Red's Eats

Red's Eats has been called the best lobster roll in Maine, which is a title that requires defending year after year in a state where excellent lobster rolls are available at every fishing pier and gas station. Red's defends it annually by doing the one thing that separates a great lobster roll from a good one: giving you an absurd amount of lobster.

A full lobster — approximately 1.5 pounds — is cracked and piled onto a New England split-top hot dog bun that has been buttered and griddled. The lobster is warm, just-cooked, dressed with butter and served with mayonnaise on the side. The bun barely contains it. You need napkins. You will use all of them.

The line at Red's on a summer afternoon is long enough to put tourists off and long enough to make locals go somewhere quieter. Go anyway. The view of the Sheepscot River from the parking lot eating area, the salt air, and the fact that you are eating the correct Maine lobster roll in Maine — these things are part of the sandwich.