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    Clam Bar

    4.1 (65 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Clam Bar Photos

    Business Info

    CLAM BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Clam Bar

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    Clam Roll, CLAM CHOWDER
    Brittany L.

    I love seafood, specifically clams- so this felt like the best place! The clam roll tasted like the clams were not properly prepared. As I bit into it, there was rocks, I did not finish the roll. The clam chowder had little to no clams in the soup. It was very discouraging. The employees at the front were nice and seemed overwhelmed.

    Outside at happy hour
    Julia S.

    Really excellent ambiance - airy, lively, summery. Sort of like a beer garden with picnic tables and rooms of games and outdoor games with SEAFOOD best of all :) The happy hour from 3-6 on weekdays is the perfect way to get fresh air and a good bite to eat after work. I got the fried clam tacos today and they were delicious. I got the fish tacos (the bite of the week) a few weeks ago and wasn't as impressed by the flavors but today's were delish.

    Perfectly fried fish filet and fries!
    Bill D.

    I had an appointment in Portland and I knew that I would roll past the Clam Bar on the way along Commercial Street, so I padded in time enough for lunch. I've driven past many times, but didnt know quite what to expect. What a super spot for a summertime lunch! The staff members were really friendly and rhe kitchen definitely knows its way around a fryer, because the fish and the fries were perfectly cooked. The seating areas are wide open with lots of different options from high tops, to bars, to tables, and lots of shade. This is a great spot!

    NEW ENGLAND STEAMERS and FRIED CLAM BASKET
    Jasmine C.

    Visiting Portland and we stopped at the clam bar for a quick lunch. The service was great we were greeted and given recommendations on what to get. I ordered the New England steamer and it was a good portion and was delicious. I tried my friend's fried clams with fries and they were well seasoned and crispy. And the strawberry lemonade? So refreshing! The seating was outdoors with plenty of tables and shade. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in town!

    NEW ENGLAND STEAMERS
    Hannah S.

    Steamers were fresh and tasty. My husband really enjoyed the lobster roll, though I wasn't a huge fan of it (my flavor palette is similar to a 5 year olds.) The chips that came with the roll were very good. We really loved the location, away from the crowds downtown, but still close to the water. Lots of cool games!

    CLAM CHOWDER LOBSTER ROLL
    Cynthia D.

    My friend and I met up in Portland for the day. I enjoy trying lobster rolls and she likes to try clam chowder. This is a cute spot on the outskirts of the Old Port - with planes flying closely overhead. The people were friendly. The fries and lobster roll were good. The lobster had a little bit of creme sauce. I didn't mind it - but it isn't a traditional Maine lobster roll. The clam chowder was not a New England clam chowder. There weren't many clams, and it had a clear broth - fennel, bacon, and herbs. Perfect for the lactose-intolerant - just not traditional. I would visit again - for a drink and social time, despite the aircraft.

    Outside seating for delicious fare and beers
    Shane L.

    On a Sunday afternoon, the wife and I decided we were going to swing by this little roadside stand and eating area. The experience was surprisingly great and the food was pretty outstanding. I had the clam chowder which was a much different chowder than I've ever had before, as it wasn't cream based, nor was it red sauce, but was delicious riddled with bacon, bits, and many herbs and spices. The clam roll that I had was Hardy and delicious as you could probably see by the photo. My wife had the fried fish sandwich and fries and thought it was great. The staff was wonderful, they were super friendly and they had pretty great looking merchandise that you could buy for the clam roll especially my favorite was a Wu-Tang reference shirt that I wanted to pick up. The ambience is great, although a little noisy right next to many cars going to South Portland and downtown along with the planes flying above every few minutes, but the lights hanging from the sky and the picnic tables and everything is a nice touch for a summertime treat. I definitely recommend this place if you want some fresh seafood at reasonable prices.

    Whole belly FRIED CLAM BASKET
    Eugene G.

    We traveled to Maine for 4 hrs in driving rain only to find it was going to snow where our restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner was located. We checked into our hotel, that served dinner but by reservation on Thanksgiving and we didn't make a reservation, didn't expect we'd need one. Next best thing was to order fried clams and a lobster roll from the Portland clam bar! The fried clams were delicious and crispy along with the fries that had a nice crunch on the outside and were soft and warm on the inside. Cole slaw was tangy, dressing a bit on the vinegary side. The lobster roll was huge, with a perfectly toasted and buttery hot dog bun, loaded with sweet lobster meat. Not a traditional Thanksgiving for sure, but it will do

    FISH & CHIP
    Erin B.

