The Road Trip
This trip we were in Maine from June 19 through July 3, 2021. We visited fifteen different lobster shacks on the way up the coast and the way back down. Five of those lobster shacks were along the way and the other ten were on Mount Desert Island (MDI).
We all have our favorite things in life. Two of ours are Maine and lobster. It just so happens that Maine is the world capital for lobster and one of our favorite ways to eat lobster is the Maine lobster roll. We love eating fresh steamed lobster with corn, potatoes and usually a side of chowder or bisque, but the portability and convenience of the lobster roll is beyond compare. We seek out lobster rolls everywhere when we travel through Maine.
Lobster rolls used to average $22 per lobster roll. This trip we paid an average of $30 per lobster roll. The most expensive was $36. The prices are expected to go down as the season moves along, but we spared no expense doing our research to share our favorites.
The Lobster Roll Defined
Valarie and I love lobster rolls. Her a “little bit more” than me! She will talk about lobster rolls with anyone anytime. A friend and follower of ours in England recently confessed he has never eaten lobster but has been eating fish and chips before he could talk, lol. Let’s get to the basics and use First Principles thinking to describe the Maine lobster roll and build it up from there.
You need a lobster and a roll. Lobster roll = lobster + roll. From there anything is game, but the classic style lobster roll is perfect in its ingredients and construction. Take a split-top hot dog bun, butter it, grill it and load it with chunks of gorgeous Maine Lobster meat – claws, knuckles and tail. From there it starts to get tricky. Lobster purists enjoy a naked lobster – no dressing at all, just pure sweet freshly picked lobster. Mainers love the lobster coated in a light mayo mixture, sometime with a dash of lemon. Many South of Maine enjoy a buttery coating on their lobster, also known as Connecticut style. Some creative lobster shacks simply coat one side of the bun with mayo and the other side with butter. Some have a light coating of mayo on the lobster and then drizzle some light butter.
From here the possibilities are endless. Some put lettuce on the roll, while others add dill and finely chopped celery. A Chef friend and culinary instructor told me the roll makes up 50% of the finished lobster roll. Use the wrong roll and nobody will remember the dish. Some lobster rolls come less grilled, while others are round and some with more bread than others. Eventide in Portland actually serves their lobster roll on top of a bao bun. We recently had a lobster roll seasoned with Old Bay seasoning which is typically used on crabs but worked perfectly fine on lobster.
Once you bite into a sweet and delicious Maine lobster roll, you will be hooked forever. If you have not yet enjoyed a Maine lobster roll, try one today from our recommendations below!
Our Sampling Method
We used the following categories in rating our lobster roll experience:
- Type of Roll/Bun,
- Quality of the lobster meat
- Texture of the lobster meat
- Ambiance of the location
- Wait time
- Friendliness of the staff
- Overall appearance and presentation
Many places offered a choice for style of lobster roll. By choice, we mean mayonnaise (traditional Maine style), butter (Connecticut style), both or naked (no butter or mayo).
The old school lobster places take away the choice and serve it the way they think it should be served. Some with only butter or only mayo and sometimes with a smear of mayo on the roll and a drizzle of butter on top. Sometimes it is also served the traditional Maine way, cold with a coating of mayo. Sometimes it also includes lettuce at the bottom of the roll. We have also seen them with a flavored chive mayo, aioli or with extra toppings (celery) and spices (Old Bay). Since food in general has become more fusion experience as borders have shrunk and world travel have combined flavors, we kept an open mind and tried the different offerings of lobster roll.
There are many other factors involved: how much time between when the lobster is caught and when it is served, the time between the lobster being cracked open, the meat hand-picked and it seasoned and served, and finally the type of roll.
We found some great fried clams along the way, amazingly fresh mussels, and oysters as well. If you are traveling with kids like us and they are not huge seafood fans yet, the shack with a great burger or chicken tenders goes a long way to keep the everyone fed during our hours or lobster roll testing.
Disclaimer: I prefer the traditional Maine style of the lobster serve cold with a light coating of mayo usually applied right before it is served. I receive enough butter taste from the butter-grilled split top roll. Valarie prefers a combination of Mayo and butter.
