If you ask my Mom where her favorite spot in Maine for seafood is, she'll probably say The Bait Shed in Pine Point. But if you ask me--Emma the pup--my favorite restaurant? Paws down, it's The Bait Shed! Not only is it a perfect spot for waterfront dining, but the staff is absolutely exceptional. They treat four-legged guests like royalty. Every time I visit, I get my very own burger cooked to paw-fection () and served in a frisbee, with fresh water in a cool red beach pail. Talk about first-class service for us pups! After I clean my plate, I drag my human over to Pine Point Beach for a stroll. Gotta sniff, wag, and maybe chase a seagull or two. Sad news though... the Bait closes on 9/28/25. But don't worry--I'll be back next year. Tail waggin', paws ready, frisbee plate and all! read more

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The pro-tip to enjoy the Bait Shed is to visit before tourist season starts and during the week. Sauntered right in with no wait on a Wednesday. What everyone's saying regarding parking is true: there's a small lot but even during lunch it was nearly full. Plenty of seafood options and drinks to enjoy on a summer day. The prices were steep, but comparable to what you'd see in most of the beachy areas. The strawberry lemonade was a refreshing and sugary delight. There were two older ladies behind us having the time of their lives with two electric blue colored drinks. The bowl of chowder was a large portion for $12 and a pack of oyster crackers. Salty, flavorful and plenty of clams. The lobster roll was priced at $33/$44/$50ish for amount of meat. My husband and I split the "medium" sized and requested them to halve it for us. It was a good sized portion to share, with chips and a side of coleslaw. Service was neighborhood friendly and on a sunny day, sitting out on the water with freshly caught seafood leaves little room to complain - even if the prices are a little steep! read more

A summer in Maine is never complete with a visit (or several) to the Bait Shed. Going to the Bait Shed has become a tradition, and we look forward to it every year. We could sit on those picnic tables staring at the blue water and sipping Bloody Marys daily. The service is always excellent -- they make you feel like family from the minute you walk in -- and the vibe is unmatched. It's not loud (unlike some other places in Portland's Downtown), but it is lively and full of energy. We also love that they take reservations via Resy, as sometimes they get pretty packed, especially over the weekend. The drinks are great, and the food never disappoints. Bloody Marys are $10 if you get their house vodka, and they're always so good. We've tried their flatbreads and rolls, but most of the time, we opt for the eat-and-peel shrimp, which is easily splittable and hits the spot during those summer days by the water. read more

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I cannot give The Bait Shed more than three stars as a local Mainer. This is mostly due to the headache there is of parking nearby (I encourage giving their small parking lots a chance, as they do have them available) and the price of food. You'll likely be paying to park in the nearby public parking lot at Pine Point beach. And the price of lobster rolls / other seafood is SO much more than what you can produce the same thing (if you're willing to go to a fish market or a local lobsterman) cooking the lobsters on your own. On top of my two biggest quarrels with what the Bait Shed has to offer, I struggle with places that are inundated by an overwhelming amount of people during the summer. I think we hung around and waited nearly an hour for a table and this was in a relatively not-busy time. Having said that, I did enjoy sitting on the back deck at the Bait Shed. And when you ignore the bill at the end of your meal, you can enjoy the lobster roll because it is fresh meat and they keep the process simple and beautiful. If I'm ever back at the bait shed, I would skip other parts of the menu. Our mussels were bland and some of the items on other people's tables were underwhelming in their appearance. If you're making your way to the bait shed, stick to the lobster rolls or other signature dishes (fish & chips, crab cakes, crab rolls, twin lobsters, baked lobster or baked haddock). read more

The Bait Shed - triple lobster roll (enough for two people) - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

Beautiful day for a great lunch Can't beat the views and just perfect for a nice mother-son lunch. Staff is very friendly. Attentive to our relaxed schedule. Parking is available but can fill out fast. Street parking is very limited if any. But the crowd moves so you usually don't have to wait too long for a spot. read more

