Take me back to Claws! Honestly had lobster almost every day when I was visiting Maine, but Claws was bar far the best tasting lobster & best atmosphere I found. Exactly how a lobster shack should be- you can have your lobster on salad, in bisque, on a roll, as a blt, etc etc. I chose a lobster salad and it was to die for (see my pics!) Lobster was so fresh, tender and moist. Huge chunks of lobster, and awesome colorful fresh salad too. Their signature blueberry croutons were such a surprise! Portion IMO was huge for the taste. Staff was friendly & quick, plus the waterfront view was lovely too. I could feel myself smiling and doing the happy food dance as I had lunch at Claws. 1000% recommend! read more

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Cute place with a big menu but dont get the crab cakes. Mushy, flavorless, filler with some crab mixed in. Gal never came around to ask how it was or I would have said something. Saw other dishes that looked good going out. read more

Friends told us we needed to stop here when in the area. We decided to go early as we found lost places are packed around 6:30. So glad we did because the line was to the street when we left at 6 pm. The menu board shows all the options, which are numerous. There is also a board that shows the drink menu. I settled on the lobster macaroni and cheese and a beer. After paying, they give you a wooden lobster claw with a number, you pick up your drink at the bar and go find a table. The server brings the food out and calls your number and you wave them down. My dish was huge and had a nice amount of lobster. The sauce on the penne pasta was good and I will be scaring away the vampires tonight. Not sure I would call this Mac and cheese, more like penne pasta with lobster sauce. Either way, it was very good, but not what I expected. The blueberry cornbread was good as well. The patio view is very nice and everyone that works here was friendly. read more

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My husband brought back a to go order of steamed clams, baked potato, and flatbread. The clams were still steaming when he got back to our hotel room! Sumptuous and delicious very clean clams. The baked potato was a loaded one which my husband enjoyed thoroughly and the flatbread was warm and tasty. For a to go order I was very impressed. read more

Amazing!! Lobster neewbs and the staff took great care of us!! Food was great, view was great, service was great! They helped us every step of the way with our lobsters!! Highly recommend! read more

Atmosphere - Great. About a mile from downtown Rockland, this is the quintessential roadside restaurant. Orders and payment are taken at a window and a number assigned. Drinks are picked up at a small bar situated on the way to a covered deck that overlooks the inlet. Service - Very Good. The staff is friendly and the food was delivered in a reasonable amount of time. Food - Excellent. I ordered the Lazy Lobster (the meat is removed from a 1 1/2 lb lobster and placed in a tray of hot butter) and a cup of clam chowder. The meal came with corn on the cob and a blueberry corn muffin. The lobster was very tender and delicious. The corn was fresh and the muffin was excellent. The soup was a disappointment for me. It was a variation of the traditional version. It was very salty and much of the clam was chewy. Overall Value - Excellent. The portions are large, the food great and the price is very reasonable. read more

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My lovely bride and I were driving up to Camden on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon in August, and we stopped into Claws for a late lunch. We really enjoyed the lobster roll with light mayo. The roll was $34, but the amount of fresh lobster meat was quite generous. Service is fast and friendly. The onion rings rock, and so does the dessert, blueberry crisp with vanilla ice cream. Highly recommended! read more

Yum yum yum is all I can say! I want to say we arrived between 5:30-6, waited in line for about 20 minutes to place our order and boy am I'm glad we got there when we did. When we left about 45 minutes later the line was flowing into the parking lot and I bet it was a minimum wait of 1 hr to place your order. We split the lobster roll with butter and onion strings, it was delicious! Also had the blueberry crumble with vanilla ice cream - amazing. A no frills place, you order and grab a seat in the patio and wait for your food. Superb service as well. read more

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Sorry "Claws" but yesterday my family bought take out lunch from your establishment and the crab roll and crab cake tasted like some kind of cleaning liquid was in it. It was bad sorry still think you should know. We spent some money and live out of town so returning was not an option. read more

