The best lobster roll on MDI

In the years that we’ve been visiting Mount Desert Island in Maine, I’ve had my share of lobster rolls. Some were pretty good and some were not, but it wasn’t until I found what I consider to be the Holy Grail of lobster rolls that I knew how good this sandwich could really be.

True story: The first time I ordered two of these and they told me the price, I cancelled the order. My husband, who prefers to wait in the car, told me to go back inside and order the damn things. We were on vacation, and it’s not like we’re going to have them again this trip. I’m glad I did because they were delicious. But at $15 per roll (they’re now up to $17), it’s a very pricey lunch.

Let’s head to Northeast Harbor for what I believe to be the best lobster roll on Mount Desert Island.

 

It’s beautiful here at the harbor. But it’s a little too hoity-toity for me. However, we’re here for the lobster rolls at the Colonel’s Restaurant & Bakery on Main Street. And I’ve just spent an entire morning hiking at the national park and dang-it, I am hungry.

 

As you can see, they don’t use the traditional grilled hot dog roll but rather a grilled round roll. We had ours on wheat. But it’s what inside that matters, and the Colonel’s simple blend of mayonnaise and herbs is pure perfection.

 

And the crispy and zesty fries that go with it are out-of-this-world good.

I kept popping one after the other into my mouth as we headed to our favorite picnic spot on Sargent Drive which runs along nearby Somes Harbor. Luckily I had enough fries left to grab this photo.

 

The original Colonel’s, along with a couple of surrounding buildings, was destroyed in a fire in 2008. The new Colonel’s includes 1-bedroom suites above the restaurant.

And their baked goods are heavenly.

Colonel’s, Northeast Harbor

 

While waiting for our lunch to be prepared, I always like to stroll along Main Street and look at the shops. The art galleries, in particular, are my favorite. My husband and George usually elect to stay in the car and wait.

On another note, we bought lobster roll for dinner one evening over in Winter Harbor, bringing it back to eat on the deck of the cottage. The lobster roll from Harbor Girl Emporium Café was pretty decent, but my heart still belongs to the Colonel.

 

Here is a fantastic recipe for lobster rolls from Rebecca Charles, owner of the Pearl Oyster Bar in NYC and author of Lobster Rolls and Blueberry Pie: Three Generations of Recipes and Stories from Summers on the Coast of Maine. (I love this book).

I also love sarsaparilla. I just thought you needed to know that.

Pearl Oyster Bar – Lobster Roll Recipe

Until tomorrow, then . . .