Lobster pops at The Highroller Lobster Co. — Photo courtesy of Peter Jensen Bissell
When you think about Maine, a number of things likely come to mind: blueberries, moose, seascapes, charming towns, lush parks. But nothing is more associated with the Pine Tree State than lobster.
The red crustacean has become a symbol for luxurious meals everywhere. In Maine, it’s frequently served whole with drawn butter and lemon or in an overflowing lobster roll. While those classic preparations are always delicious, Maine chefs have been getting creative with lobster, too.
At breakfast, look for lobster omelettes, lobster Benedict and lobster frittatas. Lunch and dinner offerings are next level, with lobster pizza, lobster burgers and lobster lollipops. Taking it a step further, it’s also possible to enjoy a lobster dessert, lobster paella and a lobster cocktail. Use this list to discover the most creative ways to eat lobster in Maine.
Lobster ice cream | Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
Bar Harbor
It may sound weird – and perhaps even unappealing – to combine seafood with dessert, but one Bar Harbor shop has made it work. Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium mixes a pound and a half of lobster claw and knuckle meat into two gallon batches of its buttery, vanilla ice cream.
Let the ice cream melt in your mouth for a few seconds to get the flavor of the lobster to come out. It’s available in cones or cups (along with a host of more standard flavors).
Lobster paella | La Orilla Tapas
Ogunquit
Lobster paella at La Orilla Tapas — Photo courtesy of Sarah Maiellano
At an Ogunquit tapas restaurant, lobster gets a Spanish spin. Order the Maine seafood paella – which is perfect for sharing – to enjoy a traditional Spanish paella that’s topped with lobster, mussels, steamers, bacon, chorizo, piquillo peppers and seasonal vegetables.
The Calasparra rice on the bottom is perfectly crisped and slightly chewy, making this charming seaside village feel a little bit like Valencia – if Valencia had Maine lobster. La Orilla is a completely al fresco restaurant, so make sure to go on a dry day.
Lobster scargot | BlueFin North Atlantic Seafood
Portland
Lobster scargot at BlueFin North Atlantic Seafood — Photo courtesy of BlueFin North Atlantic Seafood
For a French take on Maine’s signature seafood, Portland’s BlueFin North Atlantic Seafood replaced the snails in escargot with lobster. The chef combines local lobster claw and tail meat with a rich mixture of butter, herbs, shallots, garlic and breadcrumbs. The mixture gets baked in a classic escargot ramekin and comes with crostini, lemon wedges, plus a claw meat garnish.
In the summertime, the restaurant’s outdoor courtyard – complete with fire pits – is a perfect place to try this unique dish.
Lobster pizza | Cornerstone Artisanal Pizza & Craft Beer
Ogunquit
Lobster pizza at Cornerstone Artisanal Pizza & Craft Beer — Photo courtesy of Sarah Maiellano
Right in the heart of town, Ogunquit’s Cornerstone is known for its creative pizzas. Around St. Patrick’s Day, the kitchen cooks up a Reuben pizza and the holiday season’s Christmas Cheer Pie marries cherry peppers, red onions and scallions to represent Yuletide colors.
In the summertime – when both the lobsters and crowds are plentiful in Maine – this busy pizzeria serves lobster pizza. Each slice of the rectangular, thin crust pie is covered in tender lobster meat, a tarragon-sherry ricotta and mozzarella mixture, scallions and is dressed in lemon aioli to offer a nice contrast to the rich flavors. At around $40 for this 10×14 pie, it’s not cheap, but how often do you get to say you ate lobster pizza?
Lobster pops and lobster taco | The Highroller Lobster Co.
Portland
Lobster taco at The Highroller Lobster Co. — Photo courtesy of Peter Jensen Bissell
Portland’s Highroller Lobster Co. is known for its creative uses of Maine’s favorite ingredient. The one-time food cart that grew into a full restaurant and bar sells a riff on a lollipop called a Lobby Pop. It’s a fresh lobster tail, coated in butter and served on a stick. You can also get it fried in cornbread batter.
Lobster tacos are readily found in Maine restaurants, but Highroller’s are a bit different. The owners noticed that the overflow cheese from their lobster grilled cheeses (another decadent treat) crisped up nicely on the grill, so they created a taco shell made completely out of cheese. The carb-free cheese shell gets stuffed with lobster, lettuce and a choice of sauce – like lobster ghee or lime mayo.
Lobster burger | Beal’s Lobster Pier
Southwest Harbor
Lobster burger at Beal’s Lobster Pier — Photo courtesy of Beal’s Lobster Pier
After being in the lobster serving business for nearly nine decades, Beal’s Lobster Pier decided to have some fun. That’s how the lobster burger was born. Along with a quarter pound of fresh lobster meat (warm from being cooked in garlic butter), this sandwich is topped with lemon mayo, melted gruyere, a bibb lettuce leaf and a slice of vine-ripened tomato. It comes on a toasted, buttered brioche bun with potato chips and a crunchy pickle on the side.
Lobster mac ‘n cheese grilled cheese | Bite Into Maine
Scarborough
Lobster mac ‘n cheese grilled cheese at Bite Into Maine — Photo courtesy of Bite into Maine
Bite Into Maine operates a couple of food trucks that are known for their lobster rolls with creative mayo flavors (wasabi, curry and chipotle). More recently, the company opened a 12-seat takeout operation at its commissary kitchen in Scarborough.
It’s here that you’ll find an indulgent combination of a grilled cheese stuffed with lobster macaroni and cheese. This cheese-on-cheese specialty features fresh Maine lobster, fontina, sharp cheddar and chipotle aioli on fresh sourdough bread. It’s a buttery, messy must-try.
Gourmet Maine Lobster Crackers
Various locations
Gourmet Maine Lobster Crackers — Photo courtesy of Marcia Drenzyk
A lobsterman and his wife put their heads together to create Gourmet Maine Lobster Crackers. These snacks aren’t simply flavored to taste like lobster – they are baked with freshly caught lobster, local butter and Maine sea salt. Pair them with chowder, a mild herbed cheese or goat cheese.
This treat is a perfect way to get a taste of Maine anywhere with no cooking necessary. Find them at the Rockland Maine Farmers Market, Delano Seafood in Waldoboro and Wallace’s Market in Friendship.
Lobster stuffed jalapeño poppers on the Schooner Ladona
Lobster stuffed jalapeño poppers on the Schooner Ladona — Photo courtesy of Katie Ashe
When visitors to Penobscot Bay book a happy hour cruise on the historic Schooner Ladona – part of the largest fleet of windjammers in America – they’re often pleased to find a different take on a traditional bar snack. The ship’s lobster stuffed jalapeño poppers feature a jalapeño pepper stuffed with chopped lobster meat that’s been mixed with cream cheese, parmesan and lemon juice. They’re baked fresh in the tiny galley’s wood-fired oven and served golden brown.
Lobster Bloody Mary | Cook’s Lobster and Ale House
Bailey Island
There was a time when Cook’s Lobster and Ale House served a lobster martini, but it tasted a little too much like drinking sea water, so the bar changed things up and created a Lobster Bloody Mary. It’s almost like a cocktail and appetizer in one.
This highly photogenic drink is garnished with a lobster tail, but also gets a boost from housemade lobster stock and locally-made beer Allagash White. The rest of the mix includes fresh garlic, cherry tomatoes, thyme, sriracha, horseradish, whole peppercorns, celery, pickle juice, cayenne, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, Tabasco and tomato juice.