Excellent location! The food was delicious! Great friendly staff! We came there for my birthday dinner and it was amazing read more

Abel's Lobster - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

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If this review was exclusivity for the lobster, Abel's would be a 5* through and through. My wife was craving clams and a lobster, and we heard Abel's was THE SPOT. Unfortunately that was a 50% true statement. I'll start with the positives - Service was exceptional. Friendly, great with my son (who's a giggly 3 year old). Vibe was very family friendly and surrounding are was great. The lobster was so incredibly delicious. Had several lobster pounds and spots all over the state but Abel's had to be a top contender. The bad, and ultimately reason I had to drop a star. The clams. Felt like old fryer oil despite us not being at closing for 2 hours from when we ordered. Overly battered and breaded. Clam flavor wasn't there. Incredibly disappointing as that even lent itself to the fries. Felt as though they were just chilling for a while and got cold. Felt like a total waste of money. Overall if you go for the lobster expect an impeccable experience. read more

100 percent a tourist trap. These people do not care about human beings. My wife had a medical episode and no one even offered to help box my items while she was in the car. They said "here's your boxes". Aside from that, all you're doing is spending a few hundred on a great view and bad food-- that's if you're lucky enough to get an outside seat viewing the water. We got placed in a corner with no outside view-- slow service and employees with attitudes the whole time-- a little better when my wife fell ill. It's not what we were expecting at all though. Better yet, they ran out of lobsters, served small portions, and took 40 minutes to serve our food. I understand it's busy but for the quality of service and food, you're better stopping at a random lobster place on the way. Worst one out here so far and there are many other better options. Go somewhere else if you want better food and nicer service. read more

Ive been to Acadia many times, but this was my first time at Abel's, and won't be my last. The staff is super friendly with ample seating inside and outside. The outdoor seating has a nice backyard ambiance with a great view. We had a large party but some of the favorites were the soft boiled lobster and the Mac and cheese. Some folks in our party were even able to pick out the lobster they wanted. While I did not have any myself, anyone in my group that did have lobster raved about it being some of the best they've ever had. I stuck with the Mac and cheese and appreciated the ability to customize adding protein to it. It was creamy and flavorful with a nice crunch at the top. As someone with a shellfish allergy and vegetarians in my group, food can be a bit of a challenge as there is a lot of cross contamination. This however is something to just keep in mind if its an issue. Despite restrictions, everyone in our group was still able to leave satisfied and full. read more

Lobster roll was good but not the best, surprisingly was craving a burger and that turned out to be great. Mussels were really good and huge portion size. Cornbread is massive and ceasar salad could be skipped. 10/10 draft beers and wines. Huge lines, come early around 6 for little to no wait read more

Abel's Lobster - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

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My husband and I had an amazing dinner with the appetizer chowder fries, lobster roll & lobster dinner. On a busy day you can expect a long line wait about 30-45 minutes. On those type of days, the parking lot is just as packed. We opted for an indoor seat with a lovely view. The two of us shared the chowder fries, which was so incredibly delicious. I was so full just on the fries alone but loved my lobster roll just as much. My husband really liked his lobster half shell and said it was perfect. Our drinks were on point as well. Worth the wait? YES! read more

Abel's Lobster - Chowder fries - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

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Beautiful views and the most tender lobster of the places we tried while visiting! We also ordered the mussels, bar harbor oysters, and red dog kids meal. Everything was delicious - we would return! read more

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Wonderful restaurant close to our lake house. First, it's right on a boat yard with beautiful views of the water. Choice of indoor or outdoor seating - we decided to eat inside as it was still a bit chilly in May. Our server was friendly and super-efficient giving us a great dining experience. Started with lobster martinis (one gin and one vodka) with a bit of lobster brine and a lobster garnish. They were just the right saltiness, just delicious! Of course we had lobster rolls and again we had one of each - one hot with buttery goodness and one cold with yummy mayo. Both were absolutely filled with lobster and were outstanding! We fully enjoyed our visit and would highly recommend!! read more

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Average rating is too low for this spot. The wait was long for a table but well worth it There is an outdoor walk up bar and fireplace to kill the time as well as some nice views of the harbor The lobster was delicious. The pub dip was delicious, The burger was good. The Mac and cheese was cooked nicely but needed more seasoning. Overall a worthwhile stop if you have the time to wait in the line read more

