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    Buoy Shack

    4.4 (135 reviews)
    PriceySeafood
    Open 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Buoy Shack Photos

    BUOY SHACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Buoy Shack

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    Tony S.

    Nice, local place, to grab a drink and have a great view! They have soups, salads and bar type food as well.

    Lobster roll, Maine red hot dogs, side salad, fries
    Alexsandra S.

    The BEST lobster roll I have had in a long time. The roll was buttery and crisp yet soft. The Maine red hot dogs were bright red which were interesting and delicious. The staff was attentive and we got seated quickly right outside on the patio. It overlooked the river which was beautiful to watch the ships coming in. Pharmacist approved!

    Crab roll and potato chips
    Chris K.

    We went to the Buoy Shack on a cool and rainy summer day. The inside seating area was nice and cozy with nice coverage from the elements and heat lamps to keep us warm. For nicer days there is a larger outside seating area with picnic tables and umbrellas. There is a nice selection of local beers and sodas to quench your thirst. I tried the crab roll which was generously sized and delicious. The homemade potato chips were crunchy and complimented the food well. The service was nice and quick, and we were not rushed while enjoying the meal.

    L to R Crab roll, lobster roll (small), hot dogs
    Tammy L.

    What a nice, relaxing stop for us! We were heading out of Dodge (Boston) and headed to Portland. We popped into Portsmouth for coffee but decided to head on over the bridge to have lunch at Buoy Shack. We were afraid we wouldn't find parking but thankfully, we found a (legal) spot and were able to park close by. It's noteworthy they have off-site parking a little ways north in case it ever gets super busy. We found a nice table for ourselves and were immediately greeted by the server. We ordered a beer and a diet Coke. For lunch, we went with a small order of the lobster roll, the crab roll and two red dogs. We also threw in a clam chowder. The crab roll was all that I imagined it to be and the lobster roll was nice and fresh - I opted for the cold version. Hubby thoroughly enjoyed his non-lobster hot dogs lol. It was relaxing and a nice, scenic time for us. Check it out!

    The buoy shack
    Michael R.

    Wanted to update my review now that this restaurant has had some time to mature. Happy to report that the service issues we previously had seem to be fixed. We had a wonderful waitress who had experience waiting tables. All of our food came promptly, was tasty and hot. As mentioned in my prior review and in many others, the location is great. Parking can be challenging. Don't overlook the onion dip and chips, really great! Glad this spot has found it's way!

    Matthew F.

    Fun location and yummy food. We walked across the bridge from Portsmouth to eat here and watched an oil tanker go by as we ate. Unique experience

    Terri L.

    We sat outside and had the best time -- the view was perfect, and the fresh caught seafood was even better! I had my very first lobster roll here, and it was absolutely incredible. The fish and chips were just as delicious, perfectly crispy without being greasy. Such a great spot to relax, enjoy the ocean breeze, and have amazing seafood with excellent service. Highly recommend!

    Lobster roll
    Dawn A.

    Amazing lobster rolls! We also loved the Lobster Bisque and Fish & Chips. Such a beautiful location and relaxed vibe.

    Lobster roll. Pricey but worth it.
    Nicholas T.

    Perfect place to enjoy a lobster roll. Sunny day, ocean nearby, dog at our feet, friendly waitress.

    Garden salad w chicken
    Patte A.

    After a fantastic Fill the Hall event for www.gathernh.org, and a fantastic Pride Parade, my husband and I debriefed at the Buoy Shack on Badger's Island. Although the weather wasn't 100% on our side, look at the view! We weren't complaining. The salad and chicken was just right. Plenty, the chicken cooked really well and the seasoning was delicious. My husband's fish sandwich was delicious with flaky white fish, crisp on the outside and super moist inside. Note: I also had the clam chowder but it came out cold. With that said, it was so delicious (think a thinner chowder, not the wallpaper paste you sometimes get), that I ate it all in spite of the temp. There were bits of genuinely crisped bacon, small pieces of onion, the broth was light and the clams not overwhelming in size or taste. No shade cast to the staff. They were shorthanded, so I didn't want to make a fuss. And it truly was delicious....I didn't even tell my husband because I was too busy eating the chowder! Def check this little piece of paradise out. It's like being on vacation, even when you live 20 minutes away!

    Kids sharing the fish and chips (haddock)
    Michele D.

    First lobster roll in Maine. Was delicious and fresh. We had the lemon mayo and butter both on the side to try both ways to see which we liked most. It ended up being the butter. So we can enjoy the lobster meat on its self. Fries were crisp and delicious. Service was excellent and we enjoyed sitting by the water. Things look so different here compared to the city of Tampa we just moved from. The menu is simple -and I love that they use haddock for their fish and chips. Probably the best fish and chips I've had in a long time. Some seating on the patio and mainly outdoors. It was a perfect day to try some fresh made seafood and great location on the water for some awesome views

    The shack from a picnic table
    Lorri D.