I came here after hearing raving reviews from many people. As it was my first time in Maine, I wanted the full Maine experience with a good lobster meal. Upon arriving, I learned that the pricing was absolutely outrageous--$ 38 for a Lobster Mac'n cheese. I'm dead. We ordered and took our seats out on the patio, where my ears proceeded to get violated by the worst choice in music I've heard in my life. Never in my 52 years of living would I imagine "I wanna be your Maine man" by Rhett and Link to play at a mom-and-pop restaurant. I would've given 5 stars if it wasn't for the music. Great food though. read more

I stopped by for lunch last summer, en route South on Route 1. Parking was available and the line wasn't too bad. I ordered the lobster roll with butter and the blueberry corn bread. It felt like quite a long wait for the food to come out, but maybe I was just very hungry. The portion of the cornbread was ginormous. I actually offered some to the people at the next table, because I was solo and couldn't eat it all. The lobster roll was very good. read more

Love this place!! It's exactly what we were looking for: - something on the water - lobster roll- it was the first time we've had one - great clam chowder - a good Chardonnay - very friendly service The wife and I split a lob roll, a cup of chowder, and a bottle of Cupcake chard. The roll was good, just not sure it was my thing. It was certainly a lot of lobster in the roll. The chowder was very good, but my homemade chowder is better the Chard was good but way overpriced Total bill:$168 with tip. I'm told 'ya gotta pay to play' and we certainly did read more

Budget friendly? Not in the eyes of the locals. The food is good but way more than competitive stands. read more

Loved everything about this place! The staff, the food, the view, all of it! If I ever go back to Maine, I hope I get to visit this place again! read more

Claws - Lobster roll , clam chowder, blueberry lemonade - Seafood Near Me - Rockland, Maine

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Stayed overnight in Rockland, ME and after traveling from Manhattan for more than 10 hours of driving, I wanted something I'd really like and preferred seafood. While driving down a local street I ran into a couple and they directed me to Claws. Turns out it was one of the best meals I'd ever had! The service was accommodating and helpful, and every member of the staff was clearly committed to assisting every customer. Finally, knowing that all taste is relevant to that person, I had the best coleslaw in my life of 72 years! It made the drive from New York City worth every mile! One last thing...the counter I was sitting at had an unobstructed view of the dock, bay, boats, etc. Couldn't be better! read more

Awesome. Hard to beat the one pound lobster roll. Great views of Rockland harbor too.

You can find Claws at 743 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841 right on the main drag. This restaurant was recommended to us and was very convenient, being about a mile from our hotel. Parking is to either side - there seems to be a lot, but during lunch and dinner the restaurant becomes pretty packed - if you see a very long line you may want to find something to do and wait it out a bit. Claws is an iconic seafood shack, specializing in Maine's prize, the lobster. The exterior is very shack-like as you would expect with a bunch of kitschy eye candy adorning the building and surrounding area - you can tell the restaurant has been here a while and the smell of fried seafood is divine. The menu is pretty extensive (it's available online or on the board as you walk up to the ordering window) with many options for lobster, local cod and oysters. Once you order (and make sure you get a couple of local craft beers), head towards the back for a magnificent view of the water. The place is very busy so you may finish that first beer before the food arrives, if you order two it saves time. We tried the following: * Pemaquid Bold Coast Brown Ale - 3.2/5 Fairly easy drinking brown ale, sweet nutty malt notes finishing dry with mild bitterness for balance. * Mammy's Clam Chowder - Not your typical creamy clam chowder, tons of herbal notes and bay leaf - I thought it exceptional * Lobster Roll - 1/4 lb fresh lobster meat w/mayo, served on a buttered New England style roll - these came with a bag of chips (but we substituted cole slaw) and a pickle spear. Really can't go wrong with the roll - these were excellent with succulent fresh lobster bedded in creamy mayo - my wife thought it was too much lobster meat at 1/4 lb but I was very happy. Service was very good with a server on hand pretty much at all times for extra napkins, water, etc. I'd say that if you're visiting Maine on vacay this is an excellent choice. Just don't expect much as this is a "shack" and not fine dining. You simply can't beat the view and food. read more

