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!

Corea Lobster Roll: Lunch on the Wharf

So much fun has happened in the past couple of days that I'm not even sure where to begin. I realize this isn't a blog about my life so I won't go on and on about how we spent the night at Gull Cottage at the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse and how our bedroom looked right out at the lighthouse and how the sound of the waves crashing outside the window was the best sound in the world. But I do plan to go on and on about the lobster roll I had in the neighboring village of Corea.

Lunch on the Wharf is located, well, on the wharf in the quaint little fishing harbor of Corea located not far from Acadia National Park's Schoodic Peninsula. When you arrive at this place, the first thing you notice that it's essentially a food stand that smells delicious! The menu is pretty diverse but simple with offerings for both the lobster lover and someone in the market for a hot dog.

Lobster Roll with mayo........... $19.95

I placed my order, took my number and secured a table on the large wharf overlooking some serious Maine scenery. The presentation of this lobster roll is nothing to write home about. It comes in its little cardboard holder with a bag of chips. Simple, no-frills. Just the way I like it. And also... a very important tip if you decide to head up here for lunch (it's not open for dinner), it's BYOB. I will say that an Orono Brewing Fruitful pairs quite nicely with lobster!

I'd like to say something really clever about this roll but the only thing that keeps coming to mind is, "Holy shit." It wasn't biggest and it wasn't overflowing with lobster meat, but holy shit, this thing was absolutely delicious. Sometimes I think it's harder to write about the good ones because what else can I say except, well, holy shit? It gave me very little to grumble about.

It checked all the boxes... Perfectly buttered and grilled traditional split-top bun ✔ Loads of lobster meat with with a nice mix of tail, knuckle and claw meat in nice bit sized pieces ✔ Sweet and salty lobster so fresh you know it was probably caught that morning and surely steamed in ocean water ✔ Lightly dressed with mayo with a little butter on top which is absolute perfection ✔  No additional crap like lettuce or celery ✔ Great views of the harbor ✔

If I have to be my usual critical, difficult self and voice one complaint, it would be for the $19.95 price. But lately, that seems to be the going rate just about everywhere. I need to get over that. Ok, I'm over it.

Portland Pier Lobster Roll: Luke's Lobster

If there was a lobster roll that topped my list to try this summer, it was Luke's Lobster lobster roll. The new location has been the talk of the town since the announcement last winter, with the 60 Portland Pier location marking Luke's first full-service and largest restaurant of his 40 global locations.

Not familiar with Luke Holden? He's a Cape Elizabeth native with lobster in his blood. A 25-year-old investment banker living in NYC, he was homesick for Maine and a good 'ol traditional lobster roll. And God knows you can't get anything even close to that in the Big Apple. Those big city folk try too hard to dress that shit up with too much mayo and lettuce and celery (oh, the horror!) and fancy bread. So what the hell... Luke just decided to make his own. His first lobster shack opened in the East Village in 2009 and he charged $14 per roll, while others were charging an arm and a couple legs – typical NYC... I could go on but I won't so Google him, he seems like a really interesting and clearly super smart guy.

So on to the task at hand. It was a Friday and a beautiful day in downtown Portland so I grabbed a couple coworkers and headed down to the Pier excited for my first Luke's experience... Damn. No expense was spared in the construction of this restaurant. The location at the end of the pier offers spectacular views of Casco Bay in just about every direction. Part of me was slightly disappointed that we couldn't get a seat on the (somewhat smallish) deck; while the other part of me was relieved not to have to fight off any thieving seagulls.

We were seated immediately – something I'm sure doesn't happen during the dinner rush – in a very bright, window-filled dining room with killer views. (Here's my official plea for Luke's to please please please offer reservations for dinner!) I didn't really peruse the entire menu once I found my choices for lobster rolls so I really have no idea what else they offer.

Lobster Roll: Classic or Jumbo - $20/$26
Claw and knuckle meat lightly dressed with mayo and butter (or something like that)

I went with the Jumbo. Because I'm a pig and I want ALL the lobster.

Much to my dismay, the presentation of my lobster roll did not make a great first impression – just laying there all splayed out in its little basket. The lobster looked shiny and a little weird. But I refused to make any snap judgments because this was Luke's and how the hell could someone be this successful making sucky lobster rolls.

Guess what? This lobster roll did not suck. It was pretty far from sucking.

