We loved it so much we went twice on our trip Our first visit, we ordered the clam strips, a 1.5 lb lobster, and the chowder. Lobster was perfectly cooked and delish. The fried seafood is lightly breaded and crispy without feeling oily and heavy. Day 2 was a lobster, the clam/calamari basket and steamers. All were equally as wonderful as our first visit. I was honestly floored by all. The view is incredible. Staff are all hustling and super nice. The husband of the owner came out to chat with us and didn't rush us even though we were eating past the time they technically closed. They seem like great people. My only critique is I wish they had metal lobster forks instead of plastic ones because I find they break easily. But that's all! read more

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Onion rings are awesome!! Unfortunately I had a bowl of lobster stew with an enormous amount of lobster meat in it. I was so excited & then I tasted the cream based broth with Old bay seasoning which I didn't really like but worse than that the enormous amount of lobster meat was not tender it was down right chewy. So much so I couldn't eat it. If I had not taken it home to eat & had it there I would have returned it. I 'm bummed wasting good money on a chewy lobster stew. I assume the owner was the extremely nice woman taking my order I hope she responds to my review & makes an exchange for something else to eat next time I come in. I will try the clam chowder & fried scallops next. read more

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Beyond words! I loved the chowder house so much the first time, I had to return next day again. Their lobster roll has more lobster than bread, way more! The clam chowder is perhaps the best I had! Loved the chill vibe and highly recommend a detour on the way between Boston and Portland. read more

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The seafood chowder is best we had. The fried oysters amazing and good value. Beautiful view and great customer service.

It was an amazing experience! Loved the chowder and fresh lobster. The blueberry pie was so good! I am so glad we stopped. It honestly was the best food while on our trip to Maine. read more

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This is the Maine experience you crave! Eat in or out. Service is amazing! Great fresh seafood, beers and sides. Prices are so reasonable for what you get. The tables on the pier really give you the Maine vibe! Sooooo glad we found this place! read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - Outside - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

This tiny gem is at the very tip of some portion of road that makes you think you are about to drive right into the water. The parking situation would have been awful if it wasn't for the awesome parking attendant which directed us where to park. The menu isn't large and most dishes are fried. Prices are very fair. Outdoor seating is pet friendly on a pier with coverage so you don't end up looking like a lobster before you leave. Staff friendliness is a 10/10. Popped in for lunch and got 3 bowls of the seafood chowder and a fried shrimp and calamari medium plate. Placed the order at the counter, got the number to put on the table. Got up from the table to go grab some condiments, came back to the food already delivered! Like ok chowder house ninjas, when did you manage to drop that off?! Seafood chowder simply overflowing with seafood. (As it should be!) not potatoes like some other places. Hotter than the sun so careful with that first bite, and even the 10th. Fried seafood was just perfection. Execution unbelievable. Breading light and crisp. Their tartar sauce.... I would buy by the bucket. Thus if you are in the area, stop by. If you aren't, then you need to pop this into your gps and go! Very quaint spot, tiny hidden gem with amazing food and fair prices! read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - Seafood chowder and friend shrimp and calamari - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

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! read more

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We have loved coming to this incredibly beautiful place for years. So, when we made our first visit this year we were excited. To say things have changed in terribly disappointing ways is an understatement. In the past the lobster rolls were large and well stuffed. This year they are slightly more expensive (understandable) but tiny - maybe 3 ounces of small shredded meat with a couple of smal chunks. After going here for many years we are done. Similarly the large fried clam order was about the size of the small order in the past. This place will not longer be a regular or even ever place for us. read more

Best fried clams...ever! Flash fried to perfection. Good tartare sauce too. Really amazing. Sitting on a dock in Maine, what could be more perfect? read more

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! read more

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Cute little seafood shack at Cape Porpoise. Nice staff. Order at the window and the stuff is delivered to your table. I had an excellent fried haddock sandwich. The lobster roll, chowder, fried shrimp and fried clams were really good. The blueberry pie was OK. Prices were good, especially given the quality of the food. The big negative is the parking situation. The adjacent restaurant has glommed on to the entire parking lot surrounding the restaurant. Even though we arrived early and an anticipation of this, there was no nearby street parking. We wound up having to pay an exorbitant amount to park in the lot. The restaurant needs to fix this. I guess if you factor in the low prices, paying for parking isn't the end of the world, but it's annoying. read more

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

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

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! read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

We ordered a fisherman's platter thinking it would be enough for two. We were very surprised at the quality and quantity of the plate. The shrimp, scallops and clam strips (with belly) were so small. It also had haddock which were in bite sized pieces. It was not worth $47 for the platter with the quantity of fish that was on it. The coleslaw was tasteless. The fries were good and there was plenty on the platter. Should focus on putting more fish than fries. We thought being in Maine it would have been the best fisherman's platter. Very disappointed. read more

Best seafood in southern Maine. This is our second trip to this remote chowder house on Bickford Island, northeast of Kennebunkport. Our first time was in 2021 and then again today. The best lobster rolls, fried clam strips and onion rings. Covered pier side dining with small inside eating area. Friendly and helpful chef and staff. read more

Way off the beaten path, but worth the drive. Parking can be a challenge, since there is construction going on at the pier. Typical order at the counter and we'll bring your food when it's ready place. Very fresh seafood, clam chowder was excellent and haddock fish and chips dinner too. Decent craft beers on tap also. Nothing fancy, but prices are good for generous portions and quality food. Will probably be back this week again. read more

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 read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - Haddock and lobster - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

