SOUTH FREEPORT, MAINE.
Lobster for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the waterfront. A classic New England experience.
JUNE 14, 2015. LUNCHTIME. Here’s an eatery that deserves its very own post in my blog: Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company. The name’s quite a mouthful, but you get quite a mouthful of fresh lobster when you come for lunch and have one of their absolutely delicious lobster rolls. We dined here on a warm sunny day, overlooking the waterfront and watching the seagulls accompany the fishing boats as they returned to the dock with lobsters in their tanks. Our lunch was one of the best meals we’ve had since we left home a little more than two years ago!
HARRASEEKET LOBSTER COMPANY. Harraseeket Lobster Company is a family owned and operated restaurant and fishing enterprise, serving lunch and dinner from May to October. The Coffin family has been at it for over 40 years and they’ve e perfected the operation! The place is a landmark for natives and visitors alike. We were told by several “locals” that we simply couldn’t leave town without having lunch here. I’m so glad we got the tip: The food was great and the ambiance is “pure New England.” There’s a friendly small-town family atmosphere here…the staff makes you feel as if they’re truly pleased you came for lunch!
Place your order and then find a table overlooking the water.
A FAMILY OWNED FISHING AND RESTAURANT OPERATION. Whether enjoying fresh seafood from the inside dining room or the outside picnic tables under a brightly colored awning, you can relax with views of the beautiful harbor, watching the fishing boats bring in their daily catch. The menu includes the freshest lobster rolls available, delicious Maine shrimp, clams, scallops and fabulous homemade desserts mad with handed-down family recipes. The family operates a lobster pound right on the same premises, so if you want to pick your own lobster and have it cooked right on the spot, you’re in luck. (By the way, in Maine a lobster is a “lobstah.” And a “lobster pound” is a lobster shack, where they cook live lobsters.)
HERE’S THE DRILL. Here’s how it works. You make a selection from the menu. It takes a while to decide what you’re going to order, ’cause everything looks really good. Anyhow, once you decide, you place your order, claim a table and wait for your number to be called. Florence had a lobster roll with fries and coleslaw. I had a boiled lobster with corn on the cob. So good! We just had ice tea, but the restaurant lets people bring their own wine or beer to enjoy with their meal if they want, so that’s kind of cool, too.
TV AND PRESS COVERAGE. This little restaurant has been featured on Food Network TV shows like Rachel Ray and in numerous articles from Downeast Magazine, New England Magazine and others. I’m not the least bit surprised. Dining here was one of the highlights of our visit to Freeport.
WHAT’S WITH THE NAME? Why is the place called Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company? What’s with the word “Harraseeket?” I meant to find out when I was there, ’cause I knew you’d ask. But I forgot. The name of the folks who own the restaurant is “Coffin,” so that’s not it. But as we drove away after lunch, I saw a little street called Harraseeket Street. So they probably named the restaurant after the street. But I wonder what the name of the street means? Oh, well…this could go on forever!
JOIN US AGAIN SOON. WE’RE STILL PLANNING A DAY TRIP TO NEARBY PORTLAND, MAINE. I THINK IT WILL BE A FUN PLACE TO EXPLORE, SO I’LL WANT TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT.
