A Bite of Maine: A Small Business Food Truck Concept That Grew Into a Thriving Local Restaurant

Article By Chance Wilson

I’m a strong believer that it depends on where you're from and what your favorite food is. For instance, you could be one of those kids in the movies—fishing off the pier, waiting for Papa to come back from a long sea voyage. You know—like the Gorton’s Fisherman frozen fish sticks commercials. Or maybe you're familiar with the popular Friday fish fry tradition. But the one I think most Americans can relate to is the almighty—all-knowing—Red Lobster. You know the place from growing up. The place that introduced you to those endless, fluffy cheddar biscuits or that most expensive, first-date menu item—the Fisherman’s Feast.

In any scenario—we all know lobster as the forbidden dish. Definitely not something you get on a budget. It’s a food choice reserved for special occasions like Mother’s Day—or a “get out of jail free” card on Valentine’s Day! God forbid it’s a first-date option and that overtime you worked to pay for the meal just turned into “cash back” time. Either way, most law-abiding citizens will agree: lobster is a tasty favorite.

Now, let’s move on to lobster’s little nieces and nephews—lobster rolls. I didn’t even know what they were until I saw an episode on the Food Network. That channel that tempts you with food no one knows how to cook—and you'd skip your light bill to pay someone to prepare such temptation.

I was fortunate to come across a small spot called A Bite of Maine, which is making every effort to bring seafood favorites straight from Maine to Virginia. According to the guests who’ve eaten there, they’re doing a great job of it. Fun fact: Melissa Textor, the restaurant’s owner, originally started the concept as a food truck, and through its popularity, it grew into a full-fledged restaurant.

So, you know I had to refinance my house to try some. Just kidding—they’re not that expensive. Let’s just say they’re specially priced for such a hard-to-come-by item. Yes! I like that better. Keep in mind, they offer several types of rolls. Here’s what I had:

Maine Lobster Roll (Their Original)

Includes: ¼ lb of Maine lobster meat, lightly dressed with a mayo-based secret sauce, then stuffed in a buttered, grilled split-top bun and sprinkled with a little butter. No fillers—100% all lobster meat!

My Review: The first thing that stood out to me was the soft, buttered, golden-toasted bun. Then enters the superstar—the super plump, chilled, sweet lobster meat. My mind immediately thought, you’ve never had seafood this fresh before. Great job!

If you’re ever in the mood for some great-tasting seafood—and you love or have never had a lobster roll—then you must give this place a try!