The first time I ate at Red's I was a tourist visiting Maine. I ordered a crab roll and spent the evening in my hotel hugging a toilet. Years later, after I had moved to Maine, after I'd read all the hype and after passing seemingly endless queues alongside Route 1, I decided to give them another chance. I stood in line for a lobster roll that was very pricey, in part due to the fact that it held way more lobster meat than the normal person wants/needs. I would have appreciated the opportunity to order a much smaller one. The lady taking my order asked if I wanted it with butter or with mayo. I had never even heard of a lobster roll being served with butter, so I decided to give it a try. Mistake. Melted butter immediately coagulates on cold lobster meat. Not a great taste or mouth feel. Still, a few months later I vowed to give them one more try, this time ordering mayo with my lobster roll. It was frustrating to be handed a roll filled with plain lobster and a separate container of mayo. The lobster and mayo had not been mixed before serving; it was my job to assemble my own lobster roll. It was also the first time in my 25 years of living in Maine that a restaurant made me build my own lobster roll. Without a bowl to mix the ingredients in, the result was inefficient and messy. The Maine lobster roll is not a unique item. There are lobster pounds all up and down the coast serving this very same sandwich, and 99% of them don't ask you stand in line for hours alongside a major highway breathing car exhaust. Most lobster pounds serving the exact same meal are in idyllic locations, right on the shore next to the local docked lobster fleet. That's where I take friends and family when they visit. That's where the locals go for lobster. Do what the locals do and seek out these much better options. read more

My husband and I arrived at Red's just before they opened on a Saturday and jumped into the line. We waited about an hour until we got to the window. During the time that we were waiting the staff made sure that everyone was wearing masks, they provided water, and even some shrimp to try! I was most grateful for the umbrella they provided to protect guests waiting in line from the sun. We ordered a lobster roll and a scallop roll. Both were delicious! read more

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WOW they've really got it all down from the food to their service. We started down the block around the corner and waited 1.5 hours but it was worth it. Workers come around periodically to offer water and umbrellas while you're waiting. Once you order, the food comes out pretty quickly and they provide everything you may need from condiments, utensils, napkins, wipes, and mint. I was a bit skeptical about the hype and wait but this was one of the best lobster rolls I've ever had. The lobster roll was piled high ($34, August 2021). So much that we couldn't see the nicely toasted buttery bun but no complaints here! It does not come dressed so you can get it with either butter and/or mayo on the side. Definitely get the butter because their locally made Kate's Maine butter is the perfect pairing. And don't skip out on the fried scallops. They were so big and juicy and the batter was delicious. We also got the blueberry honey soda which went well with the meal. Even with the long wait, I'd definitely come back the next time I'm heading up north. They have a small patio right behind the shack to dine in and they will bring you your food or you can opt to take it to go and eat it at the picnic tables by the bridge/water. Highly recommend stopping by if you're close to the area!! FYI cash only. read more

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TWO HOURS! When the line is all the way beside the building & wraps around the back to the ice cream place, you're looking at a solid 2 hour wait. Is it worth it? YES!! There is a huge amount of lobster in their rolls. So fresh, sweet & delish. We got a side order of fried scallops, zucchini & onion rings. All were absolutely FABULOUS. Yes it I do it again. read more

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Amazing food, service, and ambiance! Best lobster roll we had during our 10 day Maine trip. When we were waiting in line, the head chef came and gave us a free appetizer to try: Fried lobster bites with a homemade lemon aioli and a side of butter. The app was so good we ordered one with our lobster rolls! The lobster rolls are perfect-- hunks of claw and tail meet piled up on a buttery bun. We also got the fried shrimps and they were fried in a homemade batter that was perfectly seasoned. Overall eating here was a fantastic experience. Totally worth the wait. Thanks Red's! read more

Red's Eats - Lobster bite - Seafood Near Me - Wiscasset, Maine

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A classic Maine favorite- we waited 2.25 hours and it was worth it! The weather was beautiful so we didnt mind standing in line but i must say, our legs were pretty tired. 36 dollars per lobster roll and worth every penny! The owner took our order and quickly brought over the yummy lobster. They close in a few days for the season so we were lucky to get our RED LOBSTER. Check out their website for the full menu. Highly recommend!! read more