    Super cute place right off the highway. There are picnic tables with umbrellas, a open air tent area that can have roll down windows for inclement weather, and a little beer garden to the side. Service was friendly. Bathrooms are decent. We ordered a clam roll and the fish and chips. The french fries were so good! The clam roll was ok, I just personally prefer straight up breaded, fried clams, where this roll had seasoning which I didnt love. But I'm sure the average person would love it. The fish that came with fish & chips was stunningly beautiful. The batter gave a wonderful crust and the fish was a nice cut and was perfectly cooked. I would definitely go back and try a few other things off their menu.

    Noah F.

    Went here last night for the first time after eating to try it out for so long so we were excited to finally get here. They have such a cool little spot next to the shipyard with so many seating options outside! Service was super friendly and quick. They have such a great spot here and it's perfect for a nice day. We got two beers out of their great summer selection and we enjoyed them a lot. For food we got the smash burger. It was a very good burger and these are the way smash burgers should be. I was surprised with how good it was. The party had crispy edges and was super flavorful and the bun was soft and buttery. With it we had fried with a side of their Mac sauce. The fried are basic but if you get the Mac sauce to dip them in you'll be happy you did! We also got the Jalisco steamers. Streamers in a beef broth with brisket and peppers. It was insanely good! The clams soaked up some of that flavor and tasted so good and you have to dip the bread in as well. We have never had steamers like this and we're not disappointed. Definitely come here in the summer while you can. You will love it. And the prices of the clams here are better than most places as well for how many you get. Would highly recommend this place and we will be back to try some of their other menu items soon!

    Lobster clam and crab roll sampler Lobster, clam and crab sampler platter

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    13 hours ago

    All types of seafood plus beer & wine. Quick service and friendly staff. Plenty of tables both open and covered.

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    11 months ago

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    3 months ago

    The worst, most overcooked fried clams I have ever eaten. I would say they were practically burn. Very crunchy Never again.

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    1 year ago

    Had the clam roll clams were cooked to death. Not a good experience. Try somewhere else.

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    The Highroller Lobster - The HighRoller (captured by @a.bite.of.life)

    The Highroller Lobster

    4.3(2.4k reviews)
    1.3 mi•Old Port
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Some of the best lobster I've had in Portland. It's a very chill, retro vibe, and though seating…read moremay take a while on busy nights, you can also order takeout (and merch) from the left-side area. The restaurant is larger than it looks since there's a second seating area too. I'd recommend the Flight of mini lobster rolls (3x 2oz lobster rolls), which can be chilled or warmed. Prices are fair, at about $20 a lobster roll. Their ghee butter add another level to their lobster rolls and they don't skimp on meat! Definitely try out the Highroller and maybe get some of their iconic merch.

    When me and my friend walked up, they said a table would be an hour so we opted for take-out…read more However, the table ended up taking just 30 minutes, so if you really want a table, I would say it could be worth waiting. We ended up taking out order to a park nearby that had benches so it worked out. Me and my friend shared a flight, where it included 3 lobster rolls with 2 oz. of lobster and we chose the jalapeño mayo, lime mayo, and lobster ghee ones. My favorite one was probably the jalapeño mayo because I loved the kick, but all three were delicious. I would definitely recommend getting the flight since the rolls are smaller and you get to try the different sauces.

    Photos
    The Highroller Lobster - SO GOOD. Lobster tasted so fresh and tender. Bread was hefty and a great compliment. (Lobster Roll)

    SO GOOD. Lobster tasted so fresh and tender. Bread was hefty and a great compliment. (Lobster Roll)

    The Highroller Lobster
    The Highroller Lobster - Lobster Cheese Crisp Taco, Lobster Roll

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    Lobster Cheese Crisp Taco, Lobster Roll

    Scales - Seafood stew

    Scales

    4.3(1.3k reviews)
    1.5 mi•Old Port
    •$$$

    Seafood Stew 9/10 everything in it was so flavorful and cooked perfectly. The broth had a nice…read morebite to it a little spicy so that was a nice touch. Favorite part were the muscles Halibut was Devine. Perfect dish Oysters and clams were decent. I liked the oysters a lot more than the clams. Clams are cheaper but for a good reason I think. They have a very fishy taste as the oysters tasted fresh. 5/5 a little pricy though