The Bait Shed - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

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The Bait Shed and nearby businesses are a convenient lunch spot located near Pine Point Beach. We came around 2pm and were added to a waiting list for about 20 minutes. They do have a line of Adirondack chairs facing the ocean while you wait. Once we were seated and got our food, the service declined significantly. We were seated kind of tucked in around the restaurant where servers were speedily bussing tables but waited a good 20 minutes until our server offered the check. I thought the food was OK. I had a lobster roll, and my friend had a crab roll. The amount of lobster was expected but deceiving on the roll, which is a massive hot dog-like roll. The slaw was good, though overall food was standard, nothing too memorable. read more

Went here for a dinner the other night and we always love their outdoor seating. You get a god view of the water and you're right next to the beach. Service is always amazing and the prices are very good for the portions, which are huge. I got the oyster and mussels to start. Oysters were okay and nothing special. The mussels are great though and the sauce they bath in is so good with tons of flavor. For my main I got the clam chowder and the crab flatbread. The chowder is very good and very big. It's super creamy and there are tons of clams. The flatbread was also very good and the ingredients all worked very well. I prefer the lobster flatbread but I thought I would give it a try and it was still very good. I finished everything I ordered and left very happy. Finished off with some of their whoopie pies which are always huge and always amazing. Definitely recommend coming here on a nice evening for some great prices on lobster and huge portions. Flavors are always good and I always leave happy. Definitely recommend this spot! read more

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This place never disappoints! It's a great place to have lunch on a beautiful summers day, or dinner while catching the sunset. I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time to ensure that you'll have a table. This place gets really busy as it's a great place to go in the summer. The food is simply delicious. Fresh. The tuna poke was heavenly with seaweed and avocado. The lobster flatbread is my absolute favorite. Fresh picked lobster, cheese, garlic butter and a crust that's equally soft and crunchy. The portions are perfect. The service was prompt, friendly, and courteous. I love that the servers have a point of sale system with an integrated credit card- pay right there- no running the card at the bar! If you're looking for a great summertime place, the Bait Shed has you covered. Highly recommend! read more

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The food is 5/5 but service was a bit curt. We also came on a gooomy rainy day which definitely changed the vibe/ambiance at no fault of the restaurant. On a sunny day I could imagine it would be impossible to not hit 5 stars! The lobster bisque was very delicious and fresh chunks of lobster made it all the more indulgent. We shared a few main courses and (as expected) the lazy man's lobster impressed! The breading is buttery and rich in the best way. We also had the stuffed haddock, the lobster roll and the scallops. The stuffed haddock came in second place. Everything was delicious but those were out top 2. Wish there was an option to swap sides (as we had the same asparagus and rice pilaf with each dish). Otherwise no complaints food wise and think if you can make a reservation on a sunny day this is an excellent option for lunch or dinner! read more

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4 years later and this place still doesn't fail me! The peaceful views on the water aren't going anywhere and I suggest trying to go closer to sunset. I absolutely love coming here, every summer. The quality and service of the food is still immaculate. I will say, it's definitely gotten much busier but I've waited no more than 45 minutes on a busy, beautiful summer Friday or Saturday. I do still suggest making a reservation through Resy! I'm obsessing over their caesar salad with lobster - it's sooooo good! Also, try the crab roll if you get a chance - it's a nice option if you're tired of lobster rolls. But honestly, you can never have too many lobster rolls. read more

The Bait Shed - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

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The food has really gone downhill, and the prices have gone up It has always been a place that we would take guests for an introduction to the area read more

Highly recommend, regular customer, excellent lobster dishes and whole lobsters, order the fresh Maine blueberry pie with ice cream. Great ambiance, right on the water, close up view of lobster boats. Very friendly wait staff and fast service. read more

Lobster right off the boat. Outdoor seating on the Scarborough River Highly recommend. Limited seating. read more

I had the lobster roll which was amazing and my husband had the scallops which he said were absolutely delicious! We always make this place a must when visiting Maine! read more

The Bait Shed - Lobster Roll Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

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Sitting outside was great. At first they stuck us in the corner were it was cold and dark but then we moved to the bar area and the sun felt amazing. Service was great and quick. Chowder was really delicious and same with the oysters. Lobster roll was rolled in mayo and I wish I had the option to choose butter or mayo. Also the roll was huge but not enough lobster for the expensive price. read more