Red's Eats - Seafood Near Me - Wiscasset, Maine

I've been to visit Maine twice in my life and each time, we've driven out of our way to dine here. The second time, just a few weeks ago, we rented a house about 1/2 hour away and literally the thing time I left the house was to come eat here. WORTH IT. I usually don't like lobster rolls where the meat is served cold, but somehow at Red's it doesn't matter... the meat is just so sweet and delicious, I don't think I even notice. It's served with a side of Kate's butter, but I ended up not even using it for most of the sandwich (and I love butter! But, don't we all?) There is so much lobster atop the roll, I usually eat some of the lobster alone and then I eat it as a roll once it's much, much smaller lol. We also tried the fried scallops and whole belly clams. It is served with either tartare sauce or cocktail sauce. We asked for both and she was kind enough to comply. The staff working here is so friendly! It's just a pleasant visit all around with everyone's welcoming demeanor and fresh, awesome seafood. Grab a table across the train tracks by the water and enjoy! read more

I will admit. I didn't want to like it. But I can't say more than that. It was really good lobster. Fresh. And plenty of it. There is warm butter sauce and they had amazing gluten free bread for a friend. I appreciate the ATM right there. Not sure why no credit cards but it was good. If I had more room I would have also gotten the fried clams, they offered a taste of the fried shrimp as we were standing in line and I was curious. And full! read more

I don't know what their system back there is, if they even have one, but I have never experienced such slow service in my life. They would take 1 order and then disappear for 10 minutes before taking the next. Surely there's a more efficient way to run this lil shack. read more

I grew up in Wiscasset and never stopped here until my last 50s. It was too expensive for my family, growing up. Plus I deemed it "a tourist spot". The lines are always long and the thought of waiting 45-60 minutes "just" for a lobster roll has never appealed to me. Still doesn't. A friend insisted we stop. The line WAS long. It always is. The counter staff were friendly and working as hard as they could. Route 1 traffic in the summer is a bear but if you can deal with it, and don't mind waiting on the sidewalk for a while, the roll is delicious. While it doesn't win MY number one spot, it is definitely in the top 5. read more

Huge portion, sweet lobster, great value compared to many other lobster rolls. I did, however, eat mine with a fork because literally it was too full to pick up! read more

Every year this is my favorite lobster roll. Worth the long wait in line. Deb was very welcoming and Katherine brought us our meals and made sure everything was perfect. See you next year!! read more

The line is no joke! Cash only! Came 90 mins before closing and still waited 45 mins. For the amount of lobster you get at this place, it's ridonculous! Definitely good value but I really enjoyed the lobster roll at Neptune's. I think I would have liked this more if the lobster was hot. It's cold lobster but not with the mayo so it's this in-between. Still good and filling and you have the hot drawn butter to make up for it but don't know if I'd come wait in this line again just for the lobster roll. But the underrated winner of the show.... Grilled hot dog. While waiting in line I chatted it up with the folks behind me and the guy said his grandparents live out this way. As a kid, they would eat across the street and laugh that him because he was waiting an hour for a hot dog. An hour for a hot dog? this I gotta try.... it DID NOT disappoint. The grilled hot dog was served in a buttery lobster roll with house-made sauerkraut and some mustard. The hot dog had a good snappiness to it since it was grilled and the buttery roll.... all hot dogs need to be served like this. And at $1.78!? uh we need 5 more please. Soooo glad I talk to strangers. Fried scallops + onion rings, both were a huge letdown. The scallops were large and seemed fresh but either the batter was not done well or the oil old. None of it was crispy and it was an oily doughy mess. I'd skip all their fried items in the future and/or maybe eyeball the orders as they are coming out to see if ours was a fluke. Also, I had my first whoopie pie here. Debating on that or the blueberry cake and cashier mentioned her mom made the whoopie pies so we tried that. These were super yum. Like a really fresh hostess cupcake. Overall, I'm not familiar with Maine so I'd definitely come back for this. Good value! Lobster, whoopie pie + hot dog Also, this stand is on a busy road and some folks driving by felt the need to give their 2 cents. My fav was, "it's just fish and bread". Um... last I checked lobster wasn't a fish... derp derp read more

