The new upstairs is nice. Downstairs is still trashy. The down stairs manager working the bar at night on August 16th 2026 was terrible and extremely rude. read more

Classic spot to visit while in Kennebunkport! If you could only order one thing, I would say you MUST get the clam chowder. Super yummy, served in an oversized mug, it makes the perfect snack, appetizer, or even meal. Fast service despite being busy over lunch, panoramic views from their top floor dining area. read more

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Such a fun spot! Sitting on the boat is first come first serve, we found low top table for 5 right away! And a group of 5 came in before us and also found a table. There is table service. Ribs were dry rub, I wish they had a sauce but it was yummy. Fries were good and held up well as leftovers in the oven later. Cool spot with a great view!! read more

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"Take me to the pilot, lead me through the chamber Take me to the pilot, I am but a stranger" (Elton John) Our convention committee was in town celebrating last summer's successful event after years of planning. Five of us headed for lovely Kennebunkport, but where should we meet for lunch? Choosing a lunch spot could've taken all afternoon, but a trusted local steered us toward the Pilot House. So that's where we met up -- and it ended up being a terrific lunch. It has a scenic location in a harbor on the Kennebunk River, where the whole waterfront is dotted with boats. The big dining room is equally pretty with colorful nautical flags covering the ceiling and maritime décor everywhere. Pilot House was packed, I mean pretty much every table and every barstool, but after a short wait a table opened up for us. Our server, Carley was great- with a super nice attitude and quick water glass delivery. Pilot House's menu has plenty of seafood options among its appetizers, soups, salads, baskets, sandwiches, and entrees. I went with their Fish Tacos ($19) - "Golden fried haddock, red cabbage slaw, queso fresco & house made candied jalapeño aioli. Served on flour tortillas". I asked Carley if I could get the fish grilled instead of fried, and that was no problem. I loved the tacos; the fish was plentiful, flaky and tender and that jalapeño aioli was excellent. One of the other meals at our table included an interesting one. Ever hear of a Haddock Reuben? It was $21.00 for a marble rye sandwich with fried haddock, coleslaw, 1000 Island & Swiss cheese. Not a morsel was left behind. Two of us went with a Fried Baby Shrimp Basket ($24), a huge feast of golden fried baby shrimp, French fries, coleslaw & cocktail sauce. We were seated in the far-right side of the dining room by a bank of windows, and I noticed what looked like a huge yacht connected to the restaurant by a walkway. Turns out there is a restaurant bar up there. I so wanted to scoot up there for a few photos, but it wasn't open for the season yet. Oh well, maybe next time. Just another reason to visit the Pilot Hose because the food and dining experience were top-notch. read more

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The ship is first come first serve but service- meh. Now the indoor restaurant was awesome. The servers were all very nice. I had Caesar salad with grilled chicken and the hubby had clam chowder , which was the best I have ever had, and the Rueben. All absolutely delicious!! read more

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Came in here for lunch while in town. I had a lobster roll which was good and had nice flavoring. Friend had the clam chowder which didn't care for and said it was bland. Server was polite and helpful. We ate outside on back patio overlooking the boat seating and the marina. Nice atmosphere. read more

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We sat on the boat out back. Great vibes watching the sun go down on the water, good tunes and fast service. We had sun cruisers so no idea how the drinks are there but the food was delicious. We had the calamari and the shrimp po boy burger. I would recommend both. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - View from behind me at the bar - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

We ate at The Pilot either 9/10/26 or 9/11/26. The male greeter was rude. It was our first time there and when we walked in, he asked, "What do you want?" If we were regulars, we would have known that he was asking, Do you want to eat at the main level, upstairs, or on the ship? I let him know it was our first time and he seemed put out that he had to explain they had three different areas. We ended up eating upstairs. The server was friendly, but it wasn't busy at all, and she wasn't interested in checking on us, or refilling our empty glasses. She was more interested in talking to her co-workers and using her cell phone. She had a clear shot of out table from the station the servers use and she ignored us. I had to get up to and take my glass to her to get another drink. She didn't seemed concerned that a customer had to go to her. Food wasn't awful, but also wasn't that good. Will not return. read more

We went because it was right across from whale watching. It was a cute place, and the attached boat was cool. The food was good, just maybe more dinner price than lunch price. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

We are Visiting from Florida. Hotel guests and our shuttle driver have heard good things so, we decided to give it a try for lunch. Very clean. No fishy smell. Able to eat inside or outside overlooking Kennebunk. Great views of boat traffic.Staff friendly. Haddock bites starter was excellent and a meal in itself. Large chunks of tasty fish with just right amount of batter. Baked haddock with 2 sides was also excellent. Large portion and reasonably priced. I would reorder these dishes again and again..... No hesitation to recommend this place. read more