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! read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - Fried Oysters, Haddock and Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

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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!! read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - View - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

This place is off the beaten path. My husband and I shared the fish and fries and my son and his wife shared the calamari and fries. It was a ton of food that filled us up and it was delicious! Service was quick and pleasant. It's nothing fancy but definitely worth stopping at! read more

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

The food was fresh & great! Would definitely return. They have a large menu and everything is freshly made to order. read more

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

Found this gem of restaurant in Cape Porpoise/Kennebunkport- what a special place- beautiful views, friendly service and the food was amazing! Awesome Lobster(4.5lb), best Fried Haddock we had in Maine and the Clam Chowder was excellent. Highly recommend Carpe Pier Chowder House. We rode EBikes from Kennbunk to Cape Pier amazing bike ride and the views of Cape Porpoise! read more

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This place used to be great. Under new management I believe. The fried clams are terrible now. They tasted burnt and like the fryer oil needed to be changed. I brought this up with others on our beach and they all had the same experience recently. Everyone has been disappointed with their clams as of late. The lobster roll is still good however. Hopefully they can get things back up to snuff before the end of the summer. read more

We had the worst takeout there on 6/1/25. Fried clams were burnt and inedible. The fried shrimp were overcooked and stringy. I called them once we opened up our food at home and they offered a refund or do over but we were tired and didn't want to drive back. It was appalling to me that the cook and whoever packaged our food thought this was ok. It was so obviously overcooked. Dining out is expensive, especially seafood, and establishments should appreciate their customers and try to at least provide edible food. Sadly this is a favorite no more. read more

Cute little place I found! I only stopped to try the seafood chowder. It was ok. I will stop again to try some seafood. Its a cute spot, people were friendly and prices were as expected. I even met a couple locals that were really nice! I imagine its beautiful on a clear night to sit outside and view the sunset. read more

A wonderful refuge from the pouring rain. My husband and I split a lobster roll, and it was the best we've had yet! Big chunks of tender lobster, very little Mayo, on a soft, warm, buttery brioche bun. Their corn on the Cobb was excellent, too, read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - Lobster roll - tender on a warm, Buttery brioche bun. The best we've had yet! - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

This is an old establishment. Home spun. Every table has a roll of paper towels for napkins. There's a large sized tent for those wishing to eat outside. Lots of seafood choices there, mainly fried. We stopped for a quick lunch. I had a bowl of clam chowder; my wife had the haddock chowder. Both chowders were very good. Clam chowder was actually creamy-needed some additional salt, but still satisfying. Wife said the same thing about her chowder- good, just needed a dash or two of salt. Service is prompt & friendly. The main difficulty is parking. There is so much construction going on there, that there is very little space to park. Looks like the building project will go on for another year. Too bad. Good stop however. Might be easier to fast rope in if you're rich enough for a helicopter, or, park somewhere else and come in by electric bike if you're not staying too far away. Parking is the only drawback. read more

We come to Maine every year and this is always the first days stop. Best lobster roll ever. Just be prepared for the parking lot people directing you how to park. It's a small lot but they squeeeeeze everyone in. read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

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Heads up... This place is closed in the off season... still a pretty ride to the point! I could add With some rating so a 2 it is for not keeping up with letting Yelpers know they are closed. read more

The seafood chowder was by far outstanding with every bite you could taste lobster, scallops, and the texture of the chowder was fantastic. It did not have a bitter celery taste, or spicy taste of something you could not figure out in fact it was so good. We went there the first day we were in Maine and went on up into Portland and Bangor and on to Saint Andrews and made a point to come back four days later and have it again and it was fantastic the second trip.. the lady who owns this establishment was wonderful. We were there almost at closing time and they took care of us and the deep-fried oysters were delicious as well.. I hope we can make it back before her lease expires or she retires in the next 2 to 3 years.. read more

The lobster was great. I had a full lobster. The plate with instructions was very helpful. Server was very cordial and friendly. Ambiance was casual. Prices are very reasonable. No wonder it's a popular place. read more

Are you kidding me? This little hole in the wall that isn't near anything at all (nixing the tourist trap comments) was phenomenal. The lobster stew was one of the best things I've ever eaten. Delicate, creamy, yummy. It was full of lobster too. No skimping here. The haddock was extremely fresh and delicious as a sandwich. I was very impressed and will be back. read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - Lobster stew - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

I've been going to Maine for almost 50 years, so I have my own favorite chowder places. Didn't expect much out of this even though my daughter and parents recommended highly. I was very wrong. Everything about this place was amazing. The fish and clam chowder were top notch, the service was awesome, and the view is outstanding. Definitely try this place when you're in the area. read more

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Cape Porpoise is only about 5 miles from downtown Kennebunkport, but remains pretty much untouched by the tourism industry which has turned Kennebunkport into a total tourist trap. We first ate here in 1993, when Mimsy owned and operated a B&B in K'port. It hasn't changed. The harbor is still a working port, dotted with lobster boats. Great views. That's what you get by going there. Maine coast beauty and no douchebags with huge yachts. Be warned, though, because this is a working lobstering harbor, with the boats right there next to the restaurant, you might get a good whiff of lobster bait from time to time. Pungent. The food is average, you order inside and they bring it to your table. A bit pricey for fried seafood. They fry all seafood, you're not gonna get a grilled anything here. Freezer bag fries, deep-fried average crab cakes. You are here for the view, which is wonderful. read more

Cape Pier Chowder House - Deck view - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunkport, Maine

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