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Go early or be in line by 5 to be served. We showed up around 12:30 and ended up waiting for about 2 hours in the pouring rain to try this place. They handed out umbrellas to people waiting in line as they became available from people ordering at the front. Luckily we had an umbrella and i had a raincoat as well. The lobster roll was $34 the day we went and it was very good. Unfortunately they only serve it cold but you can get hot butter on the side, which helps the outside of the lobster meat, not the inside though. Still very tasty and for how much you get...over two lobsters worth I'd buy it again. The other half got Mayo and used the bun to make a nice lobster roll for herself from the one we ordered and i picked at the claws and claw meat dunking it in the butter to enjoy. We also got fried mushrooms which were delish! Side of fried scallops which was only 4 but they were full not those cut in half things other places try to sell you thinking you're getting more when you're really not. They were good, not the best I've had as the coating was not entirely sealing the scallop so it was a bit crunchy and a tad dry. For dessert we got a whoopie pie and a piece of the maine blueberry cake. Both were refrigerated which lead to us not being very fond of them. They both just were too dense due to being cold and the whole scientific process of putting a moist cake like thing into refrigeration. We are partial to room temperature cake desserts that are soft. The place is a bit kitschy in decor and the entire seating area behind the shed you order from is posted with different foods, stories, the who's who of famous people that have been there, etc which you get to read while waiting in line forever! It's a bucket list mark off for sure and the lobster was good (great if you like maine lobster rolls aka cold) being from CT I like mine hot so just good because tomorrow night I'm going for a fresh hot lobster to fulfill my lobster dreams. read more

With no exaggeration, this is by far the longest I have ever waited in line for food. Just under 2 hours from the end of the line until we actually received our food. This is also the most I've ever spent on a meal for my son. And it was definitely worth the wait. While waiting in line, on a very hot summer afternoon, they're employees walked from the end of the line and offered us some water. Then walked around again and offered us watermelon. You don't see this type of service, literally anywhere nowadays. We ordered three lobster rolls and a can of moxie. Something that I did notice, and I gotta say it...I'm pretty sure their other fried seafood offerings are delicious, but if you're not ordering lobster rolls and ordering fried stuff, you're screwing it up for everyone behind you. You'll also be waiting a lot longer as well. Once we got up to the line and ordered our lobster rolls, we got them made instantly and off we went. If you order fried stuff, you'll be thrown to the side while they make your order. The lady taking our order was also super nice and really loves the homemade Maine butter that encourages you to try it with everything. And she does it for a reason because it was soo good on the lobster rolls. The lobsters rolls were full of meat and well worth the price. You get tons of lobster meat not just packed but covered on a bun with locally made Maine butter on the side. It's my understanding that Maine lobster rolls are served with mayo, which they do offer, but they really encourage that butter here for some reason. The lobster meat tasted very fresh, and the butter only enhances the flavor of the roll. You get about a full lobster and a 1/2 on every roll. Not really sure when I'd come again, but I might just make the trip every time I'm in Boston. read more

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Ah, the long-awaited (in more ways than one) Red's experience! My boyfriend and I roadtripped from FL and had Red's at the top of our list. We arrived around 12pm and there was already a line wrapped around the block, but that didn't stop us! We waited almost 2 hours and it was SO. WORTH. IT. At $27 a roll, you probably get 3 times the amount you would anywhere else. It was the most delicious piece of heaven I have ever invested. The whoopie pies are also a must-try! Oh, and we had our pup with us...the woman gave us a hotdog for her! We loved Red's and can't wait to return on our next trip to Maine!! read more

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Purists out there? This is perfection for lobster rolls. It is an entire lobster on a fresh roll served with local butter. We ordered fried zucchini, scallops and a lobster roll. All of it was incredible. The ladies running the place were friendly even though they were busy. We waited an hour but it was worth the wait and money. On the day we went the roll was $31. Cash only. The local blueberry honey soda was a surprisingly good treat. read more

This place was recommended to us by my daughter's friend and we were not expecting such a long line of people. It is a very small take out place and the line goes very slowly, however I did appreciate that the workers offered an umbrellas for shade and cold water to drink while waiting in line. They also have outdoor seating with umbrellas which was nice since it was a very warm day. Of course we got the lobster roll and an order of fish and chips. The roll was $23.95, which was quite pricey, but they are definitely generous with the lobster. The fish and chips was mediocre and not our favorite. We also got the Honey Sodas which were sweet and interesting. Since this was our first stop in Maine, we wanted to try the lobster roll, but not certain if the wait was worth it. The town in general appeared to be cute and quaint, but did not spend any time there. read more

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BEST lobster roll ever!!! We tried a couple others and it doesn't compare to red's. FYI...CASH ONLY.

