roknroll

I'll be driving from Lebanon, NH to Boxborough, MA next week around lunch time, and anytime I'm in the New England area I try to find a great lobster roll. I'll be driving through Concord & Manchester in NH, then will be on 495 in MA until I get to Boxborough. Anyone know of somewhere I could stop along the way? I don't have a lot of extra time to deviate from my direct route, so it'd have to be somewhere along I-93 & I-495.

Thanks for any suggestions?

Out of my Element

Hodgies in Amesbury, MA is along 495. They are best known for their ice cream, but they have (or had, it's been a couple years) a decent, reasonably priced lobster roll.

Truth be told, I've never found a great one on the route you describe. In Maine there are many places, North of Boston, near the coast (Ipswich down to Winthrop) there are quite a few as well.

bvipirate

Check out Kimball Farm in Westford MA. The lobster roll is very good (as our the fried clams and scallops) and their ice cream is fantastic (as good as I've had). It's just 10 minutes off the 495 and Boxborough is just 10-15 minutes down the road. You can google Kimball farm for more detail directions.

marlborobell

As someone who works right off 495 in Boxborough, I second this -- Kimball's is a wonderful place. And it's a lot less than ten minutes off 495. (Maybe, just maybe, ten minutes if you come off at exit 32 -- definitely less if you come off at exit 31 and double back.)

BostonFlyer1624

Make your way to Woodmans in Essex, or the Beach Plum in Portsmouth

roknroll

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. Kimballs sounds like the place I'll hit up for sure, might make another. But does the lobster roll hold its own, if the ice cream wasn't taken into consideration? Basically I will be working up in Lebanon, NH Monday morning, then driving down to Boxborough for a conference to set up a booth. Will have Mon evening after 6pm free, so that gives me a little more flexiblity in getting anywhere in the general area.

Essex or Portsmouth aren't an option. I only have about 45 mins (driving and eating) to deviate from a direct route between Lebanon and Boxborough.

My tentative plan was to maybe try Tinker's or Hooked in Manchester on the drive down, then try somewhere else Mon evening.

I'll probably be in Augusta, ME in late July or early August so Out of y Element, any suggestions around there would help (would have to be pretty close by, as I won't have much free time).

lo2e

I'm not OomE, but I used to live in Augusta, so I can offer assistance!

I'm not a lobster lover, but in Augusta there is the Red Barn on Riverside Street which offers an amazing lobster roll from what I hear.

roknroll

Wow, foot long lobster roll? Yes please!

youreadyfreddie

OK, now THAT's just lobster roll porn!

Analise

Just as long as there's no filler. It can be 3' long; if it's not just lobster and maybe some mayo, forget it. No celery, no nothing. Just lobster.

Down3Green

Let me make a couple suggestions that are more in the middle of your trip.

First, a little about Kimballs. When I was a kid 30-40 years ago, Kimballs was strictly a farm with a seasonal ice cream parlour (and the ice cream was good). Over the years they added a petting zoo, country store, a putt-putt golf course, and then the food. It's turned into a tourist destination and while it's worth a visit, it's not a Seafood place.

If you're looking for seafood, you need to head to a good old New England Clam shack or a Lobster shack. There's one about a mile and a half off of exit 4 (I93) in Derry NH called Lobster Claw II that has won accolades for it's Lobster Roll, but has all the standard fried seafood platters you'd expect and has a small fresh fish market as well. When I say Lobster 'shack', that's exactly what it is.....we're talking paper plates, picnic tables, and sides of french fries and cole slaw. If you are looking for fine china and extensive wine lists, you don't want this. Within a few hundred yards of the Lobster Claw is another shack called Clam Haven, but they aren't as good.

Just further down the road in my neck of the woods off exit 3 in Windham is the Lobster Tail which is more of a sit down restaurant with a very good menu and better ambience. They have a Lobster Roll as well, but my wife who is the Lobster Roll expert in the family prefers the shack in Derry. I have also heard good things about Tinker's Seafood in Manchester (exit 9) but have never been there (it's another order at the window, cheesy nuatical stuff on the wall, fresh fish market type place)

Good luck and happy eating!

roknroll

Thanks! And keep the suggestions coming. Will probably try 2-3 places. Not really interested in anything other than lobster rolls or maybe soft shell crab(in season?). So places with great ice cream, fried clams, nice setting, etc don't matter for me. A shack with the best lobster roll would be fine. I am looking for lots of lobster, little/no lettuce (I'll just remove it), true New England style hit dog bun (no French roll of regular hot dog bun). I like them either with mayo and very minimal filler as lobster salad, or naked with drawn butter. And if a great spot serves them both ways, I am not opposed to getting one each style!

reft

Geographically, I think that's more of a Connecticut shore style. (Not that it's not seen elsewhere, but it may be less common.)

Out of my Element

Start another thread for that so folks can use it as a reference.

Analise

If you're taking 295 to Augusta, I have the very spot for you. Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster in South Freeport, ME. Think picnic tables at the dock. Gorgeous setting on the water where the lobsters are caught. Take 295 North to Exit 17. Go on Route 1 North for a mile. Pass the Best Western on the right. Turn right at the top of the hill right in front of the BFI (Big Friggen Indian) on to South Freeport Road. Turn right on to Main Street. Drive to the end. There it is.

http://www.harraseeketlunchandlobster.com/photos.html








You'll be 45 minutes away from Augusta.