    Cannot beat the location and the service was excellent. Plenty of parking to sit, sip and enjoy delicious food while you watch the sunset on the Piscataqua river. I highly recommend the lobster roll and the onion dip was amazing with their homemade chips.

    Fish n chips and crab roll

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    4 days ago

    Best Lobster Roll in Maine! Great service and friendly people, fantastic view! Can't wait to come back.

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    Ryleigh B.

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    2 months ago

    Friendly staff . Delicious lobster. Can't wait to go back . Thank y'all! We had fun. See y'all soon

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    Ryleigh B.

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    6 months ago

    Great atmosphere in summer. Sitting along the river, great food and cocktails. Loved it.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Buoy Shack Reviews in Other Languages

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    We were back again ! This place is so consistently great ! The wait staff got us seated quickly &…read morewaited on us quickly. The were fun & friendly. We got several items. The crab rangoon dip was excellent. We had drinks that were very tasty and great. The lobster fries were very good (not great) but nice. We had a cottage salad. It was absolutely incredible with lots of low carb/high protein. We had a sushi roll that was just as great. We had to pass on dessert but having tried several in the last two visits, they are a no-brainer. We are giving Surf a 9.8 out of 10 ! Also, note, 3 visits were all similar experiences. Some of the prices are a little high (but all seafood is) BUT the service & flavor are sooo good and consistent, you have to try it.

    Enjoy fresh seafood and cocktails with friends at one of Portsmouth's most beautiful views…read more We started with the red sangria, a light but it too sweet drink, and some delicious sushi - Wicked Tuna (spicy) and the California roll. The Korean BBQ scallops were everyone's favorite, cooked perfectly, and with a wonderful soy miso flavor that did not overwhelm the delicate seafood. The pan seared halibut was perfectly cooked and delicious as well, and went well with the Ken. Wright Cellars Pinot Noir. Finished with the blueberry crisp and chocolate raspberry cake. The blueberry first was so good - Rich deep flavor and one of the best desserts I've ever had - and I've been all over the world during the last 50 years. The raspberry cake was excellent too - a fresh raspberry flavor with hints of vanilla.

    Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier - Lobster Roll

    Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier

    (352 reviews)

    $$

    Looking for a place to enjoy lobster on a patio? Well, then look no further than Chauncey's. The…read moreplethora of colorful picnic tables offers a place to enjoy your meal. Some are shaded and some are in the sun. The calm water the pier rests on makes for a relaxing and peaceful dining experience. You can pick out a lobster to take home or purchase a meal to enjoy here. You can also bring your own booze to enjoy with your meal. The lobster rolls come on a hamburger bun. Sides are also a must. The beans are really good. But the onion rings were my favorite. I think they were some of the best onion rings I've had. You might want to get here early because the parking is very limited near the lobster pier. If you don't mind walking, there is additional street parking nearby.

    Maine Lobster, heck yeah! There is no shortage of lobster houses in Maine. What sets Chauncey Creek…read moreapart from the others is the beautiful dock on Chauncey Creek (actually an inlet). And...their BYOB policy means you can bring a nice bottle of Chardonnay to pair with your lobster (which was exactly what we did). The menu is standard lobster house - whole lobster, lobster rolls, clam chowder, etc. I ordered at the counter and paid. The clerk was friendly, helpful and efficient. We had a picnic table by the water. The place wasn't crowded for late lunch. Some guest brought table cloths and flowers for their tables. Classic rock played over speakers. The Clam Chowder came out quickly as I sipped my wine. The chowder was thick with lots of large chunks of clam. The soup was absolutely delicious. I had a Lobster Roll, which was served on a soft hamburger-style bun. The lobster was tender, fresh and perfectly cooked. The sandwich was served with chips that were too salty for me. My cousin had a tuna roll, which was packed with creamy tuna. As we sat on the dock, a fisherman delivered fresh bass to the restaurant. Tanks of live lobster are in a small building so you can select a lobster to go. The parking is really limited. But you can drive up on your boat if you want. There are some hefty stairs to climb.

    Warren's Seafood and More - My dinner was so nice and we sat next to the live music, which was excellent

    Warren's Seafood and More

    (50 reviews)

    Had dinner there a few times since it opened. The host is very people friendly, Kathleen and Nancy…read morehave assembled a staff of wait persons, servers, cooks that are very professional. They have a bar staff that is very knowledgeable. Food is fantastic and they have a fantastic Salad Bar. The owner is female and a Veteran and offers Veterans discounts. The tables buy the windows overlook the water and the back side of Portsmouth Naval Station. They have entertainment on the weekends.

