MAine Lobster Pounds

[mady]

Hi,

We are going to Ogunquit Maine in May. Are there any good lobster pounds in the area.

Thanks!!

Mary Ann

[Lilaclunch]

You can't beat Chauncey Creek Lobster Pound in Kittery Point. You bring all your salads, booze, french bread---they cook the lobsters & clams. Right on the quaintest creek in Maine. They have open area and a roofed area, and even an outdoor sink to clean up in. Very fresh and tasty, and never horribly overcrowded since it only holds so many. 10 mins from Portsmouth, which is a great scenic drive.

[jspear]

Leave O town and come up to Bailey's Island and eat at Cudneys Harbor, miss the mess and take out the best lobster roll for later.....

[Morganna]

I haven't been to Bailey Island for maybe 10 years. It's just a little further than I'd like to drive, I'm thinkin'. :) Though I do recall having one of the best lobsters I've ever had at a restaurant there right near where they dock the boats. It was a full service restaurant, not a shack... why can't I recall the name?

[steve999]

Dolphin Chowder House?

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Dolphin Restaurant
515 Basin Point Rd, Harpswell, ME 04079

[Morganna]

No, this is right near that famous bridge into Bailey. You have to drive around a ways to get to it, though, right after you get onto the island.

Cook's Lobster House. http://cookslobster.com/ It was really great lobster! :D

[jspear]

I think it is Cudney's, at least that's what we always called it.

[Morganna]

No, it's Cooks. I looked it up. That, at least, is where I got my first fresh Maine lobster.

[steve999]

I thought I remember hearing last year they needed to repair/replace the cribstone bridge? Cook's is OK, but they don't do anything any better or worse then a lot of other pounds in Maine. Nice location though.

[Morganna]

Oh yeah, I'd agree with you there. I just remember it more, I think, because it was my first Maine lobster that fresh and that good. I've had plenty of good lobsters ever since. We try to make it to the coast at least once a year (my husband grew up on Long Island, so he needs to recharge at the sea, and I've started needing it, too). And these trips always include at least one great lobster for me (silly man doesn't like any sort of fish, tsk). :)

[steve999]

A couple other places to try:

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Harraseeket Lunch
36 Main St South, Freeport, ME

Five Islands Lobster Co.
1447 Five Islands Rd, Georgetown, ME 04548

[emilief]

The Ogunquit Lobster Pound on Route 1. You pick your own lobster from the tank and they cook it in salt water. If you just want a good lobster shack but nicer with a water view there is Barnicle Billy's in Perkins Cove in Ogunquit. Lobsters, steamers, chowder, lobster rolls etc. You order at the window nd they call your #. You can sit outside on the deck looking at the cove. Great rum punch. (Barnicle Billy's Etc. is next door- less casual-waiters, etc, more choices of seafood and steaks etc). In York there is the cape Neddick Lobster Pound- sit down restaurant. In Kittery is Chauncy Creek- some people like this and others don;t. You have to climb down a flight of stairs to the dock. YOu can bring a cooler chest with booze, etc and even food- anything that they do not serve there can be brought in.

[mady]

Thanks for the information!

Mary Ann

[irwin]

I have been going to Ogunquit Lobster Pound for 15 years, and feel its the best in the area..... Barnicle Bills is a zoo, hard to park, and no wait staff.

[emilief]

Last summer we went to the Lobster Pound and it was much more of a zoo than Billy's. Also, FYI, Billy's (both the original and Etc., which has wait staff) has valet parking. The Lobster Pound is good but at least as much of a tourist place as Billy's and at least at Billy's you can sit outside.

[Morganna]

If you're not going during peak season (like a week or so before memorial day), is one better than the other for, say, quality and location due to the weather not being summer-great?

[Earle]

Thought i would throw this place out there, just in case, A place called Cape Neddick lobster pound Harborside Restaurant, located on Rt1A , called Shore Dr. Runs between Ogunquit and York. Its almost into York If you drive down Rt1 south from Ogunquit and take the left turn that takes you to York Beach. You will run into Rt1A take a left and its just up a short way on your left. Hope this gives you an alternative to the other places in Ogunquit. Earle Ct.

[Morganna]

Hee! I was trying to narrow the choices and now I have another! *giggle*

Actually I had Cape Neddick down, too, from another thread when I did a search. Do you have an opinion about the three? Better quality? Better prices? Something that makes one or the other stand out? :)

[Truh]

That's Shore Rd., not Shore Dr. Not a big thing, but could be based on whatever mapping software folks might use.

