Who has the best Lobster Rolls?

Old May 29th, 2012, 05:45 PM
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Who has the best Lobster Rolls?

What places are your favorites for lobster rolls between Portland and Camden? They need to be open in mid-Sept.
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Old May 29th, 2012, 07:12 PM
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Waterman's

http://www.travelandleisure.com/slid...cks-in-maine/1
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Old May 29th, 2012, 07:52 PM
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Reds Eats, Wiscasset.
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Old May 29th, 2012, 10:07 PM
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Red's is not a lobster roll in my opinion, it is more like a fresh boiled lobster dinner served with a roll.

You can't really eat it like a lobster roll, it's sort of like taking a thick steak sandwich and trying to eat it just like a burger, just doesn't manage too well.

It also costs almost the same as a sit-down lobster lunch or dinner. So, if I'm going to have a lobster dinner, I'm not gonna stand in line an hour for it and then battling people for a chance to sit down by the buggy river. I'd just rather go to a sit-down restaurant for my lobster.

What route are you taking from Portland to Camden?
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Old May 30th, 2012, 04:33 AM
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The problem is that different people have very, very different ideas of what constitutes a good lobster roll.

My wife, at great personal sacrifice, once spent a summer having a lobster roll for lunch on every possible occasion, i.e., at least once a week.

A quality roll for her has to have:

(1) a butter-toasted, New England-style hot dog bun (open at the top, not on the side like real American ones)
(2) this should contain the meat of roughly a third to a half a lobster, mixed with some finely diced celery, bound lightly with mayonnaise,with nice pieces of claw or tail on the top, all on a bed of one or two iceberg lettuce leaves.
(3) served with a bag of potato chips

No herbs, no onion, no binder but mayo, no kaiser rolls or sub rolls, no ungrilled buns.

Your mileage and my mileage may vary.
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Old May 30th, 2012, 04:50 AM
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Ackislander, your wife has it right in my book. I've had way more "bad" lobster rolls than good, often tons of mayo, lots of various seasonings (including curry and mustard, for God's sake!), and some with what must have been ground up lobster meat.

OK, now my mouth is watering for a good one.
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Old May 30th, 2012, 04:52 AM
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Connecticut. I like my lobster rolls with lobster and butter on the aforesaid split-top grilled bun-- NO mayo, NO celery, NO lettuce.
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Old May 30th, 2012, 05:13 AM
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sf7307 is used to Sam's Chowder House Lobster rolls, methinks

Not that they can be found too often, but: lobster, an ever so slight dab of good mayo to just touch the lobster [which is nice respectable sized pieces, not shreds and shards which are for lettuce and glass dimensions] and onto the split top grilled bun. THAT's it.
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Old May 30th, 2012, 05:24 AM
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@Debit...The lobster at Sam's Chowder House was really good.

@Tracy...I'm still planning, but I think we'll just go up the coast along 295 and then over to Hwy 1.
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Old May 30th, 2012, 05:24 AM
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I meant lobster ROLL!
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Old May 30th, 2012, 05:38 AM
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We go to Maine regularly and I eat a lobster roll at least everyday if not twice a day while there. Since we go in the summer, I can't address if these places are open in the September.

I agree with Waterman's and that Red's is very good even though u may need to wait in line. One reason I like it is that it consistently providers the most lobster in the roll. We have not always waited more than 10-15 minutes. Five Islands in Georgetown Cove has a very good lobster roll. Another place we've had good rolls at is Cindy's South of Freeport. Often we stop at a trailer by the side of the road and have had some great rolls a few $$'s below the going price for that year.
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Old May 30th, 2012, 05:42 AM
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It's been a few years since we were there but I was surprised to learn that McDonald's had lobster rolls.

We stopped at a couple of lobster places and enjoyed the experience - picking up the plastic tray at the window of the barn/shack, taking it to a picnic table and eating it outside. Unfortunately, we timed it at the 2nd one JUST as dusk fell. All of a sudden, biting black flies converged on us. We ran for the car - and drove to the nearest restaurant to eat inside. I'd still do it again - just not at dusk.
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Old May 30th, 2012, 07:13 AM
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While Red's gets all the attention, there is a secret lobster roll shack in the parking lot across Route 1 in Wiscasset -- to the right if you're heading north, which also helps when it's time to continue your journey.

There's seldom a wait. They adhere to the bun, butter and lobster recipe. No frills, no fuss. Good fries. I think it's a little less expensive, as well.
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Old May 30th, 2012, 07:16 AM
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You can also get a good roll at Shaw's in New Harbor, mentioned in Debitnm's cited article. The trouble is that's my place, and I've got enough company already. ;^)
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Old May 30th, 2012, 07:55 AM
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And.....if your're heading back to Boston on Highway 1 in Saugus is KELLY'S!!!!!!!! IMHO, the best Lobster Roll around, period. I spent lots of summers in NH and Maine, and it's KELLY'S for me........wish they would open in NYC,,,,,sigh....
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Old Jun 17th, 2012, 10:25 AM
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OK...so here are some more details.

Waterman's is closest to our lodging in Lincolnville, so it could be an option for a meal after our arrival day (although it would still be a 40 min. drive). I did notice that the lobster roll is served on a burger bun! What's up with that????

Five Islands will be closed except on weekends during our trip so it is out.

Red's Eats sounded really good but with 2 exceptions. I hate waiting in line, and I'm not really thrilled with the idea of lobster just being dumped in the bun. I like the idea of a whole lobster in the sandwich, but is seems like a lobster dinner would be a better option.

Shaw's looks like a good option and also Harraseeket, which will be closest to the airport. We will probably be on our way north around noon by the time we get our rental car.

We won't have the option of trying a coastal lobster pound on the way down to Boston because we'll be coming from the White Mountain area of NH.

Any more comments?
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Old Jun 17th, 2012, 11:00 AM
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Ackislander's wife is wrong! Never celery, never lettuce. The trick to lobster is that it is alive and kicking and properly cooked and served fresh. That means that places like McDonalds and Kelly's loose their charm and fresh flavour.

I just steamed a few to make lobster rolls. Top split rolls buttered and griddled filled with freshly shucked lobster (take out those rubbery claw ends as they are so gross even my dog would play with them and bark at them rather then eat them) a hint of hellmans/best mayo and that's it.

There is a place in Cambridge MA called Alive and Kickin that sells lobster sandwiches on buttered scalli bread. Amazing. Why? Because they are freshly steamed and shucked, and they haven't been sitting at the bottom of a tank for awhile.

I often tell people, go to the grocery store and they will steam some up for you, and have a picnic. And there is some good lobster in the NH area. I wouldn't drive 40 minutes for a lobster roll. It's a lot like fried clams, it comes down to freshness and execution. A lot of places that aren't lobster shacks or clam shacks blow away the tourist competition.
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Old Jun 17th, 2012, 11:02 AM
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(that was said tongue in cheek ack)
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Old Jun 17th, 2012, 12:17 PM
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Understood and appreciated, Lookin_Glass.

This topic brrings out the emotion in New Englanders, like talking about BBQ in central North Carolina where the war between Lexington-style and Easter North Carolina style is fought daily.

I solved the similar chowder wars for myself by preferring Rhode Island style clear chowder: clams, broth, potatoes, onion, no tomato and no flour within about five blocks. If it is going to be white, add some heavy cream, cream, light cream, half and half, or whole milk to Rhode Island style, but no flour. Skip the herbs, too.
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Old Jun 17th, 2012, 12:46 PM
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Ack and lookin,
So glad we can all get along! LOL

I also found a place near Acadia NP called Union River...anyone know anything about that?
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