Beer + Lobster Roll = Heaven: Bite Into Maine

When most people think of heading to Bite Into Maine for one of their famous lobster rolls, they head out to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, grab a seat overlooking the majestic Atlantic, and take in the sites of Portland Head Light. Yeah, I've done that.

For this visit to Bite Into Maine however, I chose to visit their new second food truck location at Allagash Brewing Company... because, duh... BEER!! When I heard this food truck would be stationed at Allagash every weekend this summer, I thought to myself, I bet this is what heaven is like. Beer and lobster rolls go together like peanut butter and jelly!

Industrial Way is one of my favorite stops for beer in Portland... and a flight at Allagash is always an adventure — this trip was no exception! One of the most forward thinking breweries in Maine, they always have something on the tap list that will surprise your taste buds and leave you wondering, how the hell do they keep churning out all these super amazing beers, one after another after another? It boggles my tiny little brain.

Allagash opens at 11am and while most people are still brunching at that time of the morning, the brewery is already filling up quickly with folks from far and wide enjoying a brunch time beer flight. And while I loved all the tap offerings I tried (House Beer, Little Brett, Golden Brett and Interlude), I did miss their White which to me is a perfect breakfast brew.

If you're in it for the scenery, you're better off going out to Fort Williams... but if your idea of the perfect lobster roll eating view is a flight of beer, you must pick this location! But enough about the beer (even though I could go on and on) and let's talk about the reason we're all here... the lobster roll!

There are a number of menu options at Bite Into Maine:
• Maine Style with light mayonnaise and fresh chives
• Connecticut Style with hot butter
• Picnic Style which includes a layer of cole slaw, hot butter and a dash of celery salt
• Wasabi mayo | Curry mayo | Chipotle mayo

I went with the Connecticut Style lobster roll. If I have to whine about something, can I just mention how much of a problem I have with the hot butter version being referred to as "Connecticut Style"? Nothing against the state, but I'm fairly certain they didn't invent the hot butter + lobster combo. Oh, and CT style lobster rolls are supposed to be served with warm lobster. So if my lobster is cold, what does that make it? Just a thought and totally open for discussion.

First, let me just talk about the roll... the roll was grilled to perfection. They didn't skimp on the butter giving it that golden brown color and flavor of the ideal grilled cheese (minus the cheese!) It wasn't over grilled or lightly grilled, it was just right. And there was no lettuce. I repeat NO LETTUCE! That part made me so happy!

Then there was the lobster. I don't know what to say other than it was flawless. Everything about it was absolute perfection. The freshness, the flavor, the appropriately sized chunks, the amount of lobster (although let's be serious here... you honestly can't put enough lobster in a roll that would satisfy my love for this damn crustacean.) The price was $17.95 — the going rate in the current lobster economy. This roll was so amazing, I completely forgot about the bag of chips I bought to go with it. Honestly, I think I was in a state of lobster roll euphoria.

All in all, it was a most enjoyable experience... the sun shone, the beer flowed and the lobster roll delighted. Not a bad was to spend a Saturday afternoon. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat and I suggest you do too!

Boats and Lobster Rolls: Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster

Surrounded by the marina in South Freeport, the Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster couldn't be any closer to the water and offers amazing views of the boats and harbor. It's been one of my favorite places for years for it's close proximity to home and their amazing food.

They serve lunch and dinner starting in late April with the option for ordering at the window for your lobster rolls, fried clams, fish sandwiches, shrimp, desserts and other deliciousness. Or order from the lobster pound for a traditional lobster dinner with steamers and corn. Then grab a picnic table under the awning and enjoy! They don't serve alcohol but you're free to BYOB.

The menu is simple and the prices reasonable. I had two choices for my lobster roll:
Lobster Roll - $14.95
Lobster Roll with Fries - $16.95

The hot dog bun was toasted, although not quite to perfection, but definitely an acceptable level. And yes, there was lettuce which I've already said I'm going to stop complaining about but I felt it was necessary to mention that it was there. The fries were tasty and it was all served in the typical cardboard boat.

It's not the biggest lobster roll you'll ever eat, but it sure might be one of the freshest. The meat was cut into perfect sized bites and even some of the bigger pieces were so tender, it didn't matter. The amount of lobster was about average and it was so lightly dressed with mayonnaise, I actually questioned if there was any on there. A perfect amount if there's going to be some, in my opinion.

Did I mention how fresh this thing tasted? It's like someone went down to the water, plucked that tasty little crustacean out and popped him right in the pot. There aren't many things better than a perfectly fresh, perfectly cooked lobster. It makes me completely forget about that overcooked one I had not too long ago!

