McLoons Lobster

"WHAT: The quintessential Maine lobster shack with a postcard setting and a roll to beat all. 

WHY: Lobster rolls are the gravitational center of Maine dining, usually priced in the teens and produced at high volume, which is why so many shacks pre-mix large batches of meat with enough mayo to lube a pot puller. The result: spongy, indistinct meat. But not at McLoons, where mayo is slathered on the bun, not the meat, and hot butter is an at-the-ready alternative. Better yet, order a half-and-half roll and decide which one you like best." [Eater]

Lobster Restaurant / Restaurant

Website: McLoons Lobster

Address: 315 Island Rd, South Thomaston, ME 04858

 

The Lost Kitchen

"WHAT: A fairy tale of a destination restaurant, occupying part of a hydro-powered millhouse (circa 1834) in a midcoast town whose population totals 719. Here’s the plot twist: Dinner at the Lost Kitchen ranks as one of the country’s most unattainable reservations. Chef-owner Erin French begins accepting annual bookings on April 1 for reservations between May and New Year’s Eve, and they fill within hours. 

WHY: Those who do score a golden ticket are in for the kind of evening that addresses all the senses. Listen to a small dam burbling just outside, note the shift in aromas while watching French and her staff cook eight courses in the day’s dying light and savor her unfussy knack for layering flavors. Oysters perfumed with basil and violet might kick off a meal; lamb loin revved with pickled rhubarb and feta epitomizes springtime. The food is remarkable, but the calming pace and collective cheer completes the spell." [Eater]

Restaurant

Website: The Lost Kitchen

Address: 22 Mill St, Freedom, ME 04941