The Lobster Rolls
After 18 years visiting Maine, we have learned a thing or two about fresh Maine lobster and the Maine lobster roll. We have tried them across the state and have our favorites. Our recent two-week trip to Southwest Harbor on Mount Desert Island (MDI), Maine, blessed us with the opportunity to try fifteen different lobster rolls. We sampled ten lobster rolls on MDI and five along the way. Well not actually along the way, as a few were at the bottom of the peninsula. Several of the lobster rolls were from some our favorite places, but there were many new places we tried as well. Before we share our review, I just want to point out we all have our “favorite” things for many different reasons. All lobster we tasted were from the cold Maine waters and are absolutely sweet, succulent and unrivaled when they come fresh out of the water. The closer you are to the boats and docks, the fresher the lobster meat tastes. “Trap to table” eating of Maine lobster is beyond compare.
Lobster Rolls on Mount Dessert Island (MDI)
Archie’s Lobster Roll (OUR FAVORITE!) – 90 Tremont Rd., Tremont (www.archieslobster.com)
The lobster roll at Archie’s Lobster was our favorite lobster roll this trip. They were in great company when you read all the summaries below. Archie’s is a newcomer to the lobster shack scene located at the head of Bass Harbor in Tremont, Maine. The lobster rolls are made fresh to order and come buttered or with mayo on a perfectly toasted roll with pickle and chips.
Archie’s Lobster is owned by Heather and Troy Lewis. Heather who grew up in nearby Southwest Harbor has experience from working in a lobster pound when she was younger and her husband, Troy, and son, Nick, are lobstermen. It is no surprise that this experience and access to fresh lobster would produce a successful lobster shack. I will use the word, lobster truck, shack and restaurant interchangeably throughout this article. We are talking about the small walk-up establishments that produce some of the finest food. The large sit-down restaurants are not excluded from our hunt for the best Maine lobster roll, but in our experience, the places with the smaller menus and quickest turnaround have the best and freshest lobster. Many of these shacks are attached to the docks or adjacent the co-ops and lobster boats that provided the freshest lobster.
Enjoy the shorter lines at Archie’s Lobster now, because when word gets out that this “new kid” on the block makes our favorite lobster roll in all of Maine, the lines will be long. Once everyone stops by and tries on of their amazing lobster rolls, we are sure they will get Rookie of the Year in the Maine lobster roll circles.
We used multiple criteria to arrive at our decision, but hands down, it is the warmth and hospitality we experienced from the Heather and her daughter Emily that set the stage for our favorite lobster roll designation. Fresh, sweet and succulent lobster served water side on the perfect grilled lobster roll on a traditional picnic table surrounded by lobster traps and the fresh Maine breezes blowing off Bass Harbor. The food memory created by the experience will never leave us. Archie’s Lobster should be at the top of your lobster roll or bucket list on your next visit to Maine. If you live in Maine or are visting, head over to Archie’s today and tell them Unstoppable Foodie sent you.
MDI Lobster & Barbecue – 126 Clark Point Rd., Southwest Harbor (www.mdilobster.com)
The lobster rolls served with a touch of mayo or warm butter. This lobster roll was spot-on with just the right amount of mayo on the fresh sweet lobster all stuffed inside a split-top butter grilled roll. The fries were excellent as well. Beautiful moist fresh lobster roll on the waterfront in our beloved Southwest Harbor. The Maine taglines of “Maine the Way Life Should Be” and “Breathe Easy You Are in Maine” were written for this type of classic Maine waterfront dining!
C-Ray Lobster – 882 State Highway 3, Bar Harbor (www.C-raylobster.com)
The 5 oz. lobster roll was full of fresh picked lobster meat covered with their secret mayo seasoning served on a hot toasted brioche roll served with a lemon on top secured by a mini plastic lobster claw toothpick and a side of chips.
Abel’s Lobster – 13 Abels Lane, Mount Desert (www.Abelslobstermdi.com)
Abel’s Lobster has been on Somes Sound for 81 years. It was reinvented in 2020 by Mandy Fountaine and Matt Leddy Executive chef.
