The Tamarack Drive-In - Try Again?

Windrider · 05-03-2007, 10:16 AM

Well, thanks to Old Hubbard Rd. I am now thoroughly briefed on the dangers and economics of the restaurant business in the Lakes Region. Now....how is the food???

valhala · 05-03-2007, 01:10 PM

Lakegeezer,
I saw that article in the Weirs Times, too. I thought it mentioned the three brothers who took it over were named, Clayton. I remember a post a while back from Michael Clayton, indicating that his brother was in the process of purchasing a restaurant. Could this be it? When I drove by last Saturday, they had a pretty good line outside (considering the tourist season is not in full swing yet.)
So, "Good Luck" to the new owners. I'll be sure to stop by and give them a try!

mcdude · 05-03-2007, 06:54 PM

check out their WEBSITE

Here's a link to THE ARTICLE IN THE WEIRS TIMES

Windrider · 05-04-2007, 02:52 PM

Many thanks McDude, I missed that article but it surely brings back memories.

I think it sounds as if they are on the right track and I wish them every success even though I've become very partial to Waldo's fine food.

mcdude · 05-04-2007, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windrider

I've become very partial to Waldo's fine food.

Waldo, and the lovely Pepper, are in a whole different league! (I hope I didn't imply otherwise...)

jetskier · 05-05-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcdude

Waldo, and the lovely Pepper, are in a whole different league! (I hope I didn't imply otherwise...)

I miss Pepper on this Forum!

I think your best bet to see the lovely Pepper would be to stock up at Lowes in Gilford.

On a more serious note, Tamarack is in dire need of an improvement in quality. I hope the new owners stick to their quality mantra...if so, I am sure that there is enough business out there for them. If they start up with the langostinos (like the prior owners) Pepper will eat their lunch too(figuratively).

Jetskier

ladybug · 05-07-2007, 08:46 PM

I stopped by on Saturday and they have a much better menu than the former owner. The lobster rolls are 100% lobster meat, no filler. The fried clams were very good. It is a bit pricey for take out food but the price of seafood has gone up so much. I do not mind paying a bit more for good quality food though.
I hope people will give it a try now that there is new management. I wish the new owners a good season.

Long Island Baba · 05-13-2007, 08:56 PM

I visited Tamarack this weekend. I was so happy that the formula had changed for their lobster rolls (thanks to previous postings!). I agree that they are really good. You can have your lobster roll (small $12.95) one of two ways: either with mayo (which was just a smidgen and just fine with me) or with drawn butter. I think it was gone in 4 bites! Delish. Not too pleased with the onion rings. They weren't too crispy, and even soggy.

It was a long wait and the kids inside didnt appear to be too conscious of sanitary working conditions. They had gloves on but put their gloved hands everywhere just the same.

I think I'll stick with Waldo Pepper's. Tamarack is a HUGE improvement with the new owners and we should give the new guy a try. He's definitely moving in the right direction!

RLW · 05-14-2007, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long Island Baba

I think it was gone in 4 bites!

It sure does sound like a small lobster roll.

dpg · 05-24-2007, 06:40 AM

A buddy call yesterday and said he swung by last weekend. He stated it wasn't quite the old Tamarack he and I were used to many years ago but it has come a long way. A definite must try again as he put it.

dpg · 05-30-2007, 07:09 AM

Hit up the Tamarack Saturday, 5/26. They were much improved from past management. Onion Rings were O.K. still not what they used to be years ago when the original family ran the place, I didn't find them to be "soggy" however. Clam Strips were good also $16.00 for small strips, rings and a drink. A litlle bit of a pricey lunch but whatever...