The traditional split top roll that is so crucial to my happiness was buttered and toasted. Yay. The lobster meat was claws and knuckles, which if cooked properly can be just as enjoyable as a lobster roll with tail meat included – look at me evolving! And yes, every bite of that lobster was so sweet and delicious, I didn't want it to end. My mouth waters just writing this blog post. The combination of light mayo AND melted butter is now my new favorite thing in the world and needs to happen on every future lobster roll I eat. There was no stupid lettuce or anything else that could be construed as needless filler. It comes with chips and a pickle too!

If I had one complaint – and you knew it was coming – I'd say it was the price. The lobster roll in the photo was $26. I'm familiar with what $26 can get me and it's a lot more lobster than this. See the obnoxiously overflowing roll at Red's Eats in Wiscasset (although that pile of lobster also comes with a painful hour plus wait in line.) So yeah... add more lobster to the jumbo and I'll be less whiny.

Overall, I'll recommend this place in a heartbeat. The location, the food, the atmosphere – all top notch. It's a touch expensive but then again Portland IS a foodie town!

The Other Wiscasset Lobster Roll: Sprague's Lobster

One Friday last summer, I made the decision to finally try Red's Eats in Wiscasset, ME. As promised by basically everyone, it was delicious – a ridiculous lobster roll with an obscene amount of lobster meat. But it was also a pain in the ass. The line was enormous, even getting there a 1/2 hour before they opened, and we waited over an hour for that tasty little morsel. So your feelings are definitely conflicted – am I blissfully happy because the lobster roll is just THAT GOOD... or am I bitterly annoyed that it took THAT LONG?!

Several people asked if I had ever been to Sprague's Lobster directly across the street. Huh? There's another lobster roll joint across the street? I mean I probably passed it a hundred times but never really knew anything about it. So this summer, Sprague's gets its turn and I was anxious to see how they compared to their greedy neighbors across Route 1.

It was an overcast Saturday and when we arrived in Wiscasset, it was the same ol' shit. A crawling line of traffic slowly snaking its way down Route 1 through the quaint downtown area. When we finally made it to our destination, Red's had a line that looked to be a good hour and a half to two hours long... and I was able to find a parking spot in Sprague's small lot so things were looking pretty good.

The line at Sprague's was maybe three people. Perfect. The expansive dock was a welcome spot with a view of the Sheepscot River, a plethora of picnic tables and even a few retailers peddling some crafty wares. You place your order at the little shack and they call your number... like any normal seafood takeout spot. And their menu is rather extensive with several non-seafood options in addition to anything from lobster and crab rolls to full-on lobster dinners.

So naturally, I ordered a lobster roll. (I mean, that would be pretty funny if I spent all this time writing a blog post and just ordered a hamburger.) The sign was simple - Lobster Roll - $21.99 - no other information. (Be warned, this place is cash-only but they do have an ATM right there.)

Now for the good stuff. Upon first inspection, the lobster roll appeared to be top notch. The traditional hot dog bun was nicely toasted and there was a substantial amount of naked lobster meat... I love a place that has the confidence to serve their lobster with no dressing. The roll tasted fresh and delicious but there were a few pieces of tail meat that were just a tad chewier than I prefer. And the pieces were big so the fact that you have to try and bite the tail meat in half will often highlight it's chewiness. But it definitely didn't ruin my day because in the end, it was still pretty damn tasty.

Overall, I thought it was a great spot - so much less stressful than Red's. The nice girl at the take-out window also told us it was ok if we brought our cooler of beer to have with our lobster rolls. These places will always get high praise because who doesn't love a BYOB establishment. She just suggested we go to the hidden picnic tables (which honestly were the best because they were right on the river side of the dock.)

Round Pond Lobster Roll: Muscongus Bay Lobster Co.

Just up the road from the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (of Maine quarter fame) is a little town called Round Pond – home to Muscongus Bay Lobster. Up until a few months ago, I had never heard of the town of Round Pond OR Muscongus Bay Lobster. But the place kept popping up on lists of the best lobster rolls around so I had to give it a try. And no one loves a good road trip up the coast like I do – especially when there's a tasty treat waiting for me at the other end!

This is another one of those places that has a picture-perfect Maine view that you could stare at forever. Muscongus Bay is a simple take out window that overlooks an expansive deck with plenty of picnic tables – either out in the sun or under the tented area. What I found so charming about the place was that when I went to order my lobster roll, you actually conduct your business directly over a lobster tank. I asked how many credit cards swam with the lobsters – the dude who waited on me said it's mostly change that ends up in the tank!