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Best lobster roll I've had a week! Get the old bay honey butter seasoning. We also had a salad with lobster shrimp and crab and it was great but lobster roll was the best Service was eh read more

Claws - Lobster roll and salad - Seafood Near Me - Rockland, Maine

Phenomenal fresh comfort seafood right by the water, with great views. The smell of the ocean water really accompanies well your freaking awesome seafood. The lobster roll here is magnificent. Honestly, I'd go as far as to say it's probably my favorite lobster roll of all time. The bread is soft and buttery and there is sooo much lobster packed in for that perfect bite. Mayo all the way, but you do you! The fried fish sandwich is absolutely delicious, too, with a really thin crunchy batter. The chowder here isn't overly thick and creamy, it's just right. I have no complaints about the food. The line can look super long but it moves fast! That and all the staff are really friendly and helpful. When you come when it's warm out, the flies can get a little out of control so be prepared to fight them off! If you're in town or driving through, you gotta check out Claws. read more

A must every summer when I am here but what happened to the LOBSTER BISQUE??? I almost cried this year when I learned its not longer available lol read more

Food excellent, price good, service excellent., menu complete, facility good. Competively priced for the market and easily found. Onion Rings are a good value too. read more

Wait was long for our to go order of six lobster rolls. Over a half hour when they said 15 minutes. Nevertheless butter lobster rolls and light mayo rolls were good. They were doing a big biz. Good for Claws! read more

Claws - Seafood Near Me - Rockland, Maine

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In the pouring rain, we decided to come to Claws for our last dinner in Maine 2023 vacation. We made a good choice. Whether ordering take out or in house, you have to wait outside in line. In the rain it sucks quite a bit but the restaurant does offer umbrellas for the customers. The take out line is somewhat covered, but umbrellas would be helpful for that line, too. We were not in line too long, maybe 20 minutes, before it was our turn to order. The extensive menu is posted so you should have time to review before ordering and they also have paper menus to look at if the line is long. We ordered a blueberry lemonade, water, draft 20oz Banded Claw lager, lobster Mac and cheese, fried haddock sandwich, crab cake burger, full belly fried clam platter, lobster bisque, and some ahi tuna nachos. Just about everything was very good. After ordering and paying at the window, you can go to the table section where it is first come first served. We waited only for a few minutes before something became available. We sat and waited for the friendly young staff to bring the food and call our order number. Because of the rain, half of the tables were not available. The ones that were open were patio style with plastic rolls out to block the rain and wind. After the storm passed through, the rainbow was a nice touch. Overall, we were astounded by the excellent food fair steak fries, the fried haddock sandwich was to die for, and my ahi nachos had plenty of sushi-grade raw ahi and crispy wontons "nachos" with avocado and aioli with sesame seeds were outstanding. I subbed my fries for onion strips which now I wish I kept the fries. The full belly clams were plentiful and well done. My kid really like his "burger" with a lot of crab. What didn't turn out well was the lobster Mac and cheese; plenty of lobster, too much pasta in an overwhelming heavy sauce. Ate the lobster, left most of the pasta. The award winning "best lobster bisque" was a fifth place loser to us. Neither cup was finished even halfway. We weren't sure if it was seasoned too much or made with too much cream or what the reason was, but no one liked it. There's a small gift shop with T-shirts and other stuff. The young staff servers were doing their best to keep up with the orders and all were quite friendly. I had to leave cash at the kiosk for the T-shirt I bought as the staffers were too busy with food but I did let them know I left the money. They also clear the tables after you are finished. About $170 not including tip. Another winner in Maine. read more

