Mallard Mart in Bethel, Maine is yet another departure from my normal Country Store commuting habits. Typically I plan my Country Store stops around the half way point during my drive home. But Mallard Mart is only fifteen minutes away from Sunday River.

The method to my madness is that I normally only ski Sunday River early season. My MO for early season at Sunday River is to get there early and leave at noon when the crowds show up. This means I am ready for lunch when I stop skiing. So I skip the on mountain food and instead opt for Mallard Mart pizza.

Which is the other reason I stop at Mallard Mart despite the lack of distance: the pizza is just that good. Well seasoned with excellent spices, the pizza is top notch for gas station fare and priced right. Big boy cans of soda are available along with an acceptable chip selection (Ruffles Sour Cream & Onion always appreciated rather than the standard Lays options). And when pizza is not your desire (wah?!), the Mallard Mart also makes subs and has some bakery options as well.

Craft beer selection is respectable with several respectable options. I picked up a sixer of “new to me” Frye’s Leap India Pale Ale from Sebago Brewing Company. I am always delighted to have a new local offering to sample. Frye’s Leap IPA is a fairly standard IPA offering which is very drinkable but nothing special.

Mallard Mart is TheSnowWay.com approved with excellent pizza along with all the other essentials. It is a ritualistic part of any Sunday River outing and something I actively look forward to while riding the lifts. The pizza makes for a great lunch while sitting at road stops on Route 2 for the construction that has been on going for as long as I can remember.