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    McLaughlin's Lobster Shack

    3.6 (137 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Closed 4:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    McLaughlin's Lobster Shack Photos

    Business Info

    MCLAUGHLIN'S LOBSTER SHACK ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Reviews With Photos

    Haddock tacos
    Linda R.

    They've moved up the street a bit from their old location at the Islesboro ferry. Now there is great indoor seating, a full menu of seafood and nice parking. Order and pay at the downstairs counter/bar, get your table number and pick your seat. Food is delivered to your table. I had the haddock tacos and they were delicious. Scallop basket was also very good. High marks for the onion rings. Great view from the second floor seating area!

    Lobster roll (cold), at McLaughlin's Lobster Shack in Lincolnville, ME.
    Tom D.

    Stopped in for takeout lunch with the wife yesterday. She had a cold lobster roll, I went with the haddock. Lobster roll was excellent, haddock was alright (they forgot to throw tarter sauce in the the takeout bag). My wife wanted coleslaw with her lunch, but it wasn't included in the meal, so that set me back another 5 bucks. We both liked the coleslaw, but the fries would've been a lot better if they had been hand cut instead of frozen. Not overly impressed with our lunch yesterday, other than the lobster roll. That's it, not much more to say.

    The view from McLaughlin's.
    Bruno B.

    McLaughlin's is the real deal. Right on the working waterfront, you can go around back and see the lobsters fresh from the ocean. The interior is exactly what you would expect, picnic red-and-white plastic tablecloths, fish nets, tiki lights, sea captain sculptures, etc. The food comes out pretty fast. We got the lobster rolls and fries, cuz what else are you going to get? I was instructed that the lobster chowder is an East Coast thing that isn't like the cioppino that I love from SF, so I skipped it. The buns had that lovely buttery crunch followed by softness, and the lobster was incredible. It wasn't buttery or mayo-y, both of which I only want in small quantities. You get a lot of chunks of lobster, it was super delicious and simple and perfect. The fries were fries, and the coleslaw wasn't very good, kinda watery. But you're here for the lobster roll!

    Shel D.

    On the upside this place has a great queer o meter score - the staff was super nice. 10! On the downside - there was a little bit not too great with the dinner. What we got: shore dinner - lobster, steamers, fish chowder, fries, cornbread, and Cole slaw. Side order onion rings 1 bottle water $75 plus tip It was about $15 more than we paid the day before and the lobster was 1.15 lbs not 1.25. The lobster and steamers were over boiled about 3 min too long and sadly they were on the chewy side. Don't get me wrong, I ate it but it had def hit the start of bouncy. The chowder is good - it's the thin kind so don't be expecting a creamy NE kind. It's a thinner stewish kind but flavorful. The cornbread was a corner piece and most of it dry - the flavour was good! I'm guessing the middle pieces were great. The French fries and Cole slaw were also good! They use hunts ketchup which I don't like, but that's a me thang. Finally the onion rings - they were hot and crispy but that's where the compliments end. I found them bland and uneventful, which was too and bc they were hot and crispy! So much potential. Well all in all I wouldn't go back. Maybe it was an off night but for $75 I expect to fully enjoy 85%+ of a meal. This one fell short for me. Cheers!

    Menu
    Jill I.

    Really great spot , nice water views and great staff . The baked haddock was cooked perfectly generous portion and so flavorful. The fried haddock was just as good crispy outside, flaky and flavorful inside. The onion rings were a nice addition to lunch but there were plenty of thick fries with the basket. The mushrooms were good, but did not seem to be made there. if I had to choose definitely would have gone with the onion rings. The coleslaw was a little better than average. I would most definitely get the baked haddock again or try the lobster which are in tanks on the deck. Nice spot not cheap but the portions are very generous so you get your money's worth Nd very nice to sit and watch the boats go by.

    The Lobster's Demise
    Steve K.

    Disclaimer: This review is from the perspective of a 100% non-seafood eater. I give them 4 stars because everyone else in my party of 6 raved about the freshness of the lobster and the haddock they all eagerly consumed. I give it a 1 star for my order of the bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. I was once again very disappointed in how seafood restaurants serve a basic burger. If you are going to offer it as a menu item, please learn how to cook and serve it properly. It was cooked so long there was no moisture left in the beef at all. And it was served on a dry bun with no sauce of any kind, no lettuce, no tomato, no pickles, nothing. There were ketchup packets in a bin but it didn't help. If I am ever in this amazing area again, I will drop my group here and go find someplace else for me.

    That's a mighty big lobster!
    Gina F.