Simply the best lobster rolls at Red's, seriously no one beats them!!! I am in Maine twice a year and have gone to a ton of places for lobster rolls and hands down Reds is the best in Maine!!! Stinks that they are only open seasonally because I could eat these all year round!! The portion is not only huge but so fresh and tasty! The line is completely worth the wait... read more

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When you wait 3 hours for a roll, it's hard not to say it's amazing. Nonetheless- this lobster roll is actually amazing. And it may have been the longest we've ever waited forever a sandwich before - but totally worth it (and we're not just saying that). The lobster was the freshest I've ever had. The meat is itself is a deep red and is so tender and moist, it practically melts in your mouth. It transcended what I thought lobster meat was - it was so fresh that the texture was different... not to overhype though. It was flat out delicious. And to get about 1 and 1/4 lbs of lobster in one massive roll - without having to do any of the legwork to get all the best parts - that made it a magical journey. They stuff the tails, claws, knuckles - basically everything except the eggs and mustard. You can barley see the roll. And they kept it simple- just a thing of butter... would have liked to have had a lemon too but that's okay. And I did find one small shell in my roll, but I'm not docking any points. That wait though- was a doozy. 5/5 for me. Next time though, we'll visit after 5:00 ok. read more

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Awesome spot for tourists! I enjoyed pick up and adventure. Found a spot on the coast to view the ducks and docked boats. Pretty long bridge into the wild too. read more

Reds Eats is dependably tasty. It has a reputation as a "must stop" place on Route One; honestly, if it wasn't for the location, it would probably be just another roadside lunch spot. My wife grew up in Wiscasset, so it was one that needed to be checked off the list. The lobster rolls are obviously tasty. The burgers are actually quite good! The crowds can be prohibitive. It's definitely a solid place to eat, but don't feel like you're missing out if the line is absurdly long, as it usually is. read more

First time yesterday. Beautiful day to go and wait in line (part of the experience). Based on quality of the food, I'm not sure the line could have gone any faster to serve people. Red's Eats was the last stop on our Lobster roll pilgrimage. Lobster was tender and plentiful (definitely as compared to the competitors we had sampled). Exceeded expectations- which were pretty high. Service with a smile. Will be back o our next trip to Maine. read more

I saw a story on Red's on the local Boston news so we knew going in that it was going to be a popular spot. No lies - the line is scary. We waited almost an hour on an early afternoon Saturday. Maybe it's quieter during the week but my guess is the place is always busy. Most important part of this review - the lobster roll. Yes, it's as amazing and delicious as advertised. Huge chunks of lobster. If the line were half as long, I'd definitely wait again for that lobster roll. It's market price and market price is apparently pretty high in this area and was a steep $34. We had waited in line so long that obviously we had to try something else. We got the blueberry cake. Not great. Messy and kind of clumpy. We also got a pint of clams (again, market price was kind of outrageous) and I guess I'm used to Massachusetts style coating because I really didn't like the coating at all. Very thick and greasy and not what I was expecting. My partner loved them though and devoured them all in no time. The house made tartar sauce was lovely. To be honest, I'm not local and it was quite a drive and then that line was horrible so the likelihood I ever return is slim. I would say go and do it, no matter the line size, if you are in the area just to experience that lobster roll because it was as close to perfection as you can get and I've had a lot of lobster rolls over the years. read more

Red's Eats - Amazing lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Wiscasset, Maine