Bill25 · 05-30-2007, 06:34 PM

I went there Saturday around 12-12:30. Service was very slow. Had a couple of older woman plating the food that seemed to be lost. A couple of young woman took over and food started coming out but by then the people waiting were getting impatient. The damage was done at that point. I had a Clam Roll which was just that no fries or coleslaw. You could taste the flour on the clams. I will have to give it a try on a less busy weekend.

quagmire · 07-07-2007, 08:47 AM

I think it was run better by the last owners. On our 1st visit last month the service was extremely slow. We waiting about 30 minutes for our order. I decided to try it again yesterday hoping the bugs would be worked out. Again I was dissapointed. We ordered a seafood plate and a salad to eat there. We went around 3pm so it wasn't too busy. It took about 15 minutes to get the order. Not too bad. We went up to the enclosed dining area and found there was no tartar sauce, salad dressing, and forks included. The food was good except the soggy amd mealy fries but they need to pay more attention to details. You shouldn't have to keep going back to the window to ask for items that should have been included.

gonetoolong · 07-09-2007, 01:46 PM

http://www.boston.com:80/partners/wo...ontinuous=true

MaidenCove07 · 07-11-2007, 06:07 AM

I mean Sorry Gonetoolong....That's a great plug for you, but unfortunately, the taste of your lobster roll isn't in question.

It's waiting for it and the rest of my order for 40 minutes, staff who treats me like they're being inconvenienced by my presence and requets for more tartar sauce and utensils, absolutely nasty fries and onion rings, bone dry hamburgers and soggy clams and scallops - all to the tune of more than $60 bucks. The lobster roll was the only highlight - and because everything else was such a disappointment, I had to share most of it.

May try you again before the end of summer, but won't risk bringing anyone else.

jetskier · 07-11-2007, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaidenCove07

I mean Sorry Gonetoolong....That's a great plug for you, but unfortunately, the taste of your lobster roll isn't in question.

It's waiting for it and the rest of my order for 40 minutes, staff who treats me like they're being inconvenienced by my presence and requets for more tartar sauce and utensils, absolutely nasty fries and onion rings, bone dry hamburgers and soggy clams and scallops - all to the tune of more than $60 bucks. The lobster roll was the only highlight - and because everything else was such a disappointment, I had to share most of it.

May try you again before the end of summer, but won't risk bringing anyone else.

I just don't get it. The management response is that they have revived the business and care about the quality of their product. The ONLY DECENT THING IS THE LOBSTER ROLL. The staff is lousy and most of the food is lousy and the prices are no bargain. Everyone sells lobster rolls during the summer and most of them are quite good. Personally, they don't get any more business from me until they fix the issues. Why spend good money for poor service and bad food?

Jetskier

PennyPenny · 07-11-2007, 06:43 PM

The Tamarack will never be close to what it was 30 years ago when I worked there under Marge and Larry Laflamme. To this day, I can still tell you what company(locally) delivered the ice cream, where they got their sea food from and how they made the batter, how many oinions we had to punch out everyday to make the rings and how and what was in the lobster rolls just for starters. Gill and Gina Fernald took over from them and they sold out and it has gone down hill from then on. The curent owners will go belly up and it will become an eye sore. Good thing there is a light there to stop cars and get there attention.

05-03-2007, 01:10 PM	#2
valhala Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 53 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 5 Posts	Tamarack Lakegeezer, I saw that article in the Weirs Times, too. I thought it mentioned the three brothers who took it over were named, Clayton. I remember a post a while back from Michael Clayton, indicating that his brother was in the process of purchasing a restaurant. Could this be it? When I drove by last Saturday, they had a pretty good line outside (considering the tourist season is not in full swing yet.) So, "Good Luck" to the new owners. I'll be sure to stop by and give them a try!

05-04-2007, 02:52 PM	#4
Windrider Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meredith Posts: 34 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks!!! Many thanks McDude, I missed that article but it surely brings back memories. I think it sounds as if they are on the right track and I wish them every success even though I've become very partial to Waldo's fine food.

05-13-2007, 08:56 PM	#8
Long Island Baba Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 Thanks: 1 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Lobster Roll I visited Tamarack this weekend. I was so happy that the formula had changed for their lobster rolls (thanks to previous postings!). I agree that they are really good. You can have your lobster roll (small $12.95) one of two ways: either with mayo (which was just a smidgen and just fine with me) or with drawn butter. I think it was gone in 4 bites! Delish. Not too pleased with the onion rings. They weren't too crispy, and even soggy. It was a long wait and the kids inside didnt appear to be too conscious of sanitary working conditions. They had gloves on but put their gloved hands everywhere just the same. I think I'll stick with Waldo Pepper's. Tamarack is a HUGE improvement with the new owners and we should give the new guy a try. He's definitely moving in the right direction!