    There is a scam where people get a crowd of their friends to gather around so they can attract…read moredupes to come over and see what all the excitement is about. That's what Scales was like for me, busy, loud, unpleasant, and somewhere I hope I never have to go back and experience again. Reservation or not you have to line up like sheep for slaughter. Heaven forbid anyone in your party is running late because none of you will be seated until everyone is there. Super fun!!! When we were seated, I had the server station a couple feet behind me with staff calling loudly to one another. The expensive wine they served us was bad. Should have been sent back. The lobster bisque had an unpleasant taste, was overpoweringly creamy, and what little lobster was in it was not fresh and was mushy. I can't even remember what I had for a main course (Maine course?). Unremarkable. One of the salads with blue cheese in it was okay. Some of my compatriots got the stew which is a bouillabase type dish with various shellfish and some fish in it along with a tomato base with a little kick to it. Not bad. The desserts are solid. Can't go wrong with a sundae. They also have Indian pudding which is a regional dish and interesting to try. Not sure if it needs to be renamed for current norms? Other people in our group enjoyed the meal. Lining up and standing around waiting to get into hyped up noisy places with mediocre expensive food, some of it nearly inedible in this case, is always in fashion somewhere. Have at it. I'm out.

    Photos
    Scales - Beautiful !

    Beautiful !

    Scales - Endive & Stilton Salad

    Endive & Stilton Salad

    Scales - Peach & Blueberry Cobbler

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    Peach & Blueberry Cobbler

    Dry Dock

    Dry Dock

    4.3(94 reviews)
    1.5 mi•Old Port

    The husband and I dined at Dry Dock during our trip to Portland over Labor Day weekend. There was a…read moreline waiting for tables even though it was only 5:30pm on a Saturday - this place is popular. And for good reason! The food was insanely delicious!! We snagged an open spot at the bar and was immediately greeted by the one-and-only, Eddie. He was fun, kind, attentive and entertaining. We started with the caesar salad, which was good and had a nice lemony finish. I ordered the baked haddock and the hubs ordered the blackened fish sandwich. The sandwich was good but the baked haddock was a clear winner (not that it was a competition!) The baked haddock had a panko crust and smothered in a tomato wine sauce over puréed potatoes. To. Die. For! My husband isn't a huge fish lover and he basically stole my plate. He loved it - and so did I! Highly recommend. Overall, if you're in Portland, make it a point to dine at Dry Dock. P.S. don't let the wait time deter you. This place is big and they were sitting people quickly. And if you have a chance, grab a seat at the bar with Eddie. He's good people!

    Dry Dock had good seafood, but they need some serious work on their operations. If you're going to…read morehire young, be sure there's a system and adequate training to minimize the preventable mistakes. First, the food. The peel and eat shrimp was good, prepared well though the seasoning didn't add a whole lot beyond a faint bit of spiciness. The fish tacos were good; fried fish was filling and the toppings were a nice burst of acid to lighten the dish. Fries were also good. But they messed up my entree, bringing the wrong dish initially, then bringing the fish tacos with sauce smothered on top despite having been asked to keep it on the side. Not great. Poor communication between servers and the kitchen; between host stand and servers; and across the entire floor. It's a nice enough restaurant but if they can get their act together I don't see a reason to come back.

    Photos
    Dry Dock
    Dry Dock
    Dry Dock

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    Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood Chowder

    Gilbert's Chowder House

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    1.4 mi•Old Port
    •$$

    The spot to go if you're in the Old Port area!…read more We all got the twin lobster dinner ($49 on 8/14/2026) and clam chowder. The lobster was hard-shell with firm, really tasty meat. The melted butter was flavorful, and they also give you lemon, but the fries!! Man, those fries were amazing. When it's so easy to get lobster in Portland, it's the little things like that that really count. They're known for their award-winning chowder, so I had pretty high expectations. It was creamy without being too rich, with plenty of clams, but it was a little salty. Honestly, it was pretty on par with what I've had elsewhere in Portland, so I didn't walk away blown away by the chowder. You seat yourself, and the service was pretty fast. Cute ocean decor. Decent price for the location and definitely worth it for the price!

