A different kind of Door County fish boil…Maine Lobster
Set on the shores of Lake Michigan, there is a great restaurant called the Harbor Fish Market & Grille.
Located in a historic building on the main road through Baileys Harbor, it features fresh seafood, home-made desserts and amazing view in the waterfront dining room. Just before dusk, the view from the dining room is absolutely unbeatable. The sun setting in the west lights up the harbor highlighting Ridges Rd, Birdcage Lighthouse and the Baileys Harbor Yacht Club.
When asked what their specialty was, I was told that the Maine Lobster boil was the thing they were most well known for. The Lobster Boil menu consists of three courses starting with a cup of Lobster Bisque. The main course is a 2lb Live Maine Lobster, New Zealand Mussels, Steamed Clams, baby red potatoes and corn on the cob. To finish the night, they serve a home-made Door County Cherry Bread Pudding that is to die for. I was intrigued, so I booked my reservation for two.
From the outside, this seems like an old saloon but once inside, I found great art decorating the walls, reggae music playing and an atmosphere that seemed fancy yet comfortable. There was a laid back feeling to the whole place that is not often found in high end seafood restaurants.
We were seated outside in the garden surrounded by beautiful irises and fresh herbs. My date ordered us two glasses of New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc 2007 and we placed our order. We were lucky enough to see the chef bring out the lobsters and put them in a giant boiling pot before returning to the kitchen. The waiter brought out the most amazing Lobster Bisque to start off the meal. Once we finished that, it was time for our main course. Two huge plates topped off with the biggest lobsters I’ve seen were presented to us. The waiter, Jon, explained the fine art of eating lobster and we began.
After finishing up, I sat back and realized that this might have been the best meal I’ve ever had. As Jon cleared our plates, he reminded us that with our dinner, dessert was included and we had two slices of Kara’s home-made cherry bread pudding coming. This is a must have when coming to the Fish Market. Overall, I was extremely impressed with the whole experience and would reccommend it to anyone.
The Harbor Fish Market & Grille offers these lobster boils on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Worried about standing in line waiting for your food? This is not an issue, because the boils are done to order so you come when your schedule allows. It offers a personal touch to an amazing meal. They recommend reservations to ensure they have enough lobster in house for the evening.