05-24-2007, 06:40 AM	#10
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,618 Thanks: 157 Thanked 235 Times in 172 Posts	Friend gave it a thumbs up! A buddy call yesterday and said he swung by last weekend. He stated it wasn't quite the old Tamarack he and I were used to many years ago but it has come a long way. A definite must try again as he put it.

05-30-2007, 06:34 PM	#12
Bill25 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Was there Saturday too! I went there Saturday around 12-12:30. Service was very slow. Had a couple of older woman plating the food that seemed to be lost. A couple of young woman took over and food started coming out but by then the people waiting were getting impatient. The damage was done at that point. I had a Clam Roll which was just that no fries or coleslaw. You could taste the flour on the clams. I will have to give it a try on a less busy weekend.

05-03-2007, 10:16 AM	#1
Windrider Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meredith Posts: 34 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well, thanks to Old Hubbard Rd. I am now thoroughly briefed on the dangers and economics of the restaurant business in the Lakes Region. Now....how is the food???

05-03-2007, 06:54 PM	#3
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	check out their WEBSITE Here's a link to THE ARTICLE IN THE WEIRS TIMES

05-07-2007, 08:46 PM	#7
ladybug Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I stopped by on Saturday and they have a much better menu than the former owner. The lobster rolls are 100% lobster meat, no filler. The fried clams were very good. It is a bit pricey for take out food but the price of seafood has gone up so much. I do not mind paying a bit more for good quality food though. I hope people will give it a try now that there is new management. I wish the new owners a good season.

05-30-2007, 07:09 AM	#11
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,618 Thanks: 157 Thanked 235 Times in 172 Posts	Hit up the Tamarack Saturday, 5/26. They were much improved from past management. Onion Rings were O.K. still not what they used to be years ago when the original family ran the place, I didn't find them to be "soggy" however. Clam Strips were good also $16.00 for small strips, rings and a drink. A litlle bit of a pricey lunch but whatever...

07-07-2007, 08:47 AM	#13
quagmire Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I hate to say this but... I think it was run better by the last owners. On our 1st visit last month the service was extremely slow. We waiting about 30 minutes for our order. I decided to try it again yesterday hoping the bugs would be worked out. Again I was dissapointed. We ordered a seafood plate and a salad to eat there. We went around 3pm so it wasn't too busy. It took about 15 minutes to get the order. Not too bad. We went up to the enclosed dining area and found there was no tartar sauce, salad dressing, and forks included. The food was good except the soggy amd mealy fries but they need to pay more attention to details. You shouldn't have to keep going back to the window to ask for items that should have been included.

07-09-2007, 01:46 PM	#14
gonetoolong Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 40 Thanks: 12 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	Tamaracks Lobster Rolls! http://www.boston.com:80/partners/wo...ontinuous=true

07-11-2007, 06:07 AM	#15
MaidenCove07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Manchester in Winter, Weirs Beach in Summer & Fall Posts: 132 Thanks: 29 Thanked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Sorry Charlie I mean Sorry Gonetoolong....That's a great plug for you, but unfortunately, the taste of your lobster roll isn't in question. It's waiting for it and the rest of my order for 40 minutes, staff who treats me like they're being inconvenienced by my presence and requets for more tartar sauce and utensils, absolutely nasty fries and onion rings, bone dry hamburgers and soggy clams and scallops - all to the tune of more than $60 bucks. The lobster roll was the only highlight - and because everything else was such a disappointment, I had to share most of it. May try you again before the end of summer, but won't risk bringing anyone else.

07-11-2007, 06:43 PM	#17
PennyPenny Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 140 Thanks: 4 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	The Tamarack will never be close to what it was 30 years ago when I worked there under Marge and Larry Laflamme. To this day, I can still tell you what company(locally) delivered the ice cream, where they got their sea food from and how they made the batter, how many oinions we had to punch out everyday to make the rings and how and what was in the lobster rolls just for starters. Gill and Gina Fernald took over from them and they sold out and it has gone down hill from then on. The curent owners will go belly up and it will become an eye sore. Good thing there is a light there to stop cars and get there attention.