Abel's Lobster - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

I had dinner here tonight based on some reviews I saw on TikTok. The outdoor seating was lovely above the water. Excited to try whole lobster for the first time, we ordered and also ordered a pub dip appetizer which included a few Ritz crackers. The dip came and was great but I needed about 3-4 more crackers to complete the dish. I politely asked the server who basically told me no I'd have to spend the $14 to order another dish to get those crackers. Uh what? We are talking maybe .50-$1 worth of crackers. Meanwhile our two lobsters arrived which were cooked well but I was off put by the lack of humanity and most of all customer service. I'm spending $100+ in your establishment and you can't give me a couple of crackers!?!? read more

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Abel's Lobster is a cute lobster place on the water with lots of outdoor and indoor seating. Overall, the food was pretty good. I got the lobster Mac n cheese and was very please with how much lobster I got and some friends got the beet salad which ended up only having 4 beets. We sat inside because the outside wait was long so it was nice to get in quick and it was hot indoors. Our service was decent however they seemed stretched thin leaving us not being checked on often and our friend being taught how to check out everyone at the table. read more

Abel's Lobster - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

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Just a short drive from Bar Harbor, Abel's is the real deal lobster bar. We started with an old fashioned from the bar. The oysters on the half were served with cocktail sauce and a habanero mignonette. The whole lobsters are steamed in sea water over a wood fire. The blueberry pie is a perfect way to top off dinner. The view from the dinning room adds to the dining experience. read more

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We felt like this was a true Maine coast lobster experience! Perfect location and a great venue. No frills...good food. Highly recommend.

Would highly recommend eating here if you're looking for a great Maine lobster roll and a nice view of the water. Outside of the downtown area so more calmness to the area. Best lobster I had on the island. read more

Abel's Lobster - View from outdoor seating - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

Fantastic!! Great lobster roll with hand cut fries. Lobster was cooked perfectly. Tender and flavorful. Generous portion. Homemade pie with maple whipped topping. Mmmm. View was spectacular and our server was super nice. We will definitely be back again! read more

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Our dinner at this restaurant was one of the highlights of our Acadia trip. We didn't have a reservation, so we ended up waiting for a table for two for about 45 minutes, but in the meantime we grabbed some drinks from the bar and walked around the outside area by the water, and saw them cooking the lobsters. At sunset it's a gorgeous atmosphere. We were seated inside, enjoyed the pub dip which came with an ample amount of crackers. It was tasty, but the stars of the show were definitely the lobster and blueberry pie. I will dream of that blueberry pie for a while. Looking forward to coming back a future summer. read more

My wife and I were on vacation and had to check Abel's after everything I saw on line. It was fantastic, food was delicious. We sat outside with great atmosphere. Our server was attentive and provided some suggestions for places to see. Mandy was extremely helpful with some merchandise I purchased. I suggested it to friends vacationing later in the summer and they thanked us for the great recommendation. Thanks!!!! Sue & Steve read more

Stopped by Abels for lunch after some hiking in Acadia on a warm, sunny Tuesday. It took nearly 15 minutes of waiting before the hostess was able to finally seat us. There were only a couple of parties ahead of us, but it took her several minutes to get through each party. I should have realized this was an indicator of how the rest of our experience here would go. All the tables outside that were available were in the direct sun, so we took a table inside. It was pretty warm inside - the AC unit was not very effective. There was one server covering all the tables inside, some of which were large parties. It took a very long time to order, and it took an even longer time to receive our food and close our tab. We watched one group of diners leave after waiting a long time without any service. It's a shame the service was so bad since the food was really good. We split the hot honey pub dip - yum! So good. I even dipped some fries in there. I got a warm lobster roll w/ butter and my husband got the KFC sandwich. The lobster roll was good - but not my favorite of the ones I tried during this vacation. It was a little dry. My husband's sandwich looked awesome - he really enjoyed it. This place has potential - maybe we came on an off day. They should really invest in more outdoor umbrellas so they can seat more people outside comfortably. It's a cool spot on the water. read more

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Very popular spot for dinner on a Saturday night in September. No reservations, so come expecting a wait. We didnt have to wait because we were ok with outside. The view is lovely of the boats on the bay, but bring some warm layers! Lobster bisque with a side of cornbread hit the spot! Eatable flowers and special oil drizzle made the dis feel extra special. Their take on an old fashioned cocktail was well balanced and nuanced. Staff was friendly and efficient. Parking can get tight here, but we found a spot. read more

Abel's Lobster - Lobster bisque - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

Amazing Abel's! Emma's hospitality was a wonderful complement to our memorable meal. Cocktails to start followed by crab fritters and a bus-size serving of cornbread. Our mains included the Lazy Lobster--no tools required--and spicy mussels in a broth so remarkable I asked for a straw. Because we'd spent the day cycling through Acadia--29 miles on non-electric bikes--we ended our extraordinary meal with a well-deserved slice of perfect blueberry pie with maple crème fraîche! I dunno--is it possible that I've died and gone to heaven?! When we return, we'll come a bit earlier to catch the sunset. read more