I do love this place and I almost didn't write this post because the Lunch and Lobster is already crowded enough during the summer that I didn't want to send even more people there... you know, making it more difficult for me to get my lobster roll! But alas... I felt I needed to give them their props for serving such fresh lobster! And be prepared to wait in a long line for sure at peak times—it can get pretty busy!

Lobster Roll in the Garden: Eve's At The Garden

Eve's At The Garden, located at the Portland Harbor Hotel, is a fancy little place in Portland's Old Port with a great little outdoor dining option. Great except when it's 90+ degrees and you're not in the shade... then it's more like sitting at Satan's picnic table. Lucky for me, I was in the shade. This is one of those places I don't frequent often for lunch but I had my eye on their lobster roll which I sure was not going to be served in a cardboard basket.

There's no view of the water here because you're surrounded by the hotel—but the garden setting was relaxing and pleasant even on an unseasonably warm day in May. I enjoyed a freshly (and I mean fresh) brewed ice tea from my very own Tea Forte (which is the coolest little gadget ever!) while I awaited the arrival of my roll.

LOBSTER ROLL
Buttered Dog Roll | Lemon Thyme Dressing | Salt & Vinegar Chips

I'm often skeptical about a "dressing" on my lobster roll, but it was lightly dressed and not terribly overpowering with a nice flavor. The outside temperature made it a little runny towards the end—not the end of the world. The roll was deliciously buttered and toasted and slightly larger than your average hot dog bun. The lettuce was unnecessary as you probably already guessed but whatever, I think I need to stop complaining about the lettuce.

Before I get to the lobster, let's just talk about the salt & vinegar chips for a minute. I'm not positive, but I think they're homemade and absolutely delicious! I'm a sucker for chips and prefer them to fries with my roll. Not only did they taste amazing, but they were served in the most adorable little basket that I longed to purloin, and I may have had I brought a larger purse.

Now let's get back to the matter at hand... the lobster meat. I did not enjoy the lobster in this roll. It was tough and clearly overcooked. And the pieces were so big that when I tried to take a bite, I couldn't bite through the meat causing me to pull an entire tail piece off the bun. This was not enjoyable. I ended up taking much of the meat out of the bun, cutting it up on my plate and putting it back in just so I could take manageable bites. There's a problem when you can't physically bite through the tail meat... and I think that problem is leaving that little critter in the pot too long! Improperly cooked lobster makes me sad.

The price was a bit on the high side—$21 for a full roll or if you only wanted half, the price was $11. Who the hell is ordering a half a lobster roll? I say go big or go home, dammit! I can also say with 100% certainty, if I make a return trip to Eve's, I'll be ordering something other than the lobster roll. I hear the crab cakes are good.

Lakes Region Lobster Roll: The Fisherman's Catch

The Fisherman's Catch sits in a unique, A-frame building in Raymond which has been a feature on Route 302 since I was a kid. I think it's been close to a million different businesses and I knew it was currently a seafood place, but it wasn't until last summer that someone told me about their lobster rolls. Their supposedly amazing lobster rolls. I was skeptical -- I mean, it's not a stone's throw from the ocean so they couldn't be that great... could they? A silly assumption on my part. This lobster roll was amazing!

If you're looking for a great view, you'll be disappointed. Both the inside seating and outside picnic tables look directly onto busy Route 302. There's no rugged rocky coast or even idyllic lakeside setting. Nope, just traffic zooming by. If you're looking for a great lobster roll, you won't be disappointed.

When you order your roll, you can control both the bread and lobster dressing situation. This makes me very happy...

Roll:  Plain • Buttered & Grilled • Dusted Garlic
Lobster:  Classic (light mayo) • Buttered (no mayo, just butter) • Lemon (light mayo w/ lemon pepper) • Sweet (light mayo w/ relish)

If you've been paying attention so far, you can probably guess my choices. If you said Buttered & Grilled roll with Buttered lobster, you are correct. Butter, butter, butter!! My mouth watered in anticipation!

I found a little spot with a spectacular view of the road and waited to see what all the buzz was about. When the lobster roll was delivered to me, I actually said to the guy, "Wow... that's a lot of lobster!" There's so much lobster stuffed into that hot dog bun, they give you a fork. I stared at it a minute, not sure where to start. Some people might say it had too much lobster. Those people would be wrong. There is no such thing as "too much lobster."

The roll was as advertised -- grilled and buttered. The lobster was warmed and lightly buttered. Yes, you read that right, the lobster was warm. This was an unforeseen and pleasant surprise. I'm guessing they serve just the buttered option warmed since the folks next to me both had the light mayo and said their lobster was served cold.

