Every Mainer will likely have a different answer when asked where the best lobster roll can be found in Vacationland. It might be the same run-down spot they’ve been going to since they were a kid, or it might be the newest addition to their town’s one busy Main Street, but chances are they’re pretty loyal to their favorite. Mainers look for a few things when it comes to lobster rolls — freshness, a good portion of lobster, and absolutely no lines. We spend nine months out of the year freezing our toes off just to get first dibs on the idyllic summer month, I’d say we’ve earned our spot at the front of the line.
Lobster rolls in Maine are like pizza in New York. They’re on every corner, all relatively similar, making the choices overwhelming. Should you order it the Maine way (chilled and tossed in mayonnaise) or the Connecticut way (warmed and tossed in butter)? Luckily, it’s hard to go wrong. As long as you’re handed a perfectly toasted bun toppled with fresh lobster, you made the right choice. With the country’s freshest lobster, even the so-called “worst” lobster roll in Maine is still gonna be pretty darn good. With that being said, there are a few incredible spots to check out Maine’s finest lobster rolls.
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High Roller lobster roll on checkered tablecloth – highrollerlobsterco / Instagram
Southern Maine has an incredible food scene crowded with seafood, but it’s still easy to stand out. Prices may skew higher in Portland, but it also offers a slightly elevated experience. Owned by two lobster loving Mainers, The Highroller Lobster Co. started out as a modest food cart back in 2015, and now it’s one of the most talked about spots in all of New England. They have a really fun and unpretentious approach to lobster. Between their “lobby pops” (aka lobster on a stick) and cheesy lobster tacos, there’s always something new to try, but they also execute a classic lobster roll flawlessly. If you want to enjoy Maine’s fresh lobster with a little twist, High Roller is the way to go.
For a more traditional lobster roll experience, head over to The Lobster Shack at Two Lights lighthouse. It’s tucked away right on the rocky wave-smashing coast of Cape Elizabeth and has the idyllic setting you would see on a postcard. Like many lobster shacks in the state, it’s counter service and BYOB so you can really make the experience your own. After ordering a lobster roll, you can cozy up at one of the many picnic tables surrounding the shack and take in the view.
Red’s Eats lobster roll – munchwithmeee / Instagram
When heading up the coast, you’ll pass by dozens of signs for lobster rolls, but up in Wiscasset, Red’s Eats is impossible to miss. At Red’s, they overflow their toasted hot dog buns with a hefty portion of fresh lobster, tail and all. Too much lobster is a great problem to have, but it’s not always worth the wait. Located right before the bridge on a scenic route up the coast, Red’s got really lucky with their location. On any given summer day, you’ll see a line extending down the street. If you don’t want to get sunburnt to a lobster’s hue, then zig zag over to Georgetown and try Five Islands Lobster Co.
If you thought Red’s was in an idyllic location, Five Islands will really wow you. Located right on the water, it doesn’t get much fresher than this. Rather than scouting out a middle man, the folks at Five Islands handle the fishing and the preparing. The lobstermen haul traps right off the dock so you can see your lunch arriving right as you pull into the parking lot. Similar to the Lobster Shack at Two Lights, Five Islands is BYOB and bring-your-own-anything, really. You’ll often see parties with decked out picnic tables, including tablecloths, candles, and nice bottles of white wine. The menu is surprisingly extensive, with a variety of sandwiches and fried seafood baskets, but the classic lobster roll is always a winner.
Charlotte’s Legendary Lobster Pound lobster roll – kelleyphotog / Instagram
After hitting midcoast Maine, it can feel like you’ve already seen it all, but that’s just the beginning. Downeast Maine is the northernmost corner, including Mount Desert Island which is home to the beautiful Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor is the area’s most vibrant summer town, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists every season, and while it’s packed with dozens of delicious seafood options, Southwest Harbor on the other side of the island has one of the state’s best lobster rolls.
Charlotte’s Legendary Lobster Pound puts legendary right in their name, and appropriately so. The location is incredibly unique, and not just for its quirky New England decor. They have an iconic ½ pound foot long lobster roll, which isn’t cheap at $60, but when in Maine, right? It’s served on a buttery, toasted brioche bun that will change your life. The meal isn’t complete without a big slice of Charlotte’s blueberry pie.