Their tagline is “Good Food Brings Us Together.” From the moment we arrived, we felt welcome and like family. The picnic tables that are arranged all across the waterfront hillside scream comfort. The staff, from the greeter to our server Hannah set the tone for an amazing dining experience on a beautiful summer afternoon on MDI. The kids walked around the grounds and were welcome to check the outdoor lobster tanks.
We knew about Abel’s but had not been there for years until it was recently recommended by Chef Matt Jennings of Farmstead and Townsman fame. Chef Matt Leddy who once practiced law for 8 years before switching gears and embarking on his culinary career worked under Chef Jennings at both of his acclaimed restaurants. We new the “hand made” experience Chef Leddy received would carry over here. The culinary experience lived up to our expectations. Every dish felt like a signature dish and the flavors were incredible. All three of our kids ordered the Abel’s burger with our oldest Tristan stating it was the best burger and fries ever.
Be sure to add this lobster roll to your list. You will love the taste and the location.
Thurston’s Lobster Pound – 9 Thurston Rd., Bernard (www.thurstonsforlobster.com)
The yellow roof of the dining area is unmistakable with post card views from every angle. Be sure to bring your camera and appetite.
Their selection features fresh lobster rolls and sandwiches, salads and soups. Their lobster rolls contain fresh picked hand-picked claw, knuckle and tail lobster meat piled high on a grilled bun with a bed of lettuce. The lobster stew and haddock chowder were popular with the guests at other tables. We enjoyed their lobster roll and an order of fresh Maine mussels with nothing but drawn butter.
This is one of my favorite locations to photograph the lobster boats and the traps piled high on the docks!
The Travelin Lobster – 1569 ME-102, Bar Harbor (www.thetravelinlobster.com)
This lobster shack on the side of route 102 as you enter onto MDI is run by the Corson family. They have been running lobster shacks at other locations before moving to this high visibility location in 2016
They serve six styles of lobster roll. There is one for every taste. Their most popular lobster roll – Hot Roll, Classic Roll, Naked, Slaw Roll, Lobster BLT, Original (Maine style) 4 oz. and 6 oz.
Be sure to get there early as the lines can be long and they will run out of lobster and crab on busy days. They always stop orders an hour before closing to ensure everyone’s order arrives before they are carried away by Maine’s state bird, the mosquito, lol!
Charlottes Legendary Lobster Pound – 465 Seawall Rd., Southwest Harbor, (www.charlotteslegendarylobsters.com)
The lobster roll is delicious. It comes in both a ¼ pound and ½ pound serving. The lobster meat is fresh picked and blended with a touch of mayo served on a bed of lettuce inside the roll. It comes with chips and a pickle and can be ordered cold or warm and also with half butter and mayo. The kids love her French fries, onion rings and chicken tender dinners. Her other seafood and soups always hit the spot. We eat here regularly as it is in walking distance to Cable Crossing Cottage.
We highly recommend grabbing lunch or dinner at Charlotte and driving the short distance to the Seawall section of Acadia National Park to enjoy it!
The Stadium – 62 Main St., Bar Harbor (www.thestadiumbh.com)
Their lobster roll is also served with coleslaw, and the standard Lay’s Potato Chips. For those who need a quick refresher, brown butter is prepared by slowly cooking butter over low heat, its milk solids caramelizing, giving it a nutty sweetness.
If you are not sure about the brown butter aioli, they serve a classic Maine lobster roll with mayo base or Connecticut style with butter.
We took our lobster roll away from the crowds of Bar Harbor and enjoyed it on smooth polished rocks of Otter Cove in Acadia National Park.
Side Street Café – 49 Rodick St., Bar Harbor (www.sidestreetbarharbor.com)
If you are looking for a more scenic location to enjoy this lobster roll, take it over to the Agamont Park overlooking the Town Pier and Bar Harbor, the Shore Path or into nearby Acadia National Park. Valarie ordered online and used their curbside pickup and brought it to the beach in Seal Harbor.
Beals Lobster Pier – 182 Clark Point Rd., Southwest Harbor (www.bealslobster.com)
They offer six types of lobster rolls – classic, traditional (warmed in Beals Buttah), garlic lovers (warmed in Beals Garlic Buttah), Buffalo style (Beals Buffalo Buttah) and the Beal’s New Po Boy Lobster Roll stuffed with fried lobster. The fresh whole lobster dinner seems to be the perennial favorite at this Lobster Pier.