Incredible. Stopped by tonight after a day at the beach. We didn't have a reservation but were seated on the dock immediately. Our server was prompt and very friendly. We ordered the crab avocado salad and the scallops. Both were shockingly good! I was half expecting food to be average given some other experiences we've had, but this food is worth driving for. Would absolutely be back. Reasonably priced for fresh seafood as well. Oh and don't even get me started on the stellar view! read more

The Bait Shed - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

We came here after seeing it posted on Instagram and it was great! The seating was on a pier which was great and beautiful but it was very hot and the umbrellas didn't offer any shade. I gave the kids each a pair of sunglasses and we made it though the meal! Everything we had was great! The portion of steamers was huge and the lobster was seasoned very well. I even enjoyed the potato salad! The kids shared hot dog kids meals and they were content! The service was speedy and very friendly and we were able to call ahead and add our name to the list so we didn't have to wait there with the kids. read more

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Cute little spot on the water! Came for the lobster dinner and it did not disappoint. I like how they have all different sizes to choose from and you can also do twin lobsters which is what my husband did. I had a margarita special they had and it was very yummy. Our server was very nice and was telling us all about the different size lobsters they had and how they just sold a 4lb one! It's a cool spot to sit outside on their deck and have a drink and a yummy lobster dinner! read more

The Bait Shed - 1 1/2 lb Lobster Dinner Plate - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

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Great evening- food and service excellent. The manager cracked the lobster and couldn't be nicer.

We had a boiled lobster dinner 1.5lbs. It came with corn and a small potato salad. Lobster was tasty and corn was delicious. The potato salad was very wet and seemed pre-made. We sat outside with a nice view of the bay. They allowed our dog to dine with us. Which was a nice bonus! We had the blueberry pie for dessert. It was a hot mess! Definitely not homemade. Our service was ok. Started out very slow but got better. It was on the pricey side at $31 for a lobster. Nice sunset here. Maybe that's why the prices are on the high end. read more

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We are year rounders and love to support our local establishments but after coming here over the years it has fallen into tourist trap territory. While you can't top the view which is always fantastic and postcard worthy, the food and service have declined significantly. We had friends from New Jersey join us and several had the haddock dinner which all were way beyond over done. For $36 each this was very disappointing. The service was inattentive at best as we felt second rate the entire time. To top this off the restrooms were an embarrassing mess. Very sad to see that this is how far they have fallen. read more

Loved the location, vibe and service. Hubby's scallops were excellent as was the drink du jour. I have no idea what I was served which was supposed to be twin lobster tails. Instead I received 4 maybe 2 inch in diameter lobster tail shell sections with a very small amount of white tasteless rubbery meat. Lobster penises, infant lobster tails, or something else? read more

$53 for lobster mac 'n cheese. That kimd of sums up the menu pricing. My niece had anxiety that her mom could not afford it and it might affect her college fund (her mom chose the place). Everything good is at least $50+. No water. No bread. No lights. No candle. Barely any sides. Barely saw the server. This place is crazy! read more

I'm a summer and fall resident.. not a tourist; and we have never been accommodated by the hostess staff .. tried again a couple of days ago at 4 pm, and was offered 2 seats at the bar (high top), stuck between 2 people.. needless to say we walked out, as the MANY empty tables were remaining empty for 5 pm reservations.. shaking my head trying to figure this place out .. read more

We're in the area for a few days and have taken on a gourmand mission, searching for the best restaurant we could find in just 4 days. And the winner is ... The Bait Shed. A local Elite Yelper recommended The Bait Shed and he definitely knew what he was talking about. Reservations are strongly recommended so my wife and I made reservations for Sunday at 11:00 am. We were the first ones there but within 45 minutes there was a wait time. All seating is outdoors on the dock overlooking the estuary. The day was a bit warm and muggy, but the tide was coming in so there was a gentle cool breeze. Our server, Allyson, was cheerful and attentive. She answered our questions and then we ordered. My wife started with a Caesar Salad and I with the Avocado Crab Salad. The Caesar Salad was fresh with shaved Parmesan and delicious dressing. My Crab Salad was outstanding, ringed with cherry tomatoes and fresh slices of avocados with an ample amount of crab that was the freshest as I've had. For my wife's entree, she ordered the Crab Flatbread (think thin crust artisan pizza) with crab, artichokes, garlic cream, arugula and feta cheese. It was delicious (she even shared some with me). I could eat just that every day. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Poke and the Ceviche. Absolutely heavenly. I can still dwell on the tastes of the feast. If I lived here, this out of the way beach restaurant would be a regular go to. Thanks Allyson for being part of our memories. read more

