McLaughlin’s serves up tasty seafood, great prices

McLaughlin Seafood takeout

728 Main St., Bangor

Open for lunch daily through Labor Day

Bangor has many scenic vistas, but a sweeping view of the ocean isn’t one of them. If you settle in at one of the picnic tables under the red awning at McLaughlin’s, you’d swear you were somewhere on the coast.

This little oasis on the Bangor-Hampden line is a special summer treat. Forget that you’re not in Bar Harbor. Here, you get super-fresh seafood without the hassle – or prices – of a tourist trap. The food is straightforward, no-frills dishes served in styrofoam boxes with paper napkins.

But that doesn’t matter when you sink your teeth into a crab roll packed – as in, overflowing – with fresh, sweet meat, a bargain at $8.95 for a basket. And yes, it comes on a butter-toasted hot dog bun for the purists. The fried scallops are succulent – not those nasty waterlogged monsters that have sunk many a surf ‘n turf. Also reasonable at $6.25 for a half-pint. And the breading is the perfect hybrid of batter and crumb.

On a sunny day, the awning will help you beat the heat. And the decor – yes, this seafood shack actually has decor – is adorable. Pansies and sweet potato vine cascade from the hanging baskets and a string of fish-shaped windsocks add a whimsical touch.

For the landlubbers, there are burgers and dogs, but we suggest you get the scallops instead. Or the shrimp. Or the clams. Or a crab roll. Or all of the above. Heck, with the money you’ve saved by avoiding the coast, you can afford to splurge.