    Uh this chowder was delicious! I had heard that Gilberts is the place to come for Chowda when your…read morevisiting Portland so after we got off the boat on a cloudy/ chilly day a hot cup of soup sounded great. We walked in and they led us to the back deck immediately and we were greeted like so quick a sweet server had us drinks so fast! We liked the half sandwiches with soup, my friend got the haddock sandwich and I got the blt, we both thought they could make the soup look more appealing like a Lil sprinkle of chives or parsley would fancy the soup up, but for the flavor, dang that was good! Thick and chunky, lots of clams, very filling, we both loved it! Also our sandwichs were great, no notes, great lunch!

    Photos
    Gilbert's Chowder House - Inside, interior, indoor seating, ambiance, vibes

    Inside, interior, indoor seating, ambiance, vibes

    Gilbert's Chowder House - Maine crabmeat roll (bottom) and lobster roll (top)

    Maine crabmeat roll (bottom) and lobster roll (top)

    Gilbert's Chowder House - Haddock chowder in a bread bowl

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    Haddock chowder in a bread bowl

    Fore Street - ROASTED CARROTS, BULGARIAN FETA, SUNFLOWER SEEDS

    Fore Street

    4.1(1.5k reviews)
    1.5 mi•Old Port
    •$$$

    Fore Street is one of the most raved about restaurants in the Portland area, and for good reason…read more This surely was one of the best and most meticulous meals I have had in a long time. The Tuna Tataki, while rather small for the price, was incredible. The oysters were fresh and flavorful. The mussels had a delicious sauce, which was perfect with the fresh bread that comes from the bakery below the restaurant. We went with the cod and the scallops for our entrees. The cod was perfectly cooked and had a tomato based sauce, but for me it was the scallops that stole the show. The blueberry pie was also incredible. Our server was kind and helpful, giving us recommendations and tips every step of the way. The restaurant is warm and charming, and I can't wait to go back.

    Fore Street had been on my radar for a while. Having visited other businesses the restaurant group…read moreowns, this came highly recommended by several of my friends as one of the top dining spots in Portland. That being said, I made it my intention to dine here during my most recent trip to Maine. The name Fore Street can mean several things - in addition to being the name of this restaurant, it's also a main thoroughfare in Old Port, and the name of the group that owns this restaurant. In addition to FS, the group also owns two other restaurants (Street and Co, Scales) and a bakery (Standard Baking). I have been to the latter two, with the bakery being one of my favorites in the city. Fore Street opened to much fanfare in the 90s, and has been included on several best-of lists. That being said, I was excited to check it out for myself. The restaurant is located in the same building as Standard Baking, with the bakery being on the lower level and the restaurant being above it. The entrance is really inconspicuous, however once you enter you're greeted by a warm, bustling space. The aesthetics are beautiful - dim lights, wood tones, and an overall upscale feel while still being down to Earth. I did not have a reservation, but the bar area (which serves their full menu) is first-come first-serve, and after about 45 minutes I was able to snag a seat. The menu has a large selection of starters and mains, with each being separated by the way the dishes are prepared. I was started with some sourdough from Standard Baking and some whipped butter. I love carbs so I tore though that no problem. The grilled squid was speaking to me as a starter - the squid was prepared in long strands, and paired with lentils and a chunky sauce with a lot of flavors. The dish worked really well - I'm a sucker for lentils so the dish was set up for success. For my main I had the pork loin - this came glazed and served with a corn and black bean salsa. The dish was solid - the pork was cooked well (not well done), and the sauce was tasty. Dare I say the salsa was the component that tied it all together? It seemed out of place to me when I first read it on the menu, but it worked. For dessert I had blueberry pie because Maine. This one had a thicker than usual top crust, almost like a closed tart. Service was great. Since I was at the bar, I was served by the bartender who was super friendly; food came out at a good pace. Overall, I'm glad I finally got to try Fore Street. While I don't feel my experience warrants 5 stars, I understand why this is one of the top restaurants in Portland and wouldn't hesitate to return for another meal.

    Photos
    Fore Street - Bar

    Bar

    Fore Street - Skate Wing

    Skate Wing

    Fore Street - Delicata squash

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    Delicata squash

    Clam Bar - seafood - Updated October 2026

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