Read the original article on Tasting Table.
The recent rain in Maine is easing the drought that parts of the state have been experiencing since the fall.
Scott Dean, a Spectrum meteorologist, said much of Maine has been at least “dry” for several months. Parts of the state, including Portland, Bangor and Bar Harbor, are under a “moderate” drought.
Much of the country is also experiencing a drought, Dean added. The Southeast is seeing extreme levels of drought, and the West coast has been under a drought for years. There are many factors that go into this, including climate change, weather patterns like El Niño and La Niña and other factors.
And, when an area does experience drought, it can become a feedback loop. With less moisture in the ground and atmosphere, the drought can “feed upon itself,” Dean said.
“It takes a while to get into a drought and it also takes a while to get out of one,” Dean said.
But, the rainy days in Maine have been alleviating the drought, Dean said. And, the trend is likely to continue — the forecast is predicting above average levels of precipitation for the next three to four weeks.
“Hopefully, we are continuing to head in the right direction as the drought has eased in these areas,” Dean said.
In fact, if these rains do continue, Maine could come out of the drought sometime this summer.
Craig Joseph Ahlemeyer
STANDISH – Craig J. Ahlemeyer, 48 of Standish, passed away unexpectedly, Saturday, June 13, 2026.A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 27 th at Standish Congregational Church, 25 Oak Hill Road in Standish. A reception will follow.To see Craig’s full obituary, share a memory or leave the family an online condolence, please visit http://www.athutchins.com.
“Do you ever think we could find some woods to walk in?” my outdoorsy 12-year-old asks me, every now and again. As a kid growing up in New York City, Anton appreciates all the skate parks and bagel shops, but he also really craves nature, like in his bones.
So, when school got out, I offered to take him for a weekend in Maine, a place with not only woods but also lakes and rocks and periwinkles that come out of their shells when you hum. We were both really excited.
The first night, we were lucky enough to snag a room at Aragosta, a beautiful small hotel in Deer Isle that Alison had recommended.
The chef-owner, Devin Finigan, is famous for her seasonal tasting menus, but we focused on the breakfast that came with the room, including these Maine blueberry pancakes. I don’t even usually like pancakes and these blew my mind.
We also played a LOT of chess on our little travel board.
After breakfast, we set out to hike up Blue Hill Mountain.
Here’s the summit!
In the afternoon, we explored the charming fishing village of Stonington…
…then joined my friend Julie (of Rudy Jude fame) and her family for dinner at the Burnt Cove Boil.
Basically, a crab gets plonked down in front of you, followed by a corn on the cob, then a lobster, then a classic ice-cream sandwich. Julie and her husband Anthony taught us how to get all the meat out. (Their kids were already pros.)
Afterward, the four boys scrambled around on the rocks, while the adults chatted. It’s always such a treat to hang out with people who live in the place you’re visiting, don’t you think? Julie and Anthony described how they brought their recently hatched chicks into their home to keep them warm, and all the peeping was sooooo loud — and then a cricket got into the house and added to the noise and no one could find it and everyone was going nuts, haha. Very different from city life!
The next day, Anton and I stayed at the lovely Asticou Hotel near Acadia National Park.
We drove to a couple trailheads but they were PACKED — you had to stand in a long line, just to start the hike! Luckily, we found a quieter area and took a long walk around Jordan Pond, playing Would You Rather and Categories along the way. Do you have any favorite travel games?
Finally, we skimmed stones on our last afternoon before heading back to Brooklyn.
Epic travel buddy
Oh, Maine, what a magical place! Not pictured, of course: traffic, grumpy preteen moments, locking our keys in the rental car, etc., but all that’s to be expected.
Have you been to Maine? Do you live there? What parts do you love? Any pro tips? I’d love to hear. xoxo
P.S. Our Maine trip — and another amazing hotel — when the boys were much younger, and a Maine home with a bedroom looking over water.
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