I arrived at 12 noon thinking I was ahead of the long lines that form quickly but that's not the case. I was prepared for the wait anyway. Earbuds in, cap on to shield the sun, and patience, I waited. It's refreshing to see servers handing out water and umbrellas to keep people hydrated and shaded. Another note, I've been to Reds Eats before but it's been over fifteen years, and I didn't remember it being a cash or check only thing. Goodness! Glad they had an atm. Having waited two hours, that would have been a bummer if the atm weren't available. Yes it's a hefty fee but who cares. The food is worth the wait! The only place in Maine that literally piles on the lobster! Tender, juicy, sweet, succulent, tender lobster! Oh sooo good. The clams were amazing too! It's a must have! Here's the winning moment for Reds, I believe it was the daughter, Debbie at the window who remembered to thank me by name after having finished my meal aa I was leaving. Shouting out from the little window, she thanked me by name for coming. That really touched the heart and made the entire experience worth the wait! Great job to the legacy team! read more

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Red's Eats serves up lobster rolls that are ABSOLUTELY LOADED!! These might be the best lobster rolls I've ever had and although the wait was long, it was absolutely worth it. A must stop if you are ever in Maine! We got two lobster rolls ($31 each) which were just overflowing with juicy lobster nuggets. The lobster here has a sweet juiciness to it, and two lobster rolls were plenty enough for 3 people. The butter is also amazing - they use a local butter which I found to be more salty and rich. Adding this butter to the lobster rolls just took it to another level. We also got a side of freshly cut tomatoes which were nice to eat to balance all the lobster we had. Definitely prepare for a long wait. We went on a Thursday and got there around 11:15 (they opened at noon) and ended up eating at around 12:45. The staff give you ice water and umbrellas which was nice of them while everyone stood out in the sun. 10/10 read more

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We rolled to Red's an hour before they open and we weren't the first in line. By the time they opened, there were about 50 people in line. The owner is super friendly, the staff follow her lead by bringing out the growing line water and fried shrimp to sample. We ordered two lobster rolls and blueberry and lemon zinger sodas. I am born and raised on the seacoast of New Hampshire and this lobster roll is by far, the best I have ever had. The butter. You wouldn't think it would matter, but it does. Fantastic! There is a reason Red's has won so many awards, the lines are so long and why there are occasional fist fights at this place...its simply the best. I will rarely wait in line for food, but this place is one of those places I would be happy to stand in line for. Protip-Get there EARLY. By the time we left, there were well over 100 people in line. read more

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The lobster was piled high and somewhere underneath was a bun buried deep. The butter was salty and sweet. The scallops were fresh but the breading came off from the extra juices they produce after being fried (it happens often). It was good but I'm not sure if it was 3hrs standing on the line good. Nevertheless it's a staple so if you're in town, give it a try. read more

You can say one thing, "whole lot of lobster". They definitely give you a lot of lobster on a toasted bun, with a side of hot butter and Mayo, so you can do it your way! It's cold, fresh lobster. I personally like the warm lobster rolls I got in Connecticut and offered in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, warm with hot butter on a roll. Best warm lobster rolls were out of Rey, New Hampshire at Rey harbor lobster pound! Took about ten minutes to get waited on and served. About half the price but about half as much lobster! You can't beat the costumer service though here, it's exceptional. Cold water while you wait, ice water for your dog and a hot dog if you want! . It took us two hours to get waited on and served our rolls. My husband said worth the wait but liked it better warm too! Go! You won't be sorry! It's the experience too that you have to enjoy! read more

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The hype is justified, as Red's is as good as it gets for a lobster roll around here. The line was long - went in early June and waited 45min to order and another 10 to get the food. Service was friendly and we found some seats on the deck in the back. Waiting next to the highway can be noisy, so might be wise to leave just one of your party in line while others check the local ships around. The lobster roll was great, and the melted butter rounded the flavors perfectly. The shrimp basket was good as well, nicely fried amd well seasoned. Good tartar sauce too. read more

Red's Eats - Line on a friday in june, 2pm, took 45min to order and 10 to get food. Not bad - Seafood Near Me - Wiscasset, Maine

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You get more than what you pay for ! I've dreamed about getting these lobster rolls ever since I started planning our trip up the east coast four months ago. They pile the lobster high, the service is quick and friendly and we loved sitting down by the water while enjoying our delicious, buttery lobster roll! read more

Red's Eats - Seafood Near Me - Wiscasset, Maine

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The hype is warranted! Yes we stood in line for over an hour, and yes a lobster roll is $31 and yea I would do it again. The roll is HEAPED with perfectly prepared lobster and there's a side of real butter--just heavenly. Appreciated the staff offers of umbrellas and cold water while we were in line. read more

