Sea Salt Lobster in Saco, ME: Back in the Saddle Again!

Dear loyal readers... well hello again! After a bit of a lobster roll reviewing hiatus (2+ years... yikes), I'm back! I'm definitely not saying I haven't had a lobster roll in over two years, but of the three I ate in the summer of 2021, only one really warranted a review so I'll be going back to Erika's Seafood in Harpswell to get a do-over of what I remember to be a phenomenal roll. And we all remember the lobster prices during the summer of 2022 - I think I may have had only one last year. You honestly can’t be any more disappointed in me than I already am in me.

The new and improved lobster roll reviewer in me has decided to let go of many of my pet peeves in 2023 and just eat the damn lobster roll as it is served to me. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll order some of those not-so-traditional types and see what happens. So give me lettuce if you must… but just know, I still draw a hard line at celery. Celery will never belong in a lobster roll. NEVER.

On Saturday, I headed down to Sea Salt Lobster on Route 1 in Saco for lunch. Sea Salt opened in 2015 and according to the website, they're a modern take on Maine's Lobster Shack. The menu offers tastes ranging from traditional lobster and crab rolls to fried seafood options to burgers.

Sea Salt offers five different lobster rolls - each served with a choice of fries or house-made seasoned potato chips and cole slaw. Market Price was $30. We all know how I feel about “Market Price” but it’s become so common lately, it’s hard to fault a place for doing it.

Saco: Mixed with mayo with iceberg lettuce

OOB: Warm mixed with butter

Town Line: Mixed with mayo topped with melted butter served with iceberg lettuce

Biddeford Pool: Mixed with mayo, bacon, lettuce and tomato

Kennebunkport: Mixed with cilantro lime aioli with red pepper pickled cabbage, Pico de Gallo, and cajun

I ordered the Town Line because if you offer me mayo AND butter, I’m going to pick that option every single time! It was pretty damn decadent. The buttery, perfect grill on the New England-style hot dog roll immediately made my mouth water. And yes, there was lettuce, but not a ton and it was shredded and did not act as a filler. The lobster was prepared well and tossed in mayo and then doused in more butter. If there’s enough butter present so it’s basically running down my arm as I eat the roll, that is a good day! I went with the house-made chips which were delicious, and my lunch date said the fries were great too!

Sea Salt is a cute little restaurant with a good selection of beer, wine, and cocktails and a great spot for lunch or dinner. Next time I might have to try the Biddeford Pool because, well, BACON! 

Cundy's Harbor Lobster Roll: Holbrook's Lobster Wharf + Grille

Just another summer evening and a drive up to the Mid Coast. That seems to be our go-to activity in these weird, germy times. My biggest fear is that I'm going to leave my house and forget my mask. Our destination: Cundy's Harbor... or Cundy's Hahbah, depending on where you're from. I guess I say the latter. 

There's really not much happening in this Harpswell neighborhood unless you're a lobsterman or a local. Regardless, I'll never take for granted being able to hop in the car to drive a coastal route or just find a spot to stare out at the ocean. I would seriously sell a kidney to be able to afford to live on the coast with its cool ocean breezes and sticky salt air. To be woken up by the squawking seagulls rather than the neighbor's obnoxiously loud chickens.

Ok... that's enough dreaming for one afternoon. Let's get down to the good stuff. We stumbled upon Holbrook's Lobster  Wharf + Grille on our drive and just in the nick of time as the "hangries" were starting to set in (that's the last time I forget to eat my post-work snack!) My first thought was that this place was completely adorbs. Pots and baskets of flowers littered every surface and there was ample outdoor seating along the wharf. We picked out a spot at the very end overlooking the water where we were entertained by a seal on the hunt for his dinner.

Lobster Roll: $18.99

I'll start with the high points of the lobster roll. This thing was delicious - the best tasting lobster I've had all summer. I'm guessing that crustacean went from trap to table to my trap all in the span of about 30 minutes. I haven't had lobster that tasted that salty and fresh in a long time. It made my heart and my taste buds wicked happy! The roll wasn't overly stuffed, but the meat in it was top quality and flavor. If it was mixed with any mayo, it was not easily detected. The roll was nicely toasted and served its purpose of holding all that beautiful lobster together while not contributing a whole lot to the overall flavor. 