Claws - Ahi Tuna Nachos, and Whole Belly Clam Dinner - Seafood Near Me - Rockland, Maine

$30 for one piece of fried fish on a bed of barely warm fries; coleslaw extra. Lobster roll $38 for 6 ounces and nothing else. Used to be fav local place in summer but no more! Will not return! Tourist trap now to be avoided! read more

If you're ever in Rockpory Maine, you must eat at Claws. Sure, some may say is a tourist trap restaurant, but it's not. They are popular for a reason. The amount of lobster that came with the lobster roll was enough to make three sandwiches!! French Fried Asparagus is a MUST! I've never had it before and ordered it out of curiosity since I like asparagus. It was one of the most delicious food I've had in a long time! The breading is flavorful and fried to perfection! The website says it's closed until May 21,2025. It's a seasonal restaurant that opens from May 22 to mid October. Do not miss it if you're visiting Rockport during the opening season! read more

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Fantastic gluten free options. Beautiful view and easy to find. My husband ordered the fried scallops and onion rings. Loved the rings and the scallops were overdone which was a bummer because he was looking forward to them for days. I ordered a wedge salad that was a 10/10. Way bigger than expected and delicious. We also got some drinks. There was a line and people were being rude as usual but the staff was very pleasant and friendly. My Bloody Mary was yummy. Would definitely recommend and hope to go back. read more

Claws - Seafood Near Me - Rockland, Maine

Claws is a the seafood shack located on 743 Maine Street in Rockland, Maine. This is an absolute destination spot for all Maine vacationers. Rockland is a popular tourist destination. I happened to chance upon this restaurant for early lunch while staying nearby at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine, a mere 5 minutes drive away from the restaurant. There is no way that I will eat the resort's now knowing that this gem exists but a short distance drive away. There is a parking lot for patrons. In addition to the local Maine crowd, I noticed license plates for travelers from New Mexico, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and more. The pilgrimage for all of these patrons up mid coast Maine says a lot about this little shack. The menu is extensive! Nothing like your typical lobster shack. There is also a selection of alcohol beverages ranging from beer to margaritas and mojitos. For my family of four, two adults and two children, we ordered a dozen oysters and the ahi tuna nachos. Oysters were served on an ice chip platter with horseradish, cocktail sauce, and a vinaigrette. The ahi tuna sat on crispy chips and they went well with the strong margarita. We also ordered the calamari basket, a buttered lobster roll, and the Rockland Shore Dinner. I didn't even realized that our Rockland shore dinner was missing mussels and a blue biscuit until I looked back at the picture as there was plenty of food, more than we could eat. The service was five star! We were checked in by the waitstaff even before we received our food and maybe another five times throughout the course of our meal. Don't be fooled by the little shack in the front, there is plenty of seating in the back, some with back cushions and an area with heaters too for cold rainy Maine days. I just love the lively family friendly atmospheres. I can see why the lines get so long and why it's sought after from travelers from afar. I highly recommend this location to anyone visiting Maine, even on cold rainy New England weather days such as today. read more

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I was excited to try Claws, but it didn't live up to expectations. I had the hot & crabby artichoke dip. It was a $17 bowl of warm cream cheese. The menu says it is loaded with crab meat and artichoke hearts. I could pick out a few bits of artichoke, but there was no discernible crab. Maybe it got all mixed in, but there wasn't enough that I could taste it. The onion straws, however, were outstanding. This is nit, but my husband found it annoying that there were no cocktail napkins at the bar. He was expected to chase down a waitress in the dining room to get a napkin. Really? We wouldn't go back. read more

If I could rate this higher than 5 I would! We shared the giant lobster roll (1#), and a bowl of seafood chowder. The employees we friendly, had a great view, tasty drinks and that lobster roll can't be beat! read more

Claws - Monster lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Rockland, Maine

I recommend everything I got, starting with the blueberry lemonade! Next I had the clam chowder, very well seasoned and the best I had in the state of Maine! The hot butter lobstah roll was fantastic! A typical New England roll with a good portion of fresh sweet lobstah and butter on the side for you to decide how buttery you want it! read more

Food is good but the service is slower than slow. If you don't mind waiting than yes. If not better to go somewhere else.

