USA TODAY 10Best
Best Lobster in Maine: Quoddy Bay Lobster
Best Lobster in Maine (2018)
No one does lobster quite like Maine, where summertime means heading to the local lobster shack for a steamed lobster or lobster roll with the fresh picked meat tossed in warm butter or mayo. At many of Maine’s best seafood eateries, lobster is pulled fresh from the sea daily; some let diners pick their own lobsters from a tank. Many offer waterfront views of working wharfs and fishing piers.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Lobster in Maine are as follows:
Photo courtesy of Pemaquid Seafood
No. 10: Pemaquid Seafood - Pemaquid
Lobster comes with waterfront views of a working wharf at Pemaquid Seafood, whether you’re ordering a Maine lobster dinner (single, twin or triple) served with drawn butter, corn on the cob, slaw and a dinner roll, or a lobster roll that comes in two sizes.
Photo courtesy of five fifty-five
No. 9: five fifty-five - Portland
Portland’s five fifty-five restaurant puts a decadent spin on lobster with their truffled lobster “mac & cheese” featuring butter-poached lobster, a blend of artisanal cheeses, black truffles and a drizzle of white truffle oil.
Photo courtesy of Allagash Brewing / Flickr
No. 8: Five Islands Lobster Co. - Georgetown
Situated along an active fishing wharf on Sheepscot Bay, Five Islands Lobster Co. specializes in fresh lobster pulled straight from the water and never tank-stored. Five Islands also cooks up fried seafood baskets and local mussels, and for dessert, they serve locally made Annabelle’s Ice Cream.
Photo courtesy of Bite into Maine
No. 7: Bite into Maine - Multiple Locations
With three locations around the state, Bite into Maine specializes in both traditional and non-traditional lobster rolls. Diners can choose from six varieties, including a Maine-style roll with mayo and fresh chives, Picnic roll with coleslaw, hot butter and celery salt, and rolls with wasabi, curry or chipotle mayo.
Photo courtesy of LBoris0217 / Flickr
No. 6: Thurston's Lobster Pound - Bernard
Thurston’s, a seasonal lobster pound in Maine, sits on a dock overlooking a bay where guests can watch lobster boats returning with the day’s catch. Crew members carry the lobsters up to the Thurston’s tank where one will be selected for you. Lobsters are served steamed with drawn butter or hand picked in a lobster roll with mayo on a grilled bun.
Photo courtesy of Wharf Gallery & Grill
No. 5: Wharf Gallery & Grill - Corea
Open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, the Wharf Gallery & Grill serves their fresh Maine lobster three ways: a lobster roll, lobster grilled cheese sandwich or a lobster dinner with a choice of two sides.
Photo courtesy of Erica's Seafood
No. 4: Erica's Seafood - Harpswell
Diners at Erica’s Seafood can choose a live lobster right from the tank that comes steamed with butter and sides. The menu also features lobster rolls, Crabster rolls (a mix of lobster and crab) and seafood chowder with lobster meat. The restaurant is open seasonally from Mother’s Day Weekend to Columbus Day.
Photo courtesy of Robert's Maine Grill & Raw Bar
No. 3: Robert's Maine Grill & Raw Bar - Kittery
At Robert’s Maine Grill, diners have plenty of lobster options to choose from. Steamed Maine lobster makes an appearance on the menu, as well as a jumbo lobster stuffed with clam and seasonal veggies and baked. There’s also a classic lobster roll with mayo or hot butter, or a comforting bowl of lobster mac & cheese.
Photo courtesy of The Highroller Lobster Co.
No. 2: The Highroller Lobster Co. - Portland
A relative newcomer to the Maine lobster scene since opening in 2015, The Highroller Lobster Co. uses fresh Maine lobster and brioche rolls from Southside Bakery in their popular lobster rolls. Other menu items for lobster lovers include lobster grilled cheese, lobster cheese crisp tacos, lobster bisque and even a lobster pop on a stick warmed in butter or fried in a cornbread batter.
Photo courtesy of Quoddy Bay Lobster / Facebook
No. 1: Quoddy Bay Lobster - Eastport
This family owned fish market and takeout restaurant in Eastport sits right on a working pier. Hungry guests can order steam lobsters with melted butter, lobster cakes, seafood chowder with fresh picked lobster meat or a Quoddy Bay Lobster Roll with mayo or melted butter.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Margaret Hathaway (Food Lovers’ Guide to Maine), Taylor Hicks (State Plate), Pamela Laskey (Maine Foodie Tours) and Hilary Nangle (MaineTravelMaven.com) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of the state food scene.
