Luke's Lobster Roll Food Truck Van Comes To Roosevelt Island And Gets Kicked Off By Public Safety Department - Hope They Return Soon For Restaurant Starved Roosevelt Islanders

Mobile Truck: Nauti from Luke's Lobster on Vimeo.

Last Tuesday, I noticed this intriguing tweet from Luke's Lobster:

1 if by F train, 2 if by tram...Nauti (@lukeslobsterny) is on her way to Roosevelt Island for dinner! Grab a roll on your way home!

Followed by:

That is we are in front of Starbucks near the F stop on Roosevelt Island for dinner! Check the map http://lukeslobster.com/nauti! #pioneeringdinner

and then:

Bad news, Roosevelt Island Police weren't fans of us, but we were fans of you. Heading towards midtown now, hopefully see you again soon.

Luke's Lobster roll is one of New York City's Best Food Truck Offerings. From Luke's Lobster:

New York & DC's freshest, most affordable lobster roll, straight from the docks of Maine. It's the only seafood roll that's traceable from the sea floor to your plate.

What happened? Was Luke's Lobster Rolls, kicked off Roosevelt Island? If so, why? I asked Luke's Lobster:

What happened with your Roosevelt Island Police encounter - they're called the Public Safety Department here?

Also, what brought you to Roosevelt Island. Food trucks don't often make it here but I think it is a great idea. Do you intend to come back to Roosevelt Island? If you wish, happy to post any info about your Roosevelt Island plans.

Luke's Lobster filled me in:

So it dawned on me one day that something like 12k people live on the island and commute home each night via subway or tram, so why not try our hand at offering our food to the population (also we heard food choices were limited). Anyway, we set up and are selling and things are going fine, until the PSO comes around and said that we had to leave, because Roosevelt Island is a private island and that our NYC city wide permit was not valid on R.I. and that we needed to go down to 591 and see Donna and the Island president? and apply for a permit, and then we'd be able to come back.

Not a big confrontation or anything but definitely a let down. Early next week I plan to go back and speak to someone about a permit because it seems like a great place where good food is needed....

On Wednesday, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez:

Does a Food Vending Truck licensed and operating in NYC need any additional permits or permissions to bring their truck and sell food on Roosevelt Island?

Mr. Martinez responded:

Yes, a food vendor will have to provide RIOC with the appropriate NYC licences and copies of insurance.  We will then issue a RIOC permit.  However, please keep in mind that we are not currently accepting any applications for street food vending.

I replied

Thanks for the response. 

Why is RIOC not currently accepting applications for food truck vending?

When do you anticipate accepting applications. 

Does it have anything to do with Master Retail Lease Agreement?

Have not received a reply back yet.

Last summer I was very happy to see a Waffles and Dingles Food Cart on Roosevelt Island

but quickly disappointed to learn that they were here only for a TV production crew.

I think it would be great to have more high quality food trucks coming to Roosevelt Island expanding our take out food options.

Hope to see Luke's Lobster Food Truck here soon!

More on Luke's Lobster restaurant and food truck from Business Insider.



UPDATE 4:50 PM - From the RIOC Board of Directors:

... the Board has placed the issue of mobile food vendors on the agenda for the next Real Estate committee meeting to develop a procedure for handling them in a uniform, and fair way.