Get crackin' at Portland Lobster Company

Portland Lobster Company, located on Commercial Street, has been open for 8 years but I never went there, not once, before this spring. After finding my usual deck spots to be too crowded for the family last week, we stopped by for Friday happy hour and even returned again a few short days later.

So, why hadn't I bothered to go there before? I feared the place would be crawling with tourists, offering greasy seafood on a tiny deck.

I was so, so wrong. I am ashamed of myself, my quick-to-dismiss and tourist avoiding ways.

How did I not notice the HUGE deck out back? Sure, there's a little deck attached to the building, directly over the water, but then you turn the corner and BAM - a bar and a deck that holds 90 people. Plenty of open space, picnic tables, a covered area and a heat lamp for those chilly days. I didn't notice a deck that sat 90 people?

Fine, I missed the deck- but how did I miss the bar? Not only does Portland Lobster Company have a bar, they serve decent beer too! Allagash Black ($5), Allagash White, Sea Dog Wild Blueberry Ale, Casco Bay Rip Tide Ale, Geary's Summer, Shipyard Export and Shipyard Summer (all $4.25) are available on tap, right this very minute. In the mood for a bottle? Try Peak's Organic for $4.25, a Cider Jack, Smirnoff Ice, Heineken, Corona, Corona Light or have a domestic for $3.50, including Miller Lite, Budweiser and Bud Light.

They do not serve liquor, but carry several wine choices to complete the bar experience. Angeline Pinot Noir, Foxbrook Cabernet Sauvignon, Lagaria Pinot Grigio or Cambria Chardonnay are among some of the choices, ranging from $5 to $8.75.

You should get something to eat to soak up those drinks and I am going to suggest the New England clam chowder ($5.99), fried clams (market price) or the Old Port onion rings ($4.49) for an appetizer. The sea burger ($7.49), the Maine shrimp wrap ($7.99) or the Portland fisherman's platter ($22.49) are among the great seafood choices that are not greasy, but tasty and fresh. If you are with one of those people that hates seafood, rest assured they have inland items to choose from like Caeser salads, avocado and cheddar wraps ($5.99) or all natural angus beef burgers ($8.59) to name a few, along with a kiddy menu for the pickiest of little eaters.

Open from May till the end of November, Portland Lobster Company will be serving up happy hour Shipyard specials ($3.25) Monday through Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm. It's two for one hot dogs every Tuesday (which reminds me, dogs are always welcome on the deck here!) and Fridays mean all you can eat fish and chips for lunch.

If eating, drinking and calming waterfront scenery on the deck isn't enough to convince you to go, Portland Lobster Company boasts entertainment too. Featuring live music every night and two sets on most weekend days, you are sure to find a local band you love without a cover charge. Check out The Grumps, Jason Spooner, Jerks of Grass or my favorite Ryan Halliburton, playing all summer long. The place is open from 11 am til 10 pm.

I think you'll be seeing a lot of us on that sweet deck this summer. Fried clams, my favorite beer at a cheap price and music that everyone can enjoy- what's not to love about Portland Lobster Company and summer?