Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster - Freeport, Maine

My husband responds well to bribery. So when he started complaining about going grocery shopping on the way back from a friend's 30th birthday bash Saturday afternoon, the promise of a stop at Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster sweetened the deal.

Though only ten minutes from downtown Freeport, Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster is a bit out of the way. Located at the end of Main Street in South Freeport, I pity the poor tourist trying to find it, as they meander down the pastoral road, passing by residences, wondering if they are headed in the right direction. But persistence pays off as you cross the final intersection and see the harbor filled with boats.

Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster is on the right, perched with dead-on-views of the water and the bustling town landing. It is the quintessential Maine lobster shack. Home to a busy working boatyard, parking can be a challenge, particularly on hot summer days.

The menu is vast, with everything from veggie burgers and shrimp rolls, to chicken fingers and clam chowder. There is something to please everyone in the crowd, including a long list of homemade desserts, but most everyone goes for the lobsters. We were after lobster rolls on our quick stop, as were most of the people ordering at the window that day.

Seating is on red picnic tables in front of the building, or in the enclosed dining room with one of the best views in Maine. We opted to eat outside and enjoy the warm sun and cool ocean breeze. Lobster rolls are made to order, so expect to wait. We stopped in at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon and they were only moderately busy. Still, it was about a 15 minute wait for our lobster roll and fries ($15.25). Sit back, enjoy the view, and try not to salivate as those who ordered before you walk by with their boiled lobsters and corn on the cob.

When our number was finally called, we dove right into the lobster rolls. A classic version, they were served on toasted hot dog buns. The lobster was fresh, mixed with mayonnaise and served with a lettuce leaf inside the bun. While the lobster rolls were rather ordinary, the fries were exceptional - crisp, piping hot and, perfectly salted.

I prefer to have my lobster roll prepared to order, mixing the lobster and mayo just before serving. Some establishments pre-mix and portion the lobster, refrigerate it until it is ordered, then simply stick it in the bun and serve. This does reduce the wait time for the customer, but the lobster often gets too cold, robbing it of taste until it has time to warm. While Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster does it right, using better quality - and heavier mayonnaise - would improve the lobster roll, as would a dash of pepper in the preparation.

I've definitely had better lobster rolls than I did at Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster. The Dry Dock's version features a toasted and buttered bun. They serve the mayo on the side and offer drawn butter as an option, while the Old Port Sea Grill serves theirs on flavorful, oversized buns that hold the most generous portion of lobster I've had in a roll.

Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster does not serve alcohol, but they allow you to bring your own. So if you're heading there for dinner - or lunch for that matter - grab a Summer Ale on your way to enjoy with your meal.

I'll certainly return to Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster. I think a perfect summer evening would consist of drinks and appetizers at Conundrum in Freeport, followed by a lobster roll, onion rings and slice of coconut cream pie sitting at the picnic tables at Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster.

Aaah. Summer in Maine!