I ate at the Pilot House for the first time during my last trip to Maine. What a wonderful place! I went with a large party and we were seated upstairs, there were huge windows with beautiful views, the space was large and beautifully decorated. All 18 people I was with loved their meal, the service was excellent especially with such a huge group. We will be eating here again on our next visit as well! read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Chicken fried rice - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Exceptional service and absolutely delicious food had fish and chips that was the best fish ever had and the chips with ranch flavor was crust and perfect. Husband had lobster roll and coleslaw that he said was delicious. Highly recommend prices were fair as well. Ambiance was great however extremely loud need music to de tease noise of so many people talking loudly. read more

The Pilot house to me is very similar to several other restaurants down here in the dock square area, both in menu and in reliability. They have all your standard seafare bar food, as well as some other options. I love the variety in vibes depending on where you sit. The restaurant has 3 floors, with the upstairs feeling more upscale in vibe and the downstairs more family oriented. In the warm months, they also have seating on the big boat outside, which is super fun. I always bring out of owners here just for this boat vibe alone. The drinks definitely taste like they are made using premade mixes, and purées, so their price tag feels very high for what you get. The food is definitely average, with some items better than others. The clam chowder is THICK but it has exceptional flavor. The fried pickles are solid. All in all, I would highly suggest coming in the summer to grab a beer or drink on the boat while sharing some apps with friends, but skip it if you are looking for a high quality meal that will leave you wanting to return for dinner. read more

My first time at The Pilot House, and I was pleasantly surprised. The ambiance and environment were really nice and open--you can tell it was recently renovated from the old setup. We were seated upstairs, which has a completely different vibe. I ordered a Bloody Mary and initially thought it just didn't have enough alcohol--turns out there was none at all, even though I was ID'd. Others in my party also felt like their drinks had little to no alcohol. The food portions were big, and everything came out fresh and hot. A little pricey, but that's probably expected given the location. Overall, the food was delicious, and I'd potentially come back. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Chicken Cesar Sandwhich - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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I love the local charm of the Pilot House Restaurant! There's a beautiful bar and seating arrangement on the first floor. Lots of boat decorations to make it extra nautical. There is a second floor, which feels more like a restaurant lounge with wide open spaces. You can also dine on top of a docked boat, which is connected to the second floor of the Pilot House. My friend and I got cocktails and fried fish bites. Absolutely delicious and a great atmosphere to enjoy with company! read more

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The greeters were wonderful. Our waitress, Delaney, was wonderful. The food..... disgusting. The clams and scallops were obviously pre fried and then microwaved for service. They were rubbery and seriously overcooked. In this location there should be nothing but fresh fried. The food arrived so fast I knew it wasn't fried fresh. They obviously care about turnaround over quality. The inadequacy of the kitchen is evident. read more

Went here for a private event and was perfect place. Huge venue with large windows overlooking the water. Ambiance was perfect and were able to have platters of snacks- pizzas, shrimp, fries. Great for a centralized buffet and perfect to hold tons or people. Really loved this spot and recommend read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Snacks and drinks - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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I had a cup of clam chowder here today around 2:30pm. When it was served, it was lukewarm at best. I asked to have it nuked in the microwave and when she brought me out a new bowl, it was warmer but not hot. It was thick, but extremely bland with large potato chunks but not very many clams. I tried adding pepper, but it still tasted like paste. I only ate half of the cup, if that, and now my stomach is starting to revolt. Do not get the clam chowder! read more

Two bars, two levels, good food at a decent price. What more could you ask for. The food and the the service were great. We will be back.

I think it has the best chicken, fries, and gelato in Maine. Super nice staff and great service.

First time experiencing The Pilot House was and the food was delicious! I had the Baked Haddock, while my boyfriend got the Baked Mac n' Cheese w/ Chicken. Both were absolutely to die for :) Service was great and the restaurant was decorated for the holidays -- beautiful! read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Baked Mac and Cheese w/ Chicken - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

The owner has some anger issues. He accused us of calling his staff a**holes and came over to scream at us in the parking lot! He told us to leave after refusing to let us talk to the employee who complained. We were all shocked! We never said anything to the staff, and had pleasant interactions with them. It was very confusing and disappointing. The owner should consider hiring people to run the business and take a back seat. He clearly has no people skills. read more

