lobster

Natalie’s at Camden Harbor Inn, Camden, Maine, 6/3/26

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 83 Bayview Street, Camden, ME 04843

As the name would indicate Natalie’s was the restaurant in the Camden Harbor Inn.  The fine dining restaurant is under Executive Chef Jose Ochoa who actively tries to highlight the bounty of Maine’s harvests.  Inside the white cloth-covered tables are set with padded armchairs surrounded by windows with views of the gardens and water.  There is also terrace dining outside.  It has an elegant feel with wood floors , lots of flowers, music in the background and attentive service.  Open daily they offer an a la carte menu and two tasting menus.  We chose the lobster tasting and started the meal with both of their local oysters and a Vesper classic cocktail.  It was a lovely evening with the staff friendly and helpful and the tasting with good pacing and portion control. Continue reading →

Mike’s All Day Breakfast, Kennebunk, ME., 6/18/25

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
building – 55 Western Ave, Kennebunk, ME 04043-7300

Mike’s All Day Breakfast is a large place that is open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.  Their menu features American classics served in several different rooms.  The service seemed slow to seat us – there was a  line of folks with a number of empty tables inside, but once they got around to it we all got seated and service was efficient and friendly.   The good-sized menu was supplemented by chalkboards with coffee drink options and a couple Benedict specials as well as reminding all they serve Mimosas.  The regular coffee they poured was fine by me but they didn’t serve water unless you asked.  The simple tables were surrounded by windows and walls decorated with fun signs.  A dedicated parking lot was large and there were benches on the front porch for waiting.  The porch for eating has been enclosed and is one of the many seating options.  I thought the food was generous and good and would easily go again when in the area. Continue reading →

White Barn Inn (lobster tasting), Kennebunk, ME., 6/16/25

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
building – 37 Beach Ave, Kennebunk, ME 04043-7614

White Barn Inn Restaurant, about 20 miles outside of Portland, Maine, offers New England cuisine year-round.    The Inn is around 45 years old and has a fine dining as well as a casual restaurant.  We chose the fine dining portion for our stay and were able to sample the 3 types of menus they offer.   The menus are presented in a re-modeled barn building, whereas the casual dining is in a more modern room.  The front of the 2-story room has a small bar with seats for about 6 (they can be reserved to eat from the casual restaurant’s menu) and a grand piano with an actual pianist playing every night.  The second story of the barn is filled with boxes, fake animals and other decorative items and in the back of the room is a large window that showcases lighted colorful blooming plants.  The double clothed tables are draped to the floor with a beige cloth that is topped with a shorter white one.  Service is 5-star and friendly, if you want interaction.  We started with the lobster tasting where portion control was spot on and the food was very good.  I would easily recommend this place when in the area and it’s even better when you can stay right there and walk to and from dinner. Continue reading →

McLoon’s Lobster Shack, South Thomaston, ME., 9/27/24

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
line up to order – 315 Island Rd, South Thomaston, ME 04858

McLoon’s started in 2012 as a family-owned Maine lobster shack on the tip of Spruce Head Island across from the area’s oldest working lobster wharf.  It’s what a city would call a food truck except it doesn’t move.  You line up at the order window, order and pay and then another person calls out your name when it’s ready and they bring it to your table.  There was a tent over many large picnic tables next to the building but also an assortment of tables, some with umbrellas around the basic area.  Some have wonderful views of the harbor and many enjoyed full sun, if that’s your thing.  There were also wooden chairs that just faced the harbor without having to be seated at a table.  There was a line waiting for it to open and the line continued throughout our lunch.  It moved quickly and it didn’t take long to get your food.  They had a service stand by the tent which supplied salt, pepper, wipes, toothpicks and a container and cups for water.  Also for sale were several Whoopie pies which they touted at the Maine dessert but they also had pies and cookies.  We passed on that.  The food we had was fabulous, fresh and I’d go back any time I am in the area and it’s open, as it does operate only seasonally. Continue reading →

Tom’s Lobster Shack, Peggy’s Cove, 6/13/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
building – 154 Peggys Point Rd, Peggys Cove, NS B3Z 3S2, Canada

Tom’s Lobster Shack was a small building on the corner of the parking lot for the very popular lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove.  They are open daily but do close in the winter.  The seating was on picnic tables on the deck around their building.  There was one window to place your order and another to pick it up.   Birds knew the place and the signs asked you to not feed them   Sandwiches came with chips and bread and butter pickles.  They served a number of items but are known for their lobster rolls, which are prepared several ways.  All are served on a toasted bun and we chose a Classic and a Naked.  The Classic had lobster mixed with mayo, celery, parsley, shallot, lettuce and green onions while the Naked was lobster with butter, herbs, secret seasoning and lettuce.    Both sandwiches were stuffed with lobster meat but this time I preferred the Classic sandwich over the buttered one.  The mix looks heavy on the mayo but it did not taste that way.  It blended and accented the sweet lobster meat better to me.  But the best way to do it is to get one of each and swap bites.  The chips were chips but the pickles were quite good too. Continue reading →

Fords Lobster/Haring’s Marine, Noank, CT., 11/4/22

~ hsnixon ~ 5 Comments
exterior – 15 Riverview Ave., Noank, CT., 06340

Fords Lobster at Haring’s Marine is in Noank, CT, next to Mystic.  The Haring family started with a gas dock/bait and tackle store in the 1950s.  Orion Ford took over the business in 1970 and added a retail lobster shack, which still runs today.  He retired in 2005 when Kris and Kerrie took over but after 5 years they realized the business couldn’t sustain itself as it was and they purchased a hot dog cart to sell lobster rolls out of.  It was so successful that they were able to re-do the interior of the dining room in 2012.  They serve locally sourced ingredients right next to the fishing docks where the catch is brought in.  There is a small interior and a number of tables on the patio outside.  Their hours vary, so check the website and they are BYOB.   Inside they had table service and you can fill your short wait for food by looking at the old photos and articles that decorate the walls.  Windows to the outside let in plenty of light and music was in the background.  Most of the lobster items were labeled MK, so that varies but the server was glad to quote prices for us.  The lobster was excellent and I would heartily recommend this place. Continue reading →

James Hook and Company, Boston, 6/12/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
sign on building

James Hook and Co. started in 1925 with a father and his 3 sons trucking their catch to Boston.  It is still a family run business with 4 of the third generation siblings.  Somewhere along the line they developed retail outlets while still selling to restaurants and shipping across the U.S.   We visited a retail site near the water that also had a food truck on premises selling options.  Inside the little house were a couple tables to eat but mostly had tanks containing various sizes of lobsters and shelves with memorabilia and cooking supplies.  The retail counter had a number of fish and shellfish but also the lobster rolls, which they are famous for.  They come in 2 sizes and are cold with mayo or hot with butter.  Outside at the truck you could get the mayo variety and whole cooked lobsters as well as soups and some sides.  There is a large outdoor seating area to enjoy your selections. Continue reading →