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    Cape Pier Chowder House

    4.1 (211 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Open 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Cape Pier Chowder House Photos

    CAPE PIER CHOWDER HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Cape Pier Chowder House

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    Van V.

    We had biked all around Kennebunkport in the afternoon. Instead of the Dock area of downtown, I wanted to return to Cape Porpoise area for the views were so pretty. We wanted to go to a new restaurant there, but all seats were taken. So we instead did the Maine shack next door. Lobster roll is pure cold lobster meat (no sauce) on a toasted hot dog bun. We doctored up ours with a little siracha -mayo I mixed up from condiment table. Husband also had a cup of fish chowder. Personally, I prefer when New England shacks and restaurants do a little chef sauce or their own mayo, lemon, or butter/herbs something-sauce to their lobster rolls. But the views were pretty and amount of lobster good. So be it I blended a little sauce for our lobster rolls!

    Lobster rolls
    Hydration S.

    The vibes here were great. Loved the lady working! Lobster roll was traditional. Good outdoor seating.

    We first visited this place last year at the recommendation of the folks from Farm+Table. We loved it last year and it was just as great this year! Lots of fried food, but delish. Got clam chowder, fried clam plate - excellent. Sister got crab cakes and loved them. Order at the counter. They have outdoor seating if the weather suits. Friendly service. Parking was not *that* bad but we were there tail end of season and during a weekday. Will be back again next October!

    Views of the boats.
    Sarah J.

    Cape Pier Chowder House was absolutely delicious! We ordered the chowder, fish and chips, crab cakes, and lobster roll. All were fantastic! The service was extremely friendly and very quick. We sat on the outside balcony with ocean views and ocean smells. It was quiet and clean. We had a lovely time, and if you are in this area, I highly recommend stopping in for lunch or dinner!

    1.5 lb boiled lobsters, fries, corn, and onion rings
    Tansy W.

    Amazing boiled lobster! Both the claw and the tail were cooked perfectly, which is rare when you cook it all at once together. I was disappointed neither of us got a female lobster with eggs but c'est la vie. Also loved the onion rings, which had a nice and very light breading. Fries and corn weren't bad either. Not as much of a fan of the Cole slaw. Food came out fairly fast and they had a nice outdoor dining section with tables overlooking the water. Indoor dining was also available. Parking is a little tough - we got the very last spot available and saw other cars circling around for a while. Overall, perfectly cooked and very fresh lobster! Highly recommend

    Dog friendly, and the deck is covered now
    Jim B.

    The location is perfect with great views of Cape Porpoise Harbor and Goat Island Lighthouse. Parking can be tricky. Fish and chips are excellent and servings are large. Lobsters are right off the boat.

    Haddock and lobster
    Michelle Q.

    Outstanding clam chowder! This was the last stop on a coastal Maine trip. Best lobster we had entire trip! Fried haddock also a great surprise. Staff were so kind, location w lighthouse view on patio, beautiful drive. Highly recommend!

    Fried Oysters, Haddock and Clam Chowder
    Reyna T.

    Amazing!! This little gem gave us the vibes we were looking for! Off the beaten path, quiet and peaceful on a foggy day! We really enjoyed the fried oysters, and haddock as well as the clam chowder. It was light and not heavy. We would love to visit again!

    View
    Sara Z.

    Wow wow wow. This may be a tourist trap for the views, but the chowder is out of this world! I ordered a cup of chowder and a crab cake. It was $8 and so so good. The chowder was perfect, maybe the best I've ever had? It was thick and had nice chunks of potato and clam. The crab cake was a little heavy on the filling but had excellent flavor. The staff was really nice and friendly. Pro tip - stick to the clam chowder. My friend at first ordered the lobster stew and it was nasty. The lobster was overcooked and the soup had separated and there was a layer of butter on top. Not good. But the chowder is amazing!!

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    7 months ago

    Delicious clam strips! No frills, right on the water. Parking is extremely difficult but was worth it.

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    8 months ago

    Hadock was good as was the seafood chowder. Scallops where small , cut in half, and way overcooked, like rubber.

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    9 months ago

    Food is excellent always fresh and delicious staff is great we have driven from new jersey to maine to have lunch there

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    2 years ago

    Great food and views staffed by nice people. Excellent chowder and lobster rolls looking out at Cape Porpoise.

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    Ultramar - Potatoes with horseradish sauce

    Ultramar

    3.6(58 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Ultramar is owned by the same chef as Lost Fire, so if you're familiar with Lost Fire, you'll see a…read morelot of the same menu items. For example, the desserts and sides are nearly identical. Ultramar has more seafood options, whereas Lost Fire has more meat. I prefer to dine at the bar. It's just really loud at the tables. There are acoustic titles on the ceilings, but I'm not sure it helps. Also, during my most recent visit it was so cold. Everyone in our group was cold and each time a new group of patrons was seated around us they remarked to the host about how cold it was. He said told one group that the temperature was warm for some people and freezing for others. I'm not really sure how that could be true, unless it's colder for the servers who are constantly moving around. Maybe just bring a jacket with you just in case. Additionally, during my most recent visit, our server was a little frazzled. For example, she took all the wine glasses off the table, but two people in our group ordered wine, so when she came back to pour the wine, she ended up grabbing wine glasses off an empty table to serve their wine. She also struggled providing market pricing on menu items and took a few guesses. It would have been fine if she just said she'd find out and get back to us. She did seem aware that we weren't really impressed and did frequently check on us afterwards. I ordered the restaurant's version of a gin and tonic. I keep forgetting I don't like their version. In my defense, it's been about a year since my last visit. I like a gin and tonic to be refreshing. Theirs is a bit more complex. I also had the filet with the garlic mash potato as my side. The mash potato was a little bland. It could have used more garlic or butter. One of my family members ordered the swordfish kebabs and those were a big hit. A few of us tried them and agreed it was quite the standout dish.

