Fried clams aren't the Harraseeket's strong suit, even when they're whole rather than strips. (There's a real art to the fried clam; I'm partial to the ones at Bob's in Kittery--horrible location, right in the middle of outlet hell, but great food.) The best reason to go to the Harraseeket, I think, is the Lobster/Steamers/Corn combo, which is one of the best deals on the mid-coast. Sure, the corn is often inedible, but I've never been disappointed with the lobster and steamers.

Part of the appeal of lobster pounds is the view. But when they can offer both great food and great settings, then we have perfection. YOur place in the shopping center sounds intriguiging. For that matter one might as well go to Susan's Fish n Chips on Forest Ave. No view there. Or even Scales in the Public Market. They serve an outstanding fried clam roll.

Where to get the best lobster, well I'll be exploring that in the weeks and months ahead. For now, I'm sort of besotted with finding good clam rolls.

John, you're killing me with the past two lobster pound articles! I grew up in Maine, but have lived in Manhattan -- your old stomping grounds --for the past 17 years. I get periodic cravings for lobster or a fried seafood combo and wish I could transport myself to Maine for one meal. After reading your article yesterday, I had to stop by Sables on 2nd Ave and pick up some lobster salad. While nobody would mistake it for the filling in a Maine lobster roll, it is incredibly good and satisfied my craving. I believe even my Mom -- who has never been out of the State of Maine and won't eat blueberries unless they are native -- would love Sable's lobster salad. Have you ever had it? But I don't know what I'm going to do tonight, because I know the deli won't make me a fried seafood combo with fresh Maine clams and scallops!

John,

I will try to be nice in saying this--I think you need to bone up on what's a carb, what's a fat, etc. You had fried clam strips and fried onion rings, plus cole slaw (i.e., cabbage with an oil-based dressing). This is a high-fat, not a high-carb, meal. It's likely that more than 50 percent of your calories from this meal came from fat.

Love,

Brett

The fried seafood combo is always my favorite, too. But it's definitely true that the carbs trigger that sweet tooth!

My favorite shack is the Bayview in Penobscot. We even had our rehearsal dinner there. The view is unbeatable IMHO. And actually, the breading on their fish is not very heavy. It's almost like a little shell that keeps the fish plump and moist -- yum.

And they have Gifford's ice cream ... Now that's a happy ending!

~Jes

Where exactly is that place in Penobscot?

Brett, you're wrong as usual. Fried clams, or any other friend food, is loaded with carbs since the breading or batter that encases the food is a high carbohydrate ingredient. I suggest that you bone up on your carb counting. The cole slaw too is no slouch in the carb department since most dressings are sweetened somehow, and sweets, as we all know, add to the carb equatioin.

John,

The point is not whether breaded foods contain carbs. Of course they do. But once they're deep-fried, the percent of calories from fat--which, by definition, determines whether a food is high-fat, high-carb, etc.--soars. The basic info on fried clams is below; the full data are available by clicking by name. As you can see, the percent of calories that come from carbs is not only lower than that from fat, but protein as well.

Calorie Breakdown

This table shows you where the calories in this food come from.

The percentage value shows you the percentage of total calories that comes from each nutrient and alcohol.
Calories from Fat 99 (51%)
Calories from Carbohydrate 40 (21%)
Calories from Protein 56 (29%)
Calories from Alcohol 0 (0%)

Let me know if you want similar facts on cole slaw and onion rings.

Why can't we roll our eyes on this thing?

One more thing, Mr. Weir, since you seem to be such a stickler for the facts, the article says "from eating so many carbs."

That doesn't imply that the majority of the calories were from carbs. In fact, it COULD just mean that it's a lot of carbs compared with other meals, which breaded food certainly can be.

Just let it go. You are making yourself look ridiculous and petty. If you don't like the blog, don't read it. You seem to be wasting your time otherwise. But if you feel compelled to continue making a fool of yourself by behaving so childishly, I ain't the blog police.

~Jes

If you are such a gormand, why can you not spell "whoopie pie" correctly

Thanks for the correction.

If we all think nice thoughts perhaps Mr. Weir will just go away!!!

Sorry, John, I got so annoyed last week that I forgot to give you directions for the Bayview. Unfortunately, we had to drive right by on the way to Grandma's house because we were celebrating my MIL's birthday with dinner out on Saturday. It was heartbreaking!

So you're heading up Rt 3/1 through Orland.