I really had high hopes for this place. The ordering is simple... they don't have all sorts of fancy lobster roll concoctions.

Lobster Roll
with your choice of homemade white or wheat roll, served with lemon, chips and a pickle

I'm not going to lie, I was a little afraid of the homemade roll. It almost felt like a tiny bit of overkill. I'm guessing most people are in it for what's in the roll not the actual roll itself! And while it was nicely toasted and looked yummy, the roll sucked. It was dense and bready and actually had a flavor to it that really detracted from the lobster filling. My advice to the Muscongus folks and anyone else who thinks the homemade roll is an attraction – it's not, don't bother!

While the lobster was flavorful and prepared well with just a touch of mayonnaise, there wasn't enough of it to offset the doughy roll. I think in a traditional split top bun, this would've been a fabulous lobster roll. I was so distracted by the taste and texture of the bread, I could barely concentrate on the crustacean. After I was finished the roll I thought I would try their lobster chowder and they were out of it. Kick me when I'm down, why don't you!

The lobster roll came with chips and a pickle but even the additions to the meal did not warrant a price tag of $22.99. This lobster roll was actually MORE than what I paid at Red's Eats. How can anyone charge more than Red's and NOT give me a crap load of lobster? I was so confused.

If you're looking for a great view, this place has it. If you're looking for a tasty lobster roll treat, this place may tick you off just a tiny bit. But it is BYOB and a great spot to hang out for a couple hours. The folks at the table next to us even broke out a whole table of hors d'oeuvres to snack on before ordering their lobster!

Sheepscot Bay Lobster Roll: Five Islands Lobster Company

One of my favorite off the beaten path spots along the coast is Five Islands Lobster Co. in Georgetown. As you drive into Five Islands, at first you think, holy crap, am I driving down someone's driveway? But then you come up on the huge working lobster wharf and a sea of picnic tables and you think, holy Maine! Five Islands sits on Sheepscot Bay just as it opens up to the Gulf of Maine and is known as the "prettiest harbor in Maine." I would have to agree... it's pretty damn scenic.

There's not much better than sitting only feet from where your lobster is plucked from the ocean knowing that it hasn't been languishing in a tank for a few days. Not only can you get a lobster roll, but they serve up good old cooked (in salt water) lobsters and fresh locally dug steamer clams. On the day I was there, it was late afternoon and the third stop on a lobster roll filled day. It was fun to watch out-of-towners navigate the intricacies of extracting the meat from the reddened shell or how exactly to tackle those bewildering steamed clams. You almost want to just help them before they starve to death!

Lobster Roll
Freshest in Maine! We pick our own lobster meat daily, add just a touch of mayonnaise and serve it on a buttered grilled hot dog bun with lettuce.

Big Boy Lobster Roll
When you can't get enough, make it a Big Boy! We stuff twice the amount of lobster meat into a homemade potato roll for twice the fun!

Most of you would've guessed I went for the Big Boy – not this time (mostly because I was afraid of the potato roll)! This regular lobster roll was pretty good and definitely fresh. I enjoyed the briny flavor of a lobster picked directly from the ocean and cooked perfectly in salt water. While there wasn't a boat load of meat in this roll, the flavor of the lobster was delicious and the light mayonnaise was not overwhelming. Heck, I wasn't even sure mine had any mayo. And then there was that useless piece of lettuce that served no purpose at all and I'm just going to ignore. I really loved the salty lobster, but overall I think the rest of the sandwich could be improved.

The bun was weakly grilled – not buttery or golden brown. Since it says they serve it on a buttered grilled hot dog bun, I'm wondering if the butterer was asleep on the job that day. Five Islands charges $19 and serves the lobster roll with chips. You can pay extra for fries or onion rings but after three lobster rolls in one day, I was fine with the tiny pile of ruffled potato chips. The price wasn't too bad although, for a few dollars less, I'd go back to McLoon's every time!

Seating at Five Islands is plentiful but I found the picnic tables to be a little dirty and sticky. Like maybe they didn't have that one person who went out and wiped them down a few times during the day. Or maybe that person was sleeping on the job too. Also, if it's a hot day, there's not much for relief from the sun since there aren't many tables with umbrellas. They don't serve alcohol but you're welcome to BYOB!

I would still definitely give this one a thumbs up and say it's worth the short drive to Georgetown if only for that quintessential Maine view and the beauty of Sheepscot Bay. You could even swing in for some takeout and dine on the beach at Reid State Park just ten minutes away!