The price wasn't bad - $18.95, but that was only for the lobster roll and didn't include any sides. If I had to complain about something, it would be that the lobster meat was chopped up too small. Nit picky, I know but the small pieces basically avalanched over the side of the bun with every bite I took! I'm not saying those little pieces didn't taste delicious... because they did. Just a smidge too small and uncooperative.

Despite the lack of coastal ambiance, I would definitely make a return trip for this lobster roll. And the great thing was it's only about 20 minutes from home... which could be dangerous!

Two Lights Lobster Roll: The Lobster Shack

Set just beyond the rocky coast of Cape Elizabeth, with a view of the ocean on one side and a lighthouse on the other, The Lobster Shack is a quintessential Maine attraction. Some days, the sea is angry and crashes against the rocks with such force, you're not sure even the picnic area is safe. It's off the beaten path but summer sees endless hoards of tourists waiting in line for its oceanic wares. Which is exactly why I make sure to get my trip in before Memorial Day!

The Lobster Shack is heralded by some as the place to go for a lobster roll in Maine. Maybe that's for the view because the roll isn't anything that's going to knock your socks off. They serve a classic lobster roll, served on a toasted hot dog bun with a fair amount of meat -- not overflowing the bun by any means but I didn't have to set out a search party to find the lobster. There's a blob of mayonnaise on top along with a sprinkling of what I'm assuming is paprika and a pickle. The mayo blob is easily removable if you're not a fan of that condiment and the pickle was an unneccessary (and a tiny bit confusing) garnish.

Presentation of my Lobster Roll Boat was typical of any restaurant with the word "shack" in the title... served in a cardboard "boat" with fries and some cole slaw. The fries were delish, but the cole slaw was just mediocre. The roll was toasted but just barely and not that buttered toasted bun that I love so much. And you can't really tell from the picture, but there was lettuce under that lobster. The most minuscule crumbs of iceberg that left me wondering why bother.

The price was... can you guess? Yup, Market Price. [insert major eye roll here] I mean, I get it... the price of seafood can fluctuate depending on supply and demand. But why can some restaurants say here, this is the price, and others can't? Won't? [another eye roll]

Overall, the Lobster Shack serves a pretty good lobster roll. It's not one that makes my taste buds twirl in happiness, but the lobster is fresh and tasty and I never felt like I was eating too much bread. Also, the sheer beauty of the rocky Maine coast is reason to make a trip -- especially if you're an out of towner.

Floating Restaurant Lobster Roll: DiMillo's

Let me just start this blog post by saying that I love DiMillo's. I mean, who doesn't love a floating restaurant? Where else can you eat your meal on a rough day and feel the restaurant moving under your feet? I very rarely have a bad meal... I think their lobster stew is second to none and if you haven't tried the fried scallop roll, you are missing out.

I also loved their lobster roll. Yes, I said loved. Past tense. I loved last year's lobster roll. I do not love this year's new lobster roll. I don't hate it but sometimes maybe just leave well enough alone.

LOBSTER ROLL
Served on a brioche roll with Boston lettuce and finished with brown butter aioli.
$21

I was genuinely excited to try this update. The brown butter aioli was intriguing until I realized it tasted no different than regular mayonnaise. But it was only drizzled on the top so no harm, no foul, I guess. The price is slightly higher than I like to pay... but it's not going to break the bank and you won't leave the table hungry.

The lobster itself was cooked perfectly with a nice amount stuffed into the roll. If the lobster is falling out onto the plate, that's a sign of quality lobster meat volume. Big chunks of chilled, melt-in-your-mouth crustacean are always appreciated. Other than the small amount of aioli on top, there was nothing else mucking up the meat. Well... except for that stupid, STUPID piece of lettuce. I don't care if it's Boston, Bibb or Butter, lettuce is useless under any name.

As much as I bitch about the lettuce, it's easily removable. The roll, however, is an important piece of this pie and can make or break the experience. This new "brioche" roll really crushed my spirit because I really wanted to love this sandwich. There's a crucial meat to roll ratio that if upset, can bury the taste of the lobster in a doughy grave. The brioche is difficult to properly toast also and the grill marks on the top of mine served absolutely no purpose. A perfectly toasted, buttery roll is key to the experience.

Overall, I didn't not enjoy this lobster roll, but I also probably won't be rushing back for another. And that honestly makes me sad. Looks like I'll have to stick with the lobster stew and scallop roll as my go-to menu items.