Then at a fork with a gas station you veer right onto Rt 15

Then you'll take a right (I think it's your first right) at the crest of a hill onto Rt 199 (just go toward Penobscot)

You'll pass King Hill Farm, which grows awesome carrots and other root veggies that you can buy in season at the Whole Grocer :)

At the end of 199, you'll be facing the Penobscot Town Hall at 175.

Turn right, and the Bayview is on your left about a quarter mile down the road. Larry and Frieda are the proprietors, and they'll treat you right.

Larry even gathered a huge vase of wildflowers for our rehearsal dinner. We praised his arrangement skills, and he replied simply that flower arranging isn't so hard. You just take all those flowers that are all spread out, and you put 'em together in a big bunch.

Hope you get there soon on a sunny day with a lunchtime high tide.

Cheers,

~Jes

I have to side with Mr. Weir on this one. People get SO FOCUSED on carbs they forget what is really killing them - FAT. So even though the blog talks about "eating so many carbs", the focus is clealy ON carbs, where it really shouldn't be.

"Dom" I totally agree that people get too focused on one thing or another whenever there's a fad diet. When in fact, we should be looking at the whole picture.

However, this was about what caused a sweet tooth, not about the calories or even the breakdown of the meal.

I have definitely noticed that simple sugars (like white breading on fried stuff) increase my sweet tooth. It's the rush of sugar to the blood, whether from cane sugar, corn syrup or refined flour. Biologically, it makes perfect sense.

~Jes

For the guy in NYC craving a good lobster roll.

Pearl Oyster Bar
18 Cornelia St
New York, NY 10014-4138
(212) 691-8211
Cross Street: Fourth Street

Best lobster roll in NYC, also great fish, and some of the most sublime mussels.

"The food is leaden enough without gilding the lily."

A reference to the carb content. Misquided. It is more rightfully leaden with FAT. If we weren't so carb crazy, the article would have talked about fat content, and after having a high fat meal, there's no desire to add insult to injury.

Sure carbs trigger the sweet tooth but the carb craze influenced the avenue that Golden decided to travel with that aspect of his article. A better avenue would have been called FAT AVENUE. CARB STREET is a small cul du sac in the seedy side of town that gets too much attention.

John,
I happen to have worked at the Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster for over 3 years now.

The cole slaw is home made and its made fresh everyday.

Who orders clam strips when they go to a seafood place anyway? Why didn't you order the real deal? You said you didn't like the roll or strips so why would you order a clam roll? That just doesn't make much sense to me.

The middles are awesome though, at least you picked up on that much.

All of the desserts are homemade and also made fresh everyday!

Why don't you come back and eat like a true Mainer? How about a lobster roll? We are told over and over again its the best lobster roll they've ever had!

Only the squeemish tourists who can't handle the idea of eating a whole clam order clam strips! thats the only reason we have them on the menu!

I encourage you to come back and try it again!

I may be myopic but the only item I saw on the menu for clam roll was the strips. There were no bellies as far as I could tell. Or is it only that they're available in the clam platter? I didn't have any desserts, the cole slaw, even though homemade, was fine but not memorable. The tartar sauce served in Kraft containers was a bad sign for me. I did like the onion rings. Right now I'm concentrating on clams. Next on the list is lobster and lobster rolls, and I'll definitely be back. I go to Freeport all the time, so Harraseeket is on my list.

Once the season gets rolling though, the ;wait for orders can be interminable, often up to 30 minutes. I know staffing is always a problem at these places, but when it's that slow it does cast an unnecessary pall on the place.

Yes whole belly clams are only served in 1/2 pints, pints, or baskets. You can also find whole belly clams in our seafood basket.

There is never an issue with staffing at Harraseeket there is just only room enough for 6 people back there. 3 ladies work the windo, one working the registar and two setting up trays. Then there are 3 ladies cooking. One working the fried food, one working the grill and one making the delicous home made hand dipped onion rings.

The wait is just part of the style at Harraseeket. Everything right down to the french fry you order is cooked to order. Which means NOTHING is pre-cooked.

Come back when you do lobster rolls, maybe try coming right at 11 when we open if the wait bothers you. The food is worth the wait, especially on a nice maine summer day!

