MaineToday.com | Food for Thought: No Lobster on Forest Avenue

John Golden has written about food for Gourmet, Food and Wine, the New York Times, New York Post, the Daily News and was an editor at Cuisine and publisher of Good Foods Magazine. He now lives in Portland, where he dines out, or searches the area's markets for the best foods to prepare himself.

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May 27, 2005

No Lobster on Forest Avenue

If you happen to be driving down Forest Avenue and are suddenly in the mood for a whopping lobster roll, I would advise staying away from Susan’s Fish N Chips to satisfy the craving.

I would go there for what they do best--fried fish that’s piled so valiantly high on the plate. I’m a big fan of Susan’s. But my recent experience with their lobster roll was wholly disappointing.

I have no issue with the amount of lobster that’s stuffed into the roll. It held big chunks of meat and was served plain, which is the way I like it. But the lobster meat was less than tasteless and very watery, as though it might have been frozen and thawed.

I love the clams and other fried fare there, but lobster does not seem to be their forte. It’s best found elsewhere.

Perhaps my mistake was to order it in the first place. It’s akin to going into an Italian restaurant for tacos. Susan’s Fish N Chips is just as the name implies: fried fare dipped into their wonderful coatings and expertly cooked.

Besides the lobster roll, I ordered a small cup of clam chowder. The soup was so hot that the roof of my mouth got badly burned; I’m still suffering from the scalding. Once it cooled, the consistency came down to being no better than wallpaper paste. I was able to taste some semblance of clam chowder--a muddle of potato chunks that overwhelmed mere flecks of clam.

The Cole slaw, however, was about the best I’ve had recently. It’s made with a boiled dressing, which in my mind is the best kind for slaw.

Next time I’ll stick to what they do best.

Posted by John Golden at 07:42 AM

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Comments

So who has a good one? I hear enough about bad lobster rolls. And at $8-$12 average, I don't want a bad experience. I'm looking for fresh lobster chunks, a little mayo and maybe some celery in a classic New England hot dog roll. Where do I find it?

Posted by Scott Hersey
May 27, 2005 11:46 AM

Shrimp Cocktail is about my favorite, and with all this chat about the best seafood, I had to chime in. Dimillo's Floating Restaurant has about the best fresh Shrimp Cocktail I have ever tried, and I will gladly stake my fins on that. They are huge, snappy fresh, flavorful, and true perfection. Nuf' said. Enjoy! Charlie Bunting, Portland

p.s. I have yet to try Susan's, but now, I'll have to go try her Fish 'N Chips!

Posted by CHARLES BUNTING
May 27, 2005 01:20 PM

Great lobster roll luncheon - friday only - NorthDeering Cong. Church - Washington Ave/ Great lobster Club - Domillio's

Posted by mhooghkirk
May 27, 2005 02:14 PM

Drydock has one of the best in town, they are on a bulkie roll, but you get a bunch of fresh lobster meat, and the mayo comes on the side

Posted by ryan
May 27, 2005 02:16 PM

john thanks fore telling us about they're coal slaw, i love a good coal slaw on the proch in the summer, does susan sell her coal slaw in big tubs i can take home and half on my porch? did you tink its better then hanafords' coal slaw?

Posted by sol rosenberg
May 27, 2005 03:38 PM

I totally agree about Susan's lobster rolls. I was sitting right under the "best lobster" plaques when I had mine, and that added insult to injury. The meat was most definitely not very fresh.
But maybe we should try back in the summer when they have more call for them and are more likely to be fresh???

Posted by
May 27, 2005 04:35 PM

Bailey's Lobster Pound, Pine Point - Scarborough has the most satisfying lobster roll. They are giant and made with hardly any mayo so you can taste the true flavor of the meat. They make it to order using the meat that was just taken out of its shell. And.... they are only $8.95!!!!
Yum! I think I am going to have to have one today. Oh and their fresh crabmeat and steamers are great, too. And so affordable! The crabmeat is $19.99 a lb. and the steamers are $2.99 a lb.... but those prices change every day of course.
This place is right on the water. Many local fishermen sell their catch here. It is so fresh!

Posted by Christina
May 30, 2005 08:34 AM

I had two this weekend: Beal's Ice Cream on Saturday. The roll was good-sized with big chunks of tail meat and just enough mayo in a hot dog roll (not grilled). Best of all: $7.95. On Sunday, I tried Bob's in Kittery. Decent -- not quite as fresh, but less mayo than Beal's -- but overpriced at $16.95.

Posted by Scott Hersey
May 31, 2005 01:39 PM

I second DiMillo's shrimp cocktail! 1970's classic, red sauce, horseradish, nothing fancy, just excellent, tender/crips, ice cold, gigantic wonderful shrimp - sold by the shrimp - I never get more than 2! They are HUGE!
Best lobster roll: Harasseeket Lunch and Lobster in Freeport.

Posted by Legalsec
June 24, 2005 02:07 PM

Hmm and if the chowder were cold? Why does this remind me of the guy who sued McDonalds for spilling hot coffee?

and the name out front says FISH and chips!

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