As usual, the low points of the experience make me sound like a picky asshole. Would you believe me if I said I was trying to be better about that? No? Me neither. 

The price was the first thing that irked me. I found $18.99 to be high for just the lobster roll. No chips, no coleslaw, no pickle... nothing included at all. I didn't even get a plate to put it on. It just came in its little ol' cardboard holder. That's what happens when two people order two meals and there's one tray of food. I splurged an extra $2.99 for a small side of rather tasty potato salad. And if you're going to charge nineteen bucks for a lonely lobster roll, at least fill the bun until it's threatening to burst.

But seriously, if you're in the area, swing in for a bite. I also think this joint might be a BYOB establishment... or the people sitting near us may have just smuggled in the booze illegally. Next time I'll show up prepared!

Tenants Harbor Lobster Roll: The Happy Clam

I recently celebrated my 50th birthday by doing what we do best... going on an adventure up the Maine coast. Hopping in the car to explore new places seems to be our go-to activity in this pandemically-challenged world. We caught the car ferry to Islesboro and toured the island... hiked a few short, scenic trails, and then searched for a bite to eat. If you've ever been to Islesboro, you'll know that there is little sustenance to be found on the tiny island. So back on the ferry and on a serious hunt for food!

Not too far away in Tenants Harbor, we stumbled onto a little hole in the wall joint called The Happy Clam. My first thought was maybe we've made a mistake and there had to be someplace better just down the road. But we donned our masks, grabbed the vat of hand sanitizer, and got ourselves a table. Neither one of us had high hopes for the food but hunger got the best of us. This pub-style restaurant interestingly serves both German cuisine and local seafood.

Lucky for me, The Happy Clam offered a lobster roll. Well, Happy Birthday to me! It was a simple order, Lobster Roll with Fries and Cole Slaw for $19.99. Ok, I'll bite.

The lobster roll came on a nicely toasted bun with a pretty substantial amount of chilled lobster lightly bathed in butter. The meat was presented in bite-sized pieces which is a mark in the plus column because we all know how much I hate the dismantling of a perfectly good roll because one big chunk of lobster pulls all the rest of the lobster out of the bun. I know... you're probably thinking to yourself, who the hell complains about big pieces of lobster. That would be me. I don't enjoy having to gnaw off bites of my sandwich.

Guess what? That lobster roll was delicious! The meat tasted fresh and sweet and if you don't love butter, you might be a serial killer. I think I love butter more than I should but it was my birthday so I was going to eat all the butter. The fries were thin cut and crispy perfection. The only thing that would've made my dining experience better was if maybe one million degrees out. Outside dining does have its drawbacks. Sometimes I really hate summer.

Would I send someone to The Happy Clam just for the lobster roll? Probably not. But if you're in the area and are looking for some good food, I wouldn't hesitate to swing by. Although I have no idea what the inside looks like!

Kennebunkport Lobster Roll #3: The Clam Shack

I read a lot of "Best Of" lists when it comes to lobster rolls - always looking for the one that got away. Sometimes I agree with the list maker and sometimes I wonder if they were on crack when they ate the lobster roll and sometimes I wonder if they actually ate the damn thing. The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport shows up on those lists. A lot. I've been trying to get down there for years to try their offering, but Kennebunkport can be daunting to locals on a summer Saturday with its swarms of tourists – but because of our current situation, I figured I'd give it a shot.

The Clam Shack is 100% on board with all the COVID-19 safety precautions. There are many requests to wear masks any time you're not at your table – so many signs that not wearing a mask is (like the tourists in front of me in line) just friggin' barbaric. I watched the staff carefully sanitize each socially distant picnic table after each party left so I felt super safe!

The Clam Shack sits on the Kennebunk side of the bridge overlooking the Kennebunk River right in the middle of all the action. It's hard to miss. It's a true shack so you order at the window and the masked/gloved staff member delivers the food to your table. I ordered the Lobster Roll Lunch Box for $23.95 which includes the lobster roll, pickle slices, coleslaw, and fries. I was excited about this roll despite it not being served on the traditional split top roll – I am a traditionalist, after all.