Just catching up to all of the Clam roll & lobster roll controversy at the Haraseeket.
Not that it makes me an expert but I own a small cafe in Boothbay Harbor,the Upper Deck Cafe. I must say that I think the fried clams roll or other wise are great in the Broad Arrow Tavern portion of the hotel. John must be suffering from hydrogonated delusions. Or he might have just hit them on an off day. Not that they should have let them leave the kitchen. As far as the lobster rolls come on up to the Harbah. We make ours the traditional downeast way. Only fresh picked lobby every day(never frozen like so many do) large chunks mixed with just a very little chopped celery and a dollop of mayo. Now the important part. A grilled in butter hot dog roll(no New England sideless frankfruter roll thank you very much) a few shreds of finely chopped lettuce. The secret to that great taste is the contrast of the chilled lobster meat against the warm and toasted buttered roll. A little bit of heaven. I just opened for the season,Where are all of you Portland daytrippers ? Now is the time to enjoy all ofthe places you can't get into in the summer.

this is going to sound kind of weird, but i was always a fan of the fried clams at the Village cafe in portland, it might not be your typical clam place, but they do a good job there.

"Dom" how do you know that's a reference to the carb content if it doesn't say so? "Leaden" can refer to lots of things.

My guess is that you're actually John, but you have picked a pseudonym to argue with yourself. Or perhaps you suffer from MPD.

~Jes

The carb comment and the leaden food comment were in the same paragraph. Its probably just a deduction on Dom's part.

Well I do declare, I'm just blushing that you think I'm John's alter-ego.

Is my writing really as high falutin as his?

These comments are just all over the place great. Keep it up. Controversy is the spice of life.

PS to the employee at Harraseeket Lunch (not the Inn) I do think it's odd that a choice of bellies is not offered for a clam roll. On the other hand, maybe it's best to get one of the baskets. So therefore let me make the suggestion that you offer the roll with bellies, too, even if it is at a higher price. Not everyone one wants a whole order of clams. It's too much food. As for the wait, well, waiting is waiting whether in paradise or elsewhere, it's a bore.

Would you rather wait 2 hours for the meal of your life? Or 2 minutes for a Big Mac at McDonalds?

Patience is a virtue.

Hugh Jazz knows what they're talking about!!!

As far as the menu goes, thats not up to me, but I will make a suggestion!

But back to the tartar sauce served in Kraft containers. Its interesting you didn't mention the fact that Ketchup is also served in packets! The idea is your eating outdoors at picnic not at a 4 star restaurant. Hense all the picnic tables and paper napkins!

still, the tartare sauce could be put into one of those plastic containers like the Cole slaw. But you have a point about the Ketchup, though it's a lot easier to make tartare sauce from scratch than ketchup. Harraseeket is far from alone in that practice.

Theres only so many things you can make from scratch in a restaurant. I think Kraft does a fine job with their tartar sauce, and plus does it really matter which kind of plactic container its served in? At least we don't charge you when you ask for extra!!

I'm all for waiting for a good meal, but if I had to wait two hours in any restaurant for any food, I'd either be gone before it came or never go back once it did -- even if it was amazing. Even French chefs don't take that long.

Heck, I can make 5-star meal at home in less than an hour!

For take-out lobster-shack-type food the longest I've ever had to wait was about 20 minutes, and that seems about right for lunchtime in July. Any longer, and it's not short-order food, the way it's intended to be.

Plus, anytime I go to a lobster shack I'm already hungry, or else I'd pass up the grease (and carbs! lol) in favor of something a bit healthier but not as quick.

I have to agree with Ryan - the best fried clams in town are at the Village Cafe. Not much for atmosphere, but if you want a huge portion of juicy clam bellies inside a hot, light, and crispy crust, that's the place to go.

As for the Harraseeket Lunch; I'm curious about the pricing listed, John. My husband and I recently 5/18) went by the place and thought we'd give it a try .. we didn't get any further than reading the outdoor menu ... $24+ for a clam platter. OUCH! We didn't read any further, since that was what we both were hankering for.

I have never eaten there (we were also scared away by the wait in the past), but at those prices, I won't ever try it. I know about market pricing, and it is the "Harraseeket" and all, but really. That's a bit high for me for eating on picnic tables, even with a beautiful view!

Have read the comments & controversy re Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster with great interest. We have been visiting Maine for the past 6 years or so and Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster (not the Inn) is our favorite place to visit. We usually eat there at least twice during our week long stay in Maine. The staff is always great and the food even better. The staff have always gone out of their way to help us purchase and safely package lobster for the drive back to Ohio. Even gone so far as to have them ready for us very early in the morning as we are heaad home. The lobster, the chowder, the onion rings, the strawberry-rhubarb pie - all fabulous and very much worth the wait (which for us has never been more than 15-20 minutes). Who on earth goes to a tourist destination and expects to be served within a few minutes. That is absurd! Those who need to be pampered really need to go elsewhere I guess. Did you ever stop to think that perhaps the wait is a little longer because the product is so great? Go Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster - these Ohio visitors think you are top notch! We'll be back time and again...