There’s always room for good takeout food on the way to the beach, and the relatively new Ocean House Market falls into that category.

Located on Route 77 in South Portland near the Cape Elizabeth line, the market is on the way home for lots of Portland commuters. It’s also on the way to Crescent Beach State Park, Two Lights State Park, Higgins Beach and lots of other summer outing spots.

It opened in March, although there’s been a market or sandwich shop at this spot for years.

For people looking for ingredients to take home and make supper with, Ocean House Market offers fresh fish (from Free Range Fish and Lobster in Portland) and cut-to-order sirloin steaks, plus lots of grocery staples.

For those looking for takeout food or picnic fodder, the market serves made-to-order sandwiches, lobster rolls, prepared foods such as moussaka (a Greek dish) and Greek salads, baked goods and a big selection of wine.

“It was more a sandwich shop before, but now it’s a neighborhood grocery store that serves sandwiches,” said Dan Levecque, who runs the market with his wife, Minerva. Levecque has previous experience as a chef at several restaurants and in golf club management.

One of the menu items at the market that pops out at you is the Giant Lobster Roll, served on an 8-inch sub roll and priced right now at $12. The fresh lobster meat has a little mayo and some lettuce, but no celery or other “fillers,” Levecque said. Most lobster rolls come on hot dog buns, often for the same price, so this one is worth checking out.

The menu item that caught my attention was the house special: a roast turkey, cranberry and stuffing sandwich on a baguette for $6.99. So I got one on the way home one night.

The turkey was in chunks, not deli slices, and Levecque told me he roasts turkey daily. The cranberry sauce was tangy, and the stuffing was savory enough to offset the sauce’s sweetness, in a good way. The bread was fresh, with just enough crustiness. The ingredients were still warm when I got home.

I also sampled a salami Italian for $5.29. It was a classic Italian on a long roll, with cheese, onions, green peppers, pickles, olives and tomatoes.

Prices for Italians range from $3.99 for veggie or ham and cheese to $6.49 for roast beef, tuna or chicken salad. In between, the menu includes ham, double ham, roast turkey, and pastrami and swiss. All Italians come in half-sizes too, ranging in price from $2.99 to $4.99.

There’s a selection of wraps, ranging from a veggie for $4.79 to salami, turkey, roast beef, tuna or chicken salad, each for $5.79.

The hot menu also includes steak and cheese ($6.99), a veggie burger ($6.99), soups and chowders, and baked stuffed haddock made to order ($5.99).

The market’s version of moussaka included potatoes, ground turkey and tomatoes, and is pre-packaged for $6.99. There are also Greek salads to go for $3.99.

 

The Features staff of The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram anonymously samples meals for about $7.