Lobster Rolls Served in Coastal Maine
Reds Eats – 41 Water St., Wiscasset (www.redseatsmaine.com)
This iconic red and white lobster shack sits on the corner of Route 1 and Water St. in Wiscasset along the tidal Sheepscot River. Be prepared, there is always a wait, sometimes up to two hours, but it is worth every minute of your time. They do not measure their lobster, they just “pile it high.” There is a minimum of one full lobster on the roll! Fresh hand-picked lobster on a grilled roll is perfect and served with local Kate’s Maine butter and/or a side of mayo. The haddock fish sandwich is also especially good!
Red’s Eats is currently run by the four children of Al “Red” Gagnon who died in 2008. He purchased the original stand in 1977 from Harold Delano who came up with the original name. This place is the real deal and one of our favorites.
On this recent trip, Valarie got in line ½ hour before opening and waited 1 hour 58 minutes to be served her lobster roll. We would not have changed a thing. Add it to your list and experience this award-winning lobster roll. They always treat you like family and focus on the customer first. Al always used to tell the kids, “You can feed anybody once, feed them twice and you are doing something right.” They always do it right! We highly recommend Red’s Eats.
Five Islands Lobster Co. – 1447 Five Islands Rd., Georgetown (www.fiveislandslobster.com)
Five Islands Lobster Co. is just a short 16 minute (12 mi) drive down route 127 south off a route 1 once you cross the Sagadahoc Bridge from Bath. It sits on Sheepscot Bay in the Fishing Village Islands of Georgetown, without a doubt, one of the prettiest harbors in Maine.
We experienced Maine weather – fog, rain, cool ocean temps the day we visited Five Islands Lobster. The weather was perfectly Maine when we sat and ate the freshest most beautiful lobster roll and a hand breaded Haddock sandwich and onion rings under covered piping tables. No holding tanks at this lobster shack. Right from the water to your plate.
There are two shacks here on the wharf. The rear red shack (Lobster Building) serves live or cooked lobsters, steamers and mussels. The front green shack (Love Nest Building) serves the fried baskets, grilled sandwiches and onion rings. Their traditional style lobster roll with a touch of mayo was only $18.95!
If you are traveling through Maine, live in Maine, or need some excitement in our life, jump in your vehicle and drive to Five Islands. It will be a foodie road trip worth every mile driven – “Casual-Fresh-Delicious.” A foodie destination worth every minute of your time.
McLoons Lobster Shack – 315 Island Road, Spruce Head Island, Maine (www.mcloonslobster.com)
This tiny red shack sitting on the shores of Spruce Head Island is the destination. Nobody just arrives here. It is 100% intentional and worth the journey! The views from Spruce Island in South Thomaston Maine make this sweet fresh lobster taste that much better. Our favorite thing about McLoons lobster roll is the sweetness and freshness of the lobster, period! We could talk all day about butter or no butter, mayo or no mayo, lettuce or no lettuce, let the lobster alone speak for this lobster roll!
You must put one of these in your hand sitting at a well-worn picnic table at the water’s edge next to the parent company, McLoons Wharf, watch the lobstermen and their boats and the sneaky seagull waiting for you or them to drop something. Doesn’t get any better than this beautiful tradition of eating the best lobster in the world at a picnic table overlooking the clean cold waters of Maine with your loved ones.
The Footbridge Lobster – 108 Perkins Cove Rd., Ogunquit (www.footbridge-lobster.com)
This funky little “shack” touts itself as having freshest lobster in Ogunquit, Maine. They state, “You will not be given lemon with your lobster as the locals will stare at you funny.” The choices came in plain (naked), butter and/or mayo. We chose both butter and mayo, which seems to be the choice here in southern Maine.
The price was good at $24.95 for butter-grilled brioche roll stuffed with 5oz. of lobster. Since parking is at a premium at this cove, Valarie dropped me off and drove the loop two times and the lobster roll was ready! The staff was super friendly, and they reminded me this was a quality brioche roll, not one of those supermarket hot dog buns. 
Definitely worth the visit. Make sure to add this shack to your Maine Lobster Trail list! This is where the locals get their lobster rolls. They will heat your lobster meat on request if you prefer your lobster roll hot!