First off you will wait.....a while. Yes there are 2 other options directly across the street. However, if you want award winning?? Then wait!!! The lobster is sweet, fresh and delicious! Piled high on a traditional bun, you can choose butter (locally made) or mayo.....but that's all it is!! The scallops and clams were fried perfectly - not over breaded or fried to death. The staff was amazing - offered customers umbrellas and water while waiting. And for a line that probably doesnt stop from open to close they were all smiling. So I will say that 2 hours was beyond worth it!! read more

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I think everyone is waiting for an hour and a half and they feel they HAVE to leave a good review. I'm not so sure though. I will give them a full five stars for the incredible lobster meat, it really was THAT good. But I have to honestly say that nothing else was. The batter for scallops and onion rings was overblown and overcooked and the fries were quite honestly McDonalds styled with no potato taste, just a fried taste. Let me put it this way, I would definitely go back for the lobster roll, no doubt about that. But with its actual roll and everything else in this meal (at $80) being well below the average, it's hard to really recommend it. read more

Red's Eats - Well there it is! It was great, my first time using butter only. - Seafood Near Me - Wiscasset, Maine

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Locals like myself will always have a love hate relationship with Reds for how it can contribute to traffic nightmares in the summer. The fact is, it's worth it. The lobster roll is everything the magazines say it is and more. read more

We went for our first time at Red's on a trip home from Bar Harbor. We (including my pup) got there as soon as it opened and the staff were incredibly kind. They provided my dog complimentary water bowl and a hot dog. I did think the line was incredibly long. We got there at 11:30 when they opened and were in line for almost 1.5 hrs. The portions were massive and the lobster was fresh. In my opinion, this place has big portions and a very good dipping butter but other than that it's more for experience of the huge sizes. You can't beat the portion for the price. I was actually full eating a lobster roll. The cons was no credit card and the inefficiency of the line, it was very very slow. read more

Red's Eats - Seafood Near Me - Wiscasset, Maine

We have driven by for years and not yet stopped, but this time was on a Sunday morning and we were almost first in line. We had the lobster rolls and half pint of clams. They serve the lobster chilled, but with drawn butter to pour over the sandwich. Insanely yummy and definitely needed a fork! More lobster on a roll than any other place in Maine we've ever had one. Clams are fresh, lightly breaded and served with house made cocktail or tartar sauces. We got both and they were both tasty! It started to rain just as we walked out to eat on the hood of our car. It was an amazing memory!!! read more

Red's is the type of place you plan your trip around. Last year I ate at Red's for the first time. At that point I knew I'd never had a lobster roll as good. I had a lot to compare having had eight lobster rolls in seven days. I was anxious to see if this was a fluke or was I in for another gastronomical treat. First let it be known that on average, your wait is an hour. Last year we were first in line before their opening at 11:30 (fall hours). We arrived at about 10:20. This year, we arrived in the middle of the afternoon and were about 40th in line. We were eating in about an hour as well. Bottom line-it doesn't matter when you arrive. Allow about an hour. Red's Eats is a tiny Lobster Shack with a pretty impressive menu that goes beyond lobster. All seating is outdoor with many tables having umbrellas. Service is extremely friendly and responsive. On to my meal! I of course ordered the Lobster Roll. The name doesn't come close to describing what they serve you. Large, whole lobster pieces instead of tiny pieces mixed with celery and mayonnaise are piled miles high on a hot dog type roll. Trust me, you won't even attempt to pick it up and eat as a sandwich until you've eaten about 75% with a knife and fork. The drawn butter they serve is a perfect accompaniment. I wish I could sample some other of the menu items which I see others eating but I never get past the lobster roll. Simply put, I was once again in food heaven! Red's was my third lobster roll on this trip. I'm done-you don't go backwards. (also note-Red's is cash only) read more

Red's Eats - Lobster Rolls!! - Seafood Near Me - Wiscasset, Maine

Red's is a family tradition for me. My parents first took me in the 1970's, and I have been a loyal customer since my first visit. The lobster roll is legendary for a reason; but part of the experience is the camaraderie of waiting in line with your fellow customers (sometimes even with Santa). read more

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