The Secret Critic

The Secret Critic Honest, unsolicited, unsponsored reviews of all things travel, lodging, restaurants, pubs & nite-life

When we travel we like to find random restaurants to visit for the first time. Believe it or not Apple and Google maps ...
05/23/2026

When we travel we like to find random restaurants to visit for the first time. Believe it or not Apple and Google maps make this very easy when driving. We like to call this “off-roading” and every once in a while we will find a hidden gem…
That happened on a recent trip to Portland, Me. We stopped into The Wild Duck Pub in Topsham, Me and found a new favorite! The restaurant and pub are neatly tucked alongside the Highland Green Golf Club. The restaurant was having a bridal shower so we had to eat in the Pub. And that turned out to be a great experience..! From the food, to the decor, and the conversation with the barkeep, everything was excellent. The beer was cold and fresh and we had the bbq hot wings for an app. They were a 10! For entrees we had the house burger and shrimp quesadilla. Both were cooked to perfection and tasted great. We don’t often find a new spot that gets everything right, but this place did! We will put this place at the top of our list next time we’re in the area!

05/19/2026

We love BBQ and we’re always looking for a hidden gem.. Well on a very recent trip to Washington DC, we found one! Rocklands Barbeque & Grilling Company has great authentic taste and dipping sauces! We had their chopped (pulled) pork sandwich, the smoked 1/2 chicken. 5 Stars! Their bbq seasoned fries are also great, but their Mac and cheese is just so-so. Overall this place is a 9 out of 10! We’ll definitely order from here again!

05/18/2026

Word to the wise…if visiting Washington DC, don’t stay at the Courtyard in Chevy Chase and whatever you do don’t eat at the bar there! Insider tip. 

We recently hit the Sea Dog Brewery in South Portland. It was ok as a tourist trap. Wings and salad were good. French ...
05/18/2026

We recently hit the Sea Dog Brewery in South Portland. It was ok as a tourist trap. Wings and salad were good. French Dip was meh. Same with the service. Probably will skip this joint next time we’re around..

When in Scarborough or Portland Maine, these are a must! Yum…!
05/06/2026

When in Scarborough or Portland Maine, these are a must! Yum…!

We recently visited the famous Becky’s Diner in Portland, Me. This diner lives up to the hype! We were lucky to walk in ...
05/04/2026

We recently visited the famous Becky’s Diner in Portland, Me. This diner lives up to the hype! We were lucky to walk in and immediately get seats at the counter. We started with a cup of clam chowder each. Best clam chowder we've ever had! They serve it with bacon which gives it an extra smoky kick, delicious! We decided to share a fisherman's platter for a meal and there was plenty to share! A heaping plate full of fresh french fries, haddock bites, whole belly clams, scallops, and mini shrimp. Everything was fresh and tasted great. The haddock bites were light flaky and tasted amazing! The best haddock we've ever had. The waitresses are all hard working and friendly. If you go, beware that parking is very hard to come by. And be prepared to wait especially if you have a party larger than 2. However both are well worth it! We’ll be back 👍🏼👍🏼

We recently stopped in to Nuevo Vallarta Mexican Restaurant in Manchester Nh. We received a recommendation to try this...
05/03/2026

We recently stopped in to Nuevo Vallarta Mexican Restaurant in Manchester Nh. We received a recommendation to try this place and we we are glad we did! They have the best salsa, great queso fundido, and fresh hot tortilla chips to start off just right! Ice cold beer in clean glasses. We had the shrimp burrito and quesadilla meal with steak and chicken. Everything was great, hot and came out fresh. The shrimp burrito was loaded with shrimp! The service was also very good, the waiters and waitresses are always moving and never hard to find. The atmosphere was very lively and loud. Since we like Mexican, we will definitely eat here again next time we’re in the area!

Insider tip: When you are in or near Bath, ME, for an old school diner vibe, great comfort food from scratch and friendl...
05/02/2026

Insider tip: When you are in or near Bath, ME, for an old school diner vibe, great comfort food from scratch and friendly service, check out the Fountain on Front Street! Don’t forget dessert with ice cream, sundaes and shakes!

We love bbq, and recently found a great place on South Main Street in Rochester, Nh. We Had heard that Mr. Sippy was the...
11/05/2025

We love bbq, and recently found a great place on South Main Street in Rochester, Nh. We Had heard that Mr. Sippy was the real deal so when we stumbled upon it recently, of course we stopped in for some lunch! Both of our meals came out hot fresh and tasted delicious! We started with the brisket meatballs which were a 10 out of 10. For our meals we had the pulled pork grilled cheese and the smoked chicken quesadilla. Nothing but yummy goodness in both dishes! This place has charm and the service was great. Check them out for daily specials, beer on tap and a lot of different drink choices including of course fresh brewed sweet tea. We'll be back!

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