The Best Lobster Shacks in Maine

No Maine visit is complete without a “lobsta dinnah” at a lobster wharf, a rough-and-tumble operation within sight and scent of the ocean. If you spot a place with “Restaurant” in its name, keep going. You want to eat outside, at a picnic table, with a knockout view of boats, islands, and the sea. “Dinners” are served from noonish until around sunset.

Dress casually so you can tackle the lobster without messing up your clothes. If you want beer or wine, call ahead and ask if the place serves it; you may need to bring your own. Lobster devotees cart picnic baskets with hors d’oeuvres, salads, and baguettes—even candles and champagne. Save room for dessert: Many lobster shacks are just as renowned for their pies. Here are my favorite lobster shacks:

• The Lobster Shack, Cape Elizabeth: Ocean views, crashing surf, and a lighthouse have enticed lobster lovers to this location since the 1920s.
• Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company, South Freeport: Take a break from L. L. Bean and head to this unfussy spot on the working harbor.
• Erica’s Seafood, South Harpswell: Enjoy expansive views over Casco Bay from this family-owned shack.
• Five Islands Lobster Company, Georgetown: Watch sailboats playing hide-and-seek amid the spruce-topped islands in the harbor.
• Round Pond Lobster Co-Op and Muscongus Bay Lobster, Round Pond: These two overlook dreamy Round Pond Harbor. The co-op keeps it simple, with lobsters only. Muscongus Bay earns kid-friendly points for its touch tank filled with sea critters.
• McLoon’s Lobster Shack, Spruce Head: Pair mighty fine lobster with spruce-fringed island views.

• Monhegan Fish House, Monhegan Island: It doesn’t get much more in the rough than this shack overlooking Monhegan’s harbor.
• Young’s Lobster Pound, Belfast: Watch boats go to and fro across Belfast’s harbor from this shack with seating both inside and on a huge deck.
• Perry’s Lobster Shack, Surry: It’s worth the drive down Surry Neck to find this tucked-away gem with views to Mount Desert Island.
• Burnt Cove Boil, Stonington: Doesn’t get much rougher than these picnic tables edging a working lobster wharf.
• Thurston’s Lobster Pound, Bernard: The two-story dining area tops a wharf above Bass Harbor.
• Lunt’s Dockside Deli, Frenchboro: It’s hard to beat this spot, which overlooks a working harbor on Long Island, eight miles (13 km) off Mount Desert Island.
• Lunch on the Wharf, Corea: This shack, with dreamy views over Corea’s lobster boat-filled harbor, is owned by a sixth-generation lobsterman descended from Corea’s first settlers.
• Chipman’s Wharf, Milbridge: Choose tables inside or on the water’s edge.

Moon Maine

by Hilary Nangle

by Moon Travel Guides

Explore the spruce-studded mountains, classic shoreline villages, and rugged character of the Pine Tree State with Moon Maine.

Price

$24.99

Price

$31.99 CAD

Format

Trade Paperback (Revised)

1. ebook (Revised)

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Hilary Nangle

About the Author

Despite brief out-of-state interludes for college and grad school (and a stint as a ski bum), Hilary Nangle has never been able to resist the lure of her home state. She grew up on Maine’s coast, spending much of each winter skiing in the western mountains. Her sense of wanderlust was ignited when she became a Registered Maine Whitewater Guide on the Kennebec River, which gave her a chance to explore the central and northern regions of the state.

When she tired of her parents asking when she was going to get a “real job,” Hilary drew on her writing skills and began seeking out editorial work. She started out editing pro ski tour publications, then became a managing editor for a food trade publication and a features editor for a daily newspaper. Now, she freelances professionally for national magazines, newspapers, and websites.

Hilary never tires of exploring Maine, always seeking out the offbeat and quirky, and rarely resisting the invitation of a back road. To her husband’s dismay, she inherited her grandmother’s shopping gene and can’t pass a used bookstore, artisans gallery, or antiques shop without browsing. She’s equally curious about food and has never met a lobster she didn’t like. Hilary still divides her year between the coast and the mountains, residing with her husband, Tom Nangle, and an oversized dog, both of whom share her passions for long walks and Maine-made ice cream.

For updates between editions and to follow Hilary’s travels, visit mainetravelmaven.com.

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