Abel's Lobster - I was well into my mussels--and half the cornbread had been devoured--when it occurred to me to take a snapshot! - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

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Fresh lobster, tasty cocktails, and unbeatable views Abel's Lobster was such a lovely stop during our time in Bar Harbor. I'd never had a warm lobster roll before, but since they offered the option, I gave it a try--and it was very tasty! That said, I still prefer the classic cold version. Either way, the lobster was incredibly fresh and delicious, which made both styles worth savoring. The outdoor seating area is beautiful, with peaceful views that make the whole experience feel extra special. We also tried a couple of their cocktails, which were unique and flavorful--definitely not your average beachside drink menu. If you're looking for a scenic, relaxed spot with fresh seafood and great drinks, Abel's is a winner. I'd happily return to try more from the menu and soak in that view again. read more

Abel's Lobster - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

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Went to Abel's for our last dinner before heading home in the morning. The wait was an hour and 20 minutes and our table was ready in 30 minutes. Great! Sat inside because it was going to rain, that's ok. Server came provided helpful information answered our questions. Now the not so great! Once the server took our order that was it..she couldn't be bothered. Barely came over left us until we looked like we were lost on an Island hoping for rescue. Then asked us if we wanted dessert and we said no just the check. She left the handheld machine on the table and walked away. 2 lobster rolls, 1 chicken sandwich, cornbread and a mug of clam chowder $200.. It's not the money it's the service. I won't be back. read more

I don't leave reviews often, but unfortunately our experience with the hostess completely turned us off from this restaurant. When we arrived, we politely asked if they had seating for two. The hostess wouldn't look up or acknowledge us and seemed to pretend she hadn't heard us. We asked again, and she simply responded, "It's an hour," without making eye contact or offering any other explanation. What made the interaction especially confusing was that the restaurant did not appear very busy, there was no one else waiting with us, and nearly all of the outdoor tables were open. We understand that restaurants can have reservations, staffing limitations, or other reasons for a wait even when tables appear available, so the hour wait itself wasn't necessarily the issue. The problem was how unnecessarily dismissive and rude the interaction felt. This restaurant had been recommended to us, and we probably would have waited the hour to try it, but the way we were treated made us decide to go elsewhere. It's a shame because we were genuinely looking forward to eating here. read more

Fantastic lobster dinner!! My hubs got the lobster dinner here and nothing has measured up to it since. I am not a huge lobster fan so I got the fish and chips and it was also very good. He had me try his lobster ... is that is what I have been missing all this time? It was delicious and I think I like lobster now!! read more

Best lobster ever!!! Got the lazy lobster and it was truly a delicious experience. We got seated pretty quickly- honestly don't know why people would wait hours for outside dining when the restaurant itself is great! Lemonade is delicious, food was so great. We had Dai (?spelling) as our waitress and she was wonderful. Loved this! Will be going back for sure! read more

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By far the BEST food in Acadia. Had the lobster roll (amazing), and the mussels in red curry sauce (which I would drive from out of state to have again). Had the Island Affair and the Blueberry Margarita drinks. Both were perfect. Loved the outdoor seating amongst the trees with a view of the bay, and service was also the best we've had on the island. I sure wish I could remember our server's name. I wrote it down but lost the paper. Would definitely go back again. read more

Good service by Di though we did have to look for her once. Enjoyed two mugs of clam chowder with a side of cornbread, shared a lobster roll (best one yet -- have been to Beal's, Dorr's, and The Travelin' Lobster so far this trip) and fries, and two lemonades. Good food. No wait to get in -- probably arrived about 3:45 PM right after a ranger-led hike we enjoyed. Great site right on the sound with the working boat yard. read more

The service was excellent, the drinks were terrific as always, but the food was pretty average, and a complete disappointment. Such a shame, because the food had always been so good. read more

We went here after my brother and wife wedding. They gave us a free appetizer on them and we ordered the half dozen of oysters. Here is what we ordedred 1. 2 Lazy lobster 2. 2 Maine Lobster rolls 3. 2 Crab rolls 4. Spicy Mussels 5. Crab fritter 6. Steamer Clams 7. Fish Chowder 8. Maine Blueberry Pie 9. Pudding 10. Hook and Line Caught Halibut 11. Cornbread 12. Fried Clams I recommend most of the food except maybe the Halibut as it was dry and a little disappointed. The Fish chowder. I enjoyed the lobster the most however. The Maine blueberry pie was good, reminded me of the Knott's Boysenberry Pie. The sides I recommended was coleslaw and the fries. The fries was good without too much salt. Overall the bill was around $550 dollars, but worth the money. I recommend this place despite waiting for 40 minutes on a Wednesday. There were no reservation. read more