I'll throw another one out there. Not scenic by any means, as in, it's not on the water, but Foster's Clambake, Rt. 1A, York, ME does the lobster pound thing up the right way - clean, efficient, great service, and if you happen to stop in on the right afternoon or night, you'll catch them running a clambake which is truly a unique experience.

[feelinpeckish]

Very skeptical of lobster pounds. Your lobster (and how many others) are tossed in a pot. Yours is 2.5 lb someone else's is 2 lb etc. Who gets what? You pay for the larger lobster and get the smaller???? They are all the same??? I don't have that kind of confidence. Further, sitting on a bench/picnic table is not dinner to me. Sorry if I sound negative.

[Morganna]

Anyone who can't tell the diff between a two pound and a two and a half pound lobster shouldn't be working in a lobster pound. :) Of course it's not fine dining, no one claimed it was. However, lobster pounds right on the coast are very often the best places to get the freshest, tastiest lobster at a very reasonable price. I don't need ambiance to enjoy a wonderful lobster, just give me butter and get out of my way. ;)

Do you avoid hot dog and burger stands, too? :)

[irwin]

Morganna: you are right......
Big difference between a 2# and 21/2# lobster, and at my favorite pound THE OGUNQUIT LOBSTER POUND, the runner asks when he reaches the table were the 2 1/2# lobster goes, and where the 2# lobster goes. This to me is not very confusing. Besides, living in Maine for 65 years I still find Billy's a zoo, and why pay extra for valet parking? I also think Billy's prices are higher then at the OLP......

[Morganna]

Is the Ogunquit Lobster Pound within walking distance of the main beach (we're staying at the Neptune motel)? I mean walking distance of two fat folks who are currently losing a lot of weight and need to exercise but aren't in fantastic shape yet. :)

[Addisonchef]

Morganna,
I'll answer for you. No, it's quite a ways. We usually stay at the Seaview, right there on Rt. 1, and from there it's a bit of a walk. But there are lots of places to walk to from where you're staying right in the village! :-)) Or, you can hop on the trolley, just make sure it's the right one! We mistakenly took the scenic route once! LOL!
AC

[mjoyous]

Then certainly you shouldn't eat at a lobster pound. Those of us who enjoy the funky, seaside ambiance and total freshness appreciate it, picnic tables and all.
By the way, in a "fine dining" establishment, how do you know if you really got the size lobster you ordered? I trust the lobster folks at a pound over a sous chef that never caught a live one!

[steve999]

Most lobster pounds cook lobsters in individual mesh bags where they are separated. There is no better way to enjoy lobster than at a good pound. Fresh, and usually with a great ocean/harbor view.

[hargau]

You beat me too it. Most do put them in bags and the bags have tags on them... Makes it alot easier to fish them out as well!

[kickin back]

Lobster Pounds weren't designed to be sleek and comfy...just good food a great prices-usually. Sitting at a picnic table on a wharf with a fresh lobster and a cold one and smelling the ocean is the way it was meant to be. Try the ones that are out of the way. My favorite is on Newbury Neck. Perrys Lobster Shack is small, personal, and good. Only the locals know about it.

[Docsknotinn]

Skeptical of a lobster pound??? Oh my you are missing out IMO. You have to appreciate a fresh lobstah on a pic nic table with butter rolling down your chin and paper napkins or maybe a lobstah roll. I like eating at Arrows and the White Barn as well but it really wouldn't be the same with out a lobster pound or two in the mix. To me that's Maine. Add a piece of blueberry pie and I'm a happy camper.
Will the Ogunquit Lobster Pound be open in May? I recall going the first week in June and not a lot was open for the season yet.

[emilief]

Most places in Ogunquit open around April 15. Barnicle Billy's opens April 11. Billy's has blueberry pie. Another shack which I had forgotten about is the Fisherman's Catch in Wells. Very Very good, big portions and inexpensive. Sit at picnic benches with rolls of paper towels hanging overhead. The only thing is I think they only serve soft shelled lobsters- odd but that is my memory. I'm pretty sure if you call the Ogunquit Lobster Pound there will be a message saying when they open.

[OgtMimi]

I noticed the sign last week - Ogunquit Lobster Pound was opening on Friday, April 4th. I'm not sure, though, if it's opened during the week or only on weekends right now -- didn't notice on my way by today. As emilief suggests, a phone call should confirm their schedule right now.

[Docsknotinn]

I'm glad to hear that. I just found out we will be in Ogunquit the second week of june. Time to start the lobster roll training! LOL

[grant.cook]

If you can't enjoy a freshly-cooked lobster with cole slaw and corn on a picnic table near the coast on a sunny day, then something is wrong with you...