| Boston | Montreal | New England | France | Italy | |
| New England Restaurants | |
| Our favorite restaurants are marked with a star (*) | |
Lobster Shack
Lunch or Dinner: $10-20/person
225 Two Lights Road / Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107 / (207) 799-1677 |
|
|
|
Folks at Lobster Shack definitely know their lobster; they just don't know how to cook. How Lobster Shack won the "best lobster roll in Portland" award remains a puzzle to me. There are plenty hole-in-the-walls all the way along the coast that serve better rolls. In the Lobster Shack the rolls were served with a dollop of mayo on top (not mixed into the lobster meat). We tried to spread it as evenly as possible, but could not avoid bites with too much or too little mayo. The chopped up lettuce was also irritating - a fresh curly leaf of lettuce would have been much better. The lobster meat was wonderfully fresh, but we expected no less on the Maine coast. The rolls were $10 each. The fries were so-so - like the ones you get frozen in the supermarket. The worst part of the meal was the lobster stew for $8.50/bowl. We expected something along the lines of the lobster bisque, but the "stew" consisted of pieces of lobster swimming in thin cream with a layer of grease on top. The liquid was not thickened or seasoned at all. What a waste of lobster! On the brighter side, the scenery was beautiful. We sat at the picnic table right on the beach and enjoyed the breeze. |
|
*Hugo's
2 course prix fixe: $35
3 course prix fixe: $42
88 Middle Street / Portland, Maine / 207-774-8538 |
|
|
|
So much great food, so little time. The food was on par with some of the best French restaurants in France and Montreal - creative and unforgettably delicious. I just wish it came at a slower pace. The complementary welcome from the chef was a refreshing chilled asparagus soup with goat cheese drizzle. Fluke tartar was sweet and silky with a refreshing counterpoint of cilantro. Pork belly was crispy and rich and served with yummy sweet potato puffs. The halibut baked in parchment paper was simple, pure, and juicy. The buttermilk panna cotta with macerated strawberries was creamy, but not heavy. Our waiter brought us matching glasses of wine with each course. Most matches worked well with the exception of Halibut and Chianti. My only complaint about dining at Hugo's was the timing of the courses. Some of our courses came out the moment we put the last bite of the previous course into our mouths. It looked like the entrees were sitting and waiting for us to finish our appetizers because they were not really hot. The staff was not trying to rush us and give our table to someone else. There were other free tables, and we had a wonderful time relaxing and talking over coffee. I guess there was just miscommunication between the wait staff and the kitchen. In spite of this slight downside, we will definitely return for the wonderful food. |
|
*Street & Co
Appetizers: $5-9
Entrees: $15-25
33 Wharf St / Portland, ME 04101 / (207) 775-0887 |
|
|
|
We could not ignore recommendations of the locals, and decided to
try Street & Co for dinner while driving through Portland. This
rustic and cozy seafood restaurant served a variety of French and
Italian inspired fish, seafood, and pasta dishes. We started our
meal with mussels Provencal and crusty baguette. The sauce was so
good; we dipped our bread into it until the last drop disappeared.
For entrees we had seared tuna with olive tapenad, grilled swordfish
with garlic aioli, and seafood stew. They were all fantastic. The
wine list offered an excellent selection mostly from France and
California, with many good choices for around $20/bottle. The
service was attentive and friendly without being intrusive.
Reservations are a must on weekends. Come early and ask to be
seated in the dining room that's not next to the kitchen. The room
facing the open kitchen gets terribly noisy. --Read the full story-- |
|
*Havana
Appetizers: $7-10
Entrees: $22-30
318 Main St / Bar Harbor / ME 04609 / (207) 288-2822 |
|
|
|
Great place all around! Southwestern influences predominate in this cozy restaurant with bright orange walls, dim lighting, and jazz music. But Asian and New England accents are sprinkled here and there. It sounds like too crazy of a mix, but it all tastes good - from yummy cornbread to pumpkin cheesecake. The seared rare tuna served with mashed sweet potatoes and seaweed salad is absolutely wonderful. Make sure to try Mojito, Cuba's national drink. |
|
Morning Glory Bakery
Sandwiches: $5
Baked goods: ~$2
39 Rodick St / Bar Harbor, ME / (207) 288-3041 |
|
|
|
This was our place of choice for picnic lunches while staying in Acadia National Park. The sandwiches were good and the baked goods were even better. |
|
Lighthouse Restaurant
Lunch: $10-15
Route 3 / Seal Harbor, ME / (207) 276-3958 |
|
|
|
This place has the best Lobster rolls! Buttery grilled roll, and tons of sweet and tender claw meat mixed with creamy mayo -- mmmmmm :) The other dishes were not great though. Seafood chowder was too thin, and fried fish was a bit dry and not very flavorful. |
| Boston | Montreal | New England | France | Italy | |