    Decided to return to try it out since it's been reopened and there's LOTS of room for improvement…read more First off, our waitress was an absolute sweetheart so that was the one big positive. We were also sat quickly. Salad bar no longer has chilled plates even though the chilled plate sign is still there, bring that back. It's a nice touch. Soup bar, minestrone was dull. Needing flavor. Also have little saucer plates to put under cup. Hard to carry a cup of soup by the cup without it making a mess or burning you. Onion rings needed to be hotter and crispier, little floppy and batter was slightly under done. Fried haddock filet was skinny and flimsy. Salmon was ok, little dry and skin was left on and slimy. Crisp that skin if you're leaving it on! Mixed veg was a flop with mushy, mealy tomato chunks in the mix that didn't make sense and rice pilaf was super watery and flavorless. Pumpkin bread was still yummy, tabouli needs bulgar in it, not just loads of parsley and bring back baked potatoes.

    Bistro 1828 at Pepperrell Cove

    Bistro 1828 at Pepperrell Cove

    (114 reviews)

    We celebrated our 12th anniversary dinner here last night. We booked last minute and walked from…read moreour Airbnb. There are actually 3 separate restaurants in this building. It's a little confusing at first. The Bistro appeared to be the nicest, indoor option. It wasn't super busy around 7pm on a Monday. A handful of tables were occupied but plenty of room for walk ins on a Monday night. Our server was so friendly and bubbly. A sweet girl from NH. We chatted all things New England and Kittery. Her service was on point. My hubby and I decided to share all food, to try more. We started with the seasonal salad with the maple vinaigrette. I was hesitant at first but it was delicious. For appetizers, we ordered the Oysters Rockefeller and the traditional Mussels. They were both fantastic. I liked that the mussels sauce wasn't overly garlicky like a lot can be. Simplistic and salty. For our entree we shared the New York strip. I've never had a steak quite like this. Instead of heavily seasoning, like nearly every other steakhouse, it tasted like this steak was marinated. It was simplistically delicious. A little char, a little acidity, and a savoriness of rosemary. Gosh it was just so dang good! The broccolini was heavily peppered, not bad but just be aware. The potatoes au gratin were also unlike anything I've ever had. I don't even like French onion soup but it tasted like the most delicious French onion soup I'd ever had. The cheesy oniony potatoes were simply to die for. I know that I'm going to be craving them once I return home. I wish they'd package these things and ship them! We toasted our anniversary with the Brut champagne. Lighter than the average and not nearly as pungent of how Bruts normally are. Highly recommend coming here and trying a little bit of everything!

    Special today. Cioppino. Not the traditional broth but with pasta and light sauce. Seafood cooked…read moreto perfection. A regular who keeps coming back every once in awhile.

    Taylor Lobster Company - Counter

    Taylor Lobster Company

    (33 reviews)

    $$

    Tons of locals seem to rate this business in extremely high regards and I can see why. You walk in…read moreand are immediately greeted with the pleasant smell of fresh seafood. And they have the displays to match. On this partly cloudy afternoon, I was in search of lobster tails. Upon requesting them, I discovered two things.. 1.) Unfortunately, the tails offered are not very big. Near as I can figure, they come in packs of 3 of what appear to be around 5 ounces each. 2.) Lobster really IS more affordable if you buy it in Maine. For context, a standard two pack of lobster tails at 5 ounces each (or sometimes 4oz) costs me around $25 in NH at the time of writing this review. The 3 pack of the same size tails costs the same price here at Taylor. So, naturally I bought two of those and ultimately nabbed a little under 2 pounds of lobstah for a mere $50. Sufficed to say - we will most certainly return at a future date. I have my eyes set on the fresh lobster meat next. As mentioned, everything in the glass display looked delicious. The place is easy enough to find. Just be aware their entrance is actually not in the front of the building, but on the right hand side. It's a little confusing at first, especially considering the tiny street view sign doesn't help much. If you drive into the "boat drop off" section, you're on the wrong side. Other items I wouldn't mind trying next visit are their lobster bisque and clam chowder. If you're coming across the border as I do, one pro tip I'd offer is to bring a cooler to keep your produce in for the day as you travel back. We transported the lobstah back in my car on an 85 degree day and the gel ice packs kept everything cold enough not to oxidize. Definitely check this place out for all your fresh seafood needs. The locals have spoken and I agree; Taylor Lobster Company is worth 5 fresh, buttery lobstah tails charred on the grill out of 5.

    Local oysters, lobsters, fish and everything seafood related you may need. Locals shop here…read more Fast and friendly service. The bluefin we bought was HEAVEN. Better than steak. Melt in your mouth tender and so fresh! Perfect protein for fish tacos or sashimi.

    Buoy Shack - seafood - Updated May 2026

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