    We were lucky enough to stay at an air bnb directly in front of this great place. Directions are simple enough-you walk through, a nice person takes your order, you go outside and find a table in the picnic area overlooking the water (or choose a table inside if you'd prefer), and then they call your number when your order is ready! Lobster roll was the best we've had on our vacation and the ala carts lobster was great as well!

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    2 years ago

    Great lobster rolls and onion rings. Take out as well as dine in Friendly service

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    3 years ago

    Awesome again. Usually get a lobster dinner. This time had a lobster roll. Beer served here! Very nice view and location.

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The lobster tacos were delicious! service was great. We arrived close to closing time and never felt rushed.

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    3 years ago

    Disappointed. Clam Chowder was watery and the worst that I have ever tasted. The lobster was forgettable.

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    Cafe Louis

    Cafe Louis

    4.5(21 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    One of the highlights of my short time in Camden. Being at the end of the summer season, finding…read moreavailability for dinner was a challenge, but we were able to snag a late reservation on a Tuesday evening. The vibe was cozy, warm, and inviting, which was a far cry from most places we had visited which seemed a bit exhausted and ill prepared to deal with lingering fall tourists. The food was phenomenal with complex and interesting flavors. The calamari was crispy and the chilis and sauce were the perfect complement. The chicken was also perfectly cooked and seasoned. But by far the best dish was the mussels. The broth with the soft chunks of sweet potato and bread to soak everything up was perfection. Cocktails were also unique and tasty. 3 alcoholic drinks, one small plate and 2 entrees was $100, which was well worth the price for the quality of the food and atmosphere.

    Have been 3x to Cafe Louis betw Sept 2024 - Dec 2025. The first visit was on Labor Day Monday…read more2024...it was uh-mazing! I thought it was the bomb, esp the food and service. Have returned twice since then. As the menu is small and hasn't changed since my first visit, the charm has worn off. I usually share the roast half chicken plus 2-3 sides. The meal was absolutely flavorful on my first visit but not so much the last visit in Dec 2025. Maybe it was a bad night? I thought the flavors fell flat and service was not as attentive. I was celebrating the holidays by treating friends to dinner and had to wave down someone twice to order rounds of drinks. I will give any establishment 20 stars if they are paying attention as to whether your glass is half empty. For me, the food can be excellent or blah but excellent service can make or break a restaurant.

    Photos
    Cafe Louis - Cozy interior

    Cozy interior

    Cafe Louis
    Cafe Louis - Inside view

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    Inside view

    Franny’s Bistro - Tuna special

    Franny’s Bistro

    4.5(117 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    Franny's is a must eat for us on our annual trip to Camden and this year was no different. We held…read moreour engagement party there in 2024 and Jen and the rest of the staff went above and beyond for us and really made it a special day to share with our families. We came back this year and as always the food was amazing. Started off with crab cakes for the table delicious bites of tender crab meat and the salad/slaw that comes with it was so good. I ended up gettin the mussels and scallop entree which paired together so well with the savory grits they come with. We also go the Tuna and Halibut specials and the steak frites which is always delicious. Amazing food as always. And our server Mark was super personable and fun we had a great time. We love coming to Franny's and will be back next year. Thanks for the great food and memories!

    Franny's Bistro is a complete gem. I saw that someone described it like a restaurant with a 'Napa'…read morefeel and I completely agree: It's rustic, homey and a little bit eclectic. Exceptionally curated menu highlight classics like steak frites, comforts like shrimp and grits, and of course seasonal and local favorites like shrimp linguine, scallops and mussels. We got the Franny Bistro salad which was generously portioned: they did not skimp on the feta, bacon, or ripped/toasted focaccia. Husband got the ribs and slaw. Ribs were extremely tender and the Hoisin glaze was so savoury. I got the shrimp and grits, with good ratio of jumbo shrimp to sausage. The cheddar grits were perfectly done. Impressively personable service. We celebrated our anniversary and all three staff (host, primary waitress and food runner) all congratulated us. I think there were two primary servers and two runners that evening, but they were effortlessly moving about the room. I was very pleased with the timing of dishes and never felt like we were waiting or not being 'attended' to. Bonus: my husband and I were amongst the last patrons in the restaurant as it closed for the evening and got to meet Franny!

    Photos
    Franny’s Bistro - Ambience amazing, food delicious! Personally not impressed by their tuna special but do not hesitate to give 5  Staff accomandating

    Ambience amazing, food delicious! Personally not impressed by their tuna special but do not hesitate to give 5 Staff accomandating

    Franny’s Bistro - Phenomenal fries

    Phenomenal fries

    Franny’s Bistro - Lamb chop special

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    Lamb chop special

    McLaughlin's Lobster Shack - seafood - Updated May 2026

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