Congratulations to all these winning restaurants, lobster pounds and seafood shacks!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Hilary Nangle
Freelance writer and Maine expert Hilary... Read More
Freelance writer and Maine expert Hilary Nangle shares her love for her home state in her three Moon-series guidebooks: Maine, Coastal Maine, and Acadia National Park and offers insider’s tips for exploring Maine and beyond at MaineTravelMaven.com. Follow her adventures on Facebook and Twitter.
Hilary Nangle
Freelance writer and Maine expert Hilary Nangle shares her love for her home state in her three Moon-series guidebooks: Maine, Coastal Maine, and Acadia National Park and offers insider’s tips for exploring Maine and beyond at MaineTravelMaven.com. Follow her adventures on Facebook and Twitter.
Margaret Hathaway
Margaret Hathaway is an author and farmer whose... Read More
Margaret Hathaway is an author and farmer whose books include the memoir The Year of the Goat, the Food Lovers’ Guide to Maine, the Portland, Maine Chef’s Table and the forthcoming New Portland, Maine Chef’s Table (coming spring 2019). She lives with her family on Ten Apple Farm, their homestead in southern Maine, where she can usually be found in the barn, the garden, the kitchen or hiking with her goats in the woods.
Margaret Hathaway
Margaret Hathaway is an author and farmer whose books include the memoir The Year of the Goat, the Food Lovers’ Guide to Maine, the Portland, Maine Chef’s Table and the forthcoming New Portland, Maine Chef’s Table (coming spring 2019). She lives with her family on Ten Apple Farm, their homestead in southern Maine, where she can usually be found in the barn, the garden, the kitchen or hiking with her goats in the woods.
Pamela Laskey
Pamela Laskey is the founder and director of Maine... Read More
Pamela Laskey is the founder and director of Maine Foodie Tours, entering their tenth season in tourism throughout southern and coastal Maine. Her appreciation for the entrepreneurial spirit and rich culinary talent began when she moved back to Maine in 2008, and it continues to grow as fast as the evolving food scene. Tours are offered year-round in Portland and seasonally in the Mid-coast, Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport, offering guests an insider's view into the the award-winning culinary scene as they taste their way through town. Pamela and Maine Foodie Tours have been honored with the Maine Office of Tourism, Governor's annual award for Innovation and Creativity, 2018, the SBA-Maine's Women-owned Business of the Year, 2017, One of the Top 3 Fastest Growing Small Businesses by Maine Biz and the annual Hospitality and Tourism Excellence Award by Visit Portland The highly interactive tours receiveTripAdvisor awards for excellence, 2012-2017 and are featured often in the press: CNN', NECN, New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Forbes, Lonely Planet and in top lists: Top 25 Best Food Tours in the USA Best Food Tours Worth Traveling For Traveler's Choice Destinations on the Follow Maine Foodie Tours on Instagram and Facebook.
Pamela Laskey
Pamela Laskey is the founder and director of Maine Foodie Tours, entering their tenth season in tourism throughout southern and coastal Maine. Her appreciation for the entrepreneurial spirit and rich culinary talent began when she moved back to Maine in 2008, and it continues to grow as fast as the evolving food scene. Tours are offered year-round in Portland and seasonally in the Mid-coast, Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport, offering guests an insider's view into the the award-winning culinary scene as they taste their way through town. Pamela and Maine Foodie Tours have been honored with the Maine Office of Tourism, Governor's annual award for Innovation and Creativity, 2018, the SBA-Maine's Women-owned Business of the Year, 2017, One of the Top 3 Fastest Growing Small Businesses by Maine Biz and the annual Hospitality and Tourism Excellence Award by Visit Portland The highly interactive tours receiveTripAdvisor awards for excellence, 2012-2017 and are featured often in the press: CNN', NECN, New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Forbes, Lonely Planet and in top lists: Top 25 Best Food Tours in the USA Best Food Tours Worth Traveling For Traveler's Choice Destinations on the Follow Maine Foodie Tours on Instagram and Facebook.
Taylor Hicks
Having received 64 million votes, Taylor Hicks is... Read More
Having received 64 million votes, Taylor Hicks is one of the most beloved American Idol winners of all time. More than 200 million viewers worldwide tuned in to see him crowned as the season five winner. Hicks’s career has included stints on Broadway, a national tour with a hit musical, as well as headlining Paris, Las Vegas and other Caesars Entertainment properties all over the United States. He is currently the host of the award-winning culinary travel series State Plate, which can be seen on the INSP television network, and his new album will be out this fall.
Taylor Hicks
Having received 64 million votes, Taylor Hicks is one of the most beloved American Idol winners of all time. More than 200 million viewers worldwide tuned in to see him crowned as the season five winner. Hicks’s career has included stints on Broadway, a national tour with a hit musical, as well as headlining Paris, Las Vegas and other Caesars Entertainment properties all over the United States. He is currently the host of the award-winning culinary travel series State Plate, which can be seen on the INSP television network, and his new album will be out this fall.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.