Beautiful view right on the bay. We had to wait 45 mins for our table (which was fine- the view was amazing) and the parking was kinda hectic- there's a little lot that gets full quickly so everyone kinda just parks wherever. But the staff were all super nice and helpful and the food itself was really good ! I got the fish bisque and it was really good !! Overall would visit if in the area. So beautiful. read more

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Food and Service were amazing. Make sure to sit on the patio and watch them cook your lobster.

Food was the worst I ever had food cold lobster like rubber ! Service was horrible. Skip this tourist trap .. Not worth the trip to here !

Food was amazing ... lobster was very tender! Spicy mussels had great flavor and the broth was spectacular. Mac and cheese was so creamy YUM. Loved the picnic tables right by the water with breathtaking view! read more

Excellent lobster rolls! We had ours without any butter or mayo and the meat was sweet and it was perfection. The french fries were to die for. The scenery was magnificent and the waitstaff was attentive and so welcoming. Can't wait for our next visit! read more

Fish and chips were excellent, my husband his lobster roll. Blueberry cider was delicious. Terrific lunch!

Service was great and food was good. Highlights were the blueberry pie and the lobster. The burger was good too. Did not enjoy the cornbread too much as it ate dry. The lobster roll was ok but we preferred it from other places. The sauce felt a bit heavy. There was an hour wait on a Friday around 630pm. Great sunset views from the water. read more

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amazing vibe, clearly a classic The wood fired lobster-pot feed by fresh sea water screams authenticity and immediately had me ready to join their lobster cult. Food was excellent and reasonably priced read more

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Abel's Lobster was discovered upon a recommendation of some friends, and it did not disappoint! We knew we would have a wait on the Thursday evening we visited, and it was a 25 minute wait, just as we had been told. They have one bartender for the entire place, but drinks didn't back up and were quick to arrive. I ordered an old fashioned at the bar and brought it outside to enjoy by the fire while we waiting. I can tell the view must be amazing, but it was dark outside, so we did not get to see it. But the grounds are pretty awesome, nonetheless. When we were seated inside, Jane took amazing care of us. We ordered a couple of appetizers (brussels were delish) and wine, and then settled on our main order. I was in Maine almost a week and had not had the steamed lobster yet, so I ordered that. Let me tell you, it was delicious! Very fresh and easy to peel. The butter/garlic sauce was good, but i like tasting the flavor of the lobster itself. I ordered a side of coleslaw which was also nice. For dessert, 3/5 at the table ordered the blueberry pie. I took a bite and it was pretty tasty, and I don't even care for pie! The meal was pretty reasonably priced as well. If I make it back up there, Abel's is absolutely on my list to return to! read more

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Came for the ambiance and to splurge on what we hoped would be a fantastic last meal on our trip to MDI. The ambiance delivered - gorgeous setting! We showed up at dinner time and were quoted 1 hour but were sat in less than that - yay! Service was slow, friendly and spotty. Mussels were delicious. My husband had the lobster roll and said it was good - have had bigger and better for same price elsewhere in town. My daughter and I shared the burger and a Caesar salad. Yummy burger but soggy bun (they didn't ask how to cook it). The Caesar salad was such a disappointment for $17 (no protein). I appreciate that Abel's has a small menu, presumably so they can execute a handful of items really well. It is so easy to make a Caesar salad elevated but it was an absolute fail - grated cheese instead of shaved and a dressing with zero taste. Sadly the blueberry pie was also a miss. The filling was way too citrusy and the crust was chewy - all served with a whipped cream that added nothing to the experience. Our plates were never cleared, it took a long time when we asked for something extra (napkins, dressing) and we never received a box for our leftover cornbread. Overall just wish our dining experience matched the price of this fantastic location in MDI. read more

The food and ambience were amazing! I loved the mussels and the gourgeous sunset over the water with my table in the woods. Also, my waitress was super nice! Unfortunately the rate in which food came out completely ruined the experience. When we arrived we had to wait more than an hour to get seated and once we did we had to wait another hour plus to even get our appetizers! I think the abundance of crowds and tables overflowed the kitchen. I would hold out on this restaurant until it learns how to turn people away when needed. That is all this restaurant needs to improve however because everything else is a 5 star experience! read more