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.

Kennebunk Food Truck Lobster Roll: The Ocean Roll

Stationed on the corner of Route 1 and Ross Road in Kennebunk sits a food truck called The Ocean Roll. I had never heard of this joint until just this year – and evidently, this thing has been in operation for quite some time. So naturally, I had to do a little research. According to their website, they are the oldest food truck in the USA – originally it was a Boyertown Multi-Alloy Merchantman built onto a 1961 International Harvestor chassis. Almost one of a kind when new, this relic of the Cold War was commissioned by Maine Civil Defense as a Mobile Feeding Unit to service emergencies. This restored vintage food truck has just 11,000 original miles.

After having a few people tell me about it this year, I felt a little shame that I didn't have this food truck on my growing list of places to test out. I'm glad I made the trip south because it might be the most adorable food truck on the planet (despite its location bordering the bustling Route 1 where sometimes the cars are so loud, you can barely hear them call your name for your order.) But I get it... it's a high traffic spot and I'm not there for the view. I'm there for the grub!

So I ordered the Lobster Roll for $15.50. Good price for the peak of summer in southern Maine. I also requested a little side of butter to add to really spice 'er up (I know, crazy, right?)! I will mention that I was quite disappointed and made a bit of childish fuss when they asked if I wanted celery. GAH... gross. No. Throw it all away! Celery is the devil.

Upon receiving the above mentioned celery-less lobster roll, I gave it my usual once over. The traditional split-top hot dog roll was buttered and grilled to my specifications. The lobster wasn't busting out of the roll but it was tasty. The nice mixture of both claw and tail meat was lightly dressed with mayo and there wasn't a speck of stupid lettuce to be found. Oh and it comes with some tasty cole slaw too. Overall, The Ocean Roll puts forth a solid lobster roll that won't break the bank, y'all... go get one.

Birch Harbor Lobster Roll: The Pickled Wrinkle

Most people think of Bar Harbor or Southwest Harbor or Mt. Desert Island when they think of Acadia National Park, but we recently found ourselves in the Winter Harbor neck of the Acadia area on the Schoodic Peninsula which is also part of the park. More specifically, we journeyed to Gouldsboro, the home of Birch Harbor – wow, there are a lot of harbors in play here! And Birch Harbor is the home of a restaurant called The Pickled Wrinkle. Yeah... you read that right.

You're probably asking yourself the same thing we did – what the hell is a pickled wrinkle? Well, according to the sign on our table, people must ask this question 5,467,389 times per day because it's thoroughly explained.

Wrinkles are large carnivorous sea snails also known as whelks. They are pickled and referred to locally as pickled wrinkles. Unlike periwinkles, which inhabit tidal zones, wrinkles are larger and inhabit areas below the tide line. Lobster fishermen find wrinkles in traps they haul from the ocean floor. In tough times, wrinkles helped to feed hungry Maine families. Pickling was a great way to preserve the protein-packed morsels. Nowadays, wrinkles are a Downeast Maine delicacy.

Your next question probably will be, did I actually try the pickled wrinkle? Sadly my answer is no. I'm sorry to say that I'm just not that adventurous with my cuisine. But this isn't a snail blog so I guess I'm ok!

I normally don't eat lobster rolls that aren't a regular menu item. If it's on the specials board, it's most likely off my list. Honestly, I could kick myself for my ordering choices, but I clearly was on a mission to eat a bunch of lobster rolls while on my mini vacation. This one was just....... meh. Edible but not fantastic.

Bready is the first adjective that comes to mind. Every time a lobster roll shows up in front of me swaddled in a brioche roll, I want to bash my head against the table. Over and over and over again. I'm not saying that I haven't had a couple brioche rolls that I actually liked, but the probability of me hating it is always very high. Thumbs down on this bready beast.

The lobster had no distinguishing taste. It wasn't sweet, it wasn't salty, it was just, well, meh. I feel like the mayo it was mixed with was its most prominent flavor. Overall, this lobster roll served only to fill my belly so I didn't starve to death on the way home. For that purpose only, it succeeded. I can't even remember how much the damn thing cost, that's how small of a connection I had with it.

The highlights of the experience? The restaurant itself was pretty cool and I probably would've been happier with something non-lobster. No stupid lettuce and the tater tots were amazing. More restaurants should consider serving tots over fries. Who doesn't love this perfect potato package? Oh, and I got a t-shirt too because they were pretty awesome!

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.