The Clam Shack has an entire page on their website dedicated to their lobster roll:

NO FRILLS, BUT WORTH ALL THE FUSS  

Our lobster roll is an award-winning take on the classic New England sandwich. It's become a rock star in the Maine seafood scene, receiving culinary accolades from major food publications to national television shows. The Clam Shack roll crushes the competition because of our commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and never compromising on quality.

So the good news... the lobster meat was delicious. Boiling the bugs in fresh seawater makes the meat so incredibly salty and delightfully sweet. I have a hard time believing there are lobster shacks out there that don't prepare the meat in this way. Also, when ordering, they'll ask if you'd like mayo, butter, or both. Pick both. Definitely pick both. It's mildly life-altering. I only wish there was more of it on my plate.

And the bad news... as much as I wanted to be on board with the hamburger/bulky-style roll, I found it to be too distracting. Because only the inside of the bun is grilled, you miss out on the crunch of buttery, toasted goodness that the New England style roll provides. The "Reilly Roll," locally made in Biddeford, was also just bready and sweet enough to overpower the amount of lobster meat on the sandwich. If they piled up the lobster meat a little more, I think the bun may have worked a little better.

I really wanted to love this sandwich, but my feelings were mixed. For me, a lobster roll is all about the lobster and how it's prepared and how it tastes – not the bread. A nice traditional hot dog roll is not an overpowering flavor and if it's buttered and grilled perfectly, the only real taste it brings to the lobster is butter. And I'm not sure there's anything that pairs with lobster better than butter. 

In the end, while the bun didn't work for me, the lobster did so if you don't mind a bready lobster roll, you may love this one. I'm curious if others feel this way or I'm just too picky about my bread!

Bailey Island Lobster Roll: Cook's Lobster & Ale House

Amidst a pandemic, there's not much lobster roll exploring going on for me. The state of Maine was buttoned up pretty tightly up until about a month ago, and the thought of curbside pickup doesn't lend itself to experiencing the atmosphere of the lobster roll establishment - a very important part of the review. Oh, and I've kind of become an anxious shut-in as a result of COVID-19 which also doesn't help my situation.

So last week the restaurants started opening up in the more populated counties and we took advantage of the loosening restrictions to head up to Cook's Lobster & Ale House on Bailey Island. Still not quite ready to test the inside dining scene, we found a nice sunny but slightly chilly spot on their deck overlooking Harpswell Sound.

It's been years since we've been to Cook's. The last time wasn't good. At all. But after hearing from a few folks that the food has improved, we decided to give them another chance. And as many times as I've been to this establishment, surprisingly, I've never had their lobster roll!

The lobster roll comes two ways and both include chips, coleslaw, and a pickle - the Traditional, lightly folded with mayo for $20.00 (Does anyone else hear Moira Rose yelling, "Fold in the cheese!") It also comes as Hot Buttered, lobster sauteed in hot drawn butter, also for $20.00. You could also get the Jumbo version of either of these rolls for $36.00 (OOOF!) I found the $20 price tag to be a bit steep considering the size of the lobster roll - but then again, everything on the menu seemed a tad pricey.

The meal was pleasantly presented in a metal tray and even the lobster roll was dressed in its Sunday best with a frock of frilly lettuce. Honestly, I'm done complaining about the lettuce as long as it isn't obviously used as bun filler and is easily removed without compromising the state of the lobster meat. I need to concede to the fact that lettuce is a universally acceptable lobster roll garnish.

So... the lobster roll was just... meh. Edible, but not very exciting. Most of its meh-ness comes from the ineptness of the person responsible for grilling my hot dog bun. The bun was clearly buttered on both sides but then appeared to have just been waved over a candle instead of actually grilled on the stove. The lobster meat was cooked adequately with the right amount of mayo, but there was nothing extra special about its flavor. And for $20, the amount of meat felt skimpy.

Cook's is a cool spot and now would be the time to go with the reduction in tourist traffic. The beer list was decent and the view is solid. But be prepared to drop some dough on your dinner this summer. Also, does an above-average view even out a merely average meal?

