
But this time around, Amy found two problems with Red’s: While the sauces are served blessedly on the side, and the butter is poured from an old-fashioned enamel kettle into little plastic cups, the butter congeals as soon as it touches the cold meat. On a similar “best lobster roll in Maine” quest nearly a decade earlier, this Wiscasset shack was Yankee’s top pick - and the traffic-jamming lines that snake from the counter every summer are a testament to its enduring popularity. Numbered by ranking on Amy’s list of 18 Maine lobster shacks: The Lobster Shack (4), Red’s Eats (10), Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster Company (15) Tender meat and spot-on saucing made this Round Pond roll a worthy contender, but as much as it broke her heart to say it, Amy found the homemade roll too sweet. Sadly, the meat tasted too strongly of mayonnaise and the garnishes didn’t make up for that lack of sweetness. This up-and-coming Portland food truck with views of Cape Elizabeth Light serves its “Maine-style roll” dressed in mayonnaise and fresh chives. The postcard-perfect ambiance at this Georgetown shack scored a perfect 10, but the meat texture and sweetness came up a bit short. This perfectly portioned Boothbay Harbor lobster earned top marks for its sweet meat, but a disappointingly dry bun kept it out of the top 5. This Vinalhaven food truck serves a roll with meat that’s “more finely chopped than many, which makes for easier eating,” but Amy missed “the chew and tear of larger chunks.” 6. The roll at this popular shack in the southern tourist town of Kennebunkport boasts “big chunks of meat, claws, and tail.” Despite the fact that the roll is served on “a fluffy, buttery hamburger bun,” Amy had to admit it was still pretty great. Quoddy Bay Lobster Īt this shack at the easternmost edge of Maine, near the Canadian border in the town of Eastport, Amy described the meat as “the sweetest we’ve had so far.” Even better, “the kitchen garnishes each roll with two prettily preserved claws.” 4. The Lobster Shack at Two LightsĪt this Cape Elizabeth shack, “the 180-degree view of the rocky shore is as impressive as the roll, which, bless them, is served with a dollop of mayo on top (or butter on the side). Illustrations by Courtney Young More Great Maine Lobster Roll Picks 2. Numbered by ranking on Amy’s list of 18 Maine lobster shacks: (1) McLoons Lobster Shack, (2) The Lobster Shack at Two Lights, (3) Quoddy Bay Lobster, (5) Greet’s Eats, (11) Thurston’s Lobster Pound (14) Day’s Crabmeat and Lobster Pound, (18) Estes Lobster House One thing is certain: This will be hard to beat.” Like a condiment! Which is what it is! The lobster tastes like lobster, the bun tastes like butter, and the sauces enrich the lean meat. “Not only can you get a half-and-half roll (one side butter, one side mayonnaise, sliced crosswise), but also they put the mayo in the bottom of the bun. Describing the tiny red hut in South Thomaston with island views as “the lobster shack of your dreams,” Amy raved about the roll’s construction. McLoons was Amy’s top pick for the best lobster roll in Maine. Wondering which rolls came out on top and which one earned the title of Best Lobster Roll in Maine? Read on. In this Maine lobster roll mission, there would be no excuses for oversalted cooking water, overcooked meat, or a badly buttered bun. In the end, Amy made a list of top spots, compiled over several weeks of talking with local food experts and a source list from 15 years of personal experience, and then rated each roll on a 10-point scale based on portion size, texture, sweetness, saucing, bun, extraneous additions (e.g., the dreaded lettuce), and ambiance. The Shack: Every great roll deserves a great view. Size: The whole shebang should fit into an average-size mouth, so that each bite is a medley of sweet meat, buttery bun, and sauce. The Bun: The roll must be split-top, buttered, and toasted on a griddle. And while butter may be better (or not), it should be poured over warm meat, lest it congeal. Lobster left to sit in mayo absorbs its flavor and turns flabby. Sauces: Mayonnaise should be tossed with the meat just before serving or served on the side. Celery, shallots, lemon zest, lobster roe, chives - all may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but tradition runs deep here. Therefore, lettuce, with its bitter, vegetal flavors and tendency to wilt and turn slimy when exposed to heat or mayonnaise, has no place in any lobster roll, ever.
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Here are her criteria: How to Rate a Maine Lobster RollĮxtras: The beauty of the Maine lobster roll is its simplicity.
