Rockport

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 →

Nīna June, Rockport, ME., 9/25/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 24 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856

Nīna June is the nickname of  Chef Sara Jenkins, who was born in Camden, Maine but raised in the Mediterranean.  She uses the background of both places to highlight the products of Maine’s farms and ocean coastal waters with a regularly changing menu.  She is the author of 2 cookbooks and previously cooked for kitchens in NYC.  This is a long place with the back patio seats overlooking the Rockport Harbor.  The open kitchen was on one side and the chef was there to greet the customers and show them to their table.  The walls had bench seating with lots of pillows which matched up with small closely placed small wooden tables that were set with paper placemats and cloth napkins.  Music was in the background, the lights were fairly dim and art was on the walls.  It was a cozy feel and it easily facilitated conversations with your neighbors.  The menu was very intriguing and thus we ordered way more than we could eat but we wanted to try so many things.  As you’d guess, some items were better than others and appealed differently to esch of us.  I’m not sure if any would get a “lick the bowl” rating but I certainly would recommend this place and go back if I’m in the area.  The food is very fresh and well done without dots, smears or added micro-greens and really focused on local.  Let me know what you think when you visit! Continue reading →