Week in Union, ME...where should we eat? (Camden/Rockland area)
We are spending a week in the Union, ME area (actually the town is Washington). We've spent a lot of time in Maine but not really this area. We'd love some recs on where the "locals" eat. I already have places like Primo and In Good Company on my list. But where else are "not to be missed" places? My husband also wants lobster for dinner our first night, so where's a good "lobster in the rough" kind of place in that area? And breakfast recs would be great, too. Thanks in advance!
By schiffer
on Aug 14, 2009 03:45 PM
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If you like sushi, try Suzuki's in Rockland; small, busy, absolutely wonderful.
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What week are you going to be there? the Wild Blueberry Festival and Union Fair is from 23-29 in Union. On Aug 22 in Owls Head next to Rockland is the New England Auto Auction.
For raw lobsters and seafood either go to Jesses Market in Rockland (on the way to Primo) for off the boat fresh seafood, or else one of the seafood trucks on Rt 1 just north and just south of Rockland. then cook them up yourselves. (In restaurants lobsters are pricey, but if you buy them fresh from a lobster pound (not the supermarket) and cook yourself the price is really, really, low right now.
Francine Bistro in Camden.
Lily Bistro in Rockland, right next door to the fantastic Suzuki Sushi (the best in Maine) which is next door to In Good Company.
Stop by the wineries in the area: Savage Oakes Winery and Sweetgrass Farm Winery/Distillery, both in Union, and Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville.
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There's also Waterman's Beach, off Route 73 in South Thomaston, for lobster in one of the most beautiful settings around (but they're only open 11-7 Thursday to Sunday, last I checked. But cooking it at home is really the best. And, if you just want a quick lobster roll, the afore-mentioned Jess's market has a really good one for $10.99; it was the freshest roll I think I've ever had in Maine and chock full of meat.
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'Nother vote for Jess's market. After once having some amazing diver scallops (an app) at Primo, I stopped at Jess's (at their advice) to bring home some scallops. Amazingly good.
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Jess's gets their seafood right off the boats every day. They supply all the best restaurants in the mid-coast and beyond. They'll also ship stuff for you. Their store has some great food items besides seafood as well.
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Thanks for all the rec's! We're actually here this week...so no blueberry festival. :-(
So far, we've been to:
--Slates in Hallowell for Sunday brunch (AMAZING...we are actually going back today for lunch!)
--John's Ice Cream Factory in Liberty (not sure it was as amazing as everyone says...don't get me wrong...it was very good, but I don't know if I'd say it was the best I've ever had...but maybe I didn't have a great flavor (Peanut Butter Crunch))
--had a lobster roll at Lori's (next store to John's Ice Cream)...REALLY good lobster roll...probably the best I've had since the one at the Eastport lobster pound...Lori's is just a little place on the side of the road, but wow that was a good lobster roll
--breakfast at Home Kitchen Cafe in Rockland...food was wonderful...both servers there that day were awful...not friendly at all...seemed like they were friendly to everyone in the restaurant except us...not really sure what we did...maybe it was my husband's Giants hat? ;-) Oh, and the coffee (Rock City Brew, the menu said) was truly awful. I had the decaf and my husband had regular and they were both awful. Not sure what was going on with that.
--dinner at Young's Lobster Pound. Can't beat the view, that's for sure. And the place was really fun...all those lobsters! And they (the staff, not the lobsters) are incredibly efficient. I don't know that the food was worth $65 for two people, however. My husband really enjoyed his lobster. He liked the clam chowder (very brothy with some cream in it), but I didn't think it was so great. And I was not at all impressed with their lobster roll. WAY too much mayonnaise and I don't like when it's on a hamburger roll. It's just not the same.
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For a trip, Conte's down on the waterfront, by the park, behind the blues bar., the
Time Out Pub If the cook/ owner is playing opera, you are in luck.
The Rockland Cafe for breakfast for fish cakes and beans.
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Hey Pass,
I just tried the Rockland Cafe fish cakes recently and don't get what all the fuss is about. Tastes like a mashed potato patty with some fried onions and a bit of fish. Not bad, really, but just: this is a fish cake?
I miss the fish cakes that the Market on Main used to do:)
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We were in Rockland 2 weeks ago and I have to mention how fabulous our (small) meal was at In Good Company. I loved the atmosphere and we were just looking for a late snack. We shared a spinach salad with goat cheese with an amazing tingly almost tongue-numbing dressing, and a pizzetta with mushrooms and a few other toppings which escape me at the moment. It olive-oily unctuous deliciousness. Next time we're in Rockland I'll make sure I'm hungry enough to eat a full meal.
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Breakfast or lunch at Morse's Sauerkraut. German restaurant and market. Good schnitzel and wurst, potato pancakes and salad.
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