I never realized this place was here and I've been coming here for decades! I'm so happy I found it yesterday. We were told the family run restaurant underwent a major renovation 3 years ago which included adding a 3rd bar on The Spirit of Massachusetts ship. The lower level of the main restaurant is more casual than the 2nd level, both being extremely well themed and decorated (the 2nd level is really beautiful). There are also a few tables outside on the second level next to the ship entrance. We sat there and had a great view of much of Kennebunkport, including the water/boats. The food was delicious. We got the calamari, fish tacos and a smash burger. The waitstaff were all super friendly. I'm looking forward to going back and checking out the bar on the boat (we had a child with us and it's for 21& over). Btw, they are located in the big building behind the very popular Clam Shack. I wish they had more signage out front so everyone could see it (it's possible I missed it). Thank you, Pilot House! read more

Friendly staff, fluffy fish and chips. So delicious. Perfect start to my Maine vacation.

they didn't let us in cuz a group of us came in to spend money? it kinda was weird? we were willing to tip and spend money! so odd literally denied us entry read more

Had a meal here today 4/18/26 not very busy I had scallops and my wife had hadock.1,haddock had enough oil in it to change the oil in your car French fries were the same scallops had zero flavor small and as greasy as the fries no alcohol all for the tune of 105.00 without tip what a fucking ripoff will never go there again!!!!!!!! read more

Lovely location! We were able to bring our dog up and sit on the porch. Lovely view of the harbor! The staff were very friendly and our server was great! We had coconut shrimp (yum!), fish tacos and fried clams. Highly recommend! read more

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Booked a boat tour and asked for a good local spot to eat. Pointed me to Pilot House and was glad I took the recommendation. Interior decor and views from second floor were amazing. Food was great and pricing was fair considering the location. Check them out when you're in the area. read more

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Great atmosphere and friendly staff. We had a very comfortable visit on the second floor. The prices were very reasonable.

Warm inviting atmosphere. Food was delicious & our waitress delightful. Recommend it to anyone who wants the local vibe.

Enjoyed a nice lunch here while in town for a work trip. The construction is a bit distracting but it will be exciting to see what the new building looks like when it's completed. Most of our group ordered the lobster roll because, Maine. There was a relatively large piece of shell hidden in mine, but otherwise it was delicious. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Lobster roll. - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

The clam chowder and steamers were good. Average compared to like placed. The ambiance was bright and clean. Wendy our server provided excellent service. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - The Pilot House - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

We came here for our 65th wedding anniversary dinner. the staff was exceptional .Our server she was the best. Barb was very pleasant and made sure we had eveything we needed. also took her time with putting in our entree so we could enjoy our salad. The sirloin strip steak dinner was exceptional. Thank You for the surprise gift when we got back to our BnB. We recommend this restaurant it is a beautiful place for decor and food.We would most deffinatinately go back. Paul and Edith read more

Nice view. Parking in the back. Good service. Haddock sandwich was not that tasty. Caesar salad needed more dressing. I was glad they had sweet potato fries on the menu. Prices at the restaurant are higher than on the Web. I won't rush back. read more

Had to wait 20 minutes even though the place was deserted. The food was gross, overpriced, and the washrooms were filthy. Such a bad experience. read more

Fine eatin'. Truly. Better than Opie would get from Ain't Bea. All food was created with expert perfection. Everything is great about this place. Band too. Thursday at 8:45pm is "Kareoke." That's great too. read more

This restaurant deserves 5*. Lobster roll flight of three different sandwiches a great choice. Large chunks of really fresh lobster.Bread toasted perfectly. Add a cup of clam chowder for a perfect meal. read more

I rate this a 3.7. Only came for the bar so I can not rate the food at the moment, I'm sorry. But I went on the boat and ordered a beer, the total time was 5 mins to get my beer which is great. Only problem is boats are meant for the ocean, not the parking lot next to the ocean. A little disappointed, but the boat was awesome to drink on and explore. But #WhereIsMyCapatin. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

We stopped by to try out the new digs since the last time we were here was in the old building, and the schooner was still floating nearby. The new building is much much bigger, having two floors and offering beautiful views from their large windows. When entering, you'll be coming in near their bar area, which is both busy and loud, and of to the right is a dining area that shares in the noise. The 2nd floor is substantially quieter, has its own bar, a nice seating area, and dining tables. I recommend putting for the 2nd floor. The food was very, very good, and the menu choices should satisfy most anyone's taste. The schooner is now a permanent attachment to the building and connected with an inclined walkway. It has a nice bar area with limited munchies and great views. It's a great spot to wait for your table or just to pop in for a fun experience. I don't recommend the schooner for those with mobility issues. There is plenty of parking available their prices seem reasonable considering the quality and portion sizes of the items and the novelty and setting within Kennybunkport. If you found this review helpful, please let me know by tapping the thumbs up. Thanks! read more

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Nothing special. Good chowder but haddock was tasteless. Potato's were cold. Don't recommend. Very disappointing.