    We got married here 15 years ago when it was Pier 77 and came back for dinner. We could not have…read morebeen happier! Our server, Sherrie, was fantastic! When we arrived, they had champagne and a congratulations card waiting for us. They had us seated next to the window -- the view and atmosphere is to die for. Our food was all terrific! They also had a great combination of wines and cocktails. Absolutely my favorite restaurant in Maine -- and we will be back!

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    Ultramar - Raw Bar

    Raw Bar

    Ultramar - Wood-roasted halibut

    Wood-roasted halibut

    Ultramar - Beautiful view

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    Beautiful view

    Nunan's Lobster Hut - Lobster roll - not much lobster

    Nunan's Lobster Hut

    4.1(238 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    We were driving up the Maine coast and stopped at Nunan's for lunch. It was an OK day so we took a…read morepicnic table outside. Mistake #1. Wife loved lobster rolls, so she ordered one. Mistake #2. I don't really appreciate lobster so I ordered a hot dog. Mistake $3. The inside of Nunan's is so cool - a total nautical vibe, so our first mistake was not sitting inside. The lobster roll was tiny with only 4 pieces of lobster. Looking at what people inside ordered it was mostly whole lobster. Mistake #2 was not ordering whole lobsters. The hot dog also was tiny and simply boiled. Mistake #3 was not ordering something more substantial. The blueberry muffin and clan chowder were both very good. Our server was fantastic. Quick, cheerful. Cash only. To be fair we didn't sit in the right place or order the right food, but what we did order wasn't very good. If we come again, we'll give Nunan's another try but sit inside and order what the locals eat.

    Nunan's is a must stop. We arrived early on a night that weather was iffy to ensure that we got a…read moreseat inside. In early June, we were able to get a table for 5 without any fuss. Even on our way out, the place still had plenty of seating. We ordered lobster and the members of our party that do not eat lobster ordered steak. The lobster was great. I have been told on more than one occasion that I need to stop at Nunan's but last time we were in the area was during COVID. Cash only !

    Photos
    Nunan's Lobster Hut - There is even a wash station for guests to use afterwards

    There is even a wash station for guests to use afterwards

    Nunan's Lobster Hut - Pathetic hot dogq

    Pathetic hot dogq

    Nunan's Lobster Hut - Sit inside.  Cool nautical vibe.

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    Sit inside. Cool nautical vibe.

    The Lost Fire - Jumbo Shrimp

    The Lost Fire

    4.3(302 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$$

    For our 56 th wedding anniversary we decided instead of Portsmouth and York's fine restaurants we…read morewould try the Kennebunkport area . We chose the Lost Fire which was a great decision. After driving 40 minutes we arrived 10 minutes early as they don't open until 430; no problem ,they saw us in the parking lot and waved us in. Unusual as most places guard the door to the second. They sat us immediately, and introduced us to our server Alyssa ,who turned out to be the most knowledgeable , professional person we have ever met. And we have been dining out and working in the industry for many years! The fun began; my wife ordered her Filet Mignon and I asked Alyssa what she recommended , shocking me she said The Skirt Steak with marbled potatoes with the empanadas as an appetizer. I was certain she would have said the Porterhouse or Tomahawk to upsell us but she was spot on as it was incredibly tender and flavorful . In summary it was the most delightful fine dining experience we have ever enjoyed! Thank you Alyssa and your incredible chefs and fellow servers for unforgettable 56 anniversary dinner!

    Highly recommended by a coworker, my wife and I were very excited to go for our anniversary…read more To start, the atmosphere is nice, seating is comfortable and the staff were great. We wanted to try a little bit of everything, so decided on the mixed grill for 2, with mashed potatoes and fires on the side. We started with the focaccia bread and oil dressing that were very good. We also got the enchiladas, one spicy cheese and the other beef. These were okay, nothing crazy but enjoyable. However, the mixed grill was simply not worth the money. The sausage was over cooked, strip steak flavorless and the long short ribs were tough. The chicken was okay, but nothing better than anywhere else I've had grilled chicken before. Our waitress Jennifer was amazing. And when she asked how our experience was, she could see by the lack of food we had eaten, and the expression on my face, we were not impressed. We ended our meal with the tres leches cake that was very good. Overall, this place is a gimmicky tourist trap that over charges for their "atmosphere" and prays you get drunk off their $250 wine before you order. I thought for sure it would be decent, and was wrong. I would hate to see the quality in peak tourist season. Leaving hungry was not something I imagined.

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    The Lost Fire - Interior

    Interior

    The Lost Fire - Bone in ribeye

    Bone in ribeye

    The Lost Fire - Maple old fashioned and extra dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives

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    Maple old fashioned and extra dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives

    Cape Pier Chowder House - seafood - Updated May 2026

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