Our search for the best lobster roll was centered in Brunswick this week, as we explored the offerings of local restaurants:
Cameron’s Lobster House
Cameron’s Lobster House, formerly Morse’s Lobster Shack, is a drive-in style restaurant similar to Fat Boy. There was very little happening when we arrived at Cameron’s, so we decided to sit inside and get a better feel for the place. With simple booths typical of diners, the interior was not spectacular, but its drabness was tempered by our excitement for a bite of Cameron’s famed roll.
Cameron’s lobster roll was the first one we encountered served hot with butter rather than cold with mayo. (The warm variety is known as “Connecticut style,” while a cold roll with mayo spread is “Maine style.” Interestingly, the lobster roll was first created in Connecticut, not Maine.)
The roll wasn’t huge, but it came with a side of cole slaw and french fries for $13.95. The hot meat and butter brought out the lobster flavor differently than cold rolls, and was delicious. The fries and cole slaw that came with it were average, but you may end up eating them if you’re not full and didn’t feel you got enough meat out of your purchase.
Price: $$$/5
Roll: *** ½/5
Criticisms: Bun was straight out of bag, not much meat for a fairly expensive roll.
Overall: B+
Libby’s Market
Libby’s Market is a small convenience store tucked a few hundred yards away from Maine Street. It is not a place where you would expect to find a lobster roll—its customers are the lucky ones who venture here by recommendation. Libby’s is filled with locals, who labeled us as “Bowdoin kids” from “New York or Boston” as we walked in. We ambled around the store for a minute taking note of the Frosty’s donuts for sale and the photos of regular customers on the wall before taking the lobster plunge.
We let the cashier decide which size to order, and our eyes widened when we saw the large bun she put into the toaster. While we waited for the roll to be assembled, the cashier came out and showed us a small wooden box-and-dice game they had in the store to pass the time until our roll was ready—a great addition to our local experience
About 10 minutes later, we sat at the only table in Libby’s with a large lobster roll before us, ready for the full experience. The atmosphere of the store wasn’t overwhelming, but after one bite the scenery was an afterthought. The roll was so packed with lobster it was impossible to keep fully in the bun, and it was complimented with just enough mayo to keep it from being a dry concoction. The toasted bun made a nice textual comparison to the smooth pieces of lobster.
Libby’s is a simple store, but its lobster roll is quite possibly the best in the town of Brunswick. Libby’s is a must-try roll you can easily split with a friend. The price is a little high, but the lobster is worth your buck.
Price: $$$$/5
Roll: **** ½/5
Criticisms: A bit pricy, but for the amount of meat not a bad value. Could easily have half a roll for lunch and the other half for dinner.
Overall: B+/A-
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