This tiny shack at the end of Perkins Cove is in such a picturesque setting and definitely worth the drive.
The Clam Shack – 2 Western Ave., Kennebunk (www.theclamshack.net)
The Clam Shack is a huge fan-favorite and the lines were equally long. We were hesitant at first because of the word “clam” versus “lobster” in their name to wait in line. They are noted for their signature hamburger bun made exclusively for them by Reilly’s Bakery in Biddeford. You can order the lobster roll with a touch of mayo or warm butter drizzled onto the lobster meat. The final option is “BOTH” as labelled on the lapel pin they give away. Valarie tried both. The lobster was fresh as it they are stored in saltwater tanks in the back of the store.
The “roll” or shall we say hamburger bun was contained a bit more bread than we are used to in our lobster rolls. The lobster rolls are also made with soft shell meat which owner Steve Kingston says make for a saltier and sweeter taste. Most lobster shacks serve the hard-shell meat which denser. Judging from the long lines and the long reputation, it is a favorite among many locals and tourists. I enjoyed the fried whole-belly clams, while the kids like the onion rings. If you are passing through Kennebunk, be sure to stop and try The Clam Shack’s lobster roll.
Be sure to allow time for the long line of traffic through town as well as the long line at the “Shack.” The shops throughout town also make the visit worth the wait. Finally, if you are looking for work, they are currently hiring at $16-25 per hour.
Past Trips
Day’s Crabmeat and Lobster – 1269 US Route 1, Yarmouth (www.DaysMaine.com)
Day’s Crabmeat and Lobster has always been a favorite of ours. Since we travel through the night on the way up, we usually stop at Day’s on the way back to PA. This classic lobster pound with restaurant attached is awesome. We have always enjoyed their lobster rolls are fried seafood. The lobster rolls are stuffed with hand-picked cut up lobster meet with or without mayo. We appreciate the cut lobster, because we recently experienced oversized portions at another lobster shack where you take one-bite and all the lobster meat falls off the roll.
There is seating in the back overlooking the scenic tidal Cousin’s River. This place has been serving “lobster lovers” since 1928. It is conveniently located between Portland and Freeport. We always loved the “price per pound” sign on top of the roof. We remember it being as low as $3.99 per pound over the years, but this trip it was $7.99 per pound. Although we love to get things as cheap as we can, we never question the price of quality lobster. We want to make sure the lobstermen and families can provide for their families as well as the restaurants and lobster shacks that serve their catches.
A bonus to this location is the nearby staffed Visitor’s Center / rest area just south of the restaurant where you can stock up on travel brochures of all of Maine’s offerings! They always offered great recommendations for things to do in Maine. If I remember correctly, they told us about Day’s on our first visit. It’s like having a built-in cheerleading section, but the recommendation was spot-on. Be sure to add Day’s Crabmeat and Lobster to your travel plans.
Our Lobster Road Trip Summary
You are blessed. Everyday is a good day. Everyday spent in Maine is a bonus. “Breathe easy, You’re in Maine,” one of the Maine’s notable taglines rang true during this road trip!
Around every corner was a post card view filled with friendly people and delicious Maine food. That said, you will run into long lines, food shortages, staffing issues, and the Maine weather. Be prepared for all those possibilities up front.
Our favorites may not be yours, but they are all winners serving fresh Maine lobster. We are encouragers and lift people up. We are good finders and see the good in everybody, including these lobster shacks! They all had great and varied offerings. Most of these locations have been around for years serving lobster and seafood lovers both local and from around the world. The common denominator among all of them is they started with fresh, sweet, succulent Maine lobster from the clean cold Maine ocean waters!
We want to thank all the lobstermen and their families that provide the fresh lobster for us to enjoy. We want to thank all the servers, cooks, chef’s and lobster enthusiasts that put amazing seafood, including fresh lobster on our plates.
Please share your Maine lobster roll experiences. We are always looking for recommendations and appreciate feedback. We hope you enjoy your Maine Road Trip as much as we enjoyed ours. “The Way Life Should Be” will always describe our feelings towards Maine.
“Enjoy yourself, It’s Later Than You Think”