5 Must Visit Lobster Shacks in New England

Not sure if anyone else is dreaming about summer drives and buttery seafood washed down with a cold drink while spring takes its time arriving, but we sure are.  New England has more than 6,000 miles of coastline, and that means endless opportunities for seaside snacking in and around hundreds of coastal villages, beaches, town landings, and tony getaways. It’s always hard to pick our favorites—we’re partial to window-down exploration and always finding somewhere new—but here are 5 must visit lobster shacks on the New England coast to hold those seafood cravings at bay ‘til the warmer weather rolls in.  Happy snacking! 

McLoons Lobster Shack (South Thomaston, Maine)

There are plenty of lobster shacks on Maine’s Vacationland shoreline, but what makes McLoons so special is that just as many locals show up here as do tourists.  It’s just that good. Located at the tip of Spruce Head Island on the Midcoast, McLoons is hidden on a rugged and quiet expanse of pristine coast that you likely won’t find unless you know where you’re going.  So not only will you be noshing on one the state’s best lobster rolls, but you’ll be doing it with just a fraction of the crowds you’d expect in more touristy and densely populated areas; take that, Portland! Everything on the menu is near flawless—roasted littleneck clams, crab rolls in expertly griddled split top rolls, crab cakes, and lobster stew to name a few. It’s enthusiastically pro-BYOB and, best of all, you can order your lobster roll half-and-half: one half slathered in mayo, the other half tossed with warm butter.  

Red’s Eats (Wiscasset, Maine)

Red’s Eats is in many ways the polar opposite of McLoons. Much closer to the densely packed southern cities and towns, much more well-known, and way busier.  Standing in the notoriously long line is somewhat of a local tradition, and Red’s staff will usually come around with free samples of snacks and ice cream to cool you off. The town of Wiscasset has, in the last few years, changed the entire traffic flow of downtown simply to accommodate the line at Red’s as it snakes closer and closer to the Route 1 bridge spanning the Sheepscot River. But the line is worth it for the giant lobster roll alone.  And we mean really mean giant: like more-than-an-entire-lobster-per-roll massive. It’s served cold on a toasted roll with a side of local butter, poured from a bright kettle like some delicious and decadent summer libation.  The menu has dozens and dozens of options for seafood and non-seafood with plenty of kid-friendly items, too.  Lost in all the noise of Red’s Eats lobster roll fame is the unsung hero of their menu: the fried scallops are otherworldly. They’re huge, fried to golden perfection, tender, sea-salt fresh, and beautifully sweet.

Chatham Bars Inn (Chatham, Massachusetts)

There’s a time and place for digging into a freshly steamed lobster in a still-wet bathing suit while your whole family negotiates sunscreen quotas, but those times when you want something a bit more chic are just as memorable.  Enter: Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Mass.  Cape Cod’s dining and tourism scene has a one-of-a-kind mix of dives bars and ritzy destinations, and Chatham Bars Inn is the veritable gem of glam getaways to the Cape.  But that doesn’t mean you have to forgo the perfection of a beach parking lot seafood shack while treating yourself to something glam.  Chatham Bars Inn has a famous lobster roll—slathered in mayo and piled high on a roll with a tiny, fresh touch of crisp lettuce—four separate restaurants, and lobster bakes with hundreds of lobsters steamed over a bed of seaweed on an open beach fire. If you think you need to choose between authentic, no-frills New England cuisine and stylish accommodations, think again!

Guilford Lobster Pound (Guilford, Connecticut)

Sitting pretty on a stretch of protected marshland by a small marina at the confluence of the East River and West River is Guilford Lobster Pound, an easy fifteen minute drive from New Haven. With a casual atmosphere and tiny menu—11 items total, including sides and dessert!—Guilford Lobster Pound lets the fresh seafood do the talking.  Their lobster roll is served hot with butter and widely regarded as one of the best in the state.  This is the summer vacation dockside dinner you’ve been waiting for: hot dogs, giant stuffed clams, chowder, and coleslaw.   Bring a few brews or a chilled bottle of bubbles and soak up the evening sun on a picnic table. No-frills New England seafood shacks mean no distractions from what really matters: the food, the company, and the fresh air. 

Monahan’s Clam Shack by the Sea (Narragansett, Rhode Island)

Nestled between Point Judith and Jamestown, Narragansett and its beaches always feel as if someone tore a page from a magazine about summer and said “this, we want this!” Seaside cottages, stately mansions, protected wilderness sanctuaries, and tons of sand beaches—Narragansett has something for everyone.  And right on the town’s seawall is a shrine to fresh, New England seafood as unfussy and authentic as Narragansett itself: Monahan’s.  Over the years, Monahan’s has been a gas station, dairy bar, and restaurant.  But we’re pretty partial to its current form, where a gargantuan menu of delicately fried, local seafood beckons: scallops, wholebelly clams, oysters, squid, crab cakes, and a famous hot buttered lobster roll sauteed in seasonings.  Their fish and chips is made with flounder: an ode to a traditional preparation using a tasty fish caught right off the coast of Rhode Island.  And with an equally extensive selection of non-fried options—fish tacos, sandwiches, burgers, and grilled tuna to name just a few—the whole family will be full enough that they might not notice the full ice cream menu.  But, let’s be honest, they probably will! 

Want more travel tips? Check out our recent blog post about 5 must visit coastal New England towns!

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