Archer’s on the Pier, great casual seafood on Rockland Harbor
Archer’s on the Pier is located at 58 Ocean Street on the water in Rockland Harbor. This is chef/owner Lynn Archer’s second restaurant in town the first being the Brass Compass Café. It is a casual local seafood eatery that offers awesome views of the Rockland Breakwater, harbor and several marinas with both inside and deck side dining (in season). You can walk to the restaurant via Rockland’s boardwalk from the Public Landing directly to Archer’s. It is open year round serving lunch and dinner with varying hours (closed Sunday dinner and Mondays in winter).
Lynn Archer was featured on a Throwdown with Bobby Flay in 2009 for her “King of Clubs” sandwich – a BLT served on homemade bread, thick sliced bacon and a pile of fresh Maine lobster meat. A huge sandwich that can easily be shared if you are planning on eating another meal that day! Lynn’s son is a lobsterman so he provides her with fresh lobsters caught off of the waters of Matinicus Island. The sandwich is available at both restaurants – Archer’s on the Pier or the Brass Compass. In season, Archer’s restaurant will serve fresh steamed lobsters daily although they often run out by the end of the day so if this is what you are hankering for call them in advance to check out the day’s supply. In the off season, whole lobster dinners are not always available so again check ahead. Sometimes with advanced notice they can get them for you. They always offer “lazy lobster” on the menu which is the lobster meat picked from the shell and sautéed in butter. All of the delicious meat without the work!
The menu offers the same fare for lunch and dinner which includes mostly seafood – fried, baked and broiled; steak and pasta. She offers some great salads and daily specials also. They have a full bar both inside and outside (in season). What is great is if someone in the party is not really hungry they can focus on the “lunch” size offers while the rest go for dinner.
They do not take reservations unless it is for larger parties. On occasion, you can call and they will take your name and time you want to dine for “preferred seating” which means they know you are coming and will try to have a table ready but no guarantees. In the summer it really is more first come first serve especially on a great summer evening on the deck!
Lynn’s other restaurant the Brass Compass is open daily for breakfast and lunch from 5am to 3pm (opens 6am on Sundays). It is a favorite breakfast eatery for the locals offering lobster egg benedicts and other egg benedicts combinations, and large fluffy omelets with the normal choices or lobster too. The white bread is homemade on premise daily and is yummy. If you are coming for lunch and want to try her famous King of Clubs or lobster roll it will save you a few bucks to eat at this restaurant versus on the water at Archers. The Brass Compass is located on the corner of Park and Main Street directly across from the Rite Aid pharmacy at 305 Main Street.
Make sure you add this destination to your list on your next visit to our Rockland bed and breakfast!