Penobscot Bay Lobster Roll: Young's Lobster Pound

One afternoon we found ourselves, along with some out-of-town guests, wandering around the cool little town of Belfast. It's not a place I've ever spent any time so when the question of where to go to lunch came up, I immediately jumped on Yelp. Young's Lobster pound has 4.5 stars so that sealed the deal. We had no idea what our trip to Young's would bring.

First impressions of this dining establishment are not what I would call inviting. It's a large metal warehouse (hence lobster pound) with a very poorly managed ordering area. The place was packed when we arrived and it seemed like there was no rhyme or reason to how the ordering worked - where to order, where to pick up, where to pay.

Once we finally ordered our food, the young man helping us says, "14,002." I said, "Excuse me?" He said the number again and I told him I had no idea what that number meant. He said it was our order number. Um, ok - so you just pulled that number out of your ass? This experience was not getting off on the right foot and I had worries that our guests were going to be in for a good ol' fashioned dining disaster.

Lobster Roll with Chips & Pickle: $20.95

Once we ordered, we headed out back to the outside dining area which was basically a cement pier on the waterfront with a shit ton of picnic tables and not an umbrella in sight. Luckily we found the one table with at least one side in the shade for our non-sun lovers. (There is an indoor upstairs eating area if the blazing sunshine isn't for you!)

I've eaten a LOT of lobster rolls in my lifetime so I generally have a vision of what it should look like. So when this lobster roll came out on a hamburger bun, my head almost exploded. This is not supposed to happen. Who ARE these people who would serve me my lobster roll on a sesame seed HAMBURGER BUN?? I was appalled. I was confused. I did not have a good feeling about this whole experience.

Let's deconstruct the sandwich. The bun was toasted on the inside. There was lettuce. There was mayo on the bun. There was a boatload of lobster - both claws and tail.

There's so much here that doesn't fit my perception of the ideal lobster roll. But I'm here to tell you people that looks can be deceiving and this lobster roll was absolutely delicious. DELICIOUS! The meat was cooked perfectly and it was sweet and salty. The mayo wasn't mixed in - just spread on the bun like a regular sandwich would be. And I didn't hate the lettuce - probably because I didn't feel like it was used as filler.

It all just worked. And despite the weirdness of the experience overall - I wouldn't hesitate to visit this place again. This time more prepared with booze (it's BYOB) like everyone else had with them! Believe the Yelp, my friends, this place is worth every star!

PS. I was told by one of my group that the crab roll was the best he'd ever had.

This Lobster Roll Sits on a Throne of Lies: Scarborough Fish & Lobster

The title for this blog post just came tumbling out of my head when I was thinking back to the feelings I had about this lobster roll. My plan was to change it but as time passed, I just figured it was appropriate. Maybe the next person won't get duped like I did.

The lie starts before you even get in the door of Scarborough Fish & Lobster on Route 1 in Scarborough. There's a folding roadside sign boasting "Maine's Best Lobsta Roll." Now I've had a lot of lobster rolls around this state and I'm not sure I can even say there's a best. I have favorites for different reasons – but honestly, I have yet to encounter the perfect lobster roll experience. Don't make claims you can't stand behind.

The order is simple – Lobster Roll - $13. I'm 99% sure this is the second cheapest lobster roll I've reviewed on this blog after the Patch's Variety disaster of 2018. As I sat at a semi-dirty picnic table amongst several steaming lobster pots, I wondered what the hell I had gotten myself into. I desperately hoped to be pleasantly surprised.

The lobster roll was delivered to the table and at first glance, I was impressed with the presentation. The full claws sticking out each end of the roll was an adorable touch, but that's where my praise screeches to a whiplash-inducing stop. As I inspected the status of the hot dog bun, I noticed I was given an end roll – so it's like getting a sandwich using the part of the bread that almost every single person will reach past for the good slices. Was I being targeted? Did I snub someone in the kitchen? To add insult to injury, it was over toasted and not buttered – not a good start.

Could the lobster be this roll's only semi saving grace? The answer to that question would be not a chance. It was tasteless. It was sad. It was a complete waste of my time. So much so that I don't even want to waste any more time writing about this disaster. Over and out on this one.

Sorry, Scarborough Fish & Lobster... I had high hopes for this quirky little seafood shack.