Joe's Boathouse - South Portland, Maine

Brunch with the family at Cafe Uffa has been our family's Mother's Day tradition for years. Now that Uffa is closed, we were forced to find a new brunch spot this year. I chose Joe's Boathouse.

Located on the water at 1 Springpoint Drive in South Portland, Joe's Boathouse has one of the most spectacular harbor views in the area. They also have fairly reasonable prices and a "something for everyone" menu.

The place was packed when we arrived; they were turning away customers who had not thought to make reservations. With all the restaurants in Portland, few have water views, an upscale atmosphere and decent food. Joe's is known to have all three, so when the weather turns warm, many in Greater Portland head there in hopes of scoring one of the highly coveted, hard to come by deck tables.

We settled into our table on the enclosed side porch. The gas fireplace was turned on, adding a bit of atmosphere and warmth on the sunny, but still chilly spring morning. We ordered a fruit bowl for the table so that we could stave off hunger and take our time perusing the menu. Red grapes, chunks of honeydew and cantaloupe were presented in a carved half-cantaloupe shell with sides of strawberry yogurt and granola. Our waitress was cheery and attentive, keeping us well hydrated with coffee, tea and orange juice (not fresh squeezed) during our entire visit.

When it was time to order, my sister-in-law selected the Corned Beef Hash & Eggs ($8.95). At only 15 years old, I was so proud that she knew enough to ask if it was from the can (it wasn't). Served chunky style in a cast iron skillet, and topped with poached eggs, the presentation drew oohs and aahs from the group. The meat was tender, but the eggs were overcooked (she likes them runny so they saturate the meat) and the English muffin was barely toasted.

My husband's Boathouse Burrito ($8.95) was a flour tortilla filled with fluffy scrambled eggs, diced red peppers, onions, tomatoes and pepperjack cheese. It was a bit bland for his taste and would have been better with the addition of black beans, avocado and a little spice. The accompanying salsa was better-than-average - chunky, with plenty of cilantro. The side of home fries was bland, a common complaint around the table.

Both the Frittata Special (Greek style, with feta and kalamata olives) and the Omelette were dry and overcooked. Smoked Salmon Benedict ($10.95) was served on an English Muffin and topped with red onions, tomatoes, capers and a bland Hollandaise Sauce. The Lobster Benedict ($15.95) contained plenty of claw meat that was fresh, tender and juicy. Both Benedicts would have been better with a well-toasted English Muffin and the addition of lemon juice in the Hollandaise Sauce.

Despite the average-quality fare, Joe's is still a spot I often take out-of-town guests for lunch during the summer. In fact, I took some business associates from the mid-West there just two weeks ago because they wanted a traditional lobster feast. Though it is not promoted on their menu, if you ask them to remove the lobster from the shell, they will - and they did so for my colleagues. The memory of our lackluster Cajun Chicken & Corn Egg Rolls (greasy with a much too-thick wrapper) was quickly erased as the a seemingly never-ending array of dishes were brought to the table. A huge bowl of mussels, cole slaw, french fries and a glorious 2lb lobster for each.

If you want to dine on the water, but avoid the typical tourist traps, Joe's is a fine choice. From my numerous visits over the years, I'd recommend sticking with seafood. The lobster, Crab & Avocado Club, Haddock Sandwich and the Crispy Salmon Salad are some of the better items on the menu. Joe's won't win any awards for culinary excellence, but you're guaranteed friendly service and a view that can't be beat.