The Foodie had been avoiding her first lobster roll since she first stepped on Maine turf.
"It's mayonnaise!" she cried. "Twill bubble over the fluffy roll and mask every delicate flavor!"
Time was running out, though. She is a senior, after all, and part of a Bowdoin education is trying new things. So, just as the Foodie had convinced herself to take Physics 061 way back when, she rustled up enough courage to order what had the potential to be a mayonnaisey mess.
She opted to try this Maine delicacy at Morse's Lobster Shack on Bath Road, a recently-opened branch of the Harpswell-based restaurant. Just as Morse's competition, Fat Boy Drive-In, doesn't seem to have changed since 1955, so has Morse's maintained the same fifties drive-in structure it inherited from Stick-to-Your-Ribs BBQ, the lot's former tenant. Morse's dining room, however, is not dingy yellow, like Fat Boy, but rather decorated in hues of red, green, and warm brown. There are tiny plastic lobsters hanging from the huge windows, wooden fish sculptures dressing the walls, and plump, wire fish sculptures looming over the tables. The Foodie felt as though she had entered her own personal fish tank.
The $8.95 price of the lobster roll was almost enough to prevent the Foodie from ordering it. But she decided to take the plunge. And though it ate up her budget, that roll rocked (yes, it did!).
Maybe all lobster rolls are this good, but even so, the Foodie advises all lobster lovers to run down to Morse's and order one, too. Do it before December 20, friends, when the place closes for the season. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until March.
The pink chunks of lobster flowed over the bun?even a fork was provided so the Foodie could politely dig into it bit by bit. But why have good table manners when you can sink your teeth into the first bite, spill chunks out onto the plate, and revel in copious amounts of meat? The mayonnaise was hardly detectable, just enough to bind the bits together.
The Foodie would have been satisfied with just that small bundle of chunks, but more pleasures awaited her. The onion rings that accompanied her lobster roll, for one, were the best she has ever tasted. So often, one bites into a soggy ring only to have a trail of sweaty onion slip from its crispy casing?defeating the very purpose of the dish! These rings, however, were light and crunchy, and each bite was distinct.
On another occasion, the Foodie found her hamburger to be thick and tender, the bun more hearty. Like other items on the menu, however, the burger is more expensive than its Fat Boy counterpart?you pay $7.50 for it, plus fries and coleslaw.
Morse's also offers a fried haddock sandwich, tuna and crabmeat rolls, fried clams, fish and chips, Caesar salads, and whoopee pies, among other items. The Foodie encourages diners to venture to Morse's?its décor might be its most appealing attraction! There's even a lipstick-red, wraparound vinyl couch at the back of the room, something that certainly wouldn't be found elsewhere, which the Foodie eyed with lust. Just imagine sinking your teeth into a juicy burger atop that fleshy, vinyl mound!
Our affections may lie with Fat Boy?after all, it's been around since 1955, and we like the grease, dammit! But the Foodie encourages all diners to reach beyond their comfort zones. The virtually mayo-free lobster roll, crunchy onion rings, and friendly, fast service will be worth it!