onto the Southern classics while building a menu of real-deal New England fare that has transplants rolling in from all over the state. They come for staples like steamers and clam cakes, chowder, and baked, boiled lobster. Others pop in for grouper, sea bass, or salmon. Chef Mike knows his way around all the seafood. And yes, they’ve got the landlubbers covered, too, with quality Creekstone cuts and more.”
Orlando Weekly Best of Orlando Awards Names Mike Rumplik Best Local Chef
Known for championing locally-owned businesses, Orlando Weekly readers have voted for The Nauti Lobstah in multiple categories in the Best of Orlando Readers’ Choice Awards. This recognition speaks to the importance of community support and loyal local guests. Showing love for The Nauti Lobstah as Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando, Best Sandwiches, and Best Desserts.
Chef Mike Rumplik was named Best Local Chef and The Nauti Lobstah’s friendly service team was named Best Wait Staff in 2024, and were the finalists in 2025. The Nauti Lobstah was also the finalist for Best Restaurant Overall in 2024 and 2025, Top 3 Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando in 2022, 2024, and 2025. The popularity of The Nauti Lobstah’s lobster rolls has also earned them a Top 3 placement in the Best Sandwich category in 2024 and 2025.
Orlando Magazine Dining Awards
Each year, Orlando Magazine celebrates chefs and restaurants that raise the bar in Orlando’s growing restaurant scene with their Dining Awards issue. Readers and food contributors have voted The Nauti Lobstah as a finalist in the Top 3 Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando in 2023 and 2024.
City of Apopka Local Awards Recognize Outstanding Seafood Restaurant
The members of the Apopka Chamber of Commerce have awarded The Nauti Lobstah the Best Service award at Taste of Apopka in 2022
and Best Restaurant in 2024. A heartfelt recognition by the Apopka business community that reflects The Nauti Lobstah’s dedication to providing great food and service.
The Apopka Chief readers voted for The Nauti Lobstah as the winner of Best Seafood Restaurant and 2nd place Best Restaurant Overall in the 2025 Best of Apopka Reader’s Choice Awards.
Yelp Top Places To Eat in Orlando
Yelp Elite Squad members chose The Nauti Lobstah as one of the Top Places To Eat in Orlando in 2025, a highly curated group of 50 recommended dining destinations selected from thousands of restaurants across Orlando. The list reflects hundreds of raving five-star reviews and thoughtful recommendations by local diners.
Eater Hot Places To Eat in Orlando
Known for its curated guides and expert reviews, Eater.com is a trusted source of culinary news nationwide. The Nauti Lobstah was named in Eater’s “Hot Places To Eat in Orlando 2023” by food critic, Faiyaz Kara.
He writes in Eater Miami: “Seafood lovers and homesick Yanks alike trek to Apopka to sink their chops into the wicked-awesome lobster rolls offered in New England and Connecticut varieties. Certainly, lobster gets a lot of play on Nauti Lobstah’s menu, but there are chowders and bisques, snow crabs and steamer clams, and fish and chips, in addition to platters of fresh catch, smelt, scallops, and more.”
The Nauti Lobstah included in Orlando Weekly's Top 10 Tables in Orlando
The Orlando Weekly’s food critic, Faiyaz Kara included The Nauti Lobstah in his Top Tables of 2023 list! In an unprecedented year of restaurant openings in Orlando, being named in the Top 10 by Orlando Weekly was a noteworthy honor.
The reviewer shares: “This Apopka eatery brings wicked legit Yankee chops to the area’s seafood game. Besides being a native New Englander, classically trained chef Mike Rumplik packs ample local cred from his 15 years as executive chef at Rosen Centre Hotel, along with previous stints at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, the Peabody Orlando and the Peabody Memphis. With a new regional point of view, new level of cooking and noteworthy hospitality, the Nauti Lobstah is a perfect Nor’easter of quality and comfort.”
“There are few New England dishes as iconic as clam chowder (spelled here as “chowdah,” of course), and Rumplik’s signature recipe makes most other versions of white chowder seem like bowls of hearty nothingness. With enough seasoning and herb notes to match the cream, the Lobstah’s chowder packs full, robust flavor.”
The Nauti Lobstah is one of 24 Restaurants To Tour in Orlando
Local food influencer Christina Petsos of popular Instagram and TikTok account @SomehowImEverywhere included The Nauti Lobstah in her list of 24 Restaurants to Tour in Orlando, featured in the Visit Orlando website.
She writes: “A small seafood restaurant in Apopka, northwest of downtown Orlando, The Nauti Lobstah serves lobster that is fresh and imported directly from Maine. This spot is so unique in that it’s one of the only spots I know serving Connecticut-style lobster rolls and uses fresh live lobsters. Plus, they have the huge lobsters that you dream about dunking the claws into butter. The lobster bisque is particularly noteworthy with amazing flavor and large chunks of lobster. They also now have a 2-foot lobster roll that can feed a whole family. Worth the drive!”
Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando
Local influencer and podcaster, Chantal Aybar of @LetsTryThisConChanti and Let’s Chisme Con Chanti podcast, has been a fan of The Nauti Lobstah since her first visit in 2023. She says, “Their lobster rolls are freaking amazing! Every time they have something new on the menu, specials, secret menus… I’m obsessed with their lobster!” She named The Nauti Lobstah as her top favorite Best Seafood Restaurant in Orlando in 2025 and in her Top Orlando Eats of 2024.
"The BEST seafood restaurant in the Orlando area, time after time!"
Freelance writer, Disney and food influencer, Josie Maida has shared her love of The Nauti Lobstah with her followers multiple times. She named The Nauti Lobstah’s lobster as her top bites of 2023.
She shared in a 2025 video post: “The Naut Lobstah is the BEST seafood restaurant in the Orlando area, time after time. I lived in New England for four years, and since moving to Orlando, good, true, New England-style seafood has been SO hard to find, especially good lobster rolls! The Nauti Lobstah is a spot we visit again and again. The food is incredible and the atmosphere is like nothing else. It’s cozy and warm, made possible by their location, which has been a staple in the community for years, and their amazing and caring team! We’re already planning our next trip!”
Chef Mike Rumplik and The Nauti Lobstah on TV
Chef Mike and the team at The Nauti Lobstah have also been featured on local news outlets, bringing their New England flavors straight to the screen! These visits offer viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Chef Mike’s scratch-made approach, signature seafood dishes, and passion for fresh Maine lobster.
David Martin of Fox 35 Orlando featured The Nauti Lobstah in his TV show “Central Florida Eats Live!” as he enjoyed a drive-worthy New England feast, from appetizers through dessert. He started with New England clam chowder and clam cakes, then tried a Connecticut lobster roll and a Lazy Man’s Maine lobster, and ended with a table full of desserts – all made in-house!
Televised cooking segments highlight not only the expertly prepared New England cuisine but also the warm hospitality and craftsmanship that make The Nauti Lobstah a standout in Orlando’s local dining scene.
Fans of Emmy Award-winning Allison Walker Beacham were thrilled to cook along with Chef Mike on the popular Chef’s Kitchen series broadcast on Spectrum News 13. She loved it so much, she visited twice! The first time, for The Biggest Lobster Roll in Florida. The second visit showcased Chef Mike’s Lazy Man’s Style Lobster and freshly baked New England popovers.
“Known for their New England-style seafood, The Nauti Lobstah’s massive lobster roll has really put it on the map,” says host Marlisa Goldsmith of FOX 35 Orlando’s The 407.
She chose The Nauti Lobstah as their first stop in the “26 in ’26” series, highlighting must-try destinations in Central Florida because it stood out as a seafood restaurant in Orlando that delivers on exceptional menu items, bold portions, and a dining experience you won’t forget.
She and her producer even challenged themselves to finish the two-foot lobster roll, prepared New England-style with chilled Maine lobster tossed in Chef Mike’s herbed dressing – and happily took home leftovers after the feast!
The Nauti Lobstah co-owner, Cara Rumplik added, “We wanted to create something special, something people would remember. The Biggest Lobster Roll in Florida – our giant lobster roll – has really connected with seafood lovers. Folks have been traveling from across the country and even around the world to come try it.”
A Seafood Restaurant in Orlando Worth Traveling For
More than just a local favorite, The Nauti Lobstah has become a culinary travel destination for seafood lovers visiting Orlando. While Orlando is known for theme parks and attractions, food-focused travelers increasingly seek authentic, memorable dining experiences, and Chef Mike delivers exactly that. Visitors from New England appreciate the familiar flavors that remind them of home, while first-time guests discover what true coastal cooking is all about. Whether stopping in for lunch, dinner, or a special occasion, guests quickly recognize why The Nauti Lobstah is the best seafood restaurant in Orlando.
Guests in search of The Biggest Lobster Roll in Florida have traveled from across the United States and from around the world, as far as Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador! Many ask to meet Chef Mike, and he loves taking pictures with everyone. Experiencing a two-foot lobster roll stuffed with two pounds or more of succulent Maine lobster meat at The Nauti Lobstah is a must-try for any foodie travel!
Authentic New England Seafood Restaurant in Orlando
Chef Mike Rumplik’s passion, experience, and commitment to scratch-made cooking have created something truly special, a genuine New England seafood experience in the heart of Florida. He is the secret ingredient to the best seafood restaurant in Orlando! More than just a place to dine, The Nauti Lobstah invites guests to slow down, savor the flavors of the Northeast, and enjoy warm, welcoming hospitality that brings people back time and again.
Whether you’re a local or traveling to Central Florida, award-winning Chef Mike Rumplik’s kitchen at The Nauti Lobstah stands out as the ultimate dining destination for seafood and lobster lovers in search of an exceptional seafood restaurant in Orlando.
