Wally's might very well be the best

I don't know if Wally's (Rte. 236, S. Berwick, ME, 603-534-2030) is really the best since I've only been there twice and have no basis for comparison but it is pretty darn good. We went there last year on the way home and again this year. It is, quite literally, an open shack by the side of the road. I went a little overboard last year so really tried to keep spending in check this year. The girl who works the place (is she the same girl as last year?) is very sweet and helpful. We make our purchases and get back in the car just as 4 other cars pull in.

Mike's Clam Shack (or what's wrong with saying you don't know)

We head down to the Wells Harbor on Saturday night while in Maine to see a free concert. Oddly, it's the same bad singer we saw last year with the big band group. She now even worse fronting for a country/pop group. For some reason she seems even more off key. After about 3 songs we go in search for dinner.

We have decided on Mike's Clam Shack (1150 Post Rd, Wells, ME) based on a recommendation from the cashier's assistant at Mardens (Maine's version of Building 19 - for those of you unfamiliar with that store, there logo is "good stuff cheap." Need I say more? It's not always good but it is always cheap. It always amazes me that I find stuff there that I never even imagined I needed or wanted.

The hostess at Mike's tells us it will be about 15 minutes and gives us one of those buzzing disks that tells you when your table is ready. We go to the bar and sit next to a couple who as decided to eat dinner in the bar because their wait was too long. Waitress comes over and I inquire as to what type of bourbon or rye they have. What kind do you want? What kind do you have? Why don't you just tell me what you want and I'll tell you if we have it. Rye? Tell me what you want. Old Overholt? No. Rittenhouse. No. OK, what kind of bourbon do you have. Jack Daniel's. And? Tell me what you want. Maker's Mark? We have that. Woodford Reserve. We have Maker's Mark. This would be funny if it weren't so annoying.

I decide, if you can call it that, on a Maker's Mark Manhattan. Surprisingly good and I don't detect any evidence that the waitress spit in the drink.

Our buzzer goes off about two seconds after we get the drinks. Waitress produces the check. Can't complain here - manhattan was $6.50 and wine was $4. We are lead through a labyrinth to a booth in the back. We each get clam chowder (not as good a Oceanaire) but good even if the clams were a little gritty. We split a lobster roll on grilled bun and the fried clams that come with french fries and coleslaw. All delicious. Service at this table is very good.

The Wilds of Maine

We left early on Saturday morning; for once I am not late and arrive at my friend's house promptly at 9 AM. We stop for shopping in Portsmouth, NH, have a wonderful chicken caesar wrap for lunch at Portsmouth Gas Light Company. Then it's on to Maine.

Words will not do justice to the absolute peace and serenity here. It's Bauneg Beg Lake in Maine. There are times up when you literally cannot hear a human sound.

Remodel - Day 7

I got home from a very pleasant evening at Green Street Grill on Friday to find this. The floor is in, it's sanded and I'm confident I can go to Maine for the weekend.

Yes, I know, Green Street Grill post is out of order but I was so sick of this remodel and just wanted to write about drinks.

Remodel - Day 6

I get home Thursday to find that some work has been done. All the sheetrock is up; all the filler is in so it's starting to look like a real wall.

Green Street Grille, Cambridge

I've only been to Green Street Grill, Cambridge once before. I had a very good time but apparently my date didn't as I never heard from him again. You know that things are going to be good when you see all the cocktail glasses lined up and chilling. Bartenders here have a good reputation and one in particular is quite fetching. Sadly, when I asked the bartender who was serving us about some drinks, he informed us that he just started working here but could tell me about the drinks based on the ingredients. They have several drinks with rye, both Old Overholt and Rittenhouse. I don't remember the ingredients of the Creole and it's not on the menu online so apologies for the lapse. The Creole was a rather mild tasting drink (rye will do that); nothing remarkable or horrible about the concoction. My friend seemed pleased with her Mojito.

We ordered the chicken lobster croquettes which came with a salsa dressing and the bacon cheeseburger which we asked to split.. The croquettes were fried to a perfect color and texture. Unfortunately, there was not much lobster or flavor to them.

The cheeseburger, on the other hand, was very good. The cute bartender explained to us when it was served that he asked them to put it on two buns. So we got individual buns with decent sized burgers, a good amount of cheese, lettuce and tomato and two very long, perfectly cooked slices of bacon on each. The coleslaw was decent, the home made chips were flavorless. Overall the experience was a good one and we will most likely return.

New for me from Trader Joe's (yes, Virginia, there is life beyond the remodel)

I think I bought these because I liked the name; tried one and remembered how much I like fig newtons. These were pretty good and I would buy again. They have other fillings too. Blueberry is the only one I can remember right now.

Not so impressed with this. The fish was decent sized but covered in the icky brown sauce. The spinach was not very flavorful. The butterbeans, however, were pretty tasty. I have never had them before and will be on the lookout for them.