Portland -- Real road food / lobster shack
Hi -- Heading into Portland on a moto ride and looking for a real road food / lobster shack for lunch on a Sat. Any thoughts?
rluczak
Aug 14, 2006 08:56PM
19 Replies so Far
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The BEST lobster rolls I ever had were in Bangor at a roadside shack called "McLaughlin's". I highly recommend taking the extra drive up to Bangor.
The rolls are so fresh, and they grill them with a little bit of butter. The lobster meat is super sweet and fresh, and they dress it with a little bit of mayo, salt/pepper. No cucumber, pickles, or celary garbage added! It's the best! I would drive all the way from NJ to get them!!
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I totally disagree.... Sorry....
McLaughlin's is good but certainly not good enough to drive for hours. In Bangor, Captain Nick's has a bigger and better Lobster roll, and I think for less money. Neither of these places are fishermen, but Portland has Lobster Rolls sold on Commercial Street by fisherman or Lobster Houses that caught the Lobsters that day......
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Heading in from where....the south....the west?
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Bangor is North. You have to take I-95N for a couple of hours. You might also want to stop at the Clam Shack in Kennebunk along the way. Great fried clams and lobster rolls.
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Uh, Kennebunk is the opposite direction from Portland from Bangor....
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So it is. My bad.
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If you come from the North a place on 201 between Augusta and Waterville called Red Barn. It has all the typical "Fried Baskets of Food", however, the lobster roll is worth a drive. Also, if you are coming from the North, Ken's on 201 in Skowhegan has the best lobster stew. Order a small if you want dessert.
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Thanks -- heading in due East on Route 25 from Sugar Hill, NH
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For road food in Portland, try Becky's diner. Good, traditional New England foods... boston baked beans, chowder, blueberry pancakes and fresh baked muffins... www.beckysdiner.com
For the best lobster roll you're going to have to ride about 45 miles north of Portland to Red's Eats in Wiscasset (Route 1). It's a small New England style seafood shack that serves up a phenomenal hot buttered (no mayo/celery here) lobster roll with plenty of fresh lobster meat on a grilled hotdog bun.
If you feel like riding 45 minutes in the opposite direction, Chauncey Creek Lobster Pound in Kittery Point is a great bet for lobsters in the rough. You can bring anything that they don't serve (including beer and wine) to accompany your lobster. Dining is at picnic tables on a deck that borders the creek, with granite and pines lining the other side.
If you go down to Chauncey Creek, hit Browns Ice Cream in York for dessert on the way back!
I'm getting hungry just writing this.
Enjoy!
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I'll second the Chauncey Creek Lobster Pound! We do a ride each year from Ohio, and it is always one of our stops. Great atmosphere and the clams are fantastic also. The ride out to the place is also really pretty(pack for cold evening riding.).
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We made the 150 mile trek from NH to Wiscasset to Red's based on your feedback. Traffic in Maine on a Sat morning was HELLACIOUS but we finally arrived at 1PM and the line stretched around the shack and out to the bridge -- the wait was 1 hr, 10 min's. Was not disappointed though -- the lobster roll was fantastic and the fried clams were the largest I ever had. A fun (if not long and circuitous!) trip to the best lobster roll in Maine. Thanks for all the insights, all the other places have been put on my "Must Visit" list for my next moto trip to Maine!
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Glad you enjoyed it. I guess I should have warned you about the lines!
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BTW -- here's the post on AdvRider (a moto site) with some great pics and vid (including of the eats!) courtesy of my friend Nick . . .
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showth...
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If you are coming to Portland,then you need to eat at The Lobster Shack at Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth. Two Lights is the lighthouse at the end of the cape. Great lobster rolls. Dining is on picnic tables overlooking the sea. Take Rt.77 out through Cape Elizabeth to Two Lights road and follow that to the end.
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Sorry Seacruze, but The lobster Shack is just OK... Great view, but food is just ok at best. Harroseeket, Portland Lobster, and Becky's is a much better lobster roll, and for less money.
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I would second The Lobster Shack... it seems to me that there is another good restaurant out that way too but I can't remember the name and I'm on vacation and my good Maine guidebook is at home.
Portland Lobster is fine, and a lot more convenient than driving all the way to Wiscasset on a Saturday morning, but don't expect a great lobster roll. I ate there earlier this summer and was disappointed in both the size and the texture (although others in my party who ordered other things were happy.)
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Are you thinking of The Good Table?
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Yes, that's the one! Haven't been there this summer, is it still worth recommending?
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If you think the food at the lobster shack is "just okay", then you have never had their fresh crabmeat roll!
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