We decided to take Hwy 1 up the coast on our way up to stay south of Bar Harbor. I researched on this area prior to departing and this place looked good. It was not just good, it was a fantastic choice. There was plenty of seating with incredible views of the water. I had the boiled lobster and my husband had the broiled seafood plate. Both exceeded expectations. You order at a window and take a number for your food to be delivered to your table. Our server was quick, efficient, and friendly. We visited four similar establishments on this trip and none measured up to this one. read more

Claws - The best boiled lobster with an amazing view of the harbor. - Seafood Near Me - Rockland, Maine

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Lobster rolls were delicious but expensive. Service was good, The view of the harbor is lovely.

So amazeballs! Sat around the campfire and enjoyed three giant lobster rolls our first night in Maine. Amazing portions and pie is the bomb. read more

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Finally found a chance to come back the nth time! How time flies. Was so surprised that we didn't have to pick up the food at the window this time.. and they bring it to your table. Just had the clam chowder and fried scallops. The chowder was just was I remembered, amazing. And scallops were delicate and delicious. They have a full bar now and the red lobster cocktail was good, a little too sweet but delicious. Service was great as always! read more

Claws - Clam chowder and fried scallops - Seafood Near Me - Rockland, Maine

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My fave scallops in town Also have tried their sandwiches, lobster, blueberry crumble. Yum read more

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We ordered steamers and unfortunately they had not been properly purged. A little sand can be expected but the amount that was in these clams made them inedible. Maybe it's not an item ordered often but there is no excuse to serve steamers this way. The waitress was nice but she didn't know any better and said that's just how it is and you have to clean them which if unfortunately not true. After washing them 2-3 times we gave up and had to throw them out. The fried food and oysters we ordered were good. read more

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Called the chamber of commerce to see WHERE to get the best lobsta when our cruise would be in port. BOY were they right. OMG!!!!!! Sat with a few of my cruisemates and enjoyed some amazing lobsta!!!! SO much Lobster on the roll. SO incredibly delicious!!! Was so glad to have found this gem! Huge menu and they have won so many awards. Love the look of the place and the view of the ocean was the icing on the cake. Speaking of....one of the cruisemates had the lobster donuts. She loved it. WILD IDEA!!!! BEST roll EVER. I will tell other future cruisers to GO!!! Awesome to have a shuttle, too. I walked and it was a great walk!!!!! read more

Claws - AMAZING Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Rockland, Maine

The lobster roll is really good here . It's not the best , but it's good . The buttery toasted New England-style roll is filled with freshly picked lobster meat with a just a touch of Hellmann's. I like to spritz mine with lemon . Don't waste your appetite on the lobster bisque or the lobster Rangoon "legs" or the lobster mac and cheese - they're all mediocre. The lobster mac and cheese is misleading because it's prepared using penne pasta instead of macaroni. It's a lobster pasta . I would have never guessed macaroni in cheese . Maybe it's an inside joke ? Go for the lobster roll . If you love lobster , you won't regret it . Served with a side of chips and pickle spear. If you have room for dessert the Maine wild blueberry shortcake is delicious: house made wild Maine blueberry biscuits topped with fresh blueberry compote and homemade whipped cream. It is yummy ! Keep in mind there may be a line so plan your visit accordingly. It's probably the best place for lobster in Rockland. There's a small parking lot with free parking and seating is outdoors and covered overlooking the ocean . Check them out if you're in Rockland ! read more

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Dinner was great! Lobster dinner & lobster roll were really delicious. Finished dinner with the blueberry crisp. Definitely worth the $. Porch is really nice place to eat. read more

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