.

One of our mainstay restaurants when we drive up the coast to Damarriscotta is King Eider’s.

.

.

A favorite of tourists and locals alike, it’s become a landmark.

.

.

Located in an old, small brick building it’s tiny but mighty.

.

.

Like its cocktails.

.

.

I had the top listed selection, but are we really doing the second?

.

.

Apparently, yes.

We are.

.

.

I always order the crab cakes as they’re advertised… and always used to be… the best. This trip? Not so much. Hard, over cooked and over breaded. The husband’s giant mussels were the better choice.

.

.

Husband’s broiled haddock? Huge, plentiful and perfectly prepared.

.

.

My braised duck sandwich (when in Rome) with chopped apples, dried cranberries and melted cheddar? Dry and tasteless with barely a hint of the promised fruit.

Oh well,

.

.

At least the sign was funny.

.

.

Working up an appetite walking around the lighthouse made us more willing than usual to try an unassuming little local spot for lunch.

.

.

Yes, it was called the Happy Clam.

.

.

And to be honest, he did look happy … so we ducked inside.

.

.

The raspberry frozen daiquiri? Awful.

Clearly the clam wasn’t drinking that.

.

.

Seeing the German flag proudly displayed out front and learning that the owner’s wife hailed from there, I took a chance on the schnitzel fingers appetizer.

.

.

And oh my…

.

.

Was I ever glad I did. Perfectly cooked, light and flavorful with the most delicious mushroom and thyme sauce. I haven’t had any this good since my Austrian mother passed away.

.

.

Husband went with a puréed lobster bisque which was equally as good.

.

.

And though I felt like I should have ordered the aforementioned bivalves, I opted for a fabulous crabmeat roll instead.

Totally stuffed, we stepped out of there happy as the namesake clam.

Until my husband spotted a yard sale…

.

.

And bought a fistful of old wooden hangers and rulers.

I wasn’t so happy then.

🥴

.