Traditional Lobster Bibs (and rolls) at Dimillos

My last trip to Portland, ME pulled me away from Street & Co as my presenters wanted a real, full lobster-bib experience. So we went to Dimillos Floating Restaurant. A tourist trap for sure, but a tasty one. If you're determined to do lobster, this is a good place. Both of my presenters went for the full meal deal-- $38 for a 1 1/8 lb lobster, stack of maine clams, potato, vegetable, as well as chowder, salad, drink and blueberry cobbler. If that is what you want, this is an amazing deal. You won't pack any of it to eat the next day, it's all seafood, but damn if you won't still be full the next day! Just avoid the haddock chowder... it was mostly butter.

I went for their special lobster month special lobster roll and it was beyond divine (even if in the bad lighting it looks a bit disgusting). If you're more in the $13 range, that is definitely what you should get to get the most lobster without the bib.

Lobstah... a Must Have in Portland, ME

If you end up in Portland, Maine, odds are you're going to want lobster. There are many places to go, but Street & Co. is worth a visit, even if you're not chasing down the succulent crustacean. It's a wonderfully rustic place tucked into an alley off of the main drag by the water. The grilled lobster will set you back about $30, but it's fabulously cooked and served over a mountainous pile of butter and garlic linguine. And save room, the blueberry pie (another Maine classic!) is melt-in-your-mouth fabulous. I've been here twice, and most recently they had a special fish stew with half lobster, which was stupendous (and so good I forgot to snap a picture before devouring it!). They also serve a dish for two--Lobster Diablo, which I believe has other seafood as well, if your presenter is game.

This is a fine dining restaurant, and priced accordingly, but don't let that scare you off! You can eat for less than your per-diem if you just do PB&J or oatmeal for a couple days :). Even if you're not feeling like lobster, they have many other tantalizing fish dishes as well as salads and "tastes" that are on the lower price end but have that intriguing, sophisticated culinary quality that eludes most hotel and airport fare.