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If you want fresh lobsters, this is the place for you! I came here with my husband and two of our friends for lunch and the twin lobsters we had did not disappoint. The meat was super juicy and paired well with the butter on side. They also had steamed maine clams (as most places would in portland), which were also equally as good as the lobsters. In short, i will definitely be back here again for my next trip to Portland to enjoy their lobsters again :) read more

The Bait Shed - Twin Lobster Dinner - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

Great location; steamers were delicious! Their pier seating is beautiful, our wait person was attentive and they had a good selection of fresh seafood read more

Have not visited in 10 years. The drinks were excellent. The service was great. The lobster roll was not very good. It was filled with scraps, no visible chunks of lobster meat. When we lived nearby it was a weekly stop for us. Disappointed. read more

The crab roll was bad-smelled as tasted like ammonia. Also, they no longer have the kettle chips. Prices have gone up while portion sizes decreased. Ahi tuna poke appetizer was drowning in soy sauce. We have gone here regularly for years. A major disappointment this summer read more

I love this place, I'm from the area and never been until today! Will definitely be back for a drink and the sunset in the summer. read more

The Bait Shed - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

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Had a great lobster roll and also bought a pound of lobster to go. Very fresh and delicious,

We come for the snow crab and it's absolutely delicious. In the land of lobster our family will take snow crab every time and this is a rare spot that has it! The snow crab is great, and so is the view! read more

Liked it so much, we went twice. The beet salad with crab cake was delish, I ate the whole thing. Next night I had the baked haddock- the topping was a bit thick but yummy just the same and again ate the whole thing. The sangria was great too, not too sweet and strong. You can't beat the view. Will return! read more

Simply the best of Maine- fantastic food and service. Will definitely be back sometime soon! The lobster is awesome! read more

The Bait Shed - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

Ordered oysters, crab cakes, beet and goat cheese salad, and lobster bisque. Everything was delicious and the views were great!

Wow! Our first visit to Maine and we swung by the bait shed for dinner. Perfect place to enjoy a lobster dinner at a picnic table on the marsh!! Thanks Anna! read more

I've been coming to the Bait Shed for about five summers now, and am consistently pleased with the experience. As expected, prices are astronomical. Lobster and crab prices are so high it's really hard to fathom paying that much, but it's worth it on a special occasion! My favorite is the beet salad with crab. Scallops are delicious but only come with 6 so it's not really filling. Best part of the Bait Shed is the location because it's really fun having dinner on a dock in the summer when the weather is beautiful. If you're ready to pay high prices, the Bait Shed is a great option for a summer night out! read more

The Bait Shed - Beet Salad with crab and Crab Roll Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

Located walking distance to Pine Point Beach, the bait shed is the perfect place to grab a bite. There's a small parking lot located parallel to it. There is also scattered street parking. Typically on a busy day, a reservation is highly recommended. However, on a sunny Tuesday afternoon my party of 1 happily sat at the bar area. They have a dock that's stretched out into the water with many picnic tables and umbrellas. For my meal I opted for the slider sampler and a house margarita. Prices are competitive with seafood in Maine, but well worth it. The sampler I ordered included a lobster roll, clam roll, and shrimp roll. All had Mayo, all were delicious, and all have me wanting more. This place is great! Cool spot to grab a bite, hang with friends, and enjoy the view! read more

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Amazing place to sit and watch the sunset, eat fresh steamers and converse with some awesome guests and staff. I always manage to get a spot and get waited on, even if I'm standing eating along the bar area. Love this icon. read more

The Bait Shed - August 2023 sunset off the deck of Bait Shed - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Maine

Great place to have dinner and watch the sunset in the summer. Fresh food and great margaritas!