J’s Oyster – Portland, ME

I was given another great suggestion of where to eat when I was visiting Portland, Maine. I was told if you like oysters and seafood then a visit to J’s Oyster is a must.

The restaurant is located on the water and does not look like much on the outside. However, when I walked in I was welcomed by all of the locals. This was clearly a great place to hang out. I met lots of really nice people.

I started off with the baked stuffed oysters. These were three fresh oysters that were baked till sizzling and topped with lobster stuffing. These were super-hot when they came out. I had to let them cool a little so I could pick them up.

The stuffing had the consistency of breadcrumbs. There were pieces of lobster meat mixed throughout. These breadcrumbs were then sprinkled on top of the oysters. The topping got slightly crunchy when they were put in the oven. The oysters were tender and did not have a briny taste. The only thing I wish about this dish is that they use just a little less of the breadcrumbs and add a little parmesan cheese.

For dinner I ordered the lobster scampi. The lobster was sautéed with red and green peppers in a butter, wine, and loads of garlic. This was then tossed in angel hair pasta.

There had to be two whole lobster tails in this dish. There was so much meat and each bite was extremely tender. I could not taste the sweetness of the lobster because of all the rich garlic flavor, which I loved. I also really liked having the angel hair pasta because it collected all the extra butter and garlic.

If the pasta was not enough food, a side salad also came with this dish. It was nice to add a little something extra to my dinner.

If you like lobster then J’s Oyster is a great place. They had a full lobster dinner at an amazing price when I was there. The price was less than a filet mignon. And do not worry if you do not know how to eat a fresh lobster that is still in the shell. They provide a placemat with instructions.

The food and company were great at J’s Oyster. The people of Portland have amazing hospitality. I would recommend everyone to check them out. You can see their menu at http://jsoysterportland.com/

 

Enjoy!

T

 

Becky’s Diner – Portland, ME

 

When I learned I was going to visit Portland, Maine I knew that I had to put a fresh lobster roll on my food bucket list. Now I have had lobster rolls before but never in Maine where lobsters are so abundant. Now the problem I had was deciding exactly where to go. So I asked a few locals where they like to go. They all agreed that the best lobster rolls can be found at Becky’s Diner.

    

This place was packed. The parking lot was full and there was a waiting list for a table. Lucky for me, the seats at the counter were first come, first serve. I was able to get a seat there.

While I was waiting for my lobster roll to come out I looked around the restaurant and I noticed that Guy Fieri’s stamp was on their wall. I had no idea that Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives had visited Becky’s. That made my visit even more exciting.

My lobster roll arrived and my mouth started watering as soon as I saw it. There was ¼ pound of fresh picked lobster piled high on a bun. Plus it came with coleslaw and French fries.

You can order the lobster roll two ways – either with mayo or plain with a side of melted butter. I got the mayo version. The creamy mayo paired really well with the sweet lobster meat.

The bun was grilled and had a great buttery taste. They lined the bottom of the bun with lettuce. The lettuce added great crunch to each bite.

This was an amazing lobster roll. I am so glad I stopped by. If you are not into lobster that is ok because Becky’s still has a full menu of other dishes. I noticed that several people were ordering breakfast plates for lunch.

Check them out at http://www.beckysdiner.com/

Enjoy!

T