I have to agree about the rolls, but I also like the Muddy Rudder because I like seafood and I love blueberry pie.
Just 12 miles from Portland, the Rudder’s the place to go in the summer if you want to eat seafood and sip drinks outside to the tune of marsh grasses rustling in the breeze. It’s also a good spot to hit during shopping trips to Freeport, because it’s away from the crowds of swarming tourists. You’ll always find more regulars here than tourists, and if you’re a 20- or 30-something you might find you’re the youngest diner in the place. But if you can stand the elevator music, you’ll get a pretty tasty meal and some attentive service.
On our latest trip, we got a seat right in front of the super clean windows, where we could see the May sun splash over Rte. 1 and the mud that’s left over when the Royal River tide’s out. The view has gotten better with a little renovation that recently had the Rudder closed for three days. There’s new paint and carpeting and the old window treatments have been removed to brighten up the front room. We checked out the menu with scallops on our minds while hoping that the rolls would show up quickly.
As soon as the friendly, young waitress took our order, she hustled off to get our tasty basket of rolls and the dining experience began. We also started with a cup of lobster stew ($7), which had several good, large hunks of lobster meat. During other visits we’ve also tried the creamy clam chowder ($4 a cup) and the crab and lobster cakes ($9.99). The bacon wrapped scallops, topped with a touch of maple syrup, are a hit with my sister and brother-in-law.
I chose the seafood medley with baked potato and cole slaw ($20) for my entree. The dish of haddock, shrimp, scallops and lobster was broiled in crumbs, butter and wine and the seafood was tender and yummy (though I would have liked to see a couple more scallops and a little less haddock). Unfortunately, my baked potato was undercooked, which was a definite disappointment. But, since I’m a fan of MR’s cole slaw (which has a bit of pickle relish mixed in), I had plenty to fill up on.
Stacy tried the fried scallops, also with baked and cole slaw ($18). You can also chose the veggie of the day, garlic mashed, rice or fries as your side dish. Her potato was too hard also, but she loved the huge scallops, describing the batter as “light and fluffy,” and the scallops as “fresh, juicy, melt in your mouth.”
Other entrees include several lobster dishes (market price), a fried fisherman’s platter ($18.99), salmon cooked three different ways ($15.99), a 12 oz. Downeast sirloin topped with lobster and newburg sauce ($20.99), Hawaiian chicken ($12.99) and shrimp scampi ($16.99). There are also several salads, including crabmeat, Ceasar ($12.99) and lobster cobb ($17.99). If you come for lunch try a lobster roll ($15.99) or a smoked turkey club ($7.99).
Make sure to save room for dessert, and if you like blueberries, you have to try the pie. It’s homemade with wild Maine berries, a tender, flaky crust and comes a la mode for $4.99. Other favorites are the ice cream puff (puff pastry filled with ice cream and topped with hot fudge, $4.99) and chocolate peanut butter pie ($5.49).
Unfortunately we didn’t have room for dessert on our latest trip